About the film (courtesy of Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow):
From visionary filmmaker Lana Wachowski comes The Matrix Resurrections, the long-awaited fourth film in the groundbreaking franchise that redefined a genre. The new film reunites original stars Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss in the iconic roles they made famous, Neo and Trinity.
It’s been a minute since we’ve seen Keanu Reeves donning the dark sunglasses and black gear that made him a bone fide action hero. The Matrix (1999) captured the imaginations of individuals young and old as audiences were invited into the wondrous imagination of The Wachowskis. The box office hit became a franchise when its two sequels,The Matrix Reloaded (2003) and The Matrix Revolutions (2003), made its way to theaters in the same year. While maybe not being quite as strong as the first entry, fans were given serviceable stories packed with action and dazzling effects. When Reeves began to add chapters to his other successful franchises, it was only a matter of time before we’d get this One.
After waiting 18 long years, The Matrix Resurrections has finally made out into the light. Lana Wachowski has had a long time to cook up a worthy story that hopefully doesn’t sully that has been established over the last two decades. I feel like the only way to get Keanu Reeves to resurrect his Neo character would be if the script was strong enough to work in today’s world of expectations. Get ready to head back down the rabbit hole for more wonder and wow factor.
Keanu Reeves might not be as young as he once was, but that does not stop him from totally committing to the physicality needed show that Neo is still a force to be reckoned with. While he may be wiser and a slight bit more worn, he’s still capable of 110% while giving audiences exactly what they’ve craved. In addition to Carrie-Anne-Moss, Jada Pinkett Smith and a few other familiar faces, new additions such as Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jonathan Groff and Neil Patrick Harris bring new energy and even more enjoyable depth to an already deep cast of characters.
The Matrix Resurrections contains just as many amazing fight sequences, action scenes and impressive effects that we’ve become intimately familiar with in previous movies. This time however, there seems to be an uptick in the lighter side of things. There’s a higher frequency of playful banter and situation shtick that should translate into a more enjoyable experience overall.
The Matrix Resurrections pays homage to the past and even gives you refreshers via quick flashbacks to assist in tying in the legacy of the original trilogy. In addition, this newest chapter shows a clear path forward with its new and bold direction. Lana Wachowski is clearly wagering heavily on fans wanting to learn more about this world as moves forward in and unexpected ways.
Staying true to vaulted this franchise to success, The Matrix Resurrections never forgets its roots but also doesn’t seem to be interested in complacency. It’s clear that there’s definitely life left in a franchise that may have been left for dead but has now risen from the ashes. I do recommend a refresher if it’s within your power. And you also might be surprised how well the previous films held up over time.
This one gets a strong recommendation from me and when all is said and done, it might very well be one of the most enjoyable two and a half hours spent watching a movie this year. The Matrix Resurrections opens in theaters today and is also available for 31 days on HBO Max. Take the red pill and get ready to open your eyes…again.
