The Matrix Resurrections

[FeedOnATreeFrog]

Overall, I find this is to be a pretty exciting new chapter for what's potentially to come, but the movie itself didn't quite make the best use of its unique and interesting elements.

Spoiler

-I loved the 'refresh' of Neo being a game developer, and I loved how confused I was at the start. I felt like how Neo felt.

-Meta jokes were mostly cringe.

-Neo and Trin finding each other is better than Neo and Trin ever were before. Neo putting everything on the line for love was sweet. Unfortunately it's still built on pretty shaky foundations of a romance, so making that romance a central aspect of the film is a bit flat.

-Loved the updates to the mythology, with Neo sparking revolution within the machine world. A good set up for potential sequels. New Human city was cool, and Niobe character had an interesting perspective, but it felt like it was all shot on that balcony. I needed to see a bit more of it.

-Trinity becoming The One is kinda cool, but also was a bit shallow. I think it could have been more interesting if Neo was no longer the One, instead of them both flying around at the end. Like, they could have made it about Neo being blind to his own patterns, listening to New Morpheus, which he himself created, instead of realizing that he has something else to offer, finding the One. He should have realized that now HE is the new Morpheus. With that shallowness of the switch from Neo to Trinity, the ending gender-bent RATM song didn't feel earned and came across quite cringey.

-Bugs potentially could have been more meaningful to the central characters in the third act, like...maybe she could have been the new One, or perhaps just the main example of someone whose heart Neo will have to break if he tells them he is not the One anymore.

-New Smith was delightful. I loved him being a thorn in NPH's side, but I wish he didn't become the primary villain at the end with the Smith Zombies who were pretty boring. I also need to know what happens to him at the end.

-Flying scene climax ruined by the goofy floaty flying.

-Trinity torturing the Analyst felt out of place, and the characters felt a bit off there. They were never that playful.

-Action was mostly snore-inducing.

 

[Karelia]

Did anyone notice that Neo was eating noodles from his favorite noodle shop that was mentioned in the first film? Or so I think that's what they were going for.


Someone happened to catch this little Easter egg. I believe this shot is in the trailer but I'll use spoiler tags just incase

Spoiler

 

[Luigi]

 

[Filmfan93]

Yikes.

I guess this is what you get when you say "fr*k you" to the fans.

That, NWH and the HBO Max release too.

 

[Lily Adler]

Yikes.

I guess this is what you get when you say "fr*k you" to the fans.

That, NWH and the HBO Max release too.

I wonder if they should have released this in 2023 and did John Wick 4 this year. That way they can say it's been 20 years since the last one and make it a big event.

 

[Karelia]

The mixed word of mouth and being on HBO did it no favors. And then you got the juggernaut of the Spider-Man movie.

I'm coming around torwards the movie, I still dislike things about it, but it's decent to me. But the lack of exciting action in it did it no favors. I know the Wachowskis never wanted to make another one, but would it have benefited for them to make the outline and someone else direct it? Idk. Not having Fishburne and Weaving hurt it too.

 

[TheVileOne]

I think many took for granted how underwhelmed people were by the sequels. The third movie made even less money than the original did domestically. I realize the films have a loyal fan following and all. Matrix Reloaded did some impressive box office largely on the strength of the first movie, but people were disappointed with that film and even more disappointed with Revolutions.

I think a big problem with the sequels is that after unlocking his One powers, Neo is a very passive character. I don't think the Wachowskis really understood what it means for Neo to be The One. And they kept coming up with ways for Neo to be on the outside of a lot of the action. Neo rarely takes control in the sequels. Things happen to him rather than him choosing to do things on his own.

It feels the same here. Neo feels very passive and like he's being led along. In the first movie, things pick up when Neo starts taking the initiative and wanting to do things. After Morpheus gets captured, he takes the lead. When he survives, it's like he knew exactly what he was doing.

Then we get to the sequels and Neo has all these amazing powers, and it's like he can't break agents anymore. He can't re-write the codes. He can't remake things. But then suddenly he has powers outside of the Matrix. WTF does that even mean? How is that possible?

I always felt like OK Neo has powers outside the Matrix, they never delivered on that WTF reveal and plot twist.

 

[-Arya-]

Every movie released is bombing except Spider-Man. Expect more of the same for many weeks

 

[Drizzle]

I said in this thread almost a year ago that this movie had an uphill battle even without the pandemic. Of course Spider-Man didn't do it any favors either. But while The Matrix as a franchise still has a fanbase, it was long dormant for nearly two decades outside of a few video games and the occasional re-release of the films on new home video formats. Even if the reviews had been much better, I can't really see a scenario where this wouldn't have underperformed.

 

[TheVileOne]

Every movie released is bombing except Spider-Man. Expect more of the same for many weeks

Sing 2 didn't bomb.

 

[DarkKnight88]

Yeah, that number is probably worst case scenario. I thought it would at the very least hit 20+M on the weekend. Just awful.

And Spider-Man wasn’t going to take away audiences if they really wanted to see it. Sherlock Holmes came out a week after Avatar and also did gangbusters.

 

[-Arya-]

Sing 2 didn't bomb.

Ok, 1 other movie didn’t bomb

 

[P Supreme]

22 million dam that's brutal

Always thought releasing the sequels in the same calendar year was a mistake with the mix reaction of reloaded they could have shifted the story accordingly but they already had the 3rd one made

The release date was just not a good idea that close to a MCU tent pole movie especially a Spiderman movie

 

[Iceman]

Damn, the number is worse than expected. NWH hype is still huge and many who have watched have watched on HBO Max. I’m seeing it tomorrow.

 

[Lily Adler]

Sing 2 didn't bomb.

It's doing good critically, too.

 

[psylockolussus]

22.5 million dollars is pretty low for a franchise being resurrected after almost 2 decades, thats like a franchise killer not a resurrection. But we'll see if WB gives this another give it another shot; given the film is out there iykwim.

 

[AndrewGilkison]

The main problem with the Matrix sequels is that the filmmakers clearly didn't have enough story for two sequels. That is why both of the sequels feel very padded, with scenes that go on way too long and wear out their welcome and why the pacing is off.

 

[Karelia]

I wonder why they never released the budget for this film? Anybody have a guesstimate?

 

[TheVileOne]

I wonder why they never released the budget for this film? Anybody have a guesstimate?

Studios typically don't release their budgets and usually keep those numbers close to the vest.

'Spider-Man: No Way Home' Hits $1 Billion Globally - Variety

Variety is reporting a $190 million budget for Matrix Resurrections. Make of it what you will.

 

[psylockolussus]

You posted 1 second before I left the MatriX.

I wonder why they never released the budget for this film? Anybody have a guesstimate?

190 million dollars

'Spider-Man: No Way Home' Hits $1 Billion Globally - Variety

It honestly doesn't look like it cost that much.

 

[Karelia]

You posted 1 second before I left the MatriX.

190 million dollars

'Spider-Man: No Way Home' Hits $1 Billion Globally - Variety

It honestly doesn't look like it cost that much.

Well, that's what I was thinking. Looked like a pretty low budget. Where did all that money go? Lol.

 

[Karelia]

The Matrix: Resurrections Box Office Totals 69.8 Million World Wide

'The Matrix Resurrections' Snags $69M at Worldwide Box Office

 

[TheVileOne]

Well, that's what I was thinking. Looked like a pretty low budget. Where did all that money go? Lol.

I imagine most of it went to Keanu and Carrie Anne Moss to get them back, along with Lana Wachowski.

But compared to some of the things in Matrix Reloaded it didn't look anywhere as big scaled. Like the train fight looked so cheap and low level even compared to the original.

 

[chamber-music]

The main problem with the Matrix sequels is that the filmmakers clearly didn't have enough story for two sequels. That is why both of the sequels feel very padded, with scenes that go on way too long and wear out their welcome and why the pacing is off.

I found the whole answer a question with a question thing in the second movie incredibly annoying.

 

[Mani-Man]

I said in this thread almost a year ago that this movie had an uphill battle even without the pandemic. Of course Spider-Man didn't do it any favors either. But while The Matrix as a franchise still has a fanbase, it was long dormant for nearly two decades outside of a few video games and the occasional re-release of the films on new home video formats. Even if the reviews had been much better, I can't really see a scenario where this wouldn't have underperformed.

Yeah, nothing in the Trailer made me Trust that this would make record earnings.
There is so much running against it, it was always a incredible gamble.

Maybe doing something more with the IP before this movie, would have helped something, i dont know.