The Matrix Resurrections is out, and it's been critically divisive across the board. Part of the criticism is directed towards the action sequences, which are considered subpar in comparison to the original trilogy. That's why it's a good time to look back on the action scenes that have defined the franchise as whole, right up to today.
Every Matrix film has its high and low points, and action scenes are no different. The best ones relied on ingenuity, creative thinking, and stellar choreography to make their mark, while the worst ones felt aimless, and unsure of where to go. If another Matrix film is destined to be made in the future, it would be wise to heed the successes and failures of its predecessors.
The 5 Worst Action Scenes
The Burly Brawl (The Matrix Reloaded)
The main problem with the burly brawl fight from The Matrix Reloaded isn't the concept, but the execution. On paper, it's a very cool idea, and one guaranteed to shock audiences who believed that Neo really had nothing more to fear from the superpowered Agents inside the Matrix.
Unfortunately, this Matrix scene was ruined with CGI that does not hold up anymore, nor did it at the time. Granted, it was almost impossible to achieve the kinds of shots they wanted for the sequence, which meant they shouldn't have tried. Dialing down the fight to make it less bombastic would have been the better solution.
The Gun Check Lobby Fight (The Matrix Revolutions)
By the time the third Matrix film arrived, audiences had already been subjected to a lot of visual stimuli, particularly during the action sequences. This level of creativity and choreography is hard to maintain, even for seasoned industry pros, which is why the battle in the gun check lobby at the Merovingian's club felt like such a letdown.
Essentially, the fight relied exclusively on the gimmick of the enemies running around on the ceiling, while the heroes stayed on the ground. The scene ended with Trinity duplicating her iconic leaping swan kick from the beginning of the first film, which felt lazy. Dull battles like this one were one of many reasons The Matrix Revolutions disappointed its fans.
Neo Fights Smith For The Last Time (The Matrix Revolutions)
Over-the-top is the singular theme of this final fight against the ruthless Agent Smith in Revolutions. After all, the battles between the two had been done to death, in almost every conceivable way, leaving little else to fall back on except a superhero battle straight out of an MCU film.
It also doesn't make any sense, as Smith had successfully copied himself onto almost every single human, and program in the Matrix. Yet, the primary Smith battles Neo for what seems like an eternity, chock-full of CGI and tiresome slow-motion impact shots that feel a million miles away from that iconic subway battle in the first film. The only upside is that it allowed Neo to utter one of his coolest, and most poignant Matrix quotes.
The Merovingian's Return (The Matrix Resurrections)
The Merovingian makes a cameo in the newest Matrix film, though nobody really knows why. He adds nothing to the story, aside from sending his goons to attack Neo, Bugs, Morpheus and the rest of the crew. The fight itself is nothing spectacular, and feels like a watered down version of Neo's original battle against the Merovingian's thugs in Reloaded.
Adding Smith into the mix doesn't make things any better. The scene quickly breaks off to show him fighting Neo on his own, while the rest deal with the Vinge's henchmen. The fight choreography is subpar, which is especially evident when the camera pulls back to a wide shot showing everyone fighting in their own self-contained bubble of choreography.
The Motorcycle Chase (The Matrix Resurrections)
The Matrix Resurrections has proven itself to be a critical disappointment for many reasons, including the fact that Neo is clearly not the same guy that he once was. The motorcycle chase sequence at the end of the film reinforces this fact, tenfold. It occurs right after Trinity regains her memories, and the two make their escape.
Whilst being chased by attack helicopters and civilians turned into human bombs, Neo sits on the back of Trinity's bike, and uses the equivalent of Star Wars Force powers to deflect incoming projectiles. The sequence ends on a rooftop, with more of the same, making the final battle feel empty and lifeless.
The 5 Best Action Scenes
The Attack On Zion (The Matrix Revolutions)
The Matrix Revolutions was, at the time, considered the weakest of the original three films, but the final battle between the machine forces and the humans living in Zion was a highlight. It was the only real battle that took place in the human world, as opposed to the digital reality of the Matrix.
For that reason, audiences were given something different than gravity-defying flips and bullet-time. Though not perfect, this felt like a real fight, with real blood being spilled, and the Wachowskis did an admirable job of showing the enormity of humanity's battle against a clearly superior foe.
Neo Fights Morpheus (The Matrix)
The first Matrix film really solidified its status as one of the best cyberpunk films of the 90s, thanks to the original sparring sequence between Neo and Morpheus. To date, it's still pitch perfect, setting a tone designed to give exposition, while ramping up audience excitement to fever-pitch levels.
It's Morpheus' attempt to get Neo to understand how the rules of the Matrix could be bent, and in some cases, broken. This excellent fight is fast-paced, creative, and is cut perfectly to a cover version of Lunatic Calm's "Leave You Far Behind" instrumental.
The Freeway Chase (The Matrix Reloaded)
The Matrix Reloaded wasn't quite a perfect film, but it does boast one of the most outrageously cool action sequences of the franchise. Shortly after rescuing the Keymaker from the clutches of the Merovingian, Trinity and Morpheus make a daring escape onto an afternoon freeway loaded with traffic.
It's a three-way battle between the human heroes, the Merovingian's assassins, and the Agents of the Matrix, which was a smart decision. The battle goes on for an astonishing 15 minutes, but it never feels heavy-handed or boring. By the time it's over, audiences felt just as out of breath as Link, slumped over his console.
The Lobby Shootout (The Matrix)
Second only to one, this action sequence is the penultimate of the franchise, and for good reason. It remains one of the visually explosive and kinetic action sequences ever put on film, with gravity-defying mayhem, elegant ballet-style twists and turns, and some of the best Matrix weapons of the entire franchise.
It occurs when Neo and Trinity decide to launch a daring, seemingly doomed-to-fail mission to rescue Morpheus. The two go up against an entire lobby of police and SWAT personnel, with guns blazing. The mixture of fast cuts and drawn out, slow-motion acrobatics is cut to the tune of The Propellerheads' hit "Spybreak."
The Subway Battle (The Matrix)
Those who watched The Matrix in theaters back in 1999 fondly remember audiences cheering when Neo refused to run up the steps of the subway, and instead turned to face down Agent Smith. It was the defining franchise moment, where Neo finally believed in himself, and decided to make his stand.
The actual fight still remains the best of the franchise, thanks to the fact that it doesn't rush its way through. It also establishes that despite Neo's newfound confidence, he still needs to go that extra mile to defeat an Agent. The actual fight truly ends when Neo "dies" for the first time, and is brought back by Trinity with a new awareness of his status as The One.