Movie Review: New ‘Matrix’ movie fails to bring new life
“The Matrix: Resurrections” film fails to be a revival of the classic or an inspired new take. Movie poster courtesy of IMBD.com.
Alex Goodlive | Staff Writer
Released Dec. 22, “The Matrix: Resurrections” is stuck between two goals: to repeat the thrill of the original Matrix film and to bring something new and fresh to the table. It ends up doing neither of those things.
To its credit, the film brings back Keanu Reeves, who plays the part of a man torn between two realities. Reeves’ character, Neo, once again lives in the Matrix, now as video game developer Thomas. Thomas is known for creating a game based on the previous Matrix events. He struggles to determine if these events somehow actually happened or if they are just a delusion. It’s an interesting conflict Reeves guides the audience through with his depiction of a man battling trauma and saudade.
As part of his unhappiness, Neo deals with the demand for an unnecessary sequel to his Matrix game (Warner Brothers seems to call itself out on what this movie really is). Rediscovering the woman he loved, Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss), Neo is confronted with the truth that the Matrix he believed was a delusion is actually real and he has been living in it again as he encounters Morpheus (now played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II). What follows is an imitation of the sort of action scenes fans loved in the original film.
Sure, some things have changed. Neo has to learn the rules of the Matrix a second time. Some machines are good now. Agent Smiths are more dangerous than ever before. But no new additions really add to the Matrix franchise. They’re just there.
A lot of the movie is just revisiting some place seen in a previous movie. Neo and Morpheus show off their kung fu again. Niobe (Jada Pinkett-Smith) returns. But at least we get to watch Trinity kick butt on a motorcycle again!
Ultimately, “Resurrections” is fairly predictable and is neither a revival of the classic nor an inspired new take. You may enjoy some parts of the movie, but you might be better off finding something else on HBO Max like the previous Matrix films.
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