OT The Matrix Resurrections

Don't read past the spoiler unless you have watched the movie or don't care if it's spoiled.

Watched the movie this morning at midnight when it came out on HBO Max.

I was a bit confused about some parts, and disappointed about some others. But, overall it was alot of fun to watch. Lots of call backs and such embedded with new characters.

Here are my thoughts

Spoiler: Spoiler

I enjoyed the humor and the irony of having the machines make a resurrected Thomas Anderson (NEO) a video game maker, who created a very successful Matrix video game series trilogy...within the Matrix. A commentary on the inclined overcompliance of docile people willing to forgo the truth for comfort, even when it is right before their very eyes. The sheeple as The Analyst calls them, who would rather live in the system then to be freed by Neo and Trinity. And, it's a concept not just aimed at people in the film, but here in the real world.

I don't quite understand how Smith has returned in the form of Jonathan Groff, as Neo destroyed him in Revolutions. Yet, there he is, injected as Anderson's business partner, watching over him, seemingly tasked with keeping Anderson/Neo from discovering his past.

I don't care for Groff's performance. He decided to do Smith without Hugo Weavings inflection. He decided he didn't want to do an impression, so he just did his regular voice. I wasn't feeling it. I wanted to hear Smith. To bad Weaving couldn't be part of the film.

Young Morpheus (Since old Morpheus died in the events of the Matrix Online game, which is apparently cannon) is a program, an amalgamation of both Morpheus and Agent Smith.... basically Morpheus hidden in the games program of Agent Smith unconsciously by Anderson so he could be extracted, and help Anderson once again escape the Matrix as Neo.

I'm trying to wrap my head around all of what has changed in the 60 years between the setting of the last movie and this one, including the idea that some of the machines became sentient and chose to side with/help humans.

I liked that they brought back Sati from the original series as a type of architect who helps Neo.

I liked the cameo by the Merovingian and his posse. They didn't looked so good, and he swore to return again to get his revenge, so he is there for a future side villain role. I liked that he a Smith tagged teamed for what was a slight moment, as they are both driven by wanting the Matrix to return to it's formal self. Though that was offered vaguely. Why would Smith want to return to the old Matrix? He spent so long trying to escape it and is now seemingly all fucking powerful. The fight scene there was fun.

I wanted more from NPH's character...The Therapist/Analyst. He felt like a false front villian. We found he was controlling Neo and keeping him trapped in the Matrix as Anderson and that he could slow time to stop Neo in his tracks. This made him seem very formidable.

But, somehow Smith was not affected by his time slowing ability and easily kicked his ass. How? When Neo couldn't? Maybe Neo just hadn't gotten back to himself yet.

Then you have the swarm. Instead of agents taking over people's bodies, their eyes just light up with matrix code and they become zombies who go after Neo and Trinity, etc including throwing themselves off movies. By the way was that Smith or the Analyst who triggered that at the end? Or maybe a higher up?

In fact, other than in the game Anderson created and the old code, where young Morpheus is hidden, agents don't seem to even exist any more. I didn't care for that.

Then you have Trinity realizing she has Neo abilities in the end. Is she the one? Are they both the one? Are they together the one? That's what it seems is being said. The Analyst commented that alone, they were not special, but when they were together was when trouble happened.

The ending seems to set up for another sequel. Neo and Trinity leading an effort to free people, meanwhile the Analyst who they go see once more to warn him not to fuck with the Matrix again, tells them the sheeple won't want to be freed, that they have succeeded in nothing.

I felt like the story was missing something tangible. It was basically reawakening Neo and Trinity. There were some sort of enemies, in The Analyst (NPH) and Smith along with the Merovingian cameo and the swarm, but no real bad guy.

I didn't buy Niobes role. It felt put on and merely there for exposition to catch us up on what has changed since the last movie.

I also was confused about Neos and Trinity's old reflections in the mirror. I guess that is how they really look, but not how they see themselves or are perceived in the Matrix.

I enjoyed Bugs new character, but I felt there should have been more there. She felt like an amalgamation of Morpheus and Niobe.

 

It's probably the 2nd best next to the original