A huge fan of the Matrix universe and its simulation theory, and finally got to watch the fourth film.
Had no expectations as the trilogy had ended and there should not be another film, so going in with a very anti look, but try to see this as a different universe to keep the story “fresh”.
But walked out with the same feeling, so happily not more disappointed than I already was going in.
I got the feeling of the film trying to break the fifth wall with trying to communicate with their viewers, but with a scream of help and misery. Which portray the whole thing well.
Risk for spoilers from now on.
Story is that Keanu Reeves made the game Matrix, which are three versions of (like the films) and he is going through a strange haze of what is reality and what is not. This haze is not done as well as the first film, feel more like a comedy than the gritty old story. And as the creator of these three games and he is working on his next project, where his company forces him to make a fourth Matrix, and it will happen either he wants or not, sounds familiar? This is what I mean about fifth walling this film.
Interesting is who tells Keanu that this will happen, it’s “Agent Smith” the evil and the bad guy from the trilogy, who is his boss now of Thomas Andersson (Keanu Reeves) (wow right?). Where Warner Brothers are called out for shoving this down their throats to make more money without respect for their creators and makers. Which gives me the feeling already what it is all about (or someone pointing the blame?).
Story goes on with trying to break out of the Matrix again and realize that Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss, big crush as a kid) is alive (what the fuck? Will return to this) and they need to save her also from the machine world. Machines saved both Neo and Trinity because the connection between them gives crazy amount of energy, which for me is quite cute and came from the first film where Trinity gives Neo a kiss to wake him up.
Replacement of actors have been done with heavy characters, Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving, huge fan) is replaced and Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne, huge fan again). Which they have done before in the old movies with the Oracle (Gloria Foster, after she sadly passed away) which makes it possible to the story. So, no larger complaints on this part from me.
But brining back Trinity and Neo from death, is that not disturbing their peace? I see this as very disrespectful, let us remember them and honor them than torture them further, they gave humanity peace with machines which is an amazing achievement. All just to make more money.
Well, what about the groundbreaking fighting scenes? Well Neo can now push..
So, we are throwing out the choregraph fights with a push, lazy? And not groundbreaking as the other films. Can’t say so much more sadly because it is empty and hollow.
There are a lot of things to continue complain on like everyone else, but the sad truth this is the life we are creating for ourselves, we make shit to make more money and don’t care about quality and representation, it’s all about money which control us more than machines does and ever will do.
Am I saying that making a fourth movie is bad? No, I’m not, but with this story, yes.
You could make so many more things just watch Animatrix that contains a lot of smaller stories that can be built around, why not use them with different characters? The world is bigger than Neo, who may be “The One” and the strongest character, but as in this world we are many who want to tell our story, why only the strongest get the chance?