IT’S been nearly 20 years since the Matrix trilogy wrapped up with The Matrix Revolutions. That movie ended with Neo (Keanu Reeves) making the ultimate sacrifice – along with Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) – to bring an end to the war between humans and machines. Seems like a pretty definitive ending…
Not so fast, of course. We live in the age of never-ending nostalgia – with media companies mining the recent past for content and the public seemingly hungry to be reminded of better days.
This idea of revisiting and reliving the past is actually a plot point in The Matrix Resurrections, as characters knowingly refer with adoration to the events of the earlier movies. Many of them are excited by the idea of “returning” to The Matrix, having grown up as fans of the series, just like the audience watching the movie.
This self-aware aspect is one of the most fun things about the new movie. Instead of just winking at the audience, characters are in dialogue with the very idea of making a sequel to The Matrix. It’s kind of audacious how in-your-face the movie is about it.
The rest of the movie is a remix of what’s come before, featuring the franchise’s trademark mix of high concept action, mind-bendy philosophical concepts and open-hearted emotion.
Like the other sequels, Resurrections is often a tonal mishmash – at turns serious, often silly, but always sincere. It makes fun of itself at times, but other times takes its ridiculousness very seriously. This could be a dealbreaker for moviegoers who expect some consistency in tone.
In keeping with the idea that this movie is a remix of what’s come before, there are returning characters but not in the ways expected.
Morpheus is back, but Laurence Fishburne is nowhere to be seen, having been replaced by the suave Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. Smith has returned, however this time it’s in the guise of Jonathan Groff, sneering his way through monologues on why humans suck.
They’re not badly done, it’s just that it’s hard to not constantly compare them to the iconic portrayals by Fishburne and Hugo Weaving. Explaining how they “function” in The Matrix is a bit of a head-scratcher too.
Among the entirely new characters, is Bugs (Jessica Henwick), a super stylish hero who’s incredibly acrobatic and kicks all kinds of ass. Neil Patrick Harris plays The Analyst, a mysterious character with an ulterior motive. He’s having fun in the role, though he brings a cooler energy than Groff.
Reeves, for his part, is one of the last remaining Hollywood movie stars, and the idea of him revisiting one of his most iconic characters should be enough to get people into cinemas. He is visibly older, seemingly worn down, yet defiant when pushed. He’s a Chosen One who has nothing left to prove.
Neo’s relationship with Trinity is the emotional backbone of this movie, just as it was for the sequels, for those who have forgotten. Despite all the philosophising, the Wachowskis (though Lana is the only one involved in this) are deeply sentimental.
In many ways, Resurrections is a love story and that embrace of big emotions might not be for everybody.
Unfortunately, the quality of the action has taken a step back, compared to the original trilogy, especially the first Matrix – the last half hour or so is one of the all-time great sustained stretches of action in cinema history. The heady mix of gunplay and martial arts virtuosity is imitated here, but it’s not as satisfying.
Where the first Matrix has timeless, almost classical action, Resurrections falls victim to many common pitfalls of modern action, where the camera is too close to the action to the point of claustrophobia and there are way too many quick cuts. It’s not necessarily bad, there’s plenty of style and flair in how characters move, but it doesn’t stand out from the pack.
That being said, while there is no particularly iconic action sequence when it comes to the big, broad strokes, Resurrections has loads of style and ambition. The chase sequences have a playful relationship with time and space, while Neo’s ‘powers’ are awesome whenever he whips them out.
Notably, ‘bullet time’ – where time moves extremely slowly, allowing Neo to dodge bullets – is not as unique as it once was (having been imitated to death), the way it’s used here is fresh and exciting.
While the first Matrix movie is a beloved classic, its two sequels have not fared as well in the court of public opinion. Though their reputations have improved in the years since their release, the disappointment many people had after years of hype cannot be understated.
A lot of that has to do with the series’ embrace of weirdness and extended philosophising, more so than any other movie of this scale. Resurrections does not steer away from that; it doesn’t attempt to be ‘grounded’ or subtle.
It works when it goes big and bold, but the details, like the moment to moment plot, or dialogue or character decisions, can be confusing.
For some fans, this movie will be a treasure trove of themes and ideas to be discovered via multiple rewatches. But for others, including those who didn’t grow up with The Matrix, it might not be as rewarding. – The Vibes, December 22, 2021
