The Matrix Resurrections (2021)

[Jake Lipson]

Title: The Matrix Resurrections

Genre: Action, Science Fiction

Director: Lana Wachowski

Release: 2021-12-22

Plot: Plot unknown.

The Matrix 4 is official, with Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Ann Moss returning as Neo and Trinity. Lana Wachowski is returning to direct, this time individually.

No mention (yet) of Laurence Fishburne.

https://variety.com/2019/film/news/matrix-4-keanu-reeves-carrie-anne-moss-lana-wachowski-1203307955/

 

[Tino]

My First reaction. Ugh

 

[Jake Lipson]

I'm not really sure what to make of this yet.

It's been SEVERAL years since I saw any of the original trilogy. I'm pretty sure I still have the sequels but lost track of my copy of the original at some point during a move, so I'll probably have to buy that again at some point.

 

[dpippel]

Well, since every movie the Wachowskis have done since the Matrix films has been a financial flop, I think they might be going back to that well because they need the money. How they continue to get funding is beyond me.

 

[Jake Lipson]

WB probably thinks that by doing thisthey will be able to tap into the nostalgia that is currently overwhelming Hollywood with restarts of old franchises (Star Wars, Creed, the Disney remakes, etc.)

But...are people actually nostalgic for The Matrix?

It seems like the popular opinion reputation the films have garnered over the years is that there's one good one and both sequels are terrible. Given that this is following up the widely-disliked Revolutions, who's going to get excited to rush out for another one?

 

[Tino]

It seems like the popular opinion reputation the films have garnered over the years is that there's one good one and both sequels are terrible

I wouldn’t say that.

First one is great. Second one is good. Third is ok

None are terrible imo.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

Given that this is following up the widely-disliked Revolutions, who's going to get excited to rush out for another one?

They won't market it as the follow-up to Revolutions. They will market it with Keanu wearing the trademark black trenchcoat and sunglasses, and that will get people excited.

 

[Neil Middlemiss]

I am very, very excited for the potential here. I am a fan of all the films in this series (including Animatrix) and so any more exploration of this universe is welcome.

 

[JimmyO]

Curious to see how they resurrect these two deceased characters.

Also Lana doing it without her sibling - interesting.

 

[dpippel]

I'm sure that Lilly will be listed as an Executive Producer, or something similar.

 

[Tino]

I am very, very excited for the potential here. I am a fan of all the films in this series (including Animatrix) and so any more exploration of this universe is welcome.

Animatrix is the second best film of the series!

 

[Sam Favate]

Well, this is better news than a reboot IMO.

 

[Jake Lipson]

Well, this is better news than a reboot IMO.

In one respect, yes; it's exciting to have the original band back together. On the other hand, a reboot could be easily ignored if it turns out to be worse than what we already have. Because this is going to be in-continuity with the previous films, there's a larger margin of error over this (although admittedly, the sequels were already not great anyway.) We'll see how it goes.

On the other hand...what if they're not? Didn't the recent Halloween movie with Jamie Lee Curtis throw out the continuity of several of the sequels? And we have Terminator again this fall, with Arnold, which is throwing out the continuity of everything since T2, even the ones in which he appeared. This would be highly unusual since the same director is involved. But hypothetically, if this were to throw out Reloaded and Revolutions and position itself as a far-removed direct sequel to the original Matrix, that would explain how they could have Reeves and Moss back. (Didn't they die in Revolutions?)

 

[Chris Will]

Ugh, boring Hollywood! This is just as bad an idea as BTTF4 would be. The story is over, done, finished, you know resolved (as in Resolution). Now we are going to get some stupid contrived plot point to resurrect Neo and Trinity. Probably going to be called Matrix Resurrection.

 

[Jake Lipson]

Matrix Resurrection.

Of course. Done. Put it on the poster right now.

 

[TravisR]

I'd prefer The Matrix Rebooted but "Reboot" is a profane word for fandom so "Resurrection" does seems likely.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

They could go the scaled back route:

“Matrix”

or perhaps

“Matrices”

 

[Tim Glover]

This is a terrible idea....Love the original.

Kind of hated the other 2. I know those films were polarizing but I just couldn't get into it.

Watched the Original Matrix on 4K the other day and brought back a lot of fond memories.

 

[Jake Lipson]

"Reboot" is a profane word for fandom

The word "reboot" in the Batman Begins or Casino Royale or Spider-Man Homecoming sense means a new version of a property which dispenses with the continuity of the previous iterations. A lot of people have started using it incorrectly to refer to revivals of long-running series (i.e. The Force Awakens is not a "reboot" because it maintains the continuity and is a direct sequel to Return of the Jedi.) Since Reeves, Moss and at least half of the Wachowskis are back, this is clearly maintaining at least some continuity with the previous films. So I don't think "reboot" would make sense in the way that the term is commonly used.

 

[TravisR]

The word "reboot" in the Batman Begins or Casino Royale or Spider-Man Homecoming sense means a new version of a property which dispenses with the continuity of the previous iterations. A lot of people have started using it incorrectly to refer to revivals of long-running series (i.e. The Force Awakens is not a "reboot" because it maintains the continuity and is a direct sequel to Return of the Jedi.) Since Reeves, Moss and at least half of the Wachowskis are back, this is clearly maintaining at least some continuity with the previous films. So I don't think "reboot" would make sense in the way that the term is commonly used.

I'd just like "Reboot" since it fits with the computer/technology aspect of The Matrix but like you said, it doesn't fit with how the term is used or viewed today.