[modeless]

I recently realized that in an action movie the hero almost doesn't matter. The villain makes or breaks the movie. Luke Skywalker, John McClane, Neo: they're irrelevant next to Darth Vader, Hans Gruber, and Agent Smith.

Hugo Weaving was on fire as Agent Smith in The Matrix. One of the best performances I've ever seen. The interrogation room at the beginning, and the desperation with Morpheus at the end, are just pure perfection. This movie is going to suck unless they can figure out a new villain half as good as Agent Smith in Matrix 1.

[aidenn0]

Counterpoint is action movies where the conflict with the villain is not the primary conflict. e.g. True Lies; sure there's some terrorist stealing nuclear bombs, but that's not what the audience cares about.

[JetSpiegel]

True Lies is about a NSA agent using agency powers to spy on his wife, who's not even cheating on him (he just think she is). The bomb plot is just an excuse for the horse chase, and that horrible fighter jet at the end.

[J5892]

I trust Neil Patrick Harris to be a compelling villain, but I'm not even sure he's the main villain.

[jjoonathan]

The Matrix 4 must be the long awaited true sequel to Dr. Horrible.