“Matrix Resurrections” learned from “John Wick”: it is the best film of the entire saga | REVIEW

In “Matrix”Nokia phones were used as high technology. Sure, it was just 1999 and the 21st century seemed like a gamble. At the time, the use of those endearing bricks was just one detail among the various misjudgments and failed predictions the Wachowski sisters fell into when shaping their cybernetic and post-apocalyptic vision of the future.

In 2021, two decades later, it should be recognized that the technological and virtual dazzling that the “Matrix” raised light a little naíf. Especially for his consternation over the overwhelming virtuality, the restriction of individual freedoms and the surveillance of a supposed superior entity that holds human beings under a yoke.

It seems like a joke, but it is not unreasonable to think that some of the theories of the saga contributed to the wave of conspiracy that spread in today’s world: from the new flat-Earthers to the anti-vaccines convinced that inoculation is a mechanism of social control. This is how the new millennium has been shaped and this is how we have lived these skeptical and extravagant times.

But even if we speak strictly of the cinematographic thing, “Matrix” also put its peculiar quota and to some extent harmful. The popular “bullet time” effect, for example (which by interpolating the images allowed him to build his iconic slow-down scenes), also partly paved the way for the cinema to start to lose my mind by computerized devices.

This happened especially with the two sequels that were released in 2003, “Matrix Reloaded” and “Matrix Revolutions.” In it, the abuse of special effects that spilled across the screen reached the limit of ridicule: the flying heroes and their super powers, the characters multiplied with a single click, the landscapes that looked like a simple computer render. All a paraphernalia that was diminishing the discreet charm of a saga with an interesting premise.

Serve all this preamble to talk about the relaunch of this story with its fourth installment, “Matrix Resurrections” (“The Matrix Resurrections”), which opens this Wednesday, December 22 and confirms, for good, that 20 years have not passed in vain . Because there are plenty of reasons for this.

First, and this is the most important, because he no longer basks in that kind of ‘new age’ philosophy loaded with religious, ideological and messianic references. Or at least he does not do it ad nauseam that he achieved in his first three installments, and which became a tiresome, repetitive, uselessly cryptic and even somewhat silly ballast.

Regarding its aesthetics, this new film does not abuse the special effects that supposedly would be the future of cinema (remember the craze for 3D?), but rather find the smartest way to use them. And it is not that it dispenses with gadgets: in fact, it maintains the aforementioned “bullet effect” as one of its trademarks, only that it applies it with just restraint, being aware of its potential and the risks of its excess.

On the other hand, it is to highlight the preference for hand-to-hand fighting and his pleasant delight in martial arts cinema (“I still know kung fu”, is a line that fans will love), as well as the successful chases on wheels (How can we not remember Trinity on a motorcycle, among the little salvageable from “Matrix Reloaded”). This set of well-deployed choreographies contributes to “Matrix Resurrections” showing its merits as an action movie rather than science fiction.

. Strong but at the same time serene attitude that the actor has managed to transfer effectively to this film: because it is through his ungainly, tormented and mysterious image that the impression is reinforced that this “Matrix” has learned several lessons from “John Wick”, the other saga starring Reeves. Tremendous point in favor.

At his side, and no less remarkable, Carrie-Anne Moss returning to play Trinity, undoubtedly one of the most successful rescues of the film thanks to her contribution of personality and emotion to the plot. On the other shore, the absences of Laurence Fishburne (Morpheus) and Hugo Weaving (Agent Smith) are definitely felt, although they are Gaps that the writers manage to solve with enough ingenuity.

Needless to say, “Matrix Resurrections” not a perfect movie. In certain sections it sins of an explanatory and a little obvious desire; in others, it appeals to the epic and collective roll that, as in its second and third installments, brings it ugly closer to “Star Wars”. But if we ignore these shortcomings, it is in general an entertaining, intelligent and sophisticated film that has managed to turn its own essence.

Qualification

4 stars out of 5 possible

• “Matrix Resurrections” premieres this Wednesday, December 22.