Stars: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Jada Pinket Smith, Gloria Foster, Monica Bellucci, Randall Duk Kim, Adrian Rayment, and Neil Rayment
Writers: The Wachowski Brothers
Directors:
The Wachowski Brothers
The Matrix Reloaded Revisited Director: Josh Oreck
Feature lengths: 138 minutes/176 minutes
The
Matrix Reloaded Extras: Text Introduction By The Wachowski Brothers, Audio
Commentary By Philosophers Dr. Cornel West and Ken Wilber, Audio Commentary By
Critics Todd McCarthy of Variety, John Powers of Vogue, and David
Thomson, Author of The New Biographical Dictionary of Film
The Matrix Reloaded Revisited Extras: Car Chase Featurettes, Teahouse Fight Featurettes, Unplugged Featurettes, I’ll Handle Them Featurettes, The Exiles Featurettes, Enter The Matrix Scenes
Languages: English and French Language Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Subtitles: English Captions and Closed Captions and French and Spanish Language Subtitles
Packaging: Two-Disc Digipack Gatefold Within A Deluxe Cardboard Slipcase
Chapter Stops: 36
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Year of Theatrical Release: 2003/DVD Release: 2004
Theatrical Distributor: Warner Brothers
Home Video Distributor: Warner Home Video
MPAA Rating: R
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
“Ergo,
Concordantly, Assiduously, Vis a Vis, Inexorably, Apropos…”
Six months have past since Neo (Keanu Reeves) learned that he was “The One” destined to liberate humanity from their enslavement by the machines that keep them in a virtual dream world while using their bodies like batteries in a bizarre symbiotic relationship called The Matrix. Neo has been suffering from nightmarish visions where he sees his lover Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) die. He is also uncomfortable with the messianic following that has grown around him as more and more devotees leave gifts for him and ask for his blessings as if he was the second coming and for them he might as well be. The machines are burrowing deep into the Earth on a mission to destroy Zion, the last refuge for humanity on Earth. In less than twenty-four hours they will breakthrough with enough force to exterminate every last living being there. Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) sees this as a sign that the century long war against the machines will soon be over and the prophecy will be fulfilled. So they leave Zion in an attempt to gather intelligence from “The Oracle” within the Matrix. With the fate of humanity resting upon his shoulders, Neo is troubled about his destiny. He wonders if his visions of Trinity’s death are what will be or what could be? A question not easily answered by the Oracle as Neo discovers his old nemesis “Agent Smith” (Hugo Weaving) has somehow discovered away to replicate himself and is bent on getting back what he believes Neo has stolen from him, “his purpose.” Soon Neo, Trinity, and Morpheus are following the Oracle’s instructions and searching for a man known only as “The Key Maker” (Randall Duk Kim) in a race that pits them against new enemies as the future for all is held in he balance of Neo’s choice.
What are great about “The Matrix Trilogy” films are the multiple layers in which one can view it. You can see them as simply sci-fi action pictures or you can see them as more. One thing I have noticed since watching the film again on DVD is that like the first film, there are little subtle things that are easy to miss the first time around, but add greater dimension to both the fantasy world of the films and what one brings out of them. For instance in Neo’s meeting with The Oracle, she tells him that strange occurrences that people will sometimes refer to as werewolves or UFOs is a program doing something it is not supposed to do. Later when Monica Bellucci’s character introduces Neo, Trinity, and Morpheus to two body guards she describes as “being kept around because their hard to kill,” she then takes out a hand gun and says “But how many people carry silver bullets” and then shoots one in the head, killing him while ordering the other one out. Does that mean that these earlier versions of the Agents were what we might call werewolves? I don’t know for certain, but it certainly is an interesting prospect.
A lot of people who saw the film got lost in all of the philosophy and while I personally enjoyed that aspect of the film, I can understand why some people got lost. Though I do not consider myself to be Gnostic, I have to admit that there is something to be said about that school of metaphysical thought. I noticed while watching “The Matrix Reloaded” on DVD that even one of the hovercrafts is named the Gnosis. This takes me to the conversation between Neo and Architect of the Matrix and its relationship to Zion.
*********DANGER – BIG – TIME – POSSIBLE – SPOILERS*************
Basically Zion and The
Matrix are a part of the same game. It does not matter if Neo is on VR or
reality because the Architect has already stated that the cycle has occurred
before. The Matrix has been around a lot longer than Neo realizes.
To account for the anomalies that occur as a result of the imperfect world the
human minds need to believe they are not in the Matrix, the Oracle creates the
myth and a few humans are allowed to think to escape the Matrix and a war over
their minds and souls begin.
At a certain point the Architect has Zion destroyed and reboots the Matrix and
the process starts over again. So in a sense, they are all trapped like a
hamster on a wheel. Trapped in creation. Very Gnostic is it not? All three
worlds, the Matrix, the Machine located in their city, Zero One, and the humans
in Zion need to reconcile in order for the wheel of fire to be quenched and stop
turning.
So it is not a question any more of what is the Matrix and why does it exist,
but can humanity, sentient programs and machines rise above the cycle of
creation and destruction. This makes the premise Buddhist in nature too
Zion is a component of the Matrix
because it is all a form of control. Humans depend on machines that depend upon
humans. Sort of like the Vorlons and The Shadows in "Babylon 5." In
that series’ first three seasons we are lead to believe that an alien race
called the Vorlons are the good guys, however their actions become increasingly
questionable until a guru like figure named “Lorien” helps the series’
hero realize that essentially "Understanding is indeed a triple edged
sword." Another alien race in direct opposition to the Vorlons, referred to
as "The Shadows," are basically playing a deadly game of intergalactic
chess with "The Vorlons," to see who will shepherd the younger alien
life forms for the next thousand years. Will it be through order or chaos?
In that series the hero makes a great sacrifice to free everyone from
that cycle of imposed war, peace, and control. In the third film Neo does make a
great sacrifice to free humanity in Zion the sentient programs in the Matrix,
the machines in Zero One, and finally reveal the whole “truth" to all.
Neo may be the one who is, but was not the one at the time of when he first
visited the Oracle in the first film. Similarly in “Babylon 5” we learn our
protagonist named “Sheridan” is the one who will be, his female counterpart
is the one who is, and the man who was the commander of the station in the first
season of the series is the one who was. I bring this comparison up because in
the film before Neo leaves Zion to meet the Oracle, a character known as “The
Kid” gives him a spoon from one of the orphans whose mind was liberated from
the Matrix. This orphan must have been the one Neo encountered while he was
waiting to meet the Oracle for the first time. In the film the boy appears to be
making the spoon bend through the force of will of his mind. He then hands the
spoon to Neo who tries to do the same, but he also tells Neo something to the
extent that it is not about knowing how to bend the spoon that is important, but
knowing that the spoon isn't really there at all.
***************END – OF – POSSIBLE – BIG – SPOILERS**************
The first DVD within the second gate folded set inside “The Ultimate Matrix Collection” box set appears to contain the same transfer from last year’s “The Matrix Reloaded: Widescreen Edition” two-disc set, which was released by Warner Home Video to coincide with the theatrical release of “The Matrix Revolutions” in the fall of 2003.
The first disc
presents “The Matrix Reloaded” is an anamorphic widescreen (2.35:1) aspect
ratio with English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound as well as a French Language
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Soundtrack and English Captions and Closed Captions
for the hearing impaired as well as French and Spanish Language Subtitles preset
onto the first disc as options. French Language Subtitles are also encoded onto
the second disc containing “The Matrix Reloaded Revisited” as an option for
the majority of the extra value features therein. The picture and sound
presentation on DVD for “The Matrix Reloaded” is terrific. There is only a
slight amount of grain that is easy to look over while watching the amazing
action set pieces and eye catching production design. The colors are solid
throughout. We have the green tint when the characters interact within The
Matrix, but it is not only a lot more solid in appearance, but it is less
obstructive too. The other colors, however muted they might appear at times,
still come through vibrantly. The English Soundtrack is terrific too with
excellent separating of the sound effects, clear dialogue and an overall ambient
quality that combined with the picture truly engages the viewer to delve into
the world of the Matrix from the comfort of their home theater systems. Like the
theatrical release, the first teaser trailer for “The Matrix Revolutions”
(1:30) directly follows the closing credits and can be accessed directly by
going to chapter 36 on the first DVD.
“The
Path of the One is made by the Many…”
Exclusive to this
release are the two feature length audio commentary tracks. As with “The
Matrix,” Philosophers Dr. Cornel West
and Ken Wilber provide an intriguing commentary track that looks at the film
from the point of view of being the second act of a much larger theatrical
production. They get heavily into the metaphysical implications of the story as
well as the commercial expectations from audiences who waited four years between
the original theatrical release of “The Matrix” and it’s first sequel,
“The Matrix Reloaded.” Interestingly the second commentary track on disc
one, which features Critics Todd McCarthy of Variety, John Powers of Vogue,
and David Thomson, Author of The New Biographical Dictionary of Film, revealed
the obvious different critical point of view that in many ways contrasts the
first commentary track statements. However I think the critical point of view is
correct and yet I also agree with the philosophical point of view too. How can
this be? Anything you encounter in life to some extent is textured by what you
project onto it. “The Matrix Reloaded” is no different. Critics and
Philosophers should not have a hundred percent agreement in my opinion. They are
looking at it from their point of view and as a result these commentaries more
so than the tracks on “The Matrix” reveal The Wachowski Brothers’
brilliance in experimenting with this kind of extra value material instead of
the traditional filmmakers’ commentary. I find truth to both tracks and
listening to them broadened my understanding of the film too. I don’t agree
with everything, but I also think that in a way there is no definitive answer
because in the end these films are truly about what we as viewers invest into
them as well as what the films give us in return.
“The
Matrix Reloaded Revisited” is a collection of featurettes exclusive to this
set that can be viewed individually or as one reel per topic. The first part are
the 23 scenes shot for the “Enter The Matrix” video game (42:30) complete
with a brief introduction by Producer Joel Silver. These scenes are presented in
a letterboxed (2.35:1) aspect ratio with English Stereo Sound. Some of these
scenes could have been inserted into the film and may have benefited it greatly
because they do enhance the side characters greatly and help to clarify certain
elements in the trilogy as a whole. Other scenes simply repeat the action from
the feature film or are occurring simultaneously in such a way that there is no
way to truly cut them into the film without having to reset the entire structure
of the movie. While I appreciate the fact that these 23 scenes originally shot
for the game can be viewed without having to play the game, I wish they were
presented with true anamorphic enhancement and 5.1 Surround Sound instead of
being letterboxed with Stereo Sound.
“I’ll
Handle Them” (17:09) is a collection of four featurettes focusing on the
production design within the Merovingian’s great hall and the fighting
choreography. All of the featurettes are presented in a full screen (1.33:1)
aspect ratio with English Stereo Sound. The featurettes for each section can be
viewed individually or collectively with the “Play All” feature. The other
sets focus on “The Teahouse Fight” (7:04), the brawl between Neo and Smith
after his meeting with the Oracle in “The Matrix Reloaded” (40:24) and the
“Car Chase” (55:15). Each features detailed storyboard to completed scene
comparisons, previsualization tests, and lots of behind-the-scene footage from
the production.
The
final two featurettes that make up all 21 parts of “The Matrix Reloaded
Revisited” focuses on “The Exiles” with the Actors discussing their
characters of the Merovingian, Persephone, The Key Maker, and even the
Architect.
The
menus on disc three containing “The Matrix Reloaded” feature full motion
scene selections while only the main menu on disc four containing “The Matrix
Reloaded Revisited” features any motion scenes from the film. All of the
interactive menus on both discs are well rendered and easy to navigate.
“The Ultimate Matrix Collection” will debut on DVD-Video on Tuesday, December 7, 2004 at retailers on and offline from Warner Home Video. The review is not over yet. Please click here for part three featuring my review of “The Matrix Revolutions” & “The Matrix Revolutions Revisited.”
© Copyright 2004 By
Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
Click Here To Read Part Three Featuring My Review Of “The Matrix Revolutions” & “The Matrix Revolutions Revisited.”
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