Here’s the movie review no one asked for, my thoughts on Matrix Resurrections.
The movie reminded me of the package wrapping UG and Aunt Koni gave us for our gift this year. It was complex and difficult to understand. There was a lot of duct tape, toilet paper, and a cardboard canister that was fiercely suctioned closed. Unwrapping the present was arduous and tense, but I knew what was coming and that made it worth it.
After I watched the first Matrix, my mind was literally blown.
If you’re unfamiliar with the movie, the basic principle is that reality is manufactured.
I know I’m not the only one who’s had those moments where you’re just stumped about if what you’re experiencing is real. I remember little pre-schooler Danny asking me as he watched Spongebob, “Are we cartoons too?” I don’t think so. But there he was at his tender age, accidentally asking a deep question about existentialism. What is real? And if you and I are in the same moment, how you perceive it and how I perceive it may not be the same. Constructivist reality; how I see blue and how you see blue may be different; but they’re each blue to us. The first Matrix movie hit those chords and got my attention.
The thing that was so glorious about it was it was completely unexpected. Unfortunately, you can’t plan something unexpected. To steal a wise man’s words, it’s like catching lightening in a bottle. And that shit just ain’t going to happen twice.
The new Matrix movie was cringy. Neo doesn’t know he’s Neo. He’s just plugging away in his 50’s, surviving but not thriving. Feeling like he’s missing something in his life, but also trying to quiet that itch of “there must be something more” with a steady prescription of blue pills and lots of therapy. He seems purposeless. He says, “At some point in my life, I stopped searching for something real.” He meets frequently with his analyst who talks him down from his mental breaks that are actually his glimpses in to the real life. (At least I think)
Nonetheless, I’m glad I watched all 2 hours and 28 minutes of it. Similar to how I’d rather watch a bad Crossfit documentary versus a good cross-stich documentary. When the material speaks to you, you gotta watch.
Tenets of this movie included:
- There is no choice: There is only an illusion of choice. I’ll probably chew on that one while before I decide if it’s accurate. But as for now, I think it’s right. “Indecision is a decision” comes to mind.
- Controlling feelings is power: The analyst in the movie says, “Here’s The Thing About Feelings: They’re So Much Easier To Control Than Facts.” Regardless of which side you’re on of any given issue, this is painfully true. And frankly it’s f’n scary how easy we are to control when our feelings are being played.
- Purpose matters: Thomas Anderson should feel good about himself. He’s a successful game maker guy. But he longs for something more. For him, it’s world awakening and peace. For someone else maybe it’s horse dentistry. We don’t all need the same purpose, but we need a purpose. It gives clarity and direction, and leads to fulfillment.
All noble messages, to be sure. But you have to wade through a LOT of packaging to get to those messages in this movie.
There was way too much fan service. Blatant, overt coat-tail riding of the trilogy. But not cool latex coat-tails. I’m not typically one to pick apart wardrobe, but whoever designed Trinity and Neo’s matrix wear needs to be exiled. I assure you, she can still pull off the vinyl/PVC/leather wear. Instead, they got her looking like she’s off to make some changes to her 401k after she saves the world.
I’m guessing last night’s poor couple in seats E 7 and 8 wished I’d sat elsewhere. They had to hear me say things such as:
- “Anyone going to tell us why it matters to risk all civilization to save Trinity?”
- “There is way too much action in this sequence. It’s too busy to fully appreciate.”
- “What the hell?! Why is’t he using guns?! Is this an anti-gun commercial?”
- And of course the multiple times I just randomly blew raspberries; as the story drug out way too long or when they show the dude who’s got the redwood tattoo and say “he got it to remember the redwoods that no longer exist.” Please, I’m here for existential virtue messaging. Not for ecological virtue messaging.
My husband likely didn’t hear any of those things I said. He did however have his own question, “Why do they all drink coffee out of such little cups?” I dunno man. I guess that’s all they have at the Simulatte. *eyeroll.
It’s possible that Josh and I were seated apart to prevent us from talking shit about the movie the whole time. I’m honestly unsure how many more bad Keanu Reeves movies I can force him to go to. But I’m thankful he and Liz went to this one. Maybe by the time the next Christmas gift exchange rolls around, I’ll have figured out the movie. Or maybe all I’ll have figured out is that it just plain sucked. It was lame, but it was still Matrix so I have zero regrets for watching it.
Thanks for reading!
Bifocals and Barbells 