The Matrix Resurrections Review: 5 Ups & 5 Downs

3. Laurence Fishburne Is Sorely Missed

It's not a spoiler to say that Laurence Fishburne doesn't appear in the film as Morpheus, the character effectively given a reboot of-sorts as now played by the great Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.

And though Abdul-Mateen II certainly turns in a fine effort as this slick, suited-up new iteration of Morpheus, there's little denying that Fishburne's absolutely magnetic presence is sorely missed throughout.

Given the rather fluid, whatever logic of the story, it would've been incredibly easy to contrive an explanation for Fishburne appearing, but instead we're left with a character who feels at once familiar to us and not.

The bond audiences have with Fishburne's version of Morpheus is undeniable, and given that the actor arguably gave the strongest performance of anyone in the original trilogy, it's a damn shame he wasn't invited back to reprise such an iconic role.

One suspects the film's wider issues might've been dampened a little with Fishburne chewing through the silly dialogue.