6.1 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Plagued by strange memories, Neo's life takes an unexpected turn when he finds himself back inside the Matrix.
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jonathan Groff (II), Jessica HenwickAction | 100% |
Adventure | 84% |
Sci-Fi | 77% |
Fantasy | 41% |
Martial arts | 22% |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
German: Dolby Atmos
German: Dolby TrueHD 7.1
Italian: Dolby Atmos
Italian: Dolby TrueHD 7.1
French (Canada): Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
Spanish = Latin American
English SDH, French, German SDH, Italian SDH, Spanish, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Digital copy
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Four years after the pop culture shockwave of The Matrix in 1999, its phenomenal success brought dwindling returns with Reloaded and Revolutions, back-to-back sequels released within mere months of each other... and both right after The Animatrix, an anthology film aimed more at adult audiences. Although fitfully interesting, both live-action films -- like most sequels, if we're being honest -- seemed to exist more for financial reasons than artistic ones and, despite their success, overkill eventually extinguished any remaining embers of interest on the big screen. Outside of the video game world, this once-hot property vanished almost as quickly as it arrived, which made The Matrix Resurrections something of a surprise upon its release last December: though it doesn't clear the impossibly high bar of the original film, it's a more mature, thoughtful, and entertaining effort than either of those earlier live-action sequels.
Fan service arrives in rippling waves, from flashback glimpses of key original trilogy events to familiar music cues, background details, and thinly-veiled fourth wall breaking meant to parallel the very existence of this almost obligatory project. These moments are not only done in a (mostly) tasteful and seamless way but serve as genuine highlights, such as the entire first act and its vaguely unsettling hints that all is not as it seems in San Francisco. The numerous flashback hits split the difference, helping less seasoned fans to fill in a few narrative gaps in the mythology's dense back roads and darkened alleys. Unfortunately, a couple of on-the-nose callbacks -- including its ending sequence and a God-awful cover of Rage Against the Machine's "Wake Up" -- miss the mark by a long shot.... but since these member berry moments are all but expected by modern sequel standards, they can at least be partially forgiven.
Despite my (possibly controversial?) belief that The Matrix Resurrections runs a not necessarily close but still clear second behind the original 1999 film (with Reloaded and Revolutions bringing up the rear, and in that order), it severely underperformed at the box office last December, failing to earn back its almost $200M budget; that was a first for the franchise, though it could at least be partially explained by a certain worldwide pandemic. Yes, it's somewhat bloated during its second act, when Neo and company arrive at the ultra-hidden underground city of IŲ led by General Niobe (Jada Pinkett Smith, under five hours of old-lady makeup), do battle with Agent Smith (Jonathan Groff) and other exile programs in a derelict warehouse, meet a former trusted "friend" turned new final boss, and more; these moments and several others are slathered with exposition and play more like a mushy collage than a thrilling, non-linear journey. But Resurrections rallies in the home stretch and, except for its somewhat cringy (I hate that word, but it fits here) final moments, the story is buttoned up in a thoughtful way that makes those speed bumps worth enduring.
During at least one behind-the-scenes featurette included on Warner
Bros.' new 4K/Blu-ray combo pack, we learn that director Lana
Wachowski
made the decision to return to this franchise after the sudden death of
her parents only five weeks apart in the late 2010s. Their support of
her
gender identity was always an integral part of The Matrix and
its message so, despite resisting countless sequel offers from the
studio
during the past decade or two, she brought Neo and Trinity back to life
as a tribute to them. It's a perfectly nice sentiment and might even win
over those who didn't like The Matrix Resurrections on first
viewing, as I've got a feeling this one might age a little better
than
expected. Either way, the 4K offers a very good A/V presentation and
a nice collection of bonus features to boot.
Warner Bros.' 2160p transfer offers a predictably strong presentation for The Matrix Resurrections, which shares a few native visual similarities with despite the fact that this is clearly an all-digital affair. It's a very dark film at times but the 4K disc retains plenty of carefully- controlled image detail in close-up and wide shots alike, thanks to better-resolved blacks and an HDR-infused palette that stands out nicely against the shadows. These vivid hues work overtime during certain stretches, where a few admittedly poorly-lit shots and other challenging locales leave traditional fine detail hung out to dry. Luckily, this 4K disc is up to the challenge: the Blu-ray (linked below), in comparison, routinely struggles to put forth an image that's as finely-resolved and easy on the eyes, often looking more processed in direct comparison. No such problems here, as the 4K format's increased real estate (twice the storage capacity at 100GB), more efficient compression, and less disc content (the bonus features are relegated to the Blu-ray disc) translates to almost zero artifacts, banding, black crush, and other eyesores. All told, it's a very smooth but not waxy presentation, carefully preserving the film's intended appearance in a presentation very close to most theatrical experiences.
NOTE: This review's screenshots are sourced from the included Blu-ray, which is also available separately. For my thoughts on that disc as well as more screenshots, please see my review of the standard edition.
The default Dolby Atmos track, which automatically unfolds to Dolby TrueHD 7.1 if your receiver doesn't support the newer format, offers a pleasingly intense atmosphere that combines intimate sonic details with much more expansive moments to create lots of variety at key moments. Discrete elements are focused appropriately across all channels, from the Mnemosyne's flight to numerous action scenes involving a half- dozen or more participants that include heavy gunfire, hand-to-hand combat, and the wanton destruction of background props. More supernatural moments, such as the occasional resurgence of Neo's supernatural powers -- which include energy bursts (for lack of an official term) and bullet-time evasion -- likewise engage the surrounds nicely, either from a purely directional standpoint or from that of a more all-encompassing "sonic bubble". But I'll admit that, as a whole, it doesn't have the same bombastic weight as earlier films, often trading in heavy hits and thunderous LFE for a somewhat more active and height-centered sound design. That's a fair enough trade in my book, although anyone looking for a room-shaking experience might find that this mix comes up a little short in that regard. Either way, it seems to be an accurate representation of the theatrical experience and, depending on where you bought your ticket, this Atmos mix might even come out ahead.
Optional subtitles, including English (SDH), are included during the film and all bonus features.
This two-disc release ships in a standard dual-hubbed keepcase with poster-themed cover artwork, a matching slipcover, and a Digital Copy code. All bonus features can be found on the included Blu-ray.
Lana Wachowski's The Matrix Resurrections serves as the surprisingly decent continuation of a franchise that, by most accounts, peaked early and wore out its welcome during the early 2000s. It's a thoughtful, even emotionally effective story (albeit one that's a little bloated and relies on cheap exposition to keep track of its tangled mythology), and I've got a feeling that most anyone who's come this far will enjoy the path it takes. Warner Bros.' 4K combo pack is a very solid effort considering the quick turnaround time, as its A/V presentation is quite good and the bonus features cover a respectable amount of ground too. It's certainly recommended for established fans, but anyone not familiar with the franchise's ins and outs should definitely take a crash course with the first three films beforehand.
2022
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2021
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2021
2021
Ultimate Collector's Edition
2019
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