Since The Matrix series is related to hacking, I feel that a movie review is suitable for my blog. This is full of spoilers as I discuss the film’s plot; or lack of it!

In December, I watched the Matrix Trilogy again in anticipation for the new film; “Resurrections”. I believe I saw the original film when it was released on DVD, and the other two in the cinema. I tend to forget films very quickly so I only remembered I loved the first one, thought the second was quite good and disliked the third. I think this time, I did enjoy the original trilogy a bit more than I remembered, but I did get the feeling that by the third film, they didn’t really know how to end it – and it just felt a bit half-assed.

I tend to like watching review videos to get an idea of what other people think, and I did see a suggestion that The Matrix was supposed to be just a standalone film but the massive success forced it to become a trilogy to cash in on the popularity. This sounds plausible because it’s what happens to everything really, and these days you get unnecessary sequels and reboots. I thought Resurrections sounds like it fits that category… and it is.

They really are milking the franchise if this really is the 3rd sequel to a film that was never intended to have one. The time between the films is so large that the actors are quite old now and I think this does negatively impact the film. They got Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Ann Moss to reprise their roles as Thomas/Neo and Tiff/Trinity, but Morpheus has been replaced.

The film begins by introducing you to the new characters (led by Bugs) but they are rewatching the opening from the original film where the agents have tracked Trinity down. It’s described as a “modal” – some kind of “sandbox” simulation, but things aren’t exact – and it turns out it’s an ambush; cue some cool action scenes in typical Matrix style. Morpheus is an Agent for some reason, but soon turns (for some reason) and is determined to find Neo to bring him back to the real world.

Thomas Anderson (Neo) is a famous game designer by the success of his The Matrix trilogy of games. He is now making a new franchise but is told by his boss that Warner Bros are wanting to cash in on a fourth Matrix instalment whether he likes it or not. This sounds like that Lana Wachowski has somehow been forced to make this film and is spending the first 30 mins or so just having a dig at the people that are paying her. Warner Bros seem fine with it. They probably just want a film to get money.

Thomas seems depressed and delusional, so goes to therapy. Part of him suspects that the idea of the Matrix is actually real, and when he meets Morpheus – a character he thinks he created – he thinks he really is crazy. One of the new characters, Bugs, convinces Thomas to follow her and now we get loads of sequences that mirror the first film. Instead of fans picking up on the references, it is specifically pointed out to you by using actual footage from the original film. Look here is Morpheus (shows clip), here is a cat (shows clip). 

Also, instead of using landline phones to travel out of the Matrix (who uses landlines now?), they use mirrors. Why? Mirrors don’t have the internet, they could have just used any smart device. I’ve seen explanations that mobile phone screens are called “black mirrors” when powered off so it’s a reference to that – but that seems tenuous. I was confused near the end when they don’t use a Mirror and just get disconnected by being unplugged. I thought that caused death in the original trilogy?

So once you go through the story beats of the original film: Neo wakes up again in his pod, released by robot, meets the new crew, trains in a fighting program, travels to Zion – the actual film can happen. There’s still no real plot or end goal though. We have Neo back in the real world but what is really at stake? He now wants to rescue Trinity who is still in her pod. Does she want to come back though? Probably if she is convinced that she is living in a simulation, but she should think Neo is a nutcase.

Why are Neo and Trinity even alive? Didn’t they die at the end of the original trilogy? Well they did, but they were resurrected because the love they had can generate extra power or some nonsense. So the new “Architect” did exactly that. Then the more he torments Neo, the more power he can generate, so the Architect also happens to be Neo’s therapist to keep convincing him that the idea of the Matrix was just a game idea in Neo’s mind and it isn’t real. Wasn’t Neo blinded too? Well, these super resurrecting bots can repair eyes as well. 

When Neo reaches Zion, he is told that 60 years have passed. Neo and Trinity haven’t really aged that much but everyone else has; so Niobe, still played by Jada Pinkett-Smith, is an old woman. She thinks Neo is bad news, so locks him in a room with a balcony. So when Neo looks out to enjoy the view, a ship swoops in to free him. Wasn’t a well-thought out plan by Niobe. 

I previously mentioned that the age of the characters is a problem. Instead of all the fancy kung-fu, Neo just blocks bullets and uses a force-push move. Trinity doesn’t have much to do until the final scenes; and I was surprised at the number of scenes she was in. I suppose most of the film was trying to make you remember what happened in the original film and showing you what the characters had been up to – that they ran out of time for the film to actually happen; despite it being 2 hours 30 mins. After the initial set-up, Morpheus only appears sporadically, and Bugs barely features.

Tiffany should need strongly convincing to leave the simulation, but Neo barely even tries, so Tiffany walks away. Somehow, Tiffany suddenly decides she prefers to be called Trinity so ditches her husband and kids, and suddenly becomes proficient in combat again. Then, when it is needed, she decides she is somehow “The One” so can fly now, saving the day, before going to meet the Architect to show who is boss now.

I think the original Matrix captivated audiences with cutting edge effects, and impressive martial arts. There’s far less action in this film and it pales in comparison aside from the opening scene. Visually, it is nice, but it’s just like any modern film.

It was probably hard to come up with a story without feeling like it was a cash in. I think Lana probably didn’t want to make this film, and I don’t really understand why the likes of Keanu and Carrie agreed to do it. Did they read the script and think this had a good story to tell? Or do they just like money?

Some people thought Revolutions tarnished The Matrix’s legacy, but now this film comes along to deal the finishing blow. Unless they turn this into a new trilogy of course.

I think the Pitch Meeting for this film sums it up perfectly.