The upcoming sequel The Matrix 4 should scale back the over-the-top action and return to gritty martial arts combat. The original movie in the franchise featured numerous action-packed set pieces that pushed The Matrix into a visual effects event that needed to be seen. The iconic action choreography in the series changed the industry forever in the early 2000s, inspiring a generation of films; however, the qualities that made The Matrix groundbreaking are no longer fresh and exciting. With today's filmmaking standards, the fight sequences will be the key for The Matrix to set itself apart from other blockbusters — and the best way to do that is to return to the basics.
While the original movies are defined by big visual moments like the Matrix's iconic bullet time effect, the franchise can't rely on special effects anymore to make an impact on moviegoers. The sequels traded its action choreography for more visual effect moments, which ranged from looking questionable to completely fake. The Matrix 4 can't make that mistake in 2021 without being canned by fans and critics. An experience the franchise knows too well. Even as special effects improved, it's still quicker to notice when something is fake on screen. But as blockbusters are focused on creating visual spectacles, The Matrix 4, much like the original, can bring kung fu to the forefront and be an action blockbuster sorely missing today.
One of the major draws of the first Matrix movie was the gritty martial arts. Scenes like Morpheus training Neo stand the test of time because it remains grounded. It's well choreographed, the punches feel real and there's little CGI. Some of the best action movies of the last decade followed the path set by The Matrix: Mad Max: Fury Road's action blends mostly practical and CG effects, John Wick shows off Keanu Reeve's martial arts skills twenty years later, and Mission Impossible pushes the kinds of stunts that are possible. Audiences respond to action more when they can feel like it's real. As these movies learned from the original, The Matrix 4 can learn from them to redefine action movies today.
The Matrix conveyed the story through the action: Every power and ability Neo gained in The Matrix showed not just his skill, but where he was in his journey of becoming the One. Moments in the original like Neo facing off with Agent Smith in the train station were mainly comprised of just martial arts combat. As the franchise went on, however, there was more of a reliance on the visual effects; infamously, The Matrix 3 was critically panned for what appeared to be rushed CGI sequences. Neo fighting the Smith clones in the third film is specifically remembered for being so poorly executed.
The Matrix 4 can redeem the franchise by not complicating the story or overloading itself with CG action. By returning to basics, the characters and audience can discover the world of The Matrix and keep the fights simple. With a couple new members joining the cast, the most compelling moments could be them learning kung fu and testing their skills as Neo once did. It also gives new characters a challenge against the agents who are also skilled in the martial arts. This reset grounds the franchise again instead of veering off into god-like powers that call for visual effects. So many blockbusters today choose spectacle over more compelling action choreography. By returning to the gritty martial arts action, the franchise can feel fresh.
