Review of 'The Matrix Resurrections '

4th film in the 'Matrix' series

matrix_resurrections.jpg Thomas Anderson (Keanu Reeves) is a successful game developer of several “Matrix” games based on his unusual memories. His much more commercially savvy, and slightly resentful, partner at the company he founded is Smith (Jonathan Groff). At a local café a woman frequently visits that he vaguely remembers from his dreams. Eventually he is encouraged to introduce himself, learning that she is Tiffany (Carrie-Anne Moss), a married woman who uncannily resembles the “Trinity” of his memories. Prescribed blue pills to help him cope with his memories he soon puts them aside. We learn that Thomas is living in the Matrix and in the real world humans who have escaped now largely live in harmony with the machines. Morpheus (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) is resurrected by Bugs (Jessica Henwick), captain of the Mnemosyne. Bugs and Morpheus discover the signal of Neo in the Matrix despite believing he died (which he did in the last film), tracing it back to Thomas. They soon discover that Smith is actually the new embodiment of Agent Smith who has the ability to create huge swarms of agents from the occupants of the Matrix. No surprise a short time later Thomas is found by the two and convinced to take the red pill, leaving the Matrix…is Neo back?

If you are confused, you are likely not alone and you are also likely not remember the details from the previous three films. You really do need to review the original films before seeing this otherwise much of the film will go way over your head. Sure, there are a few action sequences to distract you but there is so much going on here the background is essential. This does somewhat limit the audience but for these it is an interesting and believable sequel to the original trilogy. Having said that, even with this knowledge it is still quite a confusing story and you have to pay close attention. The film most definitely does not stand by itself but at the same time is quite a different animal.

I did miss the original Morpheus played by Laurence Fishburne but presumably he did not want to be involved in this new film. His replacement, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, is pretty much relegated to a background character with none of the cool charisma of Fishbourne's Morpheus. It is also tragic they could not get Hugo Weaving to reprise his role as Smith. Again, Weaving's cool, steely portrayal of the maniacal, subversive Matrix program means a bit less style to the proceedings. Indeed, the slick style of the original Matrix series is not present here which is partly due to the missing key character portrayals but it is also a stylistic choice with this new film using newer techniques of first-person action camera work that does not allow for the appreciation of the majesty of the world we are seeing. We don't have the indulgent, stylistic, set pieces of the original and the film is very much lesser because of it.

Not quite as cool as the original Matrix series but “Resurrections” may be of marginal interest to fans of it though it does not really add too much to the story. A few nice action sequences but these lack style leaving the whole thing a bit of “meh”.

Rating: “A bit better than average”

Review Date: 2022-01-26


Directed by: Lana Wachowskir

Studio: Warner Bros.

Year: 2021

Length: 148 minutes

Genre: Science Fiction

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10838180/


Other reviewed films in the 'Matrix' series: