Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss in ‘The Matrix: Resurrections’
Warner Bros.
I’ve long argued that a image of the movie industry (and now, frankly streaming industry to boot) used to be that the atmosphere used to be such that studios would slightly reboot or revamp The Matrix than hang “the next Matrix.” To be lovely, vital of that may per chance well presumably also moreover be blamed on audiences, which hang flocked to a sad stage to the acquainted, the comforting and the once-used to be-standard. As appropriate as this contemporary teaser for Lana Wachowski’s The Matrix: Resurrections looks, and it looks flat-out spectacular, there is tranquil something a dinky bit depressing in its skewed “legacy sequel but no longer” structure.
We again meet an unknowing and unaware Thomas Anderson (Keanu Reeves) as he encounters visions and events that lead him to survey the very fact regarding the Matrix in all its dystopian glory. He again meets a hasty-dressed Murky man (this time no longer Laurence Fishburne but Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) who promises to repeat the very fact whereas arguing that he knows our protagonist better than he knows himself. We again see a leather-clad feminine ass-kicker (Jessica Henwick) flipping and kicking amid the neo-noir darkness.
The expend of Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit” is an obvious musical choice, on the other hand it’s a damn efficient one. It offers a percussive rumbling in which to decrease the movie’s blockbuster action and spectacle, with the rising beats taking half in completely in tune with the trailer’s “action climax.” Light, as compelling and “expansive” as this looks, I tranquil can’t disguise my gentle despair at staring at what looks to be The Matrix getting a Force Awakens-style legacy sequel.
Whereas the main Matrix used to be meant to inspire curiosity and dread, this contemporary teaser, by default, objectives for comfort and familiarity. Movies fancy The Bourne Identification, The Starvation Games, The Matrix and Shrek once broke broad because they were uncommon and assorted, in general standing in absorbing incompatibility to frail Hollywood product from a given style. Now audiences crave the acquainted because it’s acquainted.
We receive an perfect sci-fi actuality (from one in all the directors of High-tail Racer, Jupiter Ascending and Cloud Atlas, natch) and a “Neo rediscovers that he’s Neo” spot that seems to be making an strive to hang its cake (being a brand contemporary Matrix movie with younger action heroes) and enjoy it too (conserving Reeves as the protagonist). Whereas the selling (which on the least hints at being a meta-commentary on needless franchise continuations) is rarely any longer the movie, that does flirt with possibility.
Michael B. Jordan, no longer Sylvester Stallone, used to be the star of Creed. Daisy Ridley and John Boyega were the main heroes of The Force Awakens, with Harrison Ford lending enhance and Carrie Fisher and Stamp Hamill lending mere cameos. Jurassic World featured appropriate a couple of scenes with a single returning personality (BD Wong’s Dr. Wu) but in another case pondering about Bryce Dallas Howard and Chris Pratt in a 20-years-later continuation.
Conversely, Independence Day: Resurgence kept its prior franchise stars (namely Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman) entrance and center whereas failing to let the newcomers (Liam Hemsworth, Maika Monroe and Jessie Usher) procure appropriate center stage. Likewise, Terminator: Unlit Destiny tranquil in actual fact “starred” Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger whereas newcomers Natalia Reyes and Mackenzie Davis were 2nd-bananas. To be lovely, no longer every imprint can pull a Force Awakens and mostly disguise the fashioned stars for the sake of promoting the contemporary heroes.
It’s determined that Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jessica Henwick and Priyanka Chopra Jonas will receive their moments in the sun and may per chance well presumably even discontinuance up being the contemporary protagonists. On the other hand, this trailer is making an strive to sell a Matrix for a brand contemporary day whereas tranquil highlighting the older heroes, as if The Force Awakens made determined to let that Stamp Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford were tranquil the stars of the epic.
Granted, Keanu Reeves is extra standard in 2021 than Arnold Schwarzenegger used to be in 2019. 47 Ronin saw Reeves getting star billing but taking half in a supporting role to Hiroyuki Sanada. Laurence Fishburne’s Morpheus isn’t even on this one. To be lovely, The Force Awakens made $2.068 billion with practically no Luke Skywalker. Anyway, in the past so appropriate, with the mere hope that the closing movie will seemingly be visually thoughts-blowing and philosophical enriching ample to beat my aversion to (most but no longer all) legacy sequels.
It looks fully horny, and if it hits it expansive it’ll appropriate be that more straightforward for John Wick: Chapter 4 (tranquil slated, for now, for May 27, 2022 alongside Tom Cruise’s High Gun: Maverick) to receive away a bit extra birth air of North The United States. But that’s a rabbit gap for one other day. The Matrix: Resurrections opens December 22 in theaters (crimson tablet) and HBO Max (blue tablet). Style I care about one other Matrix? Now now not undoubtedly, but I’ll be there for a for Wachowski-directed and Reeves-starring sci-fi action movie no topic the context.
