The Matrix Resurrection’s big showdown between Neo and Agent Smith underlines why the fourth entry was such a letdown. The Matrix movies raised the bar for action, with the original movie especially featuring a fresh blend of Hong Kong-style gunplay and fight sequences. The Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions faced mixed reviews for their convoluted narratives and stilted dialogue, but they still featured incredible setpieces like the freeway chase. The trailer for the belated fourth film, The Matrix Resurrection,s promised even more impressive action, but the film itself proved to be a disappointment.

To be clear, there’s a lot of cool stuff that happens in the sequel. It’s an extremely meta commentary on both the Hollywood machine and storytelling itself; it also expanded the lore of the series and The Matrix Resurrections‘ ending gave Neo (Keanu Reeves) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) the finale they deserved. Still, Resurrections was intensely divisive for its many subversions, including some shockingly lame action.

Neo & Smith’s Fight In The Matrix Resurrections Doesn’t Live Up To Their Past Battles

Resurrections’ Neo Vs Smith battle is stunningly flat

Even if the second and third movies earned mediocre reviews, they at least featured great action. The fights between Neo and Hugo Weaving’s Agent Smith were typically the highlights, from their destructive subway brawl in the original to their apocalyptic showdown in Revolutions. There was disappointment when it was confirmed Weaving wouldn’t be returning for Resurrections – with the role being recast with Jonathan Groff – but the inevitable battle between Neo and Smith is one of The Matrix Resurrections‘ worst scenes.

This sees Neo and crew face off against Smith and other hostile exiled programs, and while it should be the action highlights, it’s incredibly underwhelming. The intricate choreography that defined the previous entries is gone in favor of graceless battles with anonymous enemies, while the Neo and Smith battle barely registers. The pacing of the Neo and Smith fight feels off, with the movements being too stiff and slow, and there’s a decided lack of tension throughout.

Groff does a fine job playing The Matrix Resurrections’ Agent Smith, but the sequel was hurt by Weaving’s absence. The rivalry between Neo and Smith defined the original trilogy, so without Weaving, the connection between the characters isn’t quite there. It almost feels like Resurrections‘ Neo and Smith bout is underwhelming on purpose, as if to highlight that yet another battle between them is meaningless. Mission accomplished, if that was the intention, but it also makes for a quite dull action sequence.

Neo & Smith’s Fight Highlights The Matrix Resurrections’ Broader Action Problem

The Matrix Resurrections has no standout setpieces

Aside from the bike chase that closes the movie, The Matrix Resurrection’s setpieces are forgettable. The Hong Kong-infused flavor of the originals is long gone, giving way to flatly sH๏τ fights and setpieces lacking in genuine excitement. The training scene between Neo and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II’s Morpheus is a pale imitation of the one seen in The Matrix, while Resurrections just lacks the signature style of the franchise. This can partly be traced back to the absence of action legend Yuen Woo-ping.

Yuen is the fight choreographer behind movies like Fist of Legend and the Kill Bill movies, and it was his touch that made the fights in the original Matrix so fresh. Yuen set a very high bar for action – one that The Matrix Resurrections seems utterly uninterested in trying to reach or even live up to. The action is downright lethargic at times, which isn’t helped by the sequel’s cheap digital look.

The lack of attention to the setpieces comes back to The Matrix Resurrections‘ mission statement. Director Lana Wachowski crafted a sequel that is more interested in examining the legacy of the franchise or audiences’ desire to revisit a story they’ve experienced already than crafting an innovative blockbuster. It’s a unique approach, but the mixed response it received suggests it wasn’t a successful one. Still, it’s kind of cool she got to make what amounts to a $200 million legacy sequel that playfully mocks its own existence.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes