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Skye Reviews: The Matrix Resurrections
3 years ago
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So, I LOVE The Matrix. And as always, I seem to be in a minority when I defend the Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions. The trilogy was one of the DEFINING action films of all time, and revolutionized martial arts choreography and gunplay in films, cinematography, and philosophy in movies.
While certain right-wing fuckhead elements of society have glommed onto the franchise's terminology and concepts for their own fuckheaded purposes and conspiracies; the fact is that the original trilogy is a metaphor for the trans experience in America.
It was written and directed by two very leftie trans women. And when you go back and watch it, keeping that in mind, the metaphor is VERY obvious.
It's less subtle in the Matrix Resurrections.
So, when The Matrix Revolutions came out, the Wachowski sisters came out and said flat out that they were planning a fourth sequel. It took them over 15 years to do it, but it's here.
An all-new cast unites with returning favorites for a new adventure in a strange new setting with new mysteries.... and it's BRILLIANT. The first 40 minutes are a bit slow, with constant metareferences about the making of the film and the politics behind it; but once it hits its stride and starts expanding on the setting and concepts it brings up, it is excellent.
The choreography isn't quite as snappy as in the previous trilogy. The film is seriously missing the brilliance of Yuen Woo-Ping, who choreographed the original trilogy (and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Kill Bill, and is pretty much the greatest fight choreographer to ever live, seriously look his stuff up!). That IS a shame, but the fights are still pretty awesome, and Neo shows off some of his powers (diminished, but in new and fun ways).
The new cast is AWESOME, though I wish more of them had a chance to shine. While the main focus is on Bugs (our new main heroine) and the New Morpheus (rounding out the quartet); there's a BUNCH of new characters whom I wish we got a chance to get to know better, but didn't get much of a chance to shine. Maybe if there are sequels, we might get to see more of them. As for the villains... Well, I can't reveal their identities without spoilers; but one of them is better than the other.
A lot of the mysticism is missing from the previous trilogy. With the absence of the Oracle, and the absence of questions of free will vs. destiny, and some of the other aspects of the original films, there is something less... special about the movie. It lacks that sense of something grander awaiting.
That said, the setting is BRILLIANT. They introduce a new world with new factions to explore, new concepts to play with, new TYPES of characters they can use to tell new stories. Seriously, the last time I wanted more sequels to explore a setting THIS BADLY was James Cameron's Avatar (SERIOUSLY, PUT THE MOVIE OUT ALREADY, CAMERON!).
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. I had fun watching it, and it made me want to see more of the characters and the world it built, and honestly, what higher praise can we give a piece of media?
Skye's Final Verdict - The Matrix Resurrections: 100 out of 10. It's not perfect. I'd call it the best of the Matrix sequels, though less than the first movie. But it's damned close, and if it had Yuen Woo-Ping's choreography, I'd be calling it a perfect film. But it made me want to see more, and I had a blast.
While certain right-wing fuckhead elements of society have glommed onto the franchise's terminology and concepts for their own fuckheaded purposes and conspiracies; the fact is that the original trilogy is a metaphor for the trans experience in America.
It was written and directed by two very leftie trans women. And when you go back and watch it, keeping that in mind, the metaphor is VERY obvious.
It's less subtle in the Matrix Resurrections.
So, when The Matrix Revolutions came out, the Wachowski sisters came out and said flat out that they were planning a fourth sequel. It took them over 15 years to do it, but it's here.
An all-new cast unites with returning favorites for a new adventure in a strange new setting with new mysteries.... and it's BRILLIANT. The first 40 minutes are a bit slow, with constant metareferences about the making of the film and the politics behind it; but once it hits its stride and starts expanding on the setting and concepts it brings up, it is excellent.
The choreography isn't quite as snappy as in the previous trilogy. The film is seriously missing the brilliance of Yuen Woo-Ping, who choreographed the original trilogy (and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Kill Bill, and is pretty much the greatest fight choreographer to ever live, seriously look his stuff up!). That IS a shame, but the fights are still pretty awesome, and Neo shows off some of his powers (diminished, but in new and fun ways).
The new cast is AWESOME, though I wish more of them had a chance to shine. While the main focus is on Bugs (our new main heroine) and the New Morpheus (rounding out the quartet); there's a BUNCH of new characters whom I wish we got a chance to get to know better, but didn't get much of a chance to shine. Maybe if there are sequels, we might get to see more of them. As for the villains... Well, I can't reveal their identities without spoilers; but one of them is better than the other.
A lot of the mysticism is missing from the previous trilogy. With the absence of the Oracle, and the absence of questions of free will vs. destiny, and some of the other aspects of the original films, there is something less... special about the movie. It lacks that sense of something grander awaiting.
That said, the setting is BRILLIANT. They introduce a new world with new factions to explore, new concepts to play with, new TYPES of characters they can use to tell new stories. Seriously, the last time I wanted more sequels to explore a setting THIS BADLY was James Cameron's Avatar (SERIOUSLY, PUT THE MOVIE OUT ALREADY, CAMERON!).
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. I had fun watching it, and it made me want to see more of the characters and the world it built, and honestly, what higher praise can we give a piece of media?
Skye's Final Verdict - The Matrix Resurrections: 100 out of 10. It's not perfect. I'd call it the best of the Matrix sequels, though less than the first movie. But it's damned close, and if it had Yuen Woo-Ping's choreography, I'd be calling it a perfect film. But it made me want to see more, and I had a blast.
