The Matrix Resurrections looks and sounds spectacular on 4K UHD Blu-ray, even if the film is not as ground-breaking as its predecessors.
The Production: 3.5/5
In 2003, upon release of The Matrix Revolutions, it was assumed that was the end of the franchise, and the Wachowski’s had even said so. Still, fans and the studio, Warner Bros., longingly ached for one more story. Eighteen years later, Lana Wachowski, after the death of her parents and a close friend, came up with a story that would “resurrect” the world of The Matrix along with the characters of Neo (Keanu Reeves) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss), both of whom had died at the end of Revolutions.
Thomas Anderson (Keanu Reeves) is an award-winning game designer who is stuck in a rut. His latest game, Binary, is behind schedule and over budget, mostly because he has been planting modals of alternate versions of scenes from his award-winning The Matrix trilogy of games in hopes of someone finding the backdoor h has planted. But Anderson is not sure why he is doing this, especially after a suicide attempt where he nearly leaped off the top of a building believing he could fly just like his alter-ego character from the game, Neo. Because of that suicide attempt, he is seeing a therapist (Neil Patrick Harris) who is prescribing Blue pills to help keep Thomas sedated and functional. That all comes crashing down when Bugs (Jessica Henwick) finds that backdoor and frees the hybrid Morpheus (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) from this new Matrix. It doesn’t help that Thomas also crosses paths with Tiffany (Carrie-Anne Moss), who reminds him of the character Trinity from his game, on a routine basis at the local coffee shop and noodle restaurant. There is something all too familiar with all of this, making Thomas believe he is headed for another breakdown, until Morpheus suddenly appears out of a bathroom stall at his workplace, and his business partner Smith (Jonathan Groff), during the attack on Morpheus, suddenly begins acting like the agent Mr. Smith from his game.
The Matrix Resurrections is a fun but also familiar trip down memory lane, taking potshots at Hollywood and the gaming industry’s obsession with reboots, while at the same time trying to re-establish a new world for these familiar characters. Revealing any more of the plot would spoil much of that fun. Reeves and Moss slip back into their roles with genuine ease, and Harris appears to be having a lot of fun with his character. Like the previous entries, the visual style is very well-crafted, and co-writer and director Lana Wachowski along with production designers Hugh Bateup and Peter Walpole and directors of photography John Toll and Daniele Massaccesi help to give this fourth film a more hopeful look and feel than the often depressing and dystopian one of the former films. The film does have its flaws, for sure, as it does get bogged down once Thomas/Neo realizes what is going on as it sets up the third act. Overall, I found the film more enjoyable with each repeat viewing.
Video: 5/5
3D Rating: NA
The Matrix Resurrections was captured at 6K and 8K resolutions on Red Komodo, Monstro, and Ranger cameras and completed as a 4K digital intermediate in the 2.39:1 aspect ratio, with Dolby Vision HDR for its premium theatrical and HBO Max engagements. Warner’s UHD disc features a 2160p HEVC-encoded transfer with both Dolby Vision and HDR10 high dynamic range that retains the movie’s theatrical aspect ratio. Viewed on an LG C1 OLED in Dolby Vision, the disc is stunningly beautiful, even during some if its almost overly dark moments where its Blu-ray counterpart struggles with over-compensated contrast. Detail is exceptional throughout, bringing forth our two main leads’ age lines, as well as freckles on Keanu Reeves’ face as he transitions to the Construct at the beginning of Chapter 8. The darker sequences (and I do mean DARK) manage to retain solid shadow detail without any noticeable crushing, while much brighter scenes never appear washed out.
Audio: 5/5
The default Dolby Atmos track is definitely demo-worthy, no surprise since the previous entries were considered exceptional, even going back to their original DVD releases. Sounds are placed with precision within the viewing environment all around you and travel seamlessly around the room. LFE is strong without being overly boomy, lending additional support to explosions and gunfire. Dialogue is clear and understandable throughout. Warner has included a lossy Dolby Digital 5.1 mix encoded at 448 kbps.
Special Features: 4/5
The UHD disc contains no special features, likely to maximize bitrates for the feature. All of the special features can be found on the included Blu-ray disc, and some of those are duplicated in the Special Features sub-menu.
No One Can Be Told What the Matrix Is (1080p; 8:52): A recap of the first three films, as told by the cast of The Matrix Resurrections.
Resurrecting The Matrix (1080p; 30:44): The cast and crew discuss bringing the franchise back after a long hiatus.
Neo x Trinity: Return to The Matrix (1080p; 8:16): Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss discuss their work on the franchise, from their being cast in the first film to working on this latest installment.
Allies + Adversaries: The Matrix Remixed (1080p; 8:27): A look at the returning and new supporting characters.
Matrix 4 Life (1080p; 6:19): The cast and crew reflect on the franchise.
I Still Know Kung Fu (1080p; 4:56): Training for the fight sequences in the new film.
The Matrix Reactions (1080p; 48:38): The cast and crew breakdown key sequences from the film – Echo Opening; Deus Machina; Welcome to IØ; Morpheus vs. Neo; Exile Fight; Neo vs. Smith; Bullet Time Redux; The San Fran Chase; The San Fran Jump (listed as its own separate feature on the home menu).
Digital Copy: An insert contains a code to redeem a 4K digital copy on Movies Anywhere. At the time of this review, Movies Anywhere was only provided with a 5.1 audio mix, while both Vudu and Apple TV/iTunes were provided with Dolby Atmos. On the reverse of the insert is an offer to purchase digital copies of The Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions and The Animatrix (all four titles as a bundle) for $19.99. However, most retailers are selling this bundle in either HD or SD.
Overall: 4/5
The Matrix Resurrections is a movie that, for me, becomes more enjoyable with repeated viewings. Warner’s presentation on UHD disc is outstanding, and some nice special features have been included.
Todd Erwin has been a reviewer at Home Theater Forum since 2008. His love of movies began as a young child, first showing Super 8 movies in his backyard during the summer to friends and neighbors at age 10. He also received his first movie camera that year, a hand-crank Wollensak 8mm with three fixed lenses. In 1980, he graduated to "talkies" with his award-winning short The Ape-Man, followed by the cult favorite The Adventures of Terrific Man two years later. Other films include Myth or Fact: The Talbert Terror and Warren's Revenge (which is currently being restored). In addition to movie reviews, Todd has written many articles for Home Theater Forum centering mostly on streaming as well as an occasional hardware review, is the host of his own video podcast Streaming News & Views on YouTube and is a frequent guest on the Home Theater United podcast.
Post Disclaimer
Some of our content may contain marketing links, which means we will receive a commission for purchases made via those links. In our editorial content, these affiliate links appear automatically, and our editorial teams are not influenced by our affiliate partnerships. We work with several providers (currently Skimlinks and Amazon) to manage our affiliate relationships. You can find out more about their services by visiting their sites.
Similar threads