Chris Eberle

The Gilded Age

Specifications
The Gilded Age

  • Where to watch – HBO Max
  • Episodes – 9
  • Video – HD
  • Audio – Dolby Digital 5.1

Rating

Entertainment:
Video:
Audio:

Violence: Brief
Sex: One scene of partial nudity
Language: Mild

Synopsis

From the creator of Downton Abbey, Julian Fellowes comes a look into New York’s 1800s society elite in The Gilded Age. It’s the classic battle of New Money versus Old as railroad tycoon George Russell and his ambitious wife Bertha attempt to infiltrate the established clans led by none other than Caroline Astor.

Commentary

Everything about The Gilded Age is lavish. The sets, the costumes, the actors, the dialog; it’s a feast for the eyes, ears, and soul. Yes, it’s a soap opera, but one that provides a window back in time to 1880s New York society and its struggle between Old and New money. The established clans who inherited vast sums from their ancestors control the social game while wealthy tycoons who are displacing them in business and politics attempt to find their own place among the elite. The story revolves around two families who conveniently live across the street from one another. The main character is Marion Brook who comes to live with her two aunts. Across the street are the Russells who have just finished their lavish house hoping to impress the well-heeled with their luxurious appointments and a grand ballroom.

If you’re thinking this is simply Downton Abbey set in America one generation earlier, you’d be right. But The Guilded Age doesn’t feel formulaic. I’d be happy to see Downton go on longer, so this is a great way to get my fix for an entertaining story told by superlative actors, skilled writers, and premium production quality. This show is the reason I signed up for HBO Max and after watching the first episode, I have no regrets.

Audio & Video

I was hoping to see Dolby Vision and Atmos used here but alas, one must settle for HD and Dolby Digital 5.1. The video quality is superb with sharp detail, deep contrast, and saturated color. While you don’t quite get the vivid hues seen in Netflix’s Bridgerton, The Gilded Age still shines with splendor. It’s interesting to note the difference between Old Money homes which are lit more darkly and decorated in brown trim and muted colors, while New Money has far more sparkle with bright color and shiny metallic accents.

The sound is clean and crisp with focus appropriately placed on the dialog. Spatial cues are three-dimensional when voices come from off-screen. Street scenes have plenty of ambient effects that create an immersive sound stage that wraps around the viewer.

Final Thoughts

If you’re pining for the loss of Downton Abbey or watching the show over and over, you’ll enjoy The Gilded Age. It’s a great period drama that tells an entertaining story with something for everyone. Though it’s on HBO Max, it is not filled with adult language or sex. There’s a single scene that shows partial nudity but it’s far from Game of Thrones in that department. It’s good fun for fans of period drama and Julian Fellowes’ reputation is firmly intact. Highly Recommended.

Specifications
Archive 81

  • Where to watch – Netflix
  • Episodes – 8
  • Video – Dolby Vision
  • Audio – Dolby Atmos

Rating

Entertainment:
Video:
Audio:

Violence: Yes, brief moments
Sex: One brief scene, no nudity
Language: Yes

Archive 81

Synopsis

When video restoration expert Dan Turner takes on a mysterious job for a wealthy client, he gets more than he bargained for as he’s drawn into a decades-old conspiracy and a cult determined to summon a violent demon.

Commentary

Horror can be roughly divided into two genres, slasher/gore, and suspense. Archive 81 falls into the latter. It’s as much about what you don’t see as what you do. Though it doesn’t break any new ground, I found it one of the most captivating and compelling horror dramas I’ve seen in a long while. It starts with the reclusive Dan Turner who maintains his solitude by restoring old films and videos for a media museum in New York City. He’s approached by a wealthy businessman about a project for which he’s offered $100,000. The catch? He has to work at a remote location cut off from the outside world. As he makes his way through the footage, he learns about a young student working on her doctoral thesis and the bizarre cult she’s drawn into in an equally bizarre apartment building.

The found footage concept is on full display here but rather than the shaky-cam can’t-quite-tell-what’s-going-on version, it’s a series of interviews with residents of the apartment building where Melody has rented. Soon, Dan in the present and Melody in 1994 become linked and Dan believes he can save Melody from a violent fate.

It’s hard to say much more without spoiling the plot so I’ll just say that once you start watching Archive 81, you won’t be able to stop. This is the most binge-worthy drama, and the best horror series, I’ve seen in a long time.

Audio & Video

The video is expertly crafted in Dolby Vision with an equally premium Dolby Atmos® audio mix. The image transitions perfectly between time periods and between reality and video. Though the found footage is grainy with a 90s handicam look, it’s always clear and colorful with enough detail to make it easy on the eyes. Dark scenes have tremendous depth with rich shadow detail. I never saw any posterization or other artifacts. The sound has moments of intensity but is mostly in the background. Quiet scenes have a zero noise floor which makes the peaks all the more impactful. The dialog is clean and clear.

Final Thoughts

If you like a good horror series that doesn’t go too far in the violence department, Archive 81 is a great choice. There are a couple of intense moments but most of it simply builds suspense with simple shots and a quiet atmosphere. It’s one of the best horror shows I’ve seen, possibly ever.

The Book of Boba Fett

Specifications
The Book of Boba Fett

  • Where to watch – Disney+
  • Episodes – 7
  • Video – Ultra HD, Dolby Vision
  • Audio – Dolby Atmos

Rating

Entertainment:
Video:
Audio:

Violence: Yes
Sex: No
Language: No

Synopsis

This seven-episode serial follows the life of Boba Fett from the moment he escapes the Sarlacc pit on Tatooine until he becomes a benevolent crime lord. With his lieutenant Fennec Shand, he challenges the greedy syndicate who are oppressing the local people to run their shipments of spice off-world. He also enlists help from the Mandalorian and a few other unlikely allies to restore peace and order to the territory.

Commentary

Like The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett takes place after the events in Return of the Jedi. The series starts with Fett’s escape from the Sarlacc pit and his capture and eventual rehabilitation by a tribe of Tuscan Raiders. He quickly moves into the abandoned Jabba’s Palace and takes over that gangster’s former territory with the help of assassin Fennec Shand.

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I’m really enjoying the more personal look into characters’ lives these two series have created. They’re a welcome break from the epic space battles and gigantic special effects presentations seen in the movies. They are much closer in feel to the first three films from the 70s and 80s. Learning how different characters arrived at the story’s big picture is very engaging.

Temuera Morrison reprises his role as Boba Fett. You will remember him from chapters 4, 5, and 6. And he portrayed his own father, Jango Fett, in chapter 2. He’s one of the few actors that have appeared in multiple parts of the three trilogies and he is well worthy of his own series. I also enjoyed Ming-Na Wen as the mysterious Fennec Shand. She is a carryover from the animated series, The Bad Batch, which you can also find on Disney+. You’ll also notice Jennifer Beals as a Twi’lek bar owner, another fun throwback to the 1980s.

Audio & Video

The Book of Boba Fett is presented in Dolby Vision 4K with a Dolby Atmos soundtrack. Both are superb examples of their respective formats. Color is richly saturated during the desert scenes where reds are particularly warm and lush. The cold hues of metal pop with texture thanks to the deep contrast that permeates the entire series. Detail is razor-sharp in both live and CGI elements creating a seamless blend.

The sound is cinema quality with plenty of action in the surrounds and subwoofer. Though there are no space battles, there is plenty of action on the ground as the local townspeople fight the evil syndicate in a running blaster battle through the streets of Mos Espa. You’ll enjoy this show best in a home theater setting.

Final Thoughts

Though The Book of Boba Fett isn’t likely to sell tickets in a local cinema, it is more than worthy of the title blockbuster. With a more intimate look into characters’ lives and a focus on story rather than expansive imagery, it’s an engaging and fun show. And its seven episodes are easily binge-watched in an evening or two. Highly Recommended.

ALT

Specifications
Star Trek: Discovery, Season 4

  • Where to watch – Paramount+
  • Episodes – 13
  • Video – HD, Dolby Vision
  • Audio – Dolby Atmos

Rating

Entertainment:
Video:
Audio:

Violence: Yes
Sex: No
Language: Mild

Synopsis

Season 4 sees the crew of the USS Discovery commanded by Michael Burnham and ready to assist the newly repaired Federation of Planets as they bring member worlds back into the fold. They soon discover a new threat to the galaxy, the Dark Matter Anomaly which threatens to wipe out entire planets. It’s controlled by a mysterious alien race from beyond the galactic barrier. Discovery and her crew must find a way to stop the Anomaly before all life is wiped out.

Commentary

Being a Star Trek fan from way back, I am predisposed to enjoy any show from the franchise. That being said, I have run hot and cold on this series. I was excited back in 2017 when I learned of a new Star Trek series that took place 10 years before Kirk, Spock, and the Enterprise. The first season was a roller coaster ride of warring Klingons and an extended visit to the Parallel Universe where Michelle Yeoh was given a chance to really flex her prodigious acting skills as an evil empress. Seasons two and three went off the rails as the creators suddenly forgot that Star Trek is never about any one character but about the crew and its adventures. It became completely centered around Michael Burnham, played in an over-the-top fashion by Sonequa Martin-Green who you might have seen in another major franchise called The Walking Dead.

Season four doesn’t completely return to the show’s roots but it’s a lot better at finding solid and engaging stories for the other cast members. Two new characters are carried over from season three that speak to Star Trek’s commitment to diversity, a non-binary science officer and their transgender partner become regulars and they enhance the cast tremendously.

The series still has some work to do if it intends to play on the level of past efforts like Star Trek: The Next Generation, Voyager, Deep Space Nine, or even Enterprise for that matter. The technobabble factor is absolutely out of control in Discovery, especially during scenes with Chief Engineer Stamitz and Lieutenant Tilly. I love good science fiction, but their chatter makes my eyes glaze over. It’s too bad because Tilly, played expertly by Mary Wiseman, is one of my favorite characters from any Star Trek show. Another standout actor is Doug Jones in an amazing costume and makeup at Captain Saru. Jones is a legendary creature actor, and he truly shines in this role as he brings a previously unseen alien race to life.

I enjoy the new direction Star Trek has taken in general as a plot-arc serial rather than an adventure-of-the-week format. But I am greatly looking forward to Star Trek: Strange New Worlds as it explores the adventures of the original USS Enterprise commanded by Captain Christopher Pike.

Audio & Video

Star Trek: Discovery is available in Dolby Vision but at HD resolution. Detail and texture are enhanced by the extra contrast, but I wished for a true 4K encode for that last bit of sharpness. The color was rich and bold with saturated blues and warm tones that accentuated alien environments. Facial closeup shots showed strong texturing and natural skin tones. CGI effects were well integrated, but some backgrounds were a tad soft.

The Dolby Atmos audio encode is dialog forward with clear male and female voices. Background effects occur both behind and above the viewer creating a 3D sound envelope that rivals any blockbuster movie. The music is a bit understated but mostly adds to the presentation. Action scenes have an excellent dynamic range with good use of the subwoofer.

Final Thoughts

Star Trek: Discovery strays from the familiar feel of the franchise for much of its run but it’s still a fun show that will appeal to even hardcore fans. There are a few eye-rolling moments, but I still plan to follow the entire run of the series and will watch it again in the future. Highly Recommended.

Severance

Specifications
Severance

  • Where to watch – Apple TV+
  • Episodes – 9
  • Video – Ultra HD, Dolby Vision
  • Audio – Dolby Atmos

Rating

Entertainment:
Video:
Audio:

Violence: Brief
Sex: No
Language: Mild

Synopsis

A group of workers at Lumon Corporation agree to have their work and personal memories severed. When they are at work, they know nothing of their outside lives. When they are home, they know nothing of their job, only that they work at Lumon. When Mark S. is approached by a former colleague, he starts to question everything. What is really happening on the severed floor?

Commentary

This new series on Apple TV+ is one of the more original stories I’ve seen, and that’s saying something in this world of reboots, remakes, reimaginings, and (sigh) super-hero flicks. Severance explores a new state of the human mind. Is it possible to create the perfect employee by removing all outside memories leaving them to focus solely on their job? And can a person successfully live their personal life with no knowledge or memory of what they spend most of their day doing?

Severance

The story focuses on a single department at Lumon which is briefly hinted at being a pharmaceutical company. Four workers spend their days collating random numbers into little bins on their computer screens. It seems a mindless task but one that suggests a bigger picture. Watching over all this is Ms. Cobel and her two henchmen, Milchick and Graner, who provide security and effectively babysit the workers. The severed floor at Lumon is represented as an endless series of stark white hallways which are designed to keep the different departments separated.

As the plot unfolds, the idea of severance is thoroughly explored as we see the main characters in their work (innie) and personal (outie) versions. Of course, there are elements of society that see severance as a form of slavery and indeed, debate on the subject is portrayed. Mark has personal reasons for agreeing to the procedure which to him, is a form of escape.

The cast is A-list all the way with familiar faces like John Turturro, Christopher Walken, Patricia Arquette, and Adam Scott. The cinematography is spectacular and truly creates a world with nothing more than white walls and narrow hallways.

Audio & Video

The Dolby Vision video encode is superb and uses the high-contrast format to full advantage. Everything stands out against stark white backgrounds like the green carpet, the characters’ dark clothing, and the furniture. The detail is razor-sharp throughout with color used sparingly. Greens are especially lush and dark material is loaded with specular highlights and rich shadow detail.

The Dolby Atmos track is also full of fine detail and ambient sounds perfectly set off from a silent noise floor. Dialog is crisp and clear. There isn’t much for the subwoofer to do here but there is plenty of environmental information in the surround channels.

Severance

Final Thoughts

Severance is a truly original take on a what-if? scenario. It is entirely character-driven and it truly draws in the viewer not only visually but psychologically. Watch it with your friends if you want to create a subject for a lively discussion. I can’t wait for season two!

John E. Johnson, Jr.

The Batman

The Batman – Warner Brothers – Movie Released March 2022 – Disc Released May 2022.

Movies are getting released onto streaming and discs a lot sooner than they used to. This one, The Batman (2022) was in theaters in March of this year and is now available on disc only 3 months later.

It stars Robert Pattinson as Batman, Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle (Catwoman), Paul Dano as The Riddler, Colin Farrell as The Penguin, Jeffrey Wright as Inspector James Gordon, and Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth.

Someone in Gotham City is murdering corrupt police officials, and Batman works with Inspector Gordon to track down the killer.

The storyline is uncomplicated, but the visuals and surround sound are the sensory experiences that carry the entertainment. It is very dark for most of the film with scenes on the streets and in seedy nightclubs being entirely at night. It isn’t until one hour into the movie before there is a scene in the daylight where the city attends a memorial service for one of the police commissioners who has been one of the victims. Then it is back to nighttime.

The 4K transfer is fantastic, and that is because I assume much of the imagery is CGI rather than real backgrounds. This means the surroundings have not passed through a lens to the camera and can be resolved at any resolution the studio wants in post-production.

The Dolby Atmos® surround sound is also splendid. Atmos is much different than the older Dolby and DTS formats where the entire left side or right side had the sound when effects were in “surround”. Now, with Atmos, the sound can be in any one speaker and move to others, so the effect is truly immersive and directional.

Speaking of the sound, what the actors are saying is sometimes unintelligible because they are mumbling rather than enunciating clearly. That is part of the desired effect I guess.

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Notice that the cover art only has the movie title and a photo of Batman. In older movies, the cover art had primarily the main star, but also smaller photos of the other stars along with the actors’ names. Not so here. That is because modern Super Hero movies are focused on the content, the sensory experience. The names of the director and actors are not so important. You have to look at the fine print on the rear of the disc jacket to see the names of the director and actors. So many actors have played Batman, it is simply inconsequential who is in any particular movie. And most of the time, he is wearing a mask anyway.

The movie is rated PG-13. This is surprising in light of the graphic violence and bad language. Times have changed.

I would suggest not eating lunch or dinner while you watch this one.

Specifications
Rating

Entertainment:
Script:
Visuals:
Audio:
Mel Martin

Treasure of the Four Crowns

Treasure of the Four Crowns (1983) – 3D Blu ray Movie review

  • Director- Ferdinando Baldi
  • Writers- Lloyd Battista, Jim Bryce, Jerry Lazarus
  • Stars- Tony Anthony, Ana Obregón, Gene Quintano
  • STUDIO(S) – Cannon Film Distributors/MGM (Kino Lorber Studio Classics)

For many 3D fans, Treasure of the Four Crowns is a sort of holy grail for lovers of M.I.A. classic 3D movies. The predecessor to this film was done by the same producer and some of the same actors, which was called “Comin’ at Ya!”, released in 1981. It was one of those 3D movies that throw everything at the viewer, snakes, rocks, arrows, you name it. The film helped in the revival of 3D movies in the 80s, so a sequel was pretty much inevitable.

Treasure of the 4 Crowns follows the first film’s playbook, and instead of a western, it’s sort of a rip-off of the Indiana Jones movies. It even had a score by Ennio Morricone who scored so many of the Clint Eastwood spaghetti westerns. As a film, it’s not very good. Made in Spain by a lot of Italian technicians, and a few American actors, it’s surely not worth watching in 2D. In 3D, it’s kind of a thrill, because as 3D movies have evolved, and many aren’t real 3D, but CGI productions done after the fact, the 3D in Treasure of the Four Crowns was done with 2 cameras, and it’s realistic to a high degree, especially if you consider realism having knives, spears, bodies and attack dogs thrown at you. I saw this film in 1983 in a theater and I can confidently say the 3D is better in this film. Back in the 80s a lot of theaters didn’t really care about 3D, and the left and right images were out of alignment and a ticket to eyestrain. With 3D on a disc, the alignments are theoretically perfect, and certainly better than it was in theaters. When stuff pops out of the screen too far, objects can lose convergence, but for the most part, it works.

The story isn’t too deep. Star Tony Anthony is looking for crowns with valuable gems attached. He gathers some others with the requisite skill to storm a castle run by a nasty cultist.

There’s hardly a moment of this film where something is not sticking out of the virtual screen and sliding into your viewing space. That was the point of these films, and Treasure of the Four Crowns delivers.

The restoration of this film is quite good, as is always the case when done by the 3D Archive team. A lot of dirt and grit has been removed, it looks like there is a mild color grade, and of course, both eye views are in sync. there are still moments when the filmmakers went too far at pushing stuff out of the screen, but overall it’s a terrific 3D presentation.

The audio is 5.1, and I suspect it’s an after-the-fact re-mix. Still, it spreads the music and sound effects out a bit.

The movie has a 2D version as mentioned, and an anaglyph version as well with included 3D glasses. It’s like the old 3D comic books. It will work if you don’t have a 3D TV or a 3D projector, but it’s not as good as the regular 3D offering.

Extras include an Audio Commentary with Jason Pichonsky which is well researched and interesting, as well as an audio interview with star and co-producer Tony Anthony by Douglas Honesdale. There’s also a vintage theatrical trailer.

If you’re a 3D fan, and I am, Treasure of the Four Crowns is a lot of fun. As a 2D movie, however, it’s pretty much a waste of time.

Jim Milton

Over the last several weeks I have been enjoying some winners and losers from Paramount Studios. Here are my recommendations for your consideration:

The Untouchables

The Untouchables (1987) 2022, UHD 4K- Directed by Brian De Palma, starring Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Robert De Niro, and Andy Garcia

In a story that is larger than life and depicts good versus evil in the streets of Prohibition-era Chicago, Eliot Ness (Costner) teams up with a streetwise Irish cop (Connery) to break the mob control of booze flowing in from Canada. De Niro plays Al Capone with actually a bit of an over-the-top performance (and that is saying something) as public enemy #1. Compared to Connery and de Niro’s performances, I found Costner to be perhaps the weakest link in this movie as far as the acting line-up. He was just beginning to become a box office draw at this time and I found him to be a bit emotionally bland, but still, easy to cheer for. Connery’s portrayal of Jimmy Malone earned him an Academy Award. My favorite scene is the slow-motion shoot-out while the baby buggy bounces down the stairs at the train station…which has been copied and parodied many times since. Overall, this film has a high re-watchability rating and looks nice on my LG OLED 77inch screen. That’s the Chicago way!!

Production values were high for this movie and the 4K presentation with Dolby Atmos and Vision is generally very good. The inky dark scenes still reveal wonderful details and intense whites and vibrant colors, though a few scenes appear a bit too soft.

Infinite

Infinite (2021) 2022, UHD 4K- Starring Mark Wahlberg and Chiwetel Ejiofor

Now on the opposite side of filmmaking is this mess of a studio idea. Mankind is being protected by reincarnated heroes called “Infinites” who battle another group called “The Bad Guys” (I made that up, but you get the idea) who want to end all of mankind because they are tired of being reincarnated and can’t break the cycle. Their leader (Ejiofor) develops a gun that traps your soul so you can’t be reincarnated and a super bomb that will destroy mankind, but Wahlberg’s reluctant character fights to stop his nefarious plan. Of course, I immediately said to myself, “If the gun can break the cycle, why doesn’t the villain shoot himself in the head and find the peace he is so desperately looking for?” Why indeed. Logic is not a big player in this film. Lots of fighting, guns, and car chases lead to the boring foregone conclusion of this movie.

The audio and video are excellent with tons of over-the-top physics-defying CGI to make up for the lack of storyline. The title is apt, as I kept looking at my watch wondering when it would end, but it seemed infinite.

The Contractor

The Contractor (2022) UHD 4K- Starring Chris Pine, Ben Foster, and Keifer Sutherland

Special Forces Sergeant James Harper is discharged from the military due to physical damages received while defending America. Running into debt, he hires himself out to a Black Ops team to take out a chemical terrorist in Germany. The mission goes sideways, and he barely manages to get home safely. Only then does he realize that he has been played and the group that hired him is now out to eliminate him. Can he figure out who his real enemy is before he and his family are expunged? The production values and acting are top-shelf. The action plays out as well as in any Mission Impossible film I have seen. This only played in the theaters for a brief moment and then disappeared (thank you, COVID). If you get a chance, it is worthy of your time to view.

Excellent picture and sound, though no Atmos. Pine is a decent actor, and this helps flesh him out better than his one-dimensional Capt. Kirk character. I hope to see him in more movies in the near future.

The Matrix Resurrections

The Matrix Resurrections (2021) 4k Ultra HD- Directed by Lana Wachowski, Starring: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Ann Moss, Neil Patrick Harris, and Johnathan Groff.

So, twenty-some years after the original film, Neo and Trinity are somehow alive and sleeping peacefully in the Matrix. Neo has a good job as a game designer and Trinity is a soccer mom who frequents a coffee shop in town. Neo sees a shrink (Harris) who reminds him that his thoughts of the life in The Matrix are but a dream. Then, someone gives Neo the red pill to swallow, and he ends up back at square one from the original, except he must convince Trinity to re-join him. The story is pretty much a convoluted mess with action scenes thrown in here and there to keep your mind from falling asleep during the dialog scenes, which are a bit too many.

My real problem was, why make this movie at all after all these years? Admittedly, films 2 and 3 were a mess at the time they came out as well, but this fourth installment adds nothing to the original film and feels tacked on to the series without having a real goal in mind. Some new hip, young actors are brought in to help it appeal to a newer demographic, but if they never saw the first 3 films from years ago, why would they flock to the theater for this one? The answer is: they did not. For home viewing, the film looks good with lots of detail and great sound during the action scenes, due in part to a wonderful Dolby Atmos soundscape. Nothing cutting edge like the first film, mind you, but it looks good without the greenish tint of the original. Still, I wanted to like this film, but it left me emotionally detached. I swallowed the pill and it was Sominex. A rental at best.

Shooter

Shooter (2007) 4K Ultra HD- Directed by Antoine Fuqua, Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Kate Mara, Danny Glover, and Michael Pena.

After a sniper mission goes wrong, Swagger (Wahlberg) becomes a recluse. A mysterious CIA type (Glover) shows up and entices him back as a “consultant” for a security detail that is trying to protect a VIP at an outdoor event. The VIP is killed by a rogue sniper and of course, the whole thing points to Swagger, who barely escapes with his life. The rest of the movie is him getting to the bottom of this thing and as he aptly puts it, “I didn’t start it, but I mean to see it through.” And despite the slanted odds, he most certainly does.

In UHD and Dolby Vision, this film looks sharper and punchier than the original version I have on BD. The story still holds up with some excellent chase scenes and a tricky mountain top shootout that looks good in DV, with excellent detail even in the blazingly white background. This film was made in that decade when the US government was always up to something nefarious, and an All-American boy comes to town to dish out some All-American justice. Watch out you baddies, we have our eyes on you! If you want a decent rental for next Saturday, you could do worse (See Matrix Resurrections review).