The Matrix Resurrections Is the Matrix Sequel You’ve Always Wanted

The Matrix Resurrections rocks. Let’s simply get that out of the way in which. If you’re a fan of the franchise like me (and perhaps, hopefully, you revisited the trilogy like me) chances are you’ll be terrified {that a} fourth movie, nearly 20 years later, could possibly be very dangerous. It just isn’t. It’s intelligent and good, with entertaining motion and great visible results. Basically, every little thing you might need from a Matrix sequel to the purpose the place I walked out of the theater with that “I just saw a great movie” buzz. Now, that doesn’t imply it’s a masterpiece like the unique movie. There are knocks in opposition to it to make certain. But, for probably the most half, The Matrix Resurrections is each the Matrix sequel followers have been ready for, and in addition one they by no means knew they’d wanted.

Co-written and directed by Lana Wachowski, The Matrix Resurrections may be very a lot modeled after the primary film. It as soon as once more begins with Thomas Anderson (Keanu Reeves) working a tech job he doesn’t love and starting to note the world round him isn’t what it appears. From there, we uncover the variations. Thomas is now older and in remedy. Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) is round, however she has one other life and the 2 don’t know one another. Thomas additionally has a a lot larger, extra vital job. A job that, to say what it’s, would break certainly one of greatest surprises Wachowski has for us this time round. As Thomas explores that job although, Wachowski is ready to deal head on with these trepidations she, and the viewers, have of this film even present. The selections are difficult and humorous, but poignant and highly effective. Suffice to say, The Matrix Resurrections is well-aware that it has quite a bit to show and its stage of meta may be an excessive amount of for some. I dug it although.

Parallel to Neo’s story we meet new characters like Bugs (Jessica Henwick). She appears to be a typical Matrix hacker like Neo and Trinity have been within the unique films and that she exists in any respect begins to trace at some bigger implications. Specifically that the occasions of the earlier three Matrix films are extra vital than all of us realized. Bugs and Neo’s tales bounce forwards and backwards, creating a surprisingly dense first act crammed with solutions, questions, exposition and philosophy. Once it’s all locked into place although, and every little thing looks like easy crusing, it’s something however. At all occasions Wachowski’s script (which she co-wrote with David Mitchell and Aleksandar Hemon) and course works to subvert your expectations.

The greatest power of The Matrix Resurrections is in the way in which the movie has all of the thriller and pleasure of the unique whereas constructing on prime of its legacy. Wachowski very simply might have simply wiped historical past clear of the lesser acquired sequels however as an alternative the story she’s crafted is fashionable and distinctive whereas someway additionally being vastly depending on the previous. Events from the sequels like Agent Smith infecting the Matrix, the Architect revealing the character of The One, Trinity dying on the way in which to the Machine City and Neo brokering a peace cope with the Machines... all of those threads play an enormous half within the complicated narrative, and but, the narrative additionally stands alone.

In reality, it will get to some extent the place Resurrections is perhaps a bit too complicated. Several characters, comparable to the brand new Morpheus performed by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, don’t at all times match or appear clear. Just a few large plot factors come fully out of the blue in what can really feel like a straightforward cheat, and whereas all of it finally ends up work properly sufficient, the narrative is completely muddier than one would anticipate.

Another large element of the movie is nostalgia. It performs a vital position within the film, each diagetically and non-diagetically, and Wachowksi may be very cautious about when to hit these notes. She drops footage from the opposite movies all through, highlighting each key moments within the motion and the emotional journey of the characters, whereas additionally bringing the viewers again to that point once they first noticed the unique movies. There’s a hazard the approach might have been overused, nevertheless it’s not, and it leads to a number of really shifting moments.

So, you get it. The story is complicated and peculiar nevertheless it works. But you anticipate that from The Matrix. What you additionally anticipate are large motion set items and groundbreaking visible results, each of that are on show in Resurrections. In comparability to the story, these aren’t fairly as memorable. The motion scenes are literally fairly sporadic and since there’s nothing by way of visible results that’s as evolutionary as bullet time, every feels extra typical than the earlier movies. The scenes are strong, enjoyable, and embrace a number of methods that try to evolve or twist the bullet time idea, however total nonetheless exist to slowdown the breakneck story than the rest.

What you get that’s new this time round is the general look of the film. Resurrections is a visually luxurious film. The originals have been lovely in their very own method, however had a really particular palate of inexperienced, black and gray. Resurrections feels a lot hotter, with loads of oranges and reds interspersed, that make the eventual coronary heart of the movie beat that a lot stronger. The cinematography by Daniele Massaccesi and John Toll actually leans into emotion and romance which, ultimately, turns into the purpose.

That romance, clearly, has to do with Neo and Trinity. Reeves and Moss every fall proper again into their respective roles, wholly encompassing these now legendary characters, and the viewers can’t assist however swoon anytime they’re on display screen collectively. So because the movie turns into risingly about why the pair don’t know one another and the way they may as soon as once more, it’s very simple to fall additional and additional in love with it. The story builds towards this, the visuals are in service of it, and by the point you get to the top, that wild first act turns into nothing however set dressing for the place all of it finally ends up.

It’s laborious to speak about The Matrix Resurrections with out ruining a few of its most fun surprises or, frankly, after having solely seen it as soon as. This is, much more than the primary three films, a movie constructed for repeat viewing. Nevertheless, after twenty years away, the primary factor followers have to know is that Resurrections is a superb Matrix sequel that is aware of what you assume you need in a Matrix sequel, and offers it to you in methods you aren’t anticipating. Sometimes these issues don’t work, however largely they do, and in consequence I’m assured to say: The Matrix is again.

The Matrix Resurrections opens December 22 in theaters and on HBO Max.

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