Gravitas
The first Matrix movie was lightning in a bottle. The second and third were certainly not of the same quality, but were adequate as action movies. While there are a lot of reasons for why this fourth installment is worse, I will highlight one that I personally found most noticeable.
In the first three the enemies they faced felt severe and dangerous. Agent Smith, the Architect, the Merovingian...they all had a certain gravitas to them. A sense of authority and danger that made them feel lethal and powerful. But none of the enemies this movie feel dangerous, at all. There is a complete and utter lack of gravitas in all their portrayals. They don't feel intimidating or dangerous. They feel like regular people and that just isn't intimidating.
In the first three the enemies they faced felt severe and dangerous. Agent Smith, the Architect, the Merovingian...they all had a certain gravitas to them. A sense of authority and danger that made them feel lethal and powerful. But none of the enemies this movie feel dangerous, at all. There is a complete and utter lack of gravitas in all their portrayals. They don't feel intimidating or dangerous. They feel like regular people and that just isn't intimidating.
- bartrkottelaar
- Feb 13, 2022