The Matrix Resurrections [2021]

The fourth instalment of any movie series requires a specific link with what has gone before, as well as a narrative that introduces something different. Matrix Resurrections just about manages to fulfil both objectives. Its link with the previous three movies is in the basic thesis of the series, that there is a reality behind and beyond that experienced by humans.In the first movie, Matrix, we are introduced to a mysterious force known as The Matrix. It is an existence where subterfuge, control, and domination reign supreme. It is a matrix almost beyond comprehension. It is a world where humans live, but it is a world of deceptions - an elaborate scheme of evil cyber-intelligence. This is the world into which the main character of the series, Neo (played by Keanu Reeves) ventures, led there by a beautiful female Trinity (played by Carrie-Anne Moss), and joins with a group of rebels, led by the charismatic warrior Morpheus (played by Laurence Fishburn). The Matrix movie has a mythological element, whose truth needs to be discovered, whose illusion needs to be confronted before it can be destroyed, and the power of The Matrix can be defeated. This requires much thought, risk-taking, and courage as humans fight to stay alive - to escape The Matrix. This gives the movie much of its action.In the second movie, the first sequel, Matrix Reloaded, we are given more information about the ‘real world’ and the last human city of Zion. The urban reality of Zion features encounters between humans and the artificially intelligent bad guys. Martial arts strongly feature in the action. So too, there are several motifs that become prominent, including love and truth, purpose and reason, as the main characters seek to follow the courses they have chosen. Particularly, it is Neo who assumes the heroic figure as he seeks to find a way to defeat The Matrix and save humanity.The first sequel leads on to a second, The Matrix Revolutions. In this conclusion to the Matrix trilogy, we find Neo, Morpheus, and Trinity battling to defend the city of Zion, the last real-world city, against the onslaughts of the machines that have enslaved humanity. Neo learns more about the powers that he possesses, and he seeks to put them into practice as he faces the consequences of the choices he made, as evidenced in the previous movie, The Matrix Reloaded. The action is explosive and the excitement of the first two movies in the series is maintained, with some of the complexity of the trilogy’s plot lines being tied-up.The fourth film to appear in the series, Matrix Resurrections, is not so much a third sequel, but a postlude to the series. The human opposition to the matrix has remained, and that opposition is resurrected in this fourth movie.For Neo to truly know himself - is he a physical or mental construct, is his life real or an illusion - Neo will once again need to enter The Matrix. However, he is unaware that The Matrix is stronger and more dangerous than ever before; but Neo knows what he must do. The pursuit of his objectives makes for the dramatic and exciting conclusion to the four-movie series.Each of the movies in the Matrix series is produced with excellent Blu-ray and superb Dolby Digital sound. The movies are still available in their various single or series formats, and all at budget prices.

I have enjoyed all the Matrix films, including this one. It doesn't have the physical action of the previous three films, but unravelled what had been happening.

* SynopsisThis film starts where the first movie The Matrix started. Then it jumps to where Mr Anderson is now. He is now an award-winning, ground-breaking games coder. He's a Mozart - a genius coder. He's written about his 3 previous experiences with the Matrix in computer code in these computer games. His coding is so distinguished that the games he composed are indistinguishable from the reality he experienced. He is having therapy to get around this mental instability of what's true and what's false. This could be labelled as Schizophrenia? For example, in which version of the Matrix is he safe to fall from a building and fly? It seems that he thinks he's in charge of the game. But, he's STILL placed back in the real Matrix. But this time still coding for what he thinks is for the game Matrix. But its code is shared with the real Matrix. He is coding his own prison. Those in the real Matrix are seeking Mr Anderson to get him out of the real Matrix he's placed in and to fight for the resistance again with his great skills. He needs to take the pills to get out of the real prison and come out to thwart these sentient programmes. For generations, Neo has been hidden away, coding. Unaware that his coworkers are secretly monitoring his actions for the matrix. It seems that both Neo and Trinity died in Matrix 3, too. Neo and Trinity have been remade alive by recoding them both, which was a massive and time consuming job, to produce code for the real matrix. These two are linked and are productive. And this is why Neo and Trinity are both now sentient programmes. Neo is programming genius code for the Matrix. Neo resolves that as he is sentient. And with his love for Trinity, he must get her out again.* CommentaryIt's taken 5 watches, but I get it now. The real reason why I had difficulty finding the direction of the movie is that this critical information was contained in just one sentence. The film with this sentence is great! Neo and Trinity are back in the saddle, fighting for a new destiny. The actors around are great fun to watch. The special effects are colourful. But not as strongly developed as in the previous three of the franchise. This isn't a rebadging of the previous story episodes. It's changed enough to help the story flow fresh and yet still relate to what's gone on previously. Watching it again helps very much to break it down. Just recall that the cost to make it was greater than the box office takings or streaming incomes.

Great ending, if this is the last part.