The Matrix Resurrections

                You can't keep a good franchise down.  The beloved trilogy came to a pretty final conclusion at the end of "The Matrix Revolutions", killing off its two main characters but of course with science fiction stories, there is always a way to bring characters back to life, especially if there is money in it for a movie studio and the filmmakers.

          Once again Keanu Reeves stars as Neo (aka Thomas Anderson) and returning to the digital world with him are Carrie Anne-Moss as Trinity, Jada Pinkett Smith as Niobe and Lambert Wilson as The Merovingian. Joining them this time out are Jonathan Groff as Mr. Smith, Neil Patrick Harris as "The Analyst", Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Sati, Jessica Henwick as Bugs and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Morpheus.

               When the film begins, Neo has been repaired by the machines and his memories suppressed. He believes himself to be Thomas Anderson, a coder and creator of the video game, The Matrix. The first inside joke comes when his boss suggests that their parent company Warner Brothers wants a sequel to The Matrix Trilogy. As with the previous films, it's lines like this that make the audience start to question are we watching a movie, a video game or inside a game inside a movie? That's half the fun of The Matrix. The plots are so convoluted and disorienting that you may find yourself looking for the controls to manipulate what happens next.

                If you break it down to its basics, it's a love story. Our hero, Neo has returned to the Matrix to find and rescue his true love, Trinity. Everything else is window dressing. But it's remarkable window dressing. The fight scenes and stunts continue to amaze (even if there is nothing new about them), the visuals are stunning and the performances are all well done. Mr. Reeves slips back into Neo's skin like an old glove. Ms. Anne-Moss still plays a tough as nails Trinity and Mr. Abdul-Mateen II and Mr. Groff makes the characters of Morpheus and Smith their own. 

              Was there a need for another Matrix film? Not really but for fans, it will be fun to watch Neo take the red pill and go down the rabbit hole once again.