Review Detail

I've gone down the rabbit hole of Matrix 2&3 edits, and I'm honestly surprised how few there are given how fun the second movie is and how bloated the third movie is. This is an older edit, and it shows in spots with some video and audio issues here and there, but it's the best overall Matrix 2&3 edit I've seen so far. It keeps the narrative intact and simply trims fat. I'd love to see Spence revisit this knowing what he's learned in the years since and with more modern editing tools!!! This is my third Spence edit, and I dig his practical sensibilities.

Things I loved: Shortened Trinity death. No subway. No Club Hell. No heart massage. No Sati. Minimal Kid. Trimmed Zion politics. Trimmed battle for Zion. Less Jason. No Zion door subplot. Just enough Bane to tell the story.

Things I didn't love:

- The Osiris scene in the beginning isn't necessary, and being animated, it doesn't fit. The movie could start right after and be better for it. If I'm ever watching the Matrix movies, I'm watching 2nd Genesis and Osiris between 1 and 2 anyway.
- The cut between Neo getting Smith's earpiece and arriving at Zion is super abrupt. The "get to your exits" probably could have bridged the two a little better
- I weirdly missed Seraph. Not the fight, but he very briefly shows the concept of back doors, which play a huge role in the movie
- Merovingian and Persephone get trimmed so much that it makes their motivations unclear and the cuts get a little choppy. I'd like to see her reason for betraying him, and I missed his "woman will be the death of me" line.
- I wouldn't show Neo landing after catching Trinity. She looks dead, and the short shot is kind of jarring. The catch alone would do it.
- After the EMP in the dock, it could have done a little more to show the downside and the retreat to the temple.

All intended to be constructive. I like Spence's work here, and until someone else does a more modern edit that doesn't drastically change the story, this will be the one I go to. Thanks for sharing it, and please consider an update!!! There really doesn't seem to be a better option right now, and I find that odd. I like the idea of naming an edit Matrix Hacked, if you're looking for ideas. Cheers!