Matrix 4 Debunked The Dumbest Resurrections Fan Theory All Along
The Matrix Resurrections may have been a disappointment in the eyes of many, but the movie at least proved one of the worst theories about the long-awaited sequel wrong. While talks about a fourth Matrix movie had been going on for nearly two decades, it wasn't until August 2019 that Matrix 4 was officially announced, with Lana Wachowski returning as the sole director. In December 2021, with a same-day HBO Max release, Resurrections debuted to mixed reviews and claimed only $156.6 million at the box office.
Contrary to rumors and speculation, The Matrix Resurrections was not a reboot nor did it discard the original characters. Instead, Matrix 4 featured the return of Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Ann Moss as Neo and Trinity and was a direct continuation of the events of the Wachowskis' 2003 film The Matrix Revolutions. That said, Resurrections is far from being a regular sequel due to the circumstances surrounding the film's production and a great deal of meta-commentary present in the story, something that led to different interpretations about what the movie was trying to say.
One of the most common theories about The Matrix Resurrections was that Lana Wachowski had only agreed to direct the sequel out of spite, to mock the studios' desire for a sequel, or to make sure no other director would do it. While Lana's return did prevent WB from utilizing another director for Matrix 4, that couldn't have been the main reason for her to return as proved not only by her remarks during the film's extras but by Ressurrections' story itself. Lana Wachowski revealed that, after 18 years of saying no to a Matrix sequel, the loss of her parents led to her writing a story about people coming back to life—in this case, Neo and Trinity.
Matrix 4 also proves from start to finish that it's not a story made with revenge or mockery as its main themes, even if it has a cynical tone at times. In fact, the film offers both Neo and Trinity a second chance and delivers a much more hopeful ending than Revolutions. In many ways, Resurrections is almost a fairy tale in which, despite the many losses and struggles the characters have gone through, Neo and Trinity found their happy ending. If The Matrix Resurrections was the cynical movie that many theorize it to be, then it would make a lot more sense for the Analyst to emerge victoriously, or for Neo and Trinity to have a bittersweet ending.
The film does have a meta-commentary on its own production, but considering how the original Matrix films also reflected the culture and technology of their time, Resurrections doesn't stray too far from its predecessors, at least in that sense. Matrix 4 is quite different from the first three entries in the franchise in terms of aesthetics and pacing, but nothing that justifies the misguided fan theory that the movie was made to be bad. Matrix 4 may have failed to deliver on the same groundbreaking cinematic experience as its predecessors, but that doesn't mean the movie was purposely made to displease audiences or the studio.
The changes made by The Matrix Resurrections compared to the first three Matrix movies actually served to build a more self-contained story in which overcoming death and finding a happy ending were possible. It was a bold alternative, and The Matrix Resurrections' disastrous performance at the box office proves that, but also one that honored what Lana Wachowski had envisioned for the story of Neo and Trinity.
Source: Screenrant
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