Matrix Resurrections trailers

The trailers are looking fantastic. They suggest heavy themes (Neo in therapy!), of lost loves and realities and lives (Chance meeting Trinity in a cafe!), and then goes whole hog into action jackson. 

The second trailer mixes footage from the first films with the new one: realities are mixing, new versions overwriting the old. 

Could be amazing, or... it could be like Lucas' story rhyming, where he blows up a Death Star every other stanza. 

Which way will it go?

Fingers crossed...

We know Morpheus has been replaced by a younger, better looking actor; the formerly suave Merovingian is now a bum, and Neo has an extra thick chord sticking out of the back of his head when he was in his battery pod.  

But what does it mean? Not a clue. 

My guess? The new Matrix is nearing collapse and requires a reboot, yada yada, unexpected complications. Then suddenly everything is subverted in the best possible way. 

We know the machines are keeping an eye on Neo this time with Doogie-therapist, and keeping him pacified with big blue pills. Which means... the machines may not be onboard with Neo doing his choice/reboot thing. 

Morpheus 2.0 is back provoking Neo again in the fight simulator, more annoying than ever. 

Peace between humans and machines has broken down.

Maybe the Oracle, seen reading Alice in Wonderland in the trailer, can shed some light. And if she's back, so is... The Architect?

We will see! Fingers crossed it will rock!

I have to say I loved all four films in the original Matrix trilogy.

You did not read that wrong: I love the whole set, not just the first film.

Everyone says it derailed, that it went to hell, that the sequels were failures.

They are like Jon Snow: they know nothing.

They’re challenging in ways that action flicks aren’t. No, they aren’t perfect, but what is?

Macho dudes shooting macho guns across macho realities

To me, they were engaging on both the superficial action level and a deeper one. 

The Wachowski's had something to say with the trilogy and their Trinity: Neo (One), Trinity and… Smith. 

Neo is tied to Trinity by the bond of love, whereas Smith is tied to Neo by hate. 

Neo's faith and hope, while Smith is cynicism and faithlessness. 

The Matrix simulation contained millions of minds. The ‘real’ world, however, was never real: it was a catch basin for those minds that the matrix rejected. Why? As the simulation progresses in time, the number of rejects rises, destabilizing the system and making a reset necessary.  

We have never actually seen the real real world, whatever that might be.

Business douchebag in the first trailer gets the no-mouth treatment in the second

 

That’s why Neo has super powers in both. 

Smith’s cynicism infects the whole matrix simulation, turning it into a bleak landscape of inescapable mono-thought, hate filled and cynical, until Neo returns daylight.

Robot harvesting 'eggs' (human pods)

The Wachowski’s are smart, ambitious filmmakers. They take big risks with their films, and sometimes they don’t work out as well as one might have liked. 

I’m hopeful that the new Matrix film, Resurrections, has something to say. 

The first trailer starts out incredibly strong, then descends into spectacular action rehash. Maybe they don't want to give too much away...

Merovingian is back, and he's looking worse for wear

Going by Lana’s comments, which tie the new film to personal events, suggest that yes, it’s going to have meaning beyond cash grab. But it also likely won't be what we expect.

"Maybe this story is not the one we think it is..."

Wachowski also told EW: "Art is a mirror. Most will prefer to gaze at the surface, but there will be people like me who enjoy what lies behind the looking glass. I made this movie for them."

Sounds good to me.

Ruins of a future city

Final Season of The Expanse inbound!

I love The Expanse. 

It’s gritty and uncompromising. Reminiscent of Ronald D. Moore’s Battlestar Galactica, it has a very down to earth (in space!) feel to it. 

Like BSG, there's a large cast of characters, and initially the Expanse cast is a little harder to get into. Hell, it’s difficult to tell who the main characters even are. That sorts itself out quick, but it can still be a barrier to getting into the show. 

I highly recommend sticking it out for at least 4 episodes before deciding to drop the show. Trust me. It’s worth the investment.

One advantage The Expanse has over BSG: it does have a plan. The whole program is one great overarching story, beginning to end, a grand narrative that’s been plotted in advance by a series of books (which are not actually finished yet… deja GOT). 

I have faith they’ll be able to bring the whole thing to a satisfying conclusion, although how I have no idea. So many threads! So many mysteries! Again, a little deja GOT. 

I’m not sure how much I can even really say about the program without giving important details away. 

I can say that the books were written in a highly unusual fashion. Also, the characters prove themselves to be awesome. They act intelligently, with solid motivations. 

The two are connected.

The reason why they have greater integrity? They're based on RPG player characters.

I shit you not: the book(s) were written based on role playing game sessions.

A writer (I believe it was Daniel Abraham) joined sessions being run by a fellow who was developing his own sci-fi game (and universe) named Ty Franck. Abraham thought it a blast,  that it would make a really good book series, and a collaboration was born (along with James S. A. Corey, their combined pen name).

My understanding is that there was originally going to be one more main character (the healer/doctor/medic), but he dropped out of the game (too busy to play). As a result, his poor character was unceremoniously decapitated while sitting in a prison cell during a space battle. 

That'll teach him.

What an interesting idea, though! Using the combined brain power of a team of players to test your plot. To show what people in that situation (or imagining themselves in that situation) would do. 

Brilliant! 

There are many shows where characters devolve into plot plotters, shuffling around not because they have any character need, but because the plot requires it. This creates unsatisfying stories, and I know (as an attempted author) it can be a real problem. 

Sometimes characters take on agency of their own, and disobey and derail your plot, all without needing external people to actually embody them. So... just think how much more authentic actions would be if taken by… real people! 

That’s just one of the unusual angles in The Expanse.

The science in the show is far more rigorous than in Star Trek (which isn’t difficult, admittedly, Trek is more sci-fantasy), and (possibly) a bit more than BSG. Except when you bring in the, um, yeah, stuff later in the series... but even then it's presented really well. 

So it's not entirely realistic. Travel time is compressed (oh, GOT) and some mundane concerns have been glided over, as there’s a lot to consider with space travel and colonies. Still, it takes a lot more into consideration than I’m used to in run of the mill sci-fi.

You get the sense that the people behind the show really Give A Shit. 

This show has a dedication to craft and authenticity that is unrivalled in sci-fi. It's the best sci-fi TV show on television, hands down. 

Thoroughly engaging, highly recommended.

And there’s still time to get a go on it before the final season arrives. Give it a try, you won't be sorry. 

I’m stoked!