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It seems to be a law of the Internet that, whenever someone mentions the Wachowskis’ 1999 film The Matrix, someone must inevitably snarks, “It’s a shame they never made any sequels.” Sure, the first sequel, The Matrix Reloaded, never reaches the heights of its predecessor, but it also isn’t worth tossing aside.
The second Matrix movie may not have had the same impact as the first, but it's still plenty interesting to look back on.
Netflix's newest slate has been released, and The Matrix trilogy is set to make its hyper-stylish return to the streaming service.
According to Deadline, Jada Pinkett Smith is now in talks to return for The Matrix 4, after appearing in the original films as Niobe.
It sure is! Could've been at least a half-hour shorter, though, and been the end of a Matrix duo-logy than have made the Matrix Revolutions.
I JUST saw all three of these with my kids and the last two blew chunks. The first one is a master piece in action cinema. The other two are pure nonsense, number two gets the one good car chase scene THAT IT. NOW, if you want to speak about what all these modern day philosophers have, then all three Matrix movies offer a kind of other metaphysical and metaphorical way of thinking that lends itself easily to all kinds of parables and modern day prophets.
However, the masses went to see an action movie (and what is probably one of the biggest bait and switch ever conceived), and instead got duped into a weird conversation about the existential life and so on.
The best critics were my kids I feel. They weren't jaded or anything. They loved part one, they asked for more. When I put on the others, they started picking their noses, messing with their feet, singing, running around, trips to the bathroom. Even with as much "heady" concepts as part one had, it was a master class in action filming. The rest is nonsense.
I liked all three of the Matrix films. I think many people didn't understand them, and the many biblical references made throughout, but they were all smartly made and excellent, in my opinion.
Sure, I thought it was still a fun ride. Having said that, it REALLY didn't live up to its potential either.
A few really good action scenes, the whole highway segment was just awesome, but they literally dragged everything out to the point diminishing the action. Rather than reining in the 'heady' pontificating while making the most of its philosophical utility in the first one, the Wachowskis just went with the sledgehammer approach so often. Plus, they gave writing gave hints at Neo going to fight vampires, werewolves, and stuff in the chateau part...only to have that part just be more fights against people in slick suits.
Overall, this has some impressive feats about it but I can't help but think of what could have been as well.
Maybe somebody can tell me...what exactly did they accomplish in The Matrix 2? I feel like nothing they did really moved the plot forward, it was just there for filler.
I wouldn't go so far to say that it is a bad film, but like Revolutions it just feels unnecessary. And the scene where Neo fights 1000 agents smiths is one of the most embarrassing displays of CG this side of Peter Jackson's King Kong green screening antics.