asked me in a comment: “What did you think?” about Matrix Resurrections . Therefore, I take advantage of this question to give my opinion.
To do this, I choose to cut myself in two:
- the man who loved the original trilogy and expected to see a film in the same vein as the first three does not like Matrix Resurrections ;
- The man who loved the original trilogy and who detaches himself from it to discover Matrix Resurrections with a slightly new eye really likes this fourth film.
Between 1999 and 2003, Lana and Lilly Wachowski created a trilogy that has entered pop culture , an enlightened synthesis of the great works of Japanese comics (manga), video games, the science fiction genre (cyberpunk, etc.), comics and so on.
Everything was extremely well done: the photography, the music, the fight choreography, the choice of actors, the philosophically dense content, the special effects (especially with the famous “bullet time”). Moreover, there is already a split among fans between those who love the trilogy as a whole and those who madly love the first one and who already consider that the second and third opus are a decline. Personally, I like the original trilogy in its entirety.
In 2020, images leaked on the internet and, surprise, I learned that a fourth film was being filmed without me particularly expecting it.
In 2021, the first trailers are reaching us and are really piquing my curiosity.
I went to see it twice to form a more or less informed opinion of this new production. Finally, I liked the film from the first viewing but not for the same reasons, those which had made me like the original trilogy.
As the bright cinephiles would say: “It’s very meta!”
Indeed, the film shines a spotlight on what made Matrix a real reference to offer us a critique of the current trend – which has been going on for several years – which consists of exploiting the nostalgia of spectators to serve us reheated stuff: Ghost Buster (2016), Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), etc.
Therefore, Lana Wachowski pretends to propose the Matrix that we know to better lead us in other directions! It seems to me that we could summarize her thought thanks to the tirade of the Merovingian that we rediscover with a style very far from its origins.
The viewer therefore makes a choice: either he condemns the film since it is in no way similar to the originals; or he takes the step aside that the director suggests he take in order to reflect on the elements that she points out with her finger – and with the camera.
Personally, I understand both positions without any difficulty. Moreover, most of the criticisms I have heard here and there seemed to have their foundation between two chairs, not knowing very well whether it was a stroke of genius or a total failure!
Only time will shed light on this precise point.
To conclude my remarks, I would like to take up the words of a friend: ” Matrix Resurrections was not necessary, but it is still a pleasant moment!”
Everyone remains the judge of their own cinematographic tastes, being able to like or hate the works they discover, by qualifying their opinion more or less.
I think this film will spark a lot of discussion among science fiction fans, and especially among Matrix fans .