The Matrix Resurrections is a 2021 American science fiction action film produced, co-written, and directed by Lana Wachowski. It is the sequel to The Matrix Revolutions (2003) and the fourth instalment in The Matrix film franchise.
The Matrix Resurrections Movie Cast
- Keanu Reeves as Thomas Anderson / Neo
- Carrie-Anne Moss as Tiffany / Trinity
- Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Morpheus
- Jessica Henwick as Bugs
- Jonathan Groff as Smith
- Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Sati
The Matrix Resurrections Movie Plot
60 years after Neo and Trinity were shown dying while trying to save Zion from the siege of the machines in Revolutions, it is revealed that they didn’t really die. (Surprise!) Instead, the machines resurrected them and plugged them back into the Matrix for reasons unknown.
The Matrix Resurrections Movie Review
If there’s anyone the internet just can’t get enough of, it’s probably Keanu Reeves more than anybody else. So, when the much-awaited fourth movie in ‘The Matrix’ series was announced, it would have surely gotten some people excited to witness the black coat wearing, bullet-dodging, and mind-numbingly cool Keanu Reeves back in action as Neo, plugged back into the Matrix. But the risk of reviving a critically and commercially acclaimed saga of a bent reality comes with its own risks. Only that if risk-taking was an issue with the Wachowskis, ‘The Matrix’ wouldn’t have been as fascinating as it turned out to be. Then, the question arises: What purpose a new instalment could serve to this much-loved tale of “Humans Vs. Machine” (Apart from the obvious fan service and the possibility of minting some money)?
Inside the Matrix, Neo, unaware of his past, lives as a very successful video game designer, Thomas Anderson, who designs ‘The Matrix’ series of video games, based on his vague memories as Neo. He bases the character of Trinity on Tiffany (Carrie-Ann Moss), a woman he meets in a coffee shop who like him has no recollection of her past exploits. However, Neo is rescued from the Matrix by Bugs (Jessica Henwick) and her crew, along with a programmed version of Morpheus (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II). Hit with reality once again, Neo now tries to discover why the machines kept him inside the Matrix for so long while trying to rescue Trinity as he faces a new foe.
The Sequel Tragedy catches up to The Matrix Resurrections
None of the follow-up movies was indeed able to replicate the originality and freshness of ‘The Matrix (1999)’. The sequel tragedy is not a new curse on this franchise as well, like many others before it. However, Mr Morpheus would be delighted to know that the latest entrant, ‘The Matrix Resurrections’, does serve some purpose after all. ‘The Matrix Revolutions’, while tragically putting an end to the “Humans Vs. Machines” question, didn’t provide much of an ending for the duo of Neo and Trinity who drove much of the action throughout the series. The fourth movie in the franchise finally tries to give the two another chance, one that was snatched from them post all the action in the final movie of the trilogy. (If you know, you know.)
In terms of what it has to offer, ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ serves the audience plenty of nostalgia on a platter with a lot of returning characters, loads of reminiscing and dozens of references laid like honey-traps for fans to go mad about. Some interesting new characters join the bandwagon on this nostalgia trip. For a movie franchise that has dealt with the meaning of reality since its inception, it comes as no surprise that the characters are self-aware. Merovingian (Lambert Wilson), the French guy, returns in a scene to express his annoyance over the franchise sequel reunion happening in the movie. It cannot get any more meta than this. It’s good to see Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Ann Moss together again. Notable returns also include old and wrinkled Captain Niobe (Jada Pinkett Smith). It’s just not the friends that have returned in this sequel. Some older enemies have made the cut too. Agent Smith (Jonathan Groff) returns in a newer avatar, although lacking the cold annoyance exuded by Hugo Weaving’s rogue programme. The newer members of the cast, namely, Jessica Henwick, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Priyanka Chopra, and Max Riemelt add their own charm to the roster of likeable characters. It won’t be surprising if any of these characters get a spin-off sequel in the future. Neil Patrick Harris is also seen in a significant role and he doesn’t disappoint.
The movie dilutes much of its originality by clearly stating that in this world anything goes. Not that the franchise is known to limit itself to what’s probable, but in The Matrix Resurrections, the story goes in a similar direction in pursuit of very little and often just to merely sustain itself. The fourth in the line definitely missed the glory of the super-smooth slow-motion action sequences and the cool “bullet-time” effect which made the original trilogy a thrill to watch. Nonetheless, it has its action with some innovation and a scale bigger than ever seen before in the series. More than a new beginning, ‘The Matrix Resurrection’ brings closure to an incomplete tale that had already neared the lower end of the curve by the end of the last movie. After witnessing the near-extinction of the human race in its last outing, the story told through Resurrections feels like a major upset for this action-packed franchise. Plenty of action, humour and style is put inside the blender to create a concoction that makes up for the weak storyline the movie has to present. If anything, the movie tries to reap the benefits of the franchise’s legacy.
The Movie Culture Synopsis
The idea of the Matrix provides boundless opportunities for the writers to bend the rules and conjure up any “reality” for the sake of a movie. The truth that they decided to come up with what resulted on the screen through ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ could put this franchise through another long slumber. The world could have done just fine without this movie, but it seems only fair to give a proper farewell to characters and a universe that has ruled the pop-culture wave for so long.
For fans of the franchise, it’s a good old reunion of old characters, new-age action, old questions of existentialism, some cool new hairdos and annoying old enemies. If the choice is between the blue pill or the red pill, the choice is simple; there is no choice. Unlike in the Matrix, there is only one iteration of this movie that exists and while it remains watchable and enticing due to obvious factors, it feels avoidable.
