Tschumi
Member
I did a search here and found no 'Matrix Ressurections Reviews' thread or anything so, not wanting the responsibility of linking in every major review for the thing like most review threads, I'm just gonna do my own standalone post about the film.
I saw it yesterday with my girl. The rest of this will be spoiled and it will contain spoilers. So ye've been warned.
Further warning: Also don't read comments if you don't want to be spoiled in case anyone's 'spoiler' bar is set a bit lower than yours.
*since this has been more widely viewed, I'll unspoil my thoughts*
I'll just come straight out with it, this film is about 20% great and 80% crap.
Also making it clear that I went in entirely innocent of any info about the production for the film, I'm still totally ignorant to that.
First of all, I have no idea of the politics or whatever behind it, but this wasn't made by the Wachowski sisters, it was made only by Lana Wachowski. I don't know how much bearing that had on the final product, the decisions behind it, but it certainly comes off more as the witches brew of one fertile mind rather than a pair of them.
Also there was clearly less of a budget for it - somewhat surprising for me - and that was evidenced in the use of CGI for fight scenes that would have made extensive use of wire and pulleys in the OG film and a fair portion of the rest of that trilogy. It is extremely jarring when, in the first scene, an obvious stunt double for Trinity recreates her fight from the start of the OG film, but half of her moves are done with CGI. The feeling is: If they could do it that way then, why do it this way now?
In generally I think CGI killed a lot of the magic of the film. That can be said of all films. I just, I weep for special effects and respect any films that still take the time to use them.
Okay, before I get into the gripes, i'll highlight the positives:
> Keanu Reeves. He was actually damn good in this film. I mean, he's not always been the best actor around, but he got this one very right. He's got a good mix of inner conflict, confusion, honesty splayed across his face (when he's trying to figure out what's going on with Trinity, in particuar) and like in the original films he kinda sells the CGI 'force power' moments.
>Carrie Anne Moss. You can't blame her for the things they make her do, and you can't blame her for the natural processes which have spread her hips a bit and necessitated some creative camera cutting and wardrobe choices to help us overlook the route her physique has taken since the OG films. She is a pretty good 'Tiffany', a real everyday busy mum vibe with some very well communicated warmth when she's interacting with Reeves.
> Neo and Tirnity. Although it is also probably the film's downfall, the way the dynamic of the series is shifted to indicate that Neo only did what he did because of Trinity's love gives the actors a chance to really chemistry it up, and they do it really well.
> The opening act. Neo really doesn't want to get out of the Matrix. I thought this might be because some part of him knew that his entering a pocket matrix was part of his peace pact with the machines (turns out no), but anyway watching him struggle with his reality and, eventually, having to be forced to change his mind was pretty good.
> Most of the social commentary. They take dead aim on social media and people who let it make up their political minds, and the [kind of stuff this forum happily no longer talks about] dipshits.
> Eréndira Ibarra's Matrix-world appearance, in particular those nice, very short tailored shorts. Yes indeed. Nom nom. Can confirm I am available for mounting an important mission with her? Pardon me.
> The brief vision of a machine civil war, that was cool, like The Terminator meets the Matrix, but it only lasted about 5 seconds.
> The idea of Agent Smith. I dunno why they didn't get Hugo Weaving, has he died? No, he's only 61, gosh that guy's been middle aged for at least 30 years, but yeah they failed to get him so they had to find a new Smith and imply that his personality has kinda clung to Neo's and found itself in Neo's universe, dormant, in the body of Neo's boss. I mean, I'm sure the 'architect' of this Matrix did this, but I can't wrap my head around the convoluted reasoning. Anyway, I don't like the actor, but I like most of the lines and, yeah, the idea. Actually though I think I'm gonna make this a negative point because of the Deus Ex Machina role he plays in the final part of the film.
I'll add to this if I think of more as I go, but I think those *counts* several things cover what I liked about the film.
I saw it yesterday with my girl. The rest of this will be spoiled and it will contain spoilers. So ye've been warned.
Further warning: Also don't read comments if you don't want to be spoiled in case anyone's 'spoiler' bar is set a bit lower than yours.
*since this has been more widely viewed, I'll unspoil my thoughts*
I'll just come straight out with it, this film is about 20% great and 80% crap.
Also making it clear that I went in entirely innocent of any info about the production for the film, I'm still totally ignorant to that.
First of all, I have no idea of the politics or whatever behind it, but this wasn't made by the Wachowski sisters, it was made only by Lana Wachowski. I don't know how much bearing that had on the final product, the decisions behind it, but it certainly comes off more as the witches brew of one fertile mind rather than a pair of them.
Also there was clearly less of a budget for it - somewhat surprising for me - and that was evidenced in the use of CGI for fight scenes that would have made extensive use of wire and pulleys in the OG film and a fair portion of the rest of that trilogy. It is extremely jarring when, in the first scene, an obvious stunt double for Trinity recreates her fight from the start of the OG film, but half of her moves are done with CGI. The feeling is: If they could do it that way then, why do it this way now?
In generally I think CGI killed a lot of the magic of the film. That can be said of all films. I just, I weep for special effects and respect any films that still take the time to use them.
Okay, before I get into the gripes, i'll highlight the positives:
> Keanu Reeves. He was actually damn good in this film. I mean, he's not always been the best actor around, but he got this one very right. He's got a good mix of inner conflict, confusion, honesty splayed across his face (when he's trying to figure out what's going on with Trinity, in particuar) and like in the original films he kinda sells the CGI 'force power' moments.
>Carrie Anne Moss. You can't blame her for the things they make her do, and you can't blame her for the natural processes which have spread her hips a bit and necessitated some creative camera cutting and wardrobe choices to help us overlook the route her physique has taken since the OG films. She is a pretty good 'Tiffany', a real everyday busy mum vibe with some very well communicated warmth when she's interacting with Reeves.
> Neo and Tirnity. Although it is also probably the film's downfall, the way the dynamic of the series is shifted to indicate that Neo only did what he did because of Trinity's love gives the actors a chance to really chemistry it up, and they do it really well.
> The opening act. Neo really doesn't want to get out of the Matrix. I thought this might be because some part of him knew that his entering a pocket matrix was part of his peace pact with the machines (turns out no), but anyway watching him struggle with his reality and, eventually, having to be forced to change his mind was pretty good.
> Most of the social commentary. They take dead aim on social media and people who let it make up their political minds, and the [kind of stuff this forum happily no longer talks about] dipshits.
> Eréndira Ibarra's Matrix-world appearance, in particular those nice, very short tailored shorts. Yes indeed. Nom nom. Can confirm I am available for mounting an important mission with her? Pardon me.
> The brief vision of a machine civil war, that was cool, like The Terminator meets the Matrix, but it only lasted about 5 seconds.
> The idea of Agent Smith. I dunno why they didn't get Hugo Weaving, has he died? No, he's only 61, gosh that guy's been middle aged for at least 30 years, but yeah they failed to get him so they had to find a new Smith and imply that his personality has kinda clung to Neo's and found itself in Neo's universe, dormant, in the body of Neo's boss. I mean, I'm sure the 'architect' of this Matrix did this, but I can't wrap my head around the convoluted reasoning. Anyway, I don't like the actor, but I like most of the lines and, yeah, the idea. Actually though I think I'm gonna make this a negative point because of the Deus Ex Machina role he plays in the final part of the film.
I'll add to this if I think of more as I go, but I think those *counts* several things cover what I liked about the film.
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