The Matrix (1999) was a ground breaking film in its time, the two sequels
Reloaded and Revolutions (both 2003) were a bit hit and miss with both not
nearly as fondly remembered by fans as the original. The big question,
other than trying to drain every last amount of cash from a film franchise
whose audience will now be more than middle aged and very unlikely to
venture out to the cinema in the current Covid pandemic, is why bring it
back? The answer I’m afraid escapes me because after watching this pale
imitation of what’s came before The Matrix Resurrections adds nothing to
the legacy of The Matrix.
The Matrix Resurrections relies heavily on the audience having at least a
passing knowledge of the previous Matrix films, walk into the cinema blind
and, despite numerous flashbacks ( that will mean nothing if you’ve not
seen any of the previous films), you’re going to be pretty to lost in terms
of what’s happening on the screen.
It’s no spoiler to say that Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss, (despite her
apparent death in Revolutions) characters are very much alive. Thomas
Anderson (Reeves) is now a games designer of a smash-hit called The Matrix,
inside his game one of his characters has a startling resemblance to
Tiffany (Carrie-Anne Moss in The Matrix). Carrie-Anne-Moss’s character is
now married with kids, likes to ride about on a motorbike and wonders why
the character in Anderson’s game looks startlingly like her. As is the case
with everything in The Matrix all is not what it seems because our
characters are actually back in The Matrix where their memories are being
artificially created by the machines.
Feeling more like a rehash then a bona fide sequel director Lana Wachowski
story follows pretty much the same path as the original in that a group of
“rebels” free from the hold of The Matrix try and convince Anderson that
his life isn’t what he thinks and that he has to escape the clutches of The
Matrix.
Wachowski introduces new characters and welcomes back old ones, well old
characters played by new younger actors, and it’s this that’s The Matrix
Resurrections Achilles heel as none have the charisma or on screen
chemistry that made the characters’ in The Matrix so memorable.
I would like to say that The Matrix Resurrections is for fans of The Matrix
but sadly I think even they will struggle with a film that feels more like
a nostalgia trip, and a not great one at that, than a genuine piece of
entertainment. As a big fan of the franchise it saddens me to say that The
Matrix Resurrections is a massive disappointment.
