The Matrix Resurrections

The Matrix Resurrections

Plagued by strange memories, Neo's life takes an unexpected turn when he finds himself back inside the Matrix.

  • Released: 2021-12-16
  • Runtime: 148 minutes
  • Genre: Action, Adventure, Thrillers
  • Stars: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jonathan Groff, Jessica Henwick, Neil Patrick Harris, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Lambert Wilson, Jada Pinkett Smith, Daniel Bernhardt, Christina Ricci, Ellen Hollman, Brian J. Smith, Toby Onwumere, ErĂ©ndira Ibarra, Andrew Lewis Caldwell, Max Riemelt, Telma Hopkins, Chris Reid, Ian Pirie, Etienne Vick, Mel Powell, Andrew Koponen, James D. Weston II, John Lobato, Thomas Dalby, Clayton Watson, Stephen Dunlevy, Tiger Hu Chen, Joshua Grothe, Chad Stahelski, Amadei Weiland, Freema Agyeman, Andrew Rothney, Mumbi Maina, Max Mauff, Michael X. Sommers, L. Trey Wilson, Purab Kohli, Sabrina Strehl, Cooper Rivers, Esther Silex, Frank Isom, Leo Sheng, John Gaeta, Donald Mustard, Kim Libreri, Joe Mazza, Julian Grey, Gaige Chaturantabut, Volkhart Buff, Nicolas de Pruyssenaere, Felix Quinton, Aaron Pina, Dani Swan, London Breed, Steven Roy, Mercy Malick, Juval Dieziger, James McTeigue, Sarah McTeigue, Tom Hardy, William W. Barbour, Kenny Beers, Cabran E. Chamberlain, Thomas Dalby, Erwin Felicilda, John Lobato, Ed Moy, James D. Weston II, Laurence Fishburne, Hugo Weaving, Gloria Foster
  • Director: Lana Wachowski
 Comments
  • Severebutfair - 17 May 2024
    A Disastrous Sequel That Shouldn't Have Been Made
    From the moment "Matrix Resurrections" was announced, fans were filled with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. Unfortunately, the final product overwhelmingly justifies the latter sentiment. This movie is a textbook example of how to tarnish a beloved franchise with a sequel that should have never seen the light of day.

    Plot and Storytelling: An Incoherent Mess

    The plot of "Matrix Resurrections" is an incoherent mess, lacking the innovative spark that made the original trilogy iconic. The narrative feels like a half-baked rehash of the first film, but without any of the originality or intellectual depth. Instead of expanding the Matrix universe in a meaningful way, the film regurgitates old concepts in a manner that feels both lazy and convoluted. It relies heavily on nostalgia, shamelessly recycling scenes and dialogue from the original trilogy without adding any new substance or context. The self-referential humor, meant to be clever, comes off as painfully self-indulgent, breaking any immersion or seriousness the story attempts to build.

    Character Development: Non-Existent

    The characters in "Matrix Resurrections" are pale shadows of their former selves. Neo, once a compelling and complex hero, is reduced to a brooding, confused shell of a character. Keanu Reeves' performance feels detached, as if he himself is unsure why he is back in this role. Trinity's return, while initially promising, quickly devolves into a gimmick, stripping her of the strong, independent identity she once had. New characters are introduced, but they lack depth and purpose, serving only as superficial plot devices rather than contributing meaningfully to the story. The new Morpheus, a pivotal character in the original trilogy, is disappointingly miscast and his role feels utterly pointless, failing to capture the essence and gravitas of the original.

    Visuals and Special Effects: A Dull Spectacle

    One of the most unforgivable sins of "Matrix Resurrections" is its failure to deliver visually. The original Matrix trilogy set new standards for special effects and action sequences. In stark contrast, the visuals in "Resurrections" are surprisingly subpar. The iconic bullet-dodging and wire-fu fight scenes have been replaced by generic, uninspired action sequences that lack the elegance and intensity of their predecessors. The CGI is inconsistent, at times looking cheap and unfinished. This is particularly disappointing given the advancements in technology since the original films. The drab and uninspired cinematography fails to capture the cyberpunk aesthetic that defined the series, leaving the film visually flat and uninteresting.

    Themes and Philosophical Underpinnings: Hollow and Forced

    The Matrix series is renowned for its philosophical depth, blending action with thought-provoking questions about reality, free will, and control. "Matrix Resurrections" attempts to continue this tradition but falls woefully short. The themes feel forced and superficial, lacking the profound insights that made the original trilogy resonate with audiences. The film touches on modern issues such as digital addiction and the influence of technology, but these themes are poorly integrated into the story, coming across as preachy and contrived rather than organically woven into the narrative. The meta-commentary on sequels and reboots feels like a desperate attempt to be relevant and self-aware, but instead it just highlights the film's own inadequacies.

    Direction and Pacing: A Tedious Experience

    Lana Wachowski's direction in "Matrix Resurrections" is a far cry from the visionary work seen in the original trilogy. The pacing is erratic, dragging in some parts and rushing through others, creating a disjointed and unsatisfying viewing experience. Important plot points are glossed over, while unnecessary scenes are dragged out, testing the audience's patience. The film's tone is inconsistent, oscillating between serious and campy, failing to find a coherent narrative voice. This lack of direction leaves the audience confused and disengaged, undermining any potential the film might have had to be a worthy continuation of the series.

    Conclusion: A Franchise Better Left Untouched

    "Matrix Resurrections" is a prime example of why some stories are better left concluded. It fails on nearly every front: storytelling, character development, visual appeal, thematic depth, and direction. Rather than honoring the legacy of the original trilogy, it diminishes it, making one question the necessity of its existence. For fans of the Matrix, this film is a bitter pill to swallow, serving as a stark reminder that sometimes, it's best to leave well enough alone.
  • andrejhasanovic - 22 April 2024
    Not at all as bad as reviews suggest
    I signed up to imdb only to post this.

    Whoever left these bad reviews, they are not really appreciating the matrix vibe. This film was totally good in the matrix sense - yes, kind of a remake but with orginal twist. Dialogs are totally matrix-style and the visuals as well. It all screams matrix all the time, so if you expected something beyond the DNA of the trilogy, then I'm sorry it left you dissapointed.

    To those who wanna see matrix rolling again - watch it, you won't regret it. It was really good to see Neo and Trinity again, along with old characters with a bit different faces and narratives + some new guys who enrich the story.

    That's my two cents.
  • joshkrasovec-34765 - 12 January 2023
    Its absurd for so many reasons.
    I will just lost the absurdities, you decide for yourself if its worthy or not to see.

    * Broke 4th wall with previous movie footage being "game" sequences designed by New who is now, trapped in matrix again *Morpheus is an ex agent who dresses colorfully and is a blob of floating metal in the real world and the only thing in common he has with the original Morpheus is his name * Everyone looking different or missing all together is explained with: system updated, new avatars for all, some got deleted * Neo has nuclear bomb level powers... only once. Otherwise the best he can do is decent kung fu and he's now has jedi powers to shoot force balls, or something. And shields.

    * New human city lost its massive metal gates and now has holographic doors and a fake sky as a ceiling. Oh, and they grow strawberries * Niobe who was the "don't tell me what to do" leader is now the "I'm going to tell you what to do" type having lost her rebellious and effective charms she once had and fires a captain for saving Neo * Once Neo is saved from prison (yeah, he was imprisoned for wanting to save trinity, even if it means endangering everyone) and goes to try and save Trinity, and fails. Is Found and escorted back * Doesn't get in trouble because a mechanical, flying mantaray aka, little girl from subway tells Niobe not to and let them save Trinity * In depth, dangerous and scary plan to save Trinity is accomplished very anticlimactically * Insert poor quality, recycled fight scenes because there is a lack of creativity * Trinity is now the ONE apparently

    Huge lack of originality. Doesn't feel anything like the originals. Feels forced, rushed, and had I paid to see this, I'd be agitated. Why no director can seemingly make a quality sequel these days is a travesty. Perhaps scripts and casting should be better reviewed before it turns into a flop like this. That was awful. 18 years for a sequel like this is shameful.
  • deco-11077 - 30 December 2022
    Stupid
    Storytelling complex with lots of non sense dialogues. The timeline of events is no easy to follow and the go back and forth with flashes of the past characters seem a little pushy just to boost the movie.

    I expected more but this movie focused only in the revival of the franchise and of course make easy money.

    The actors performances are average. Keanu could have a better result but his role and the story do not help much.

    The movie has lot of scenes in dark and this makes it even harder to understand what is going on with the characters.

    Overall it was a waste of time to watch this movie.
  • patrickmacmanus-77165 - 28 November 2022
    Pathetic
    Everything in this movie is cheap and poor. I thought I was watching a TV movie. Action scenes were horrible and Keanu looked like he was sleeping. It was so distracting that everyone looked so different - Keanu looks like John Wick.

    Everything in this movie is cheap and poor. I thought I was watching a TV movie. Action scenes were horrible and Keanu looked like he was sleeping. It was so distracting that everyone looked so different - Keanu looks like John Wick.

    Everything in this movie is cheap and poor. I thought I was watching a TV movie. Action scenes were horrible and Keanu looked like he was sleeping. It was so distracting that everyone looked so different - Keanu looks like John Wick.
  • robstarm-77286 - 6 November 2022
    Y be so negative, watch it for what it is, enjoyable science fiction
    I had the Matrix on a bootleg VHS copy when it came out, on repeat in my bedroom in a share house. Grainy and yet I and many loved it. Came out in HD I wasn't interested. Because it's the question which drives us. It's the story which is omnipotent... "Is it real". Wasn't a fan of the sequels as Neo had come to age in the original. So watching this, brings back memories of the original. Never seen a bad Keanu Reeves movie (maybe except that Shakespeare one) but the reunion of Neo and Trinity is why Im watching it now, it's pure unadulterated unity, they meld. Watch it, then watch the original, you won't be dissatisfied.
  • iquine - 24 October 2022
    A Trip Down Memory Lane....
    ....with a lightly witty tour guide.

    This movie seemed confused as to what it wanted to be. Action with a pinch of comedy or a deep thinker with drab exposition. It was a story that felt like the original Matrix in the same sense as Star Wars "A New Hope" is to "The Force Awakens".

    The story starts off taking a funny perspective by immediately poking fun at its legacy. The story has Neo in counseling after trying to jump off a building and he now has trouble discerning reality from non-reality visions; The Matrix. He is also a famous video game designer, which may explain his long flowing locks. ;-) So essentially Neo ends up going through the same process and path as in the first Matrix. Which often feels like remember this cool scene or that distinctive little tidbit.

    Ultimately this isn't the type of story to rehash old times like an Indiana Jones or Ghostbusters did as this story is really thick, meaty and deep. Even with its humble self-deprecating perspective it didn't bring anything new to the table. It didn't even have a new amazing 'slow-mo spin' action moment to my dismay. The trilogy ended neat and tidy, even though Revolutions was horrible, and this addition to the story felt forced yet thankfully more watchable than Revolutions.