2. We See Too Much Of The Real World
Speaking of Zion, did we really need it? It reminds me in Star Wars when Obi-Wan Kenobi first tells Luke about the Clone Wars. It sounds cool, but when you actually see it, it’s kind of lame. Same thing with Wolverine’s back story in X-Men. We think we want to see the mystery unfold, but we really don’t. On paper, Zion sounds cool, but it could not have been more lackluster. If these sequels cut out everything having to do with Zion, they would have been significantly better. Do we really need a 15 minute techno dance party in the middle of a Matrix film? No. Do we really need the most generic pump up speech of all time by Morpheus? No. This whole subplot bled into two movies, and it turned out to be a massive miscalculation.
1. Mumbo Jumbo Dialogue #DestinyPurposeFateChoiceControl Gobbledygook
For a movie that was so efficient and smart in it’s dialogue and storytelling, it’s incredible the same people wrote these next two films. The reason the dialogue is #1 on the list is because it’s the soul of both these sequels, and I mean that in the worst way possible. Every single new person that Neo meets, he’s walking into a damn Philosophy lesson, which would be fine if the lesson weren’t taught by a pretentious 20-year-old. At one point, Neo talks with Councilor Hamann, or as I like to call him “Generic Old Wisdom Guy.” He goes on and on about the machines that run Zion. It’s the most useless conversation that ever took place, and even Neo knows it’s a waste of time. Then we have the stupid Merovingian and the dessert description, which was completely absurd. There’s also the endless Oracle talks. Seriously, if she offered Neo one more piece of candy or baked good, I would have lost it. Enough! These talks go on and on and on and on, to the point where it makes both films feel completely empty that I can’t even appreciate Neo kicking someone, and that’s why it’s the bottom of the barrel reason these sequels were a complete catastrophe.
Would I See a Matrix 4?
Despite all my complaining and nitpicking, I actually would give this franchise another chance, and you don’t have to reboot it either. With the way they left it, I do think there’s another story to tell, and for this series to redeem itself. It’s also been such a long time that I think people would be gung ho for another shot at the Matrix. My only request is that the Wachowskis aren’t involved. Will my feelings change after Jupiter Ascending? I guess it’s possible, but I’ve seen these directors fumble and bumble too many times. There are so many great filmmakers who could revive this franchise in a big way, but it sure isn’t the Wachowskis, just as George Lucas is not the answer for Star Wars.
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Daniel Cohen is the Film Editor for Pop-Break. Aside from reviews, Daniel does a weekly box office predictions column, and also contributes monthly Top Tens and Op-Ed’s on all things film. Daniel is a graduate of Bates College with a degree in English, and also studied Screenwriting at UCLA. He can also be read on www.movieshenanigans.com. His movie crush is Jessica Rabbit. Follow him on Twitter @dcohenwriter.
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