Before anything, let’s get in the mood for “The Matrix Resurrections”. Are you ready for a meta experience?
I’ve been hooked on American rock band Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit”, which is interspersed throughout the 1st Resurrections trailer. It’s an iconic song from the 60’s that is just as good today as it was then; strangely, no rapper has done a cover of it yet, as far as I know.
Grace Slick wrote “White Rabbit” in 1965 when she was a member of a group called “The Great Society”, but the meta-inspiring song only took off when she joined Jefferson Airplane and rerecorded it. Interestingly, Jefferson Airplane was founded by band member Marty Balin, who established The Matrix club on Fillmore Street in San Francisco. The first act on opening night was, you guessed it, Marty’s own Jefferson Airplane. The Matrix went on to attract many emerging rock musicians including Steppenwolf, Lou Reed’s The Velvet Underground, Jim Morrison’s The Doors and Janis Joplin’s Big Brother & the Holding Company.
Listen to this incredible full original rendition of “White Rabbit”, as well as some great covers we’ve compiled for you:
The Original White Rabbit
White Rabbit Covers
This clip from Twinsthenewtrend is for the younger set:
Patience is a Virtue
Now back to what we’re supposed to be focussing on.
It’s hard to believe that it has been 22 years since “The Matrix” was released, widely considered one of the best science fiction films of all times, with 4 Academy Awards to its name.
Audiences only had to wait 4 years between “The Matrix” and the next 2 same-year additions to the family in 2003 … but it has been an 18 year wait for this week’s release of “The Matrix Resurrections”. Do you consider that to be torture?
However, special effects have made enormous leaps since 2003, so it was probably worth the wait. I fully expect to have my meta mind blown on December 22nd. “White Rabbit”, after all, is said to be about blowing your mind on magic mushrooms, which provide feelings of euphoria and sensory distortion just like the Matrix.
“Is it also coincidental that psychedelics are coming back into vogue? Or perhaps the new psychedelic experience will be lived through greatly enhanced computer-generated imagery (CGI) … and metaverses.”
Keanu Reeves will step back into his Matrix shoes as Thomas Anderson/Neo along with returning co-star Carrie-Anne Moss as Tiffany/Trinity, even though both died at the end of the last Matrix installment.
“I was at home and I got a text from Lana Wachowski, the director and writer, and she was like “What do you think about doing another ‘Matrix’ film?” he recalled. “And I went ‘What?! That sounds amazing, but I’m dead.’ And then she was like, ‘Are you?’ ” (Keanu Reeves)
Aquaman star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II replaces self-professed scifi-head Laurence Fishburne as Morpheus, who says he wasn’t invited back to play the role. Hamilton bad boy Jonathan Groff will play Anderson’s business partner. Neil Patrick Harris, the first openly gay may to host the Academy Awards, will play Anderson’s therapist in potentially significant blue-rimmed glasses. In a red pill, blue pill moment, Jessica Henwick chose the Matrix over MCU and will play Bugs. Indian superstar Priyanka Chopra will play Sati. Former child actor and Lord of the Rings fan, Christina Ricci will play Keanu’s boss. Jada Pinkett Smith may now be a Zion elder, and will return as an aged Niobe.
In case you’ve forgotten, the basics of the Matrix plot are relatively simple: humans are trapped in pods by AI machines and used as an energy source, during which their minds are held captive by computer programs in the Matrix. This next Matrix installment is set two decades after the events of “The Matrix Resolutions”. Neo is no longer dead – he is blue pill-popping Thomas Anderson, whose unrecognized brush with Trinity awakens inner thoughts. Offered a red pill, he is reunited with a new version of Morpheus … and the rest is yet to tell. One thing is sure: the what, why and how will be revealed in a rich digital playground enriched by time travel.
The movie will be competing with “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and will launch tomorrow (Wednesday), instead of the more typical Friday. Contrary to most other Christmas releases, audiences will also be able to watch this highly anticipated movie on HBO Max at the same time the movie is released in theaters. It will be interesting to see how this strategy plays out in the cha-ching department.
Do you remember what a cash register is and/or what sound it makes? Hint: cha-ching. Fun fact: Onomatopoeia is a word that sounds like the common sound of the object it is describing. Here’s how you pronounce onomatopoeia, in case you want to Strut Your Smart like most Quizefy fans.
Yummy
Keanu Reeves (Thomas Anderson/Neo) makes most Canadians very proud.
On Jimmy Kimmel Live he recounted that his first paid acting job was for a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) production of the comedy series “Hangin’ In”. He had 16 words to say, including: “Hey, where do you keep the towels?”. Much has changed since then.
Keanu’s complicated and sometimes difficult life has been balanced with a passion for motorcycles and music. He remains a heart-throb with his patchy beard, even though he’s just 3 years away from qualifying for senior discounts. Managing to evade the list of the top 10 worst beards, this understated Canadian man is hot.
“I am not handsome or sexy. Of course, it’s not like I am hopeless.” (Keanu Reeves)
Previous Matrix movies were the product of the Wachowski Brothers, both of whom have since transitioned to the Wachowski Sisters. Lana has taken on the Matrix helm this time.
Now challenge yourself and your friends to our Matrix Quiz of the Day, by downloading Quizefy from the app store if you haven’t already done so, then see how much you know and Strut Your Smart. Our Matrix Quiz is only available today, then it disappears. We’ll be back again every Tuesday with a special blog posted at www.quizefy.com, along with a new trivia quiz on the same topic as the blog. Don’t forget to follow Quizefy on social media, so we can remind you of the upcoming blog and quiz content.
