“The Matrix Resurrections” Is A Damning Indictment of The Gaming Industry
I don’t think anyone knew what to expect when The Matrix Resurrections were announced. Is it a soft reboot? It would be a direct sequel of the movies. Are the Neo and Trinity in the trailer the same characters as the original trilogy?
One thing is certain: I didn’t think the Matrix film would offer a reflective critique of the video game industry. Yet, here we are. There are some minor spoilers, so don’t read this unless you have seen the movie or care not about certain plot details.
You’ve probably seen the movie. Neo is Thomas Anderson’s character. While he’s currently working on Binary, we learn that he was once the creator of The Matrix.
The fictitious title appeared to tell the story from the original movie and was created by Thomas’ imagination. It was so good, Warner Bros. (who are specifically mentioned in Resurrections) wanted to “ahem” revive the franchise.
They say they will do it with Thomas or not, and Neo is forced into a creative process where he seems to have lost any appreciation or joy for video games.
Neo is surrounded by characters who want to sell a game but use a well-respected name to create a product that doesn’t have the blessing of the original creator. A real-world example might have inspired Keanu Reeves.
The Matrix Resurrections mirror the games industry and, arguably, any large-scale business that uses creativity to achieve financial goals. It does this with courage and an apparent acute awareness of the subject. This is to be commended.
Even the Unreal Engine 5 Experience has its flaws. Neo/Keanu Reeves in-game says, “Agents can be bad, but marketing is the best thing you can do.” These are wise words indeed.
It is unclear if this film is directed at past Matrix games or another element. Perhaps Lana Wachowski is commenting on a particular thing. But one thing is certain: The Matrix Resurrections will ring true for many people because of its portrayal of the games industry.
