The Matrixis widely considered to be the most influential and impactful sci-fi movie ever made, so it’s no surprise that it developed such a fierce fan base upon its release in 1999, including acclaimed director, Quentin Tarantino In the years that followed, the movie’s reputation took some damage after the release ofThe Matrix: ReloadedandThe Matrix: Revolutions. These sequels were completely different from the original movie and changed the franchise’s lore in major ways.Revolutionsin particular had a huge impact on the overall narrative and is widely viewed as theworstMatrixmovieas a result.
Tarantino has been one of the harshest critics of theMatrixsequels, after being wowed by the original installment. He’s a massive fan of the Wachowskis’ debut film in the franchise, but he’s never shied away from giving his transparent thoughts about the sequels and how detrimental they are to the franchise as a whole. The director has repeatedly claimed thatReloadedandRevolutionsmisunderstand exactlywhat the Matrix isand how the concept should be used.
Quentin Tarantino Believes The Matrix Sequels Ruined The Original’s Mythology
The Filmmaker Claims They Change Too Much Of The Lore
The origin of Tarantino’s controversial comments aboutThe Matrixactually has nothing to do with the original film. Instead, they’re more focused on the first two sequels,The Matrix: ReloadedandThe Matrix: Revolutions. The filmmaker believes that these movies entirely “ruin” the mythology of the original story, changing certain aspects of this fictional universe that retroactively alters the first movie. Tarantino has been very vocal in the past about his adoration of the Wachowski’s original sci-fi adventure, buthe’s clearly no fan of their follow-up projects.
Speaking toSky Movies, Tarantino claimed that “The Matrix 2 and 3 came and ruined the mythology for me […] frankly, I just can’t think about it the same way as I did before.” Sadly,this is a sentiment felt by countless fans ofThe Matrix, and the sequels have made no attempt to resolve this. The first movie is totally different from everything else in the franchise, and while there aremany great scenes in theMatrixsequels, they often feel like they’re made for a completely different audience.
How The Matrix Reloaded & Revolutions Retroactively Changed The Matrix
The Sequels Revealed That Neo Isn’t Actually The “One”
Despite all the misconceptions aboutThe Matrixbeing an overly complicated story, the mythology of the first film is resoundingly simple.Neo is presented as “the one”— the personification of a prophecy who can overcome the oppressive machines and break free of the simulation with his superhuman powers. This is proven inThe Matrix’s ending, when Neo rises from the dead and defeats Agent Smith.
However,The Matrix: Reloadedquickly makes it clear thatNeo’s powers aren’t as simple as the first movie made them appear,and he’s not actually “the one” at all. The sequel introduces a divisive character called The Architect, who informs Neo that his version of the Matrix isn’t the first, and there have been several “chosen ones” before him who underwent the same journey and ultimately decided to reboot the simulation. It’s a huge bombshell that completely changes the ending of the original film, removing much of the protagonist’s importance in the story.
Do Reloaded & Revolutions Really Ruin The Original Matrix Movie?
The Matrix Can Still Be Enjoyed In Isolation
The decisions made inReloadedandRevolutions(and laterResurrections) were all very controversial. Fans like Tarantino who are attached to the quality of the first one have also been very vocal about their opinion about them. However, that shouldn’t detract from the greatness of the first movie. Firstly, the inclusion of The Architect inReloadedisn’t as destructive to the franchise’s lore as Tarantino’s comments suggest. While it certainly reframes the original movie,Reloaded’s plot twists still make logical sense. It may not be what audiences expected from this narrative, but that doesn’t mean it “ruins” the story.
The Matrix’s Controversial Sequels Were Never Bad, And The First Movie Proves It
The Matrix’s sequels never recaptured the magic of the original, but they’re far from bad. The original proves that its sequels had some bright spots.
Secondly, no amount of plot holes or lore changes could possibly change the fact thatThe Matrixis a cornerstone of sci-fi cinema whose impact on the genre is still felt today. Even those who believeThe Matrix’s sequels make no sense at allshould still be able to enjoyThe Matrixfor what it is, rather than considering the story in terms of what it will eventually become. These changes to the mythology don’t detract from the incredible cinematography, gripping performances, or innovative storytelling of the first movie - which are undeniably its strongest assets.
