The trailer for The Matrix Resurrections is finally out and the movie will be released in theaters and HBO Max on 12/22/21. The trailer says "this Christmas" and my first thought was that is a bad idea, because Spider-Man: No Way Home comes out on Christmas and I wouldn't bet on anything getting as much attention. That's not to say The Matrix is bad, it's great in fact, but...well I'm sure you understand.

So, Neo and Trinity are back, but they don't know each other. Neo (Thomas) is seeing a therapist played by Neil Patrick Harris, because he's having weird dreams and thinks he's crazy. Jada Pinkett Smith returns as Niobe, who you might remember in the sequels. It *looks* like Morpheus is back, but is played by another guy. It looks like this might be a younger version of himself (according to the link below). Hugo Weaving will also not return and I'm disappointed both actors will not be returning.

I found a link with some more details, especially about the actors. You can check it out here:
https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a29498105/the-matrix-4-cast-release-date-plot-trailer-keanu-reeves-news/

I'm looking forward to seeing it, I've loved The Matrix movies since they came out. I'm also extremely fond of The Animatrix and if you haven't seen it, but are a fan of The Matrix, you should. As it sounds, it's anime Matrix stories. Some aren't really relevant to the overall story, but a few of them are significantly related. IMHO the best ones give us the backstory of how the Matrix was created and it's very interesting and disturbing. I loved the soundtrack as well.

I'm glad it seems this is coming to HBO Max the same day as theaters. The one great thing about COVID is that it created a significant boost to streaming services like HBO Max and Disney+. Those services have started showing movies when they release and I really love it. I think it's incredibly responsible, especially since we're currently dealing with the more contagious Delta variant and even vaccinated people are getting sick (but not mortally so). I prefer to watch something in the privacy of my own room. I did go see Shang-Chi, so obviously I've decided to go anyway, since not all movies I want to watch are streamed right away.

Let me know what you think about this. Are you a fan of The Matrix? What did you think of the trilogy? Have you seen The Animatrix? I've got a little more to say, but I might wait and put it in the comments.

jdodson   Admin wrote on 09/11/2021 at 01:01am

> Let me know what you think about this.

Looks like a visually and stylistically fresh take on The Matrix. It's not too modern, but modern enough. I'm going to see this for sure.

That said, I have no idea what this is beyond The Matrix again?

> Are you a fan of The Matrix?

Yeah, very much. Re-watched the trilogy a few months ago.

> What did you think of the trilogy?

The first movie is a massive cultural milestone. It has a bit of "90's goof" but I love camp so it's awesome. I used to really _HATE_ the sequels but recently I've come around on that and find them to be pretty good. I agree with some recent takes on the sequels, they should be viewed as one complete film as they were shot back to back and really are.

> Have you seen The Animatrix?

Many times. I'd rate it the second best Matrix movie.

Azurephile   Super Member   Post Author wrote on 09/11/2021 at 02:02am

I think it looks "modern," but maybe I don't understand your definition. Yeah, this does seem like "The Matrix again." Remember (spoilers!) Neo formed a truce with the machines and gave up his body. We see images of that in this trailer. It also seems as though someone is watching The Matrix via screen projection.

I don't know about "90's goof," I never felt that, but I really enjoyed it. I didn't hate the sequels, but it seems sequels never live up to the original. The movies are a true sequential trilogy, though.

I'm massively impressed you've seen and loved The Animatrix! I don't know of anyone else that has seen it.

One thing I wanted to note is that I love Neil Patrick Harris's glasses (obviously, because they're blue!). However, I came to believe they're specifically blue. This wasn't some random color the costume designers chose, they're blue as in "blue pill." I think that's real fitting (and an original thought). The blue pills make a seriously obvious come back, but we do later get to see the choice to be made again (red vs. blue).

Thanks for posting this reply, because I just posted my Shadow of War review and it looks like it pushed this down. I wanted this to have the attention, because I'm sure others here want to see this, too.

Will_Ball   Game Mod   Super Member wrote on 09/11/2021 at 05:25am

I really loved the first matrix. I thought the other two were fun, but don’t remember much from them. I have watched some of the animatrix if not all.

This trailer slaps and kind of makes me want to see it in the theater.

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 09/12/2021 at 05:06pm

I agree with everything Will has said here lol. Loved the first, the sequels were fun, but not great, and I'm familiar with the Animatrix, but still need to sit down and watch all of it.

And the trailer looks amazing. I have a feeling we're going to go into the movie thinking it's soft reboot, and they're going to subvert expectations very satisfyingly. 😀

Travis   Admin wrote on 09/12/2021 at 06:08pm

I never disliked the Matrix sequels but they weren’t what I expected at the time. My rewatches were always better than the first time seeing them in theaters.

The Matrix was my favorite film for a while, it was the first DVD I bought when I got a DVD rom for my PC.

In a lot of ways I think the animatrix and the video game between Reloaded and Revelations are required to really feel like you have a full understanding of what the whole world is all about, which is great for people who dive into all of that but not for those who didn’t. For example I only found out this week that Morpheus is canonically dead because of the events of the Matrix Online, and the Wachowski sisters consider that fully part of canon.

Though it seems like in this revision of the Matrix, Yahya’s character is a new Morpheus.

Anyway yes I am super into this trailer and I hope covid has died down enough by late December so I can see this in theaters. But either way I’m watching it many times I’m sure.

Azurephile   Super Member   Post Author wrote on 09/12/2021 at 06:46pm

Yay, Travis finally spoke up! I was waiting for that! :) I remember when we were college roommates. In my memory, I still have an image of seeing that Matrix DVD and I remember us watching it, maybe at least once. I don't recall if I saw it in theaters, but I think maybe so. I had already graduated high school by the time it came out and was in community college.

I don't recall a "Matrix Online" though I've recently seen that it existed. I think the one I was familiar with was Enter the Matrix, which I'm sure I saw in the database here. I think I remember it came out on all three consoles at the time; GameCube, XBox, and PS2 (I still have all three). I specifically remember seeing it for the GameCube. I don't recall if I played it though. I may have played a little bit of it, but not enough to get any story out of it. I seem to remember Niobe.

That's odd that Morpheus is canonically dead, because of the the events of The Matrix Online. I guess that's a bit of the Matrix lore I missed out on. And yes, it's been confirmed Yahya is indeed playing a younger version of Morpheus, if his style wasn't obvious enough. He confirmed it on Twitter.

Once again, New Rockstars (on YouTube) has a great trailer breakdown and analysis.

Travis   Admin wrote on 09/13/2021 at 03:25am

Yeah I played Enter the Matrix back in the day and loved it. Gameplay was… basically just ok but the story was great. You remember correctly, Niobe was a big part.

Travis   Admin wrote on 09/13/2021 at 03:25am

Thinking about playing it again if I can get it to run on modern hardware

Azurephile   Super Member   Post Author wrote on 09/13/2021 at 07:22am

Cool, man! I was about to ask about "modern hardware," but I decided to Google my question, I didn't know it's also a PC game. I'm just not sure where to buy it, I don't see it on Steam, not that that's the only place to buy games...

Travis   Admin wrote on 09/14/2021 at 03:04pm

I think it was only sold physically and then basically forgotten. I still have my discs from back in the day

Will_Ball   Game Mod   Super Member wrote on 09/14/2021 at 03:47pm

I have Enter the Matrix on the original Xbox. My guess is Atari didn't keep the license so they no longer can release it.

Azurephile   Super Member   Post Author wrote on 09/14/2021 at 04:14pm

Oh, cool! I have an XBox, but the only game I have for it is Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Will_Ball   Game Mod   Super Member wrote on 09/14/2021 at 08:23pm

Looks like it averages around $6 used in box: https://www.pricecharting.com/game/xbox/enter-the-matrix

Azurephile   Super Member   Post Author wrote on 09/14/2021 at 09:31pm

That sounds good! There's a site I've never heard of before, too!

Azurephile   Super Member   Post Author wrote on 12/02/2021 at 02:47pm

New trailer! This one looks very interesting as it shows the parallels between this and the first movie. It talks about making "copies" and deja vu, "it happens when they change something." This month is an awesome month for movies! It looks like I'll be going twice this month. The last time I saw two movies in the same month was probably decades ago. Check it out: https://youtu.be/IgYs_NDyaLs

Will_Ball   Game Mod   Super Member wrote on 12/02/2021 at 08:44pm

I hope the movie starts with the end of 3, and the matrix physically reboots itself. Maybe put a boot up screen for credits, and then we start with this reboot!

Azurephile   Super Member   Post Author wrote on 12/02/2021 at 09:24pm

Awesome ideas!

Azurephile   Super Member   Post Author wrote on 12/07/2021 at 05:38am

Here's a new trailer: https://youtu.be/nNpvWBuTfrc

Will_Ball   Game Mod   Super Member wrote on 12/07/2021 at 03:28pm

Looks like Matrix is borrowing from MST3K in the new movie and providing commentary on the old movie. I hope for a lot of funny!

jdodson   Admin wrote on 12/10/2021 at 02:34am

Everyone lives in the shadow of Mystery Science Theater 3000 🤣

Azurephile   Super Member   Post Author wrote on 12/21/2021 at 05:42am

Thank goodness this movie is streaming, because my theater isn't playing it. They're only playing Spider-Man: No Way Home and Encanto, the latter is one I know nothing of. I can't blame them for continuing to play Spider-Man: No Way Home. That was without a doubt the best movie of the year, maybe even the best Spider-Man movie ever!

Travis   Admin wrote on 12/22/2021 at 05:17pm

Yeah I'm glad it's streaming because I feel like it launched right at the window where I no longer want to go to the theater anymore. We were planning to go see this and Spider-Man next week in theaters but covid is at peak levels in VA now, back like it was last January before the vaccines were really available. And this damn hypercontagious omicron variant seems to be able to defeat a lot of defenses.

Azurephile   Super Member   Post Author wrote on 12/27/2021 at 07:42pm

I think the best word to describe this movie is "meta" (and I don't mean that new Facebook company). I enjoyed it. If you're a Matrix fan, I don't think you should pass this up.

jdodson   Admin wrote on 12/28/2021 at 02:40am

Agreed, it's quite meta. At first it was a bit much and I was wondering how meta or how deep the rabbit hole would go. In fact, the movie doesn't even quite know then they sort of answer everything and it loses a bit of the magic. That said, it's a great film I just wished it sort of broke out of the Matrix and did a huge left turn but in the end it didn't and I'm actually really happy with what we got.

That post credit scene wasn't great. Honestly felt like they could have done better there.

Travis   Admin wrote on 12/30/2021 at 11:32pm

It was a movie that we didn’t need, it didn’t really add anything to the Matrix lore or anything like that, but it was fun and something I imagine I’ll rewatch. Lana Wachowski said this was a catharsis for her, kinda going back to a comfort project to help her deal with some things in life, and it shows. It’s definitely a comfort movie.

There are no plans for this to be the start of a new trilogy but I’d kinda like to see that.

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