This is a review for the 2D screening of The Matrix Resurrections movie. Directed by Lana Wachowski. Starring Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jessica Henwick, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jonathan Groff and Neil Patrick Harris.
Synopsis:
‘To find out if his reality is a physical or mental construct, Mr. Anderson, aka Neo, will have to choose to follow the white rabbit once more. If he’s learned anything, it’s that choice, while an illusion, is still the only way out of — or into — the Matrix. Neo already knows what he has to do, but what he doesn’t yet know is that the Matrix is stronger, more secure and far more dangerous than ever before.’
Review
It was great to see Keanu Reeves finally return to the role as Thomas Anderson/Neo, as well as Carrie-Anne Moss back as Tiffany/Trinity.
A great perfomance from Jessica Henwick’s supporting role as Bugs; whom breathed new life into the franchise and progressed that movie throughout.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II managed to handle Laurence Fishburne’s ‘Morpheus’ quite well, especially with that surprising twist on his character. He was still greatly missed from really being in it besides ‘archival footage’.
It’s essentially a chaotic romantic movie with science-fiction added to it, just like the previous movies. The on-screen chemistry between Reeves and Moss works so well every time. It’s like they never left their roles!
There’s an interesting moment in the first part of the film when it’s building up Thomas Anderson’s anxiety and leads to him breaking down, pondering his reality is fake or not as scenes move rapidly day by day.
However, the movie instantly hits multiple flaws. It lacked so much scene originality, repetitive lines; leaving the movie heavily dependant on call-backs to the majorly successful previous movies.
The movie was slow and felt like it was too ‘on the nose’ and super direct about what they were trying to do. There’s too much talking, context building and leaving hardly anything to the imagination. Warner Bros has also briefly referenced themselves into this movie, as a minor villainous media type company again, just like Space Jam 2. It was so out of place and uneccessary!
The meta references were worn into the ground as well, such as Bullet Time. It was cool to see Neo use these abilities more though.
There were new surprises in this latest installment: upgraded technological presentations. After 20 years, the way they use/access the Matrix has advanced. The machines have also greatly improved with how they interact.
The fight scenes between Neo and Jonathan Groff’s character were anti-climatic. Groff’s character Smith, also felt very inconsistent, especially with that ending. Neil Patrick Harris’ role was unexpected, yet in the end, lack luster. The plot was weak all-around for antagonists.
The street escape/chase scenes were action-packed with explosions and motorcycle scenes, but it can’t top The Matrix Revolutions. It’s better to just watch the first three movies and leave it at that.
The cinematography and CGI is of course as impressive as ever seen before in a Matrix movie.
The Matrix Resurrections overall has played it too safe by relying on nearly everything from the previous movies as a template, that’s been copy and pasted. Also, only reaches the bare minimum of the synopsis. This movie is apparently suppose to be setting up the next Matrix project, however there is not much to be desired from this one.
