Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

The Matrix Resurrections Blu-ray Movie Review

Red pill blues.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III March 4, 2022

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.

Appropriately for its meta take on the material, we arrive two decades (or more?) after the events of Revolutions. Middle-aged Thomas Anderson (Keanu Reeves) has enjoyed great acclaim as a video game developer, basing his most successful ones on the alternative-reality world of "The Matrix" that exists in half-memories. Hallucinatory signs of his previous life as the god-like "Neo" are all around, from random code lines in mirrors and screens to a married woman named Tiffany (Carrie-Anne Moss) that he sees regularly at a favorite coffee shop. Believing he could fly, Thomas even almost jumped off a building years ago in what was assumed to be a suicide attempt. Not surprisingly, his therapist (Neil Patrick Harris) discourages Thomas' repeated claims while urging him to continue his blue-pill prescription. But we already know the truth: they're actually stuck inside a Modal loop discovered by Bugs (Jessica Henwick), a Resistance member who's been watching Thomas from afar and, along with a young Morpheus (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) and her crew aboard the Mnemosyne, makes it her mission to free him. Soon enough, it's time for the ol' red pill.

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 IØ 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 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. While the separately-available 4K/Blu-ray combo pack offers much better video quality for only a few dollars more, this silver-medal release features the same great Dolby Atmos mix and collection of bonus features.

The Matrix Resurrections Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Within format boundaries, The Matrix Resurrections offers a capable but vaguely underwhelming 1080p transfer that'll only pass muster if (a) you didn't see the film theatrically, (b) compare it to a streaming version, or (c) don't watch the separate 4K edition first. Fine detail, color saturation, and shadow detail are all adequate but the image is prone to mild or moderate black crush and posterization, both of which creep into some of the film's most darkened interiors. Without the 4K disc's higher storage capacity and HDR enhancement, what should be a healthy image can't help but look a bit processed and flat in direct comparison. Even so, detail and textures are fine under the right conditions, while the color manages to successfully take over during scenes that demand extra palette punch. But this is one of the more obvious cases of 4K video outperforming a Blu-ray; even when tested on a mid-sized display, the differences were apparent.

For more 1080p screenshots, please see my separate review of the 4K/Blu-ray combo pack.

The Matrix Resurrections Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

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.

The Matrix Resurrections Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

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 below can be found on the Blu-ray disc.

• No One Can Be Told What The Matrix Is (8:52) - Reflections on the original trilogy -- but more of an on-the-spot recap, really -- featuring key cast members including Carrie-Anne Moss, Jessica Henwick, Neil Patrick Harris, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jonathan Groff , Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Daniel Bernhardy, and more.

• Resurrecting The Matrix (30:44) - Director Lana Wachowski, actors Carrie-Anne Moss and Keanu Reeves, and other key contributors speak about the long gap in-between Matrix films, as well as the challenges and joys of returning to the franchise after undergoing personal tragedies and reflection during the past decade.

• Neo x Trinity: Return to the Matrix (8:16) - Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss reflect on their first meeting during pre-production of the original film and, of course, returning to their iconic roles.

• Allies + Adversaries: The Matrix Remixed (8:27) - Several returning participants -- mostly several members of the supporting cast -- offer a few personal thoughts about their characters and the on-set experience.

• Matrix 4 Life (6:19) - More personal reflections on the journey from The Matrix to Resurrections from key members of the cast and crew, including candid on-set footage from all four films.

• I Still Know Kung Fu (4:56) - Footage of Keanu Reeves and company in training for the fight scenes, along with interviews with cast and crew members about the stunt work and choreography.

• The Matrix Reactions (9 featurettes, 48:38 total) - Cast and crew members break down individual scenes from the film, many of which include set footage brief comparisons to the final product.

• Echo Opening (5:34)
• Deus Ex Machina (4:45)
• Welcome to IØ (5:17)
• Morpheus vs Neo (4:00)
• Exiles Fight (5:20)
• Neo vs Smith (4:09)
• Bullet Time Redux (4:34)
• The San Fran Chase (7:32)
• The San Fran Jump (7:56)

The Matrix Resurrections Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

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.' Blu-ray/DVD combo pack offers a nice selection of extras and a solid Atmos track, although its 1080p transfer is a clear step down from the 4K edition. Either version is recommended for fans (especially the 4K, if you're planning to upgrade soon), but anyone not familiar with the franchise's ins and outs should take a crash course with the first three films beforehand.