The Matrix series is a dystopian science fiction series revolving around the concept that the world we live in is just a simulation. The original trilogy, excluding The Animatrix, revolves around Neo and his journey to destroy The Matrix and set everyone free. Written and directed by The Wachowski Siblings, The Matrix franchise has been praised both critically and was a blockbuster success. The Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions were all planned sequels that added to the franchise. The series was thought to have ended after The Matrix Revolutions back in 2003, but the Wachowskis surprised us all with a comeback in 2021 with The Matrix Resurrections.
An official announcement of The Matrix Resurrections came in Spring of 2021, bringing with it plenty of anticipation for the fans to look forward to. After the release of the official trailers in the fall of 2021, fans can once again look forward to seeing their favourite characters return. Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss and even Jada Pinkett-Smith have been confirmed to return in the new addition to the franchise, leading to even more anticipation for what the new film will bring to the series. With the same writers and directors behind it, we can expect the same ambiance and green tinge to the film as in the originals as well as the hardcore action sequences as seen in the original trilogy. In looking forward to this new installation into the series, here’s everything you need to know about the original trilogy.
The Matrix
The original film The Matrix came out at the turn of the 20th century. It was around this time that the Y2K conspiracy was circulating as well when it was thought that all technology would fail and that satellites and airplanes in the air would come crashing down into the Earth. The Matrix was not only revolutionary in its concept, but it represented—and still does—a plausible concept. The original film revolves around Neo, a hacker who lives a normal life until one day he is found by Morpheous and Trinity. Morpheus offers him the truth and Neo accepts it and is unplugged from the Matrix. He discovers that the surface of the Earth is no longer inhabitable having been destroyed by AI created by humans that the humans tried to eliminate and failed.
The whole film follows his journey to discover his purpose and the prophecy that states Neo will be the one to destroy The Matrix. At first, Neo regrets his decision in leaving the Matrix but eventually comes to believe in himself and the prophecy. His doubt holds him back from living up to his full potential as The One and even leads others to doubt him. It is Morpheous’ unwavering faith in him that leads Neo to believe in himself and save the real humans from catastrophe. By the end of the film, Neo accepts his responsibility as The One and learns to bend the rules of the Matrix so well that he can dodge bullets, as the film is famously known for, and even learns how to fly within the system.
The Matrix Reloaded
Warner Bros.
The Matrix Reloaded is a direct sequel to The Matrix that came out in 2003, the same year as its sequel The Matrix Revolutions. It follows Neo after the events of the original film and shows us how humans live on Earth in Zion. We get a taste of normality seeing the number of humans who have never been plugged into The Matrix. We also witness Neo functioning at full capacity within The Matrix with amazing action sequences as he works to protect Zion from the sentinels and works his way through The Matrix and the programs within to do so.
In The Matrix Reloaded we also get greater insight into Neo’s purpose and the prophecy of his fate. We eventually discover that he is not the first to try to save the human race from total extinction and wipe out the army of sentinels, as explained by The Architect. So while he is The One, he is not the first ‘The One’, but that does not make his purpose any less important. The Matrix Reloaded gives us everything the original did and more. Well choreographed action scenes and with the use of CGI, there is more flexibility to do more than just dodge bullets, like when Neo fights the thousands of Smiths or when the albino twins warp through architecture to get to their victims. The Matrix Reloaded also leaves viewers hanging on the edge of their seats, awaiting Neo’s fate from the cliffhanger at the end of the film.
The Matrix: Revolutions
The Matrix Revolutions was meant to be the final installation in the trilogy, being released shortly after The Matrix Reloaded. Locked in a strange limbo that he doesn’t recognize, Neo is trapped and needs to find a way out. In the meantime, the inhabitants of Zion do their best to hold off the Army of sentinels until Neo can destroy the sentinels. On top of all this, Smith makes a surprising return and gets in the way of Neo fulfilling the prophecy. The Matrix Revolutions brings back the Merovingian, Niobe, Morpheus, and more of the original cast from the first two films as Zion fights back against the sentinels to the best of their ability.
The Matrix Revolutions may have less action than its predecessors but it’s bound to keep your interest through the suspense of every move made. The film ends with The Matrix being rebooted and Neo being plugged back in. Zion is saved from the sentinels, but Neo’s future is unknown, leaving the ending rather ambiguous. It’s safe to say now that from trailers of The Matrix Resurrections that Neo had been plugged back in and has to find his way out yet again, another journey down the rabbit hole. That said, some have come to believe that The Matrix Resurrections is a whole new chapter and basically erases Reloaded and Revolutions from the canon.
