Summary
I’m not entirely delusional though. I get that the movies were a considerable step-down, and I think that that was inevitable since the original was such a global phenomenon. But, these movies did expand the story of Neo and his war with the machines. It gaveAgent Smith an opportunity to shinefar more than in the original, andit built a world, rather than just an idea. The sequels were invaluable, and considering some of the iconic scenes that they delivered, we needed them.
The Matrix: 10 Actors Who Almost Appeared In The Original Trilogy
Famous actors including Sandra Bullock, Michelle Yeoh, and Will Smith could have been in the original Matrix trilogy but circumstances prevented it.
The Matrix Wouldn’t Be The Same Without These Scenes
The scenes in question are the Burly Brawl, where Neo faces off against dozens of Agent Smith clones in an alley fromThe Matrix Reloaded. Next, the Highway scene where Morpheus fights the Twins on the top of moving vehicles inThe Matrix Reloaded. And finally, the last battle between Smith and Neo, where the two most powerful characters in the franchise put everything on the line while hundreds of clones watch on inMatrix Revolutions. These scenes aresome of the most impressive and praiseworthy of the entire series, not because of graphics, but ambition.
Yes, the Burly Brawl is janky and mostly looks like a video game, but the story beats that come from Neo facing down so many of the Smith’s and seeing him hone his powers are incredible. Then, the other two scenes are considerably more impressive visually, withincredible stunts and action throughout. If the sequels never got made, these scenes would forever be lost, andThe Matrixwould have ended on a cliffhangerthat was nowhere near as satisfying as having other chapters.
There Are So Many Great Things About The Matrix Sequels
It Completes The Trilogy And The Prophecy
The reality is, that these additional chapters make The Matrix into an epic story, rather than a standalone concept. Theoriginal movie spends most of the plot convincing Neo that he is some sort of prophesied legendwho has the power to change the world and free people from the machine. Throughout, he doubts this truth, and those around him are divided in their opinions. It isn’t until the last moments that he embraces his destiny, ready to change the world and fight the machines.
Without the sequels, it would just be an origin story, with no greater context or exploration. Instead, we got multiple sequels that show Neo growing to become a savior in the matrix, and a leader outside of it. Eventually,Matrix Revolutionseven concludes the storyand delivers on the promised prophecyfrom the original when Neo makes a deal with the machines, and frees anyone who wants to be released from the simulation.
The Matrix Trilogy Ending Explained: Neo’s Sacrifice And How Resurrections Changes It
The ending of The Matrix Revolutions is one of the most divisive and talked about endings of all-time, but the movie itself provides all the answers.
Reloaded & Revolution’s Best Scenes Show What Resurrections Lacked
The Matrix Resurrections Was A Different Story…
In saying this, I can’t stand byThe Matrix Resurrectionsin the same way. It certainly tried to build on the story, and give Neo a chance to return, but if anything, it felt like it tarnished his legacy more than it preserved it. Despite an interesting idea with Thomas Anderson working as a video game developer and having glimpses of memory that he put into his game, the film is ultimately lacking, and theother sequels only highlight the lack felt inResurrections.
ReloadedandRevolutionsadded to the story and built on the original prophecy. They felt like they had a place and a purpose in the trilogy. And on top of that, they delivered outstanding action sequences that became iconic in their own right.Resurrectionstacked on a chapter that felt unnecessary, it struggled to deliver any action that was on par with the trilogy, and it devalued Neo’s sacrifice by having the people he freed still struggling and impoverished. Ultimately, I thinkThe Matrixfranchisedid the right thing in creating a trilogy, but the fourth entry went off the rails.
Despite the negative feedback for The Matrix Resurrections, a fifth Matrix movie is currently in the works.
The Matrix
The Matrix is a sci-fi action franchise that launched with the Wachowskis' 1999 film. It depicts a dystopian future where humanity is unknowingly trapped in a simulated reality by sentient machines. The protagonist, Neo, discovers this truth and that he is “The One,” a being that will lead a rebellion against the machines and restore freedom to humanity.
