The Matrix Resurrections is out in Malaysian cinemas, but we’re able to watch it a day in advance for this spoiler-free review! Whether you are a newbie or a veteran of this 21-year old franchise, fret not as this review will help you decide what’s hot and what’s not in The Matrix Resurrections, completely spoiler-free.

Resurrections is the fourth film in The Matrix franchise, taking place after the third film, The Matrix Revolutions. It’s highly recommended to watch the earlier films before watching Resurrections as the story builds upon many of the events that took place in the first 3 films.

Writing

The Matrix franchise is regarded as one of the greatest sci-fi franchises of all time, up there together with Star Wars and Star Trek. The first film is considered a masterpiece and had an interesting and well-executed story, telling the tale of Thomas Anderson aka Neo and how he discovered that his reality was a lie and that mankind were all living a lie. By the third film, the series basically went full-on Star Wars, with huge sci-fi battles and war.

Somehow, the fourth film was able to tie all the events in the first three films while serving as a satisfying chapter to the franchise. Resurrections is not a half-hearted reboot or a cheap cash grab like many of the other new releases for old franchises—it is a genuine, well-thought-out continuation that respects the foundations built by the prequels while adding refreshing new ideas.

At times, I feel that the film’s plot can get a bit convoluted. The last time I watched the Matrix films was when I was still a child, so my memory was a bit fuzzy. Even though I was confused by some of the terms and plot devices mentioned throughout the film, the overall narrative was tight enough that it’s intuitive enough to follow and enjoy. 

That said, if you watched the first 3 films—you’re gonna enjoy Resurrections a lot more. The film cleverly breaks the 4th wall several times by referencing the prequels, leading to genuinely humorous moments. Also, many scenes and spoken dialogue pay homage to the earlier films while not being overly pretentious or self-glorifying. 

Above all else, the film does a pretty good job of bringing back the themes and philosophical undertones of the first film, while also weaving together the massive lore and backstory established in the third film. There are plot holes and “overly convenient scenes” here and there, but nothing too egregious for an action movie. As such, for maximum enjoyment, I recommend watching the first 3 films before watching Resurrections.

Acting and Performance

Keanu Reeves plays Neo, and as you might expect, he acts exactly like himself in John Wick—he even dresses the same. Don’t expect some thespian-level performance here. Nonetheless, I wouldn’t call his performance bad by any means—it’s fitting and if you are a fan of Keanu, you’ll love him more after this film. 

Morpheus is played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. His take on the character is a lot different from Laurence Fishburne as the character is not that much of a mentor to Neo anymore, but more like an old friend. Regardless, his lighthearted take on Morpheus is pretty refreshing, but may turn off some fans.

As for the other characters, Carrie Anne-Moss, who makes a return as Trinity, doesn’t have as much screen time. Overall, the other characters all did a pretty believable performance for their roles. 

Of particular note is Jonathan Groff who plays Agent Smith. In the earlier films, this role was played by Hugo Weaving, who had a commanding performance. Surprisingly, Groff—whose most famous role was good guy Kristoff from Frozen—was really intimidating and lived up to Weaving’s legacy. 

Action

The action is all over the place. There are some great set pieces made engaging thanks to the amazing special effects. At the same time, the choreography noticeably became worse.

The bullet time, acrobatics and slow-motion effects all heightened the action scenes. Seeing Neo perform many of his superhuman feats felt impactful. Seeing walls getting punched through and pillars being shattered through bare fists was pure fun.

However, the fight choreography left much to be desired. Legendary fight choreographer Yuen Woo-ping who helped to make the fight scenes in the first 3 films so iconic didn’t work on Resurrections, and his absence was severely felt.

The editing masked a lot of the impact and force behind punches and kicks. The camerawork also used far too many close-ups. The fight choreography felt somewhat like any other action movie instead of a fight scene from The Matrix. 

While some fight scenes were just okay, others were disorientating. The biggest offender was a fight scene that took place in a train. The close-up shots coupled with the ridiculous amounts of cuts made the fight extremely disorientating. Gone were the fistfights of the earlier films, where the camera was further back and the cuts a lot less frequent—allowing the audience to enjoy and appreciate the martial arts that go into the fight.

Visuals and Sound

The first Matrix film won four Academy Awards—Sound, Sound Effects Editing, Visual Effects and Film Editing. While I’m not sure if Resurrections can repeat that feat, it definitely did a great job for the first 3 categories.

While there was nothing that stood out, the film mostly used ambient tracks that helped to heighten the atmosphere for any given scene. The sound and visual effects in particular were amazing and lived up to the franchise’s reputation.

As for editing, I found it pretty alright, except for the fight scenes, which were horrendously cut.

Verdict

Honestly, The Matrix Resurrections surprised me. While the quality of the fight scenes suffered, the film managed to maintain the quality of special effects that the series is known for. Above all else, this isn’t a cheap cash grab or nostalgia trip—it’s a genuinely compelling chapter to The Matrix franchise.

If you’re a fan of The Matrix series, this is a must-watch. It may not be a masterpiece like the first film, but it’s still a pretty damn entertaining movie. Hope you enjoyed this spoiler-free review of The Matrix Resurrections!

For more details, visit the film’s official website.

Final Score:

7/10