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Title:
The Ultimate Matrix Collection
Region:
N/A (Please Note That DVD Portions May Be Regionally Encoded)
Media:
Three HD DVD And DVD Combo Format Discs And Two DVD-18 Discs
Genre:
Science Fiction
Feature
Films: The Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, The Animatrix
Stars:
Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne-Moss, Hugo Weaving, Joe Pantoliano,
Jada Pinket Smith, Gloria Foster, Monica Bellucci,
Randall Duk Kim, Adrian Rayment, and Neil Rayment
Writers:
The Wachowski
Brothers
Directors:
The Wachowski
Brothers
Feature lengths: 136 minutes/138
minutes/129 minutes/89 minutes
Extras:
Three Exclusive New In-Movie Experiences, Written Introduction By The Wachowski
Brothers, Audio Commentaries By Philosophers Dr. Cornel West and Ken Wilber,
Critics Todd McCarthy, John Powers and David Thomson, Actress Carrie-Anne Moss, Editor
Zach Straenberg, and Special Effects Supervisor John Greta On The Matrix,
Audio Commentary By Don Davis With Music Only Track For The Matrix,
Feature Length Documentary The Matrix Revisited, Behind The Matrix
Documentary Gallery : 83 Featurettes With The MTV Movie Awards Reloaded
Spoof and 3-D Evolutions Gallery, The Music Revisited: 41 Track
Audio Selection Of Nearly 3 Hours Of Music, Music Videos: Marilyn Manson’s Rock
Is Dead and P.O.D.’s Sleeping Awake, Enter The Matrix: The Game
Documentary, Enter The Matrix: 23 Live-Action Scenes Shot For The Video
Game That Plug Into The Action Of The Matrix Reloaded, The Animatrix Making
Of Documentary, History And Culture Of Anime Featurette, Select Director’s
Commentary, Director and Animation Producer Profiles, The Roots Of The Matrix
Documentaries, The Burly Man Chronicles Documentary, The Zion Archives:
Production Assets That Include Concept Art, Storyboards, Drawings, Music Videos,
Rave Real, The Matrix Online, Theatrical Trailers and TV Spots
Languages:
English Dolby TrueHD, English and French Language Dolby Digital 5.1 Plus
Surround Sound, English and Japanese Language Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound,
Spanish Language Dolby Surround Sound, English Stereo Sound
Subtitles:
English Closed Captions (For The Matrix Revisited And The Animatrix
Only), English Subtitles For The Deaf And Hearing Impaired, English, French, and
Spanish Language Subtitles
Packaging:
Three Elite Red HD Cases And One Elite Black Two-Disc Case Within A Hard
Cardboard Slipcase
Chapter
Stops: 38/36/33/9
Sound:
Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround Sound, Dolby Digital 5.1 Plus Surround Sound, Dolby
Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, Dolby Surround Sound, Stereo Sound
Year
of Theatrical Releases: 1999/2003/HD DVD And DVD Combo Format Release:
2007/DVD-18 Release 2007
Theatrical
Distributor: Warner Brothers
Home
Video Distributor: Warner Home Video
MPAA
Rating: R/R/R/PG-13 For Final Flight Of The Osiris
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
May
appears to be one of the biggest months in the home video retail/rental business
outside of the holiday season and build up toward Halloween. A bunch of highly
anticipated HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc titles were released perhaps to keep viewers
entertained during the lazy hot days of the summer when one is happy to sit back
with a cool beverage, the AC blowing, and a good flick to watch. On HD DVD
Warner Home Video released one of their biggest science fiction properties in
two box set variations. The Ultimate Matrix Collection and The Matrix
Trilogy, which from my understanding only includes the HD DVD content on
side A of The Ultimate Matrix Collection discs, but does not include any
of the extra value material found on the DVD portion of the set. The Ultimate
Matrix Collection HD DVD Box Set contains three HD DVD And DVD hybrid discs
and two double sided dual layered DVD discs. The main difference between this HD
DVD set and the DVD version released in 2004 is that all of the extra value
features that were included on the separate Matrix film DVD releases has
been carried over into one box set so now you really do get everything this time
around without the need for having two different versions of the same movie on
one format and you get three exclusive In-Movie Experiences on the HD DVD discs
as well as the enhanced 1080p picture and high resolution sound. As a result
though the manner in which the films’ extra value materials are distributed is
somewhat different from the way they were displayed on the DVD box set. The first three films are packaged within Elite Red HD Cases
while the final two discs are packaged within an Elite Black Two-Disc Case
dubbed The Matrix Experience: 2-Disc Databank. The four cases come housed
within a deluxe hard cardboard slipcase and within the slipcase there is an
insert advertising Blade Runner: The Essential 25TH Anniversary
Edition coming to HD DVD in October and on the other side an announcement
for the Kubrick Collection coming soon to both HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc
too. I believe the Blade Runner set will be released on Blu-ray Disc too,
but the advertisement that came within the box set only listed HD DVD.
This
is the third time I’m reviewing the films on home video, but I really wanted
to do so as anyone at Warner Home Video publicity will tell you in part because
this is the kind of film that fits my personal interests as well as the
interests of GENRE ONLINE.NET like a glove, I feel that The Matrix Trilogy
for the post Star Wars generation is their modern mythology just as the Star
Wars Saga was my mythology that I grew up with and finally there has not
been anything in the science fiction/Sci-Fi feature film genre that has had the
kind of sociological effect upon the media and how we view it since the original
The Matrix. In fact if I
were to go back in time to the year I was born, which was 1968, and pick out the
top ten most influential science fiction/Sci-Fi films that have been released
since that year I would list them chronologically as follows.
1)
1968
– Planet Of The Apes
2)
1968
– 2001: A Space Odyssey
3)
1977
– Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope
4)
1979
– Alien
5)
1981
– Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior
6)
1982
– Blade Runner
7)
1984
– The Terminator
8)
1991
– Terminator 2: Judgment Day
9)
1993
– Jurassic Park
10)
1999
– The Matrix
Some
may argue that E.T. The Extra Terrestrial deserves to be among these ten
listed, but while E.T. may have inspired a lot of “friendly alien”
flicks, sold lots of Reese’s Pieces, and garnered a photo with Michael
Jackson, I do not feel E.T. has had the lasting impact visually,
philosophically, technologically, sociologically, and cross culturally as the
ten I’ve listed above. However whether you agree with me or not, it is sad to
note that not since The Matrix has their been a big budget feature length
science fiction or Sci-FI film to capture the imagination and literally effect
the way all films that follow it are made. Personally I think it is because
there are too many sequels are remakes based on ideas that are twenty years old
or more being produced and not enough new voices being given a chance to capture
and inspire our imagination.
The Matrix
Day-in, day out, humanity has been
lulled into an illusion created by all-powerful machines that comprise a large
network of sentient artificial Intelligence, who use humanity literally as
batteries in a nightmarish symbiotic relationship. However, a prophesy of one
who will lead the fight to free humanity from the matrix has a select group of
freedom fighters jacking into the matrix in search of their savior while trying
to evade the clutches of the Agents, computer anti-virus programs that are
practically unstoppable within this artificial world.
Honestly, this film is so huge and
was so successful, I do not think an extensive review of the film itself is
necessary except to say the Wachowski Brothers have managed to take elements
from Hong Kong Cinema, Classic Science Fiction, Japanese Anime, Religion,
Mythology and so on and created something that as a whole is original on to
itself. “The Matrix” is the rare film that satisfies on so many levels that
almost anyone can watch the film and enjoy it. In short, “The Matrix” is
truly “the whole package!”
Like
all of the three features in both The Ultimate Matrix Collection and The
Matrix Trilogy on HD DVD, The Matrix is presented in spellbinding
detail with up to 1080p native high definition resolution where available in the
film’s (2.40:1) theatrical release aspect ratio. The Matrix is encoded
using VC-1. An outstanding English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround Soundtrack
is encoded onto the HD DVD side along with English and French Language Dolby
Digital 5.1 Plus Surround Sound as well as Spanish Language Dolby Surround
Sound. English Subtitles For The Deaf and Hearing Impaired are encoded onto the
disc along with English, French, and Spanish Language Subtitles. Exclusive to
the HD DVD release is an In Movie Experience with picture in picture filmed and
video comments from actors and crewmembers as well as rare footage of The
Wachowski Brothers discussing the books they required cast members to read.
It’s interesting to note that after The Matrix The Wachowski Brothers
no longer participated in any on camera or audio commentary interviews related
to the films. If you bookmark a scene, you must start the IN Movie Experience
first before going to that bookmark because otherwise restarting the film from a
bookmark and then activating the In Movie Experience will cause the film to
default back to the beginning. This is the case with all three features. So
remember, start the In Movie Experience first and then go to where you last book
marked a scene. The iHD interactive software also allows for HD zoom and
navigate around the frame features while the film is in progress and is an
exclusive feature to the HD DVD versions that is available for all three films.
To provide a greater contrast, which
they hoped would encourage further conversation about The Matrix Trilogy
as a whole; The Wachowski Brothers have elected to have Philosophers Dr. Cornel
West and Ken Wilber provide feature length comments for all three films while on
an alternate track, Critics Todd McCarthy of Variety, John Powers of Vogue,
and David Thomson, Author of The New Biographical Dictionary of Film
provide a different point of view that is purposely not always favorable with
regard to the trilogy as a whole.
West and Wilber seemed very much
beside themselves while discussing the film in part from the context of being
only a part of a greater whole. At times they can’t help but reveal spoilers
of things to come and at other times they both don’t say a word as if
they’ve become captivated by the action itself. In contrast the Critics never
stop talking and are not quite as enthusiastic about the film as the
Philosophers are, but they are generally positive in their comments about the
film, recognizing that this film resonates more with younger people than it does
older people. Overall, I found both commentary tracks to be extremely
interesting and entertaining. The audio commentaries by composer Don Davis with
the isolated music score and another track by Carrie-Anne-Moss, Editor Zach
Straenberg, and Special Effects Supervisor John Greta that appeared on the
original 1999 DVD release are also included on the HD DVD side.
Encoded using MPEG-2 with Dolby
Digital Plus Surround where available on the HD DVD side are the Marilyn Mansion
music video for Rock Is Dead (3:19), a 7 part Behind The Matrix documentary
(43:56), 41 music tracks that can be heard using a “Play All” feature or
individually, 8 TV spots (3:46) and in 16 by 9 the theatrical teaser (: 58) and
trailer (2:26). The flip side of the disc, which is a DVD-9 contains the feature
length documentary The Matrix Revisited (2:02:48) along with all of the Follow
The White Rabbit (17:41) and Take The Pill featurettes
Originally released in the autumn of
2001, “The Matrix Revisited” is presented again here in a (1.33:1) aspect
ratio with an English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Soundtrack and English Captions
and Closed Captions for the hearing impaired as well as French and Spanish
Language Subtitles encoded onto the DVD as options.
This behind-the-scenes look at
“The Matrix” in many ways seems more like an extended EPK and some of the
comments regarding the second and third films in the trilogy just don’t seem
to carry as much weight as they might have because by now anyone who is a fan of
the series has seen all three films on big screen and DVD already so it just
doesn’t hold up as well as just watching the movie itself. I found the extra
value materials included on the disc to be more entertaining than the 122-minute
documentary. “The Music Revisited” contains nearly three hours of music
chosen by the Wachowski Brothers in creating the film. These 41 tracks can be
listened to individually or collectively in sequence. I cannot say I have heard
much if any of the music contained in this section, which I guess shows my age
as a reviewer as much anything else. The six “Behind The Matrix” featurettes
(17:15) as well as the two “Take The Red Pill” featurettes (17:99) and six
“Follow The White Rabbit” featurettes (22:50) from the original 1999 DVD
release are now included here on “The Matrix Revisited” disc. All of the
discs are InterActual enhanced and feature DVD-ROM links for Windows based PC
users. This feature is available on all of the DVD portions of this five-disc
set.
The Matrix Reloaded
In The Matrix Reloaded, 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. This is mentioned in the In Movie
Experience interviews along with other allusions that describe both Merovingian
and Persephone as vampires.
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. 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. When 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**************
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.
A
featurette on the Enter The Matrix: The Game (28:13) as well as 23 scenes
(42:29) from the game filmed at the same time as the feature was being made are
included, but unfortunately they only appear in a 4 by 3 letterboxed aspect
ratio. I really wish the scenes could get the full 16 by 9 treatment and think
that some should be inserted into the film for home video since they do add a
lot to the character development and so forth. Also included on the HD DVD side
is P.O.D.’s music video for Sleeping Awake (3:43), a featurette about
the tie-in advertising used for the film on TV commercials, the Reloaded/Revolutions
theatrical teaser (1:18), trailer (2:25) and 8 TV spots (4:31) as well as the
hilarious MTV spoof (9:38). “The
Matrix Reloaded Revisited” on the DVD side is a collection of featurettes that
include “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. There is an additional 5 featurettes under the heading Unplugged
too (40:24).
The Matrix Revolutions
When
we last saw Neo (Keanu Reeves), he had successfully saved Trinity (Carrie-Anne
Moss) by literally reaching into her heart and restarting it while they were
still within the matrix. Shortly after getting out, their hovercraft is
destroyed and the surviving crew are all but dead meat at the tentacles of the
squid like machine sentinels, but Neo amazes everyone when through his own force
of will, he is able to set off an EMP burst that incapacitates the sentinels
before he slips into a coma. Now aboard another hovercraft sent from Zion,
Morpheus (Lawrence Fishburne) and Trinity learn that the preemptive strike sent
from Zion was sabotaged and the only survivor from the failed mission is the
prime suspect. However he too is in a coma and harboring a deadly surprise.
The
original Matrix feature film was such a bombshell hit that it spawned endless
discussions, essays, and even became one of the best selling films on standard
definition DVD to ever be released since the format was first introduced in
1997. However while the promise and even the seductive lure for a sequel to The
Matrix was quite understandable, the truth is that the film stands just fine
on it’s own. The two sequels were shot collectively and released theatrically
six months apart. While many complained that The Matrix Reloaded was at
times incomprehensible and a bit slow, others appreciated the fact that the film
was ambitious enough to raise even more questions, which would somehow all be
answered in the third and final film The Matrix Revolutions. Joel Silver
explains in the In Movie Experience how the second and third parts in the
trilogy are really one movie and he also says while he cannot rule out whether
or not The Matrix franchise will continue in some form, this is the end
of the story of Neo and Trinity as far as he knows.
This
could be why many of the questions The Matrix Reloaded posed were never
answered and some of the new characters introduced in both films seem only to
have been glorified cameos with no real dramatic payoff. It seems as if
somewhere between the second and third films drastic changes were made resulting
in a film that focused too much on the effects action at the expense of
satisfactorily resolving some of the character arcs in the trilogy. Having seen
all three films now both theatrically and on DVD and taking into consideration
the prequel, prelude, and companion shorts found in The Animatrix, I
think that as a whole, The Matrix Trilogy feels incomplete and I resent
that fact that the story continues in a massive interactive Internet game
entitled The Matrix Online. There is nothing wrong with marketing a
property to create an expanded universe fans can enjoy for generations to come,
but I hate the idea that the open ended finale of The Matrix Revolutions
will go unresolved in a real online matrix that I have no doubt people will have
to pay for if they want to play. Movies are movies and games are games and no
matter how lifelike a game may appear, ultimately the story structure of a game
is not at all linear like a film. Even films that present events out of order
somehow have a beginning, middle, and an end, but games can go on indefinitely
depending on the multiple paths the players will take and no doubt what they
will bring to the game as well. So while I appreciate the hard work that went
into expanding the world of The Matrix to create a true multimedia
experience, I think it was created at the expense of the films themselves and
ultimately the expense of those who will have to buy the software in order to
participate in The Matrix Online.
I
could go into what my interpretations of the events of the film were and they
were definitely quite archetypal complete with biblical sacrifices and more, but
in a number of ways I’m still a bit disillusioned by the conclusion presented
in the third film to a point where I almost wish they left things alone after
making the first film. I am a huge sci-fi fan too so for me to state that in a
review still means a lot. Regardless of what I expected and what I got, I have
no doubt The Matrix Trilogy has earned it’s place as one of the most
creative sci-fi storylines ever put on film, but as far as cohesiveness, it
leaves a lot undone
The
two audio commentary tracks included on the HD DVD side, which feature
Philosophers Dr. Cornel West and Ken Wilber and Critics Todd McCarthy of Variety,
John Powers of Vogue, and David Thomson, Author of The New
Biographical Dictionary of Film make a very compelling case from the
advantage of looking at the entire trilogy as a whole, including The
Animatrix, stating that Neo’s journey to redeem both humanity and the
machines and bring peace comes from uniting the world of the flesh, which the
characterize as Zion, the world of the mind where the ideas are often argued out
loud as in the matrix itself, and the world of the spirit as seen by the lights
Neo perceives in the machine city of Zero One. Taking into consideration the
two-part prequel cartoon from The Animatrix entitled The Second
Renaissance, it is mentioned that the machines were created with a purity of
spirit that humanity had long let go of in favor of self-indulgence. This
coupled with the fact that it was humanity that started the war, but the
machines themselves ultimately lost their own innocence as can be symbolically
seen by the apple the machine ambassador toys with as it signs the treaty
calling for the unconditional surrender of humanity before nuking the United
Nations, shows that both sides are equally culpable in the creation of the
matrix and the endless cycle they all seem to be trapped in. Neo’s sacrifice
blazes not only peace, but also freedom and hope for all sentient life forms
both artificial and organic to begin a brave new world. Of course the Critics
make their points from a film structure standpoint that has a lot of validity
though at times some of their comments are wrong because if they watched the
films closely the answers are there and you don’t have to know anything about
philosophy to see them. However I have to stick up for the Critics when West and
Wilbur jest about how the Critics are somehow responsible for dumb
entertainment. If anything I’d say we are all responsible, but one person’s
garbage is another person’s art and Critics should look at a film differently
from a Philosopher because quite honestly their jobs are so different that
expecting anyone to react the same way to something, especially when their
professions are vastly dissimilar is like comparing apples and oranges. The
amount of thought, appreciation, and inner conversation these tracks set in
motion for all three films makes them in my opinion among the best if not the
best of the extra value features included within The Ultimate Matrix
Collection.
The picture quality and soundtrack and subtitles options for both The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions are on par with the HD DVD version of The Matrix and to describe everything again would only be enlarging an already epic size review so I’m moving onward to discuss the extras that include the trailer (2:22), 6 TV spots (2:42) and more Behind The Matrix documentaries (1:29:58) on side B. This includes six documentary short groupings regarding the films details a total of 28 featurettes that can be viewed individually or collectively according to the topics covered, which include a look at the “Crew” (24:59) and their role in bringing the film to fruition, a look at the action sequences in club “HEL” (27:34), which even includes an interesting look at the made up extras that participated in the memorable sequence. The “Super Burly Brawl” featurettes (16:52) includes an anatomy of the “Superpunch” Neo delivers to Smith in their climactic confrontation within the matrix. The “Siege” featurettes (40:06) also includes an anatomy of “Mifune’s Last Stand” in the defense of Zion. Personally I enjoyed the “New Blue World” featurettes the most (26:06) because it gives the viewer a better understanding and clearer view of what Zion is supposed to be. In the film, some of the scenes just seem too monochromatic and as a result much of the rich detail of Zion can easily be missed. At least here we actually get a look at the geographic set up of Zion, which is supposed to be the home of 250,000 humans. A look at the various hovercraft and machinery is also included along with a detailed explanation of the production design for the various sets. Taking into the account the events detailed in The Animatrix, some interesting explanations regarding the origin of Zion and who built it, where it is located with regard to the world before The Second Renaissance” and even an estimated time as to how far into the future The Matrix Trilogy actually takes place is expounded upon. A set of postproduction featurettes under the heading “Aftermath” (39:46) concludes the materials within The Matrix Revolutions Revisited section.
The Matrix Experience: 2-Disc Databank
The
last two DVDs included within The Matrix Experience: 2 – Disc Databank
contains The Animatrix on disc one side A and is an exact duplicate of
the DVD release. The
Animatrix is a feature
length anime anthology that serves as a prequel to The Matrix, prelude to
The Matrix Reloaded, and a companion to the entire Matrix Trilogy.
The nine films that comprise The Animatrix are nothing less that state of
the art animation combined with computer-generated imagery. A few of the short
films have appeared online while the first film on the DVD, Final Flight Of
The Osiris, was released theatrically accompanying prints of Stephen
King’s Dreamcatcher. The Animatrix not only provided a base to
introduce certain storylines and characters, but the dialogue and imagery within
The Animatrix resonates beautifully with The Matrix and The
Matrix Reloaded.
Four
of the films were written by the Wachowski brothers and have the most direct
links to the feature films themselves. The Final Flight Of The Osiris is
a prelude to The Matrix Reloaded and sets the initial plot of the film
going. Kid’s Story introduces viewers to a character known only as
“The Kid,” (Clayton Watson) who has role to play in both The Matrix
Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions. The Second Renaissance, Parts
I And II is a prequel to The Matrix that sets up exactly how and why
the war with the machines occurred and humanity’s ultimate downfall along with
the creation of the Matrix.
The
other five films are stories that take place within the universe of The
Matrix with different tales that often end quite solemnly. All of the films
look terrific on this DVD with an excellent anamorphic widescreen (2.35:1)
aspect ratio presentation. The soundtrack is terrifically mixed and very
discrete to take full advantage of home theater sound systems with a choice of
English or Japanese Language Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Soundtracks. English
Closed Captions for the hearing impaired as well as English, French and Spanish
Language Subtitles are also encoded onto the dual layered DVD as options.
There
is Director commentary tracks with Mahiro Maeda for The Second Renaissance,
Parts I And II, Yoshiaki Kawajiri for Program, and Takeshi Koike for World
Record. These commentaries are in Japanese with English Language Subtitles,
but are very interesting and I am not one who enjoys having to read subtitles so
believe me when I note that they are worth reading. They can be viewed
collectively as one reel (42:30) or one at a time. The same holds true for the
animated shorts as well as the making of documentaries, which collectively equal
55 minutes and 13 seconds. They can be found under the submenu “Execution.”
From Scroll To Screen” (22:22) is an excellent featurette detailing the
history of anime with various interview clips from noted experts and animators
as well as other leaders in the field.
Bios
for the Directors and Animation Producers are provided. Windows based PC users
with a DVD-ROM drive gain access to exclusive web elements
Side
B of the first DVD contains The Roots Of The Matrix and features two
excellent documentaries that in some ways converge upon the films in a way that
the Philosopher’s and Critic’s audio commentaries for all three films in the
box set offer different perspectives that help to enlighten the viewer’s own
perceptions of the films and hopefully find their own meaning therein.
Return
To The Source: Philosophy & The Matrix
(61:01) features filmed interviews with various scholars, philosophers and
theorists that deconstruct the trilogy as well as The Animatrix and in an
entertaining way give the viewer a brief overview or educational understanding
on the schools of thought interwoven throughout the series. The Hard Problem:
The Science Behind The Fiction (61:01) brings together various computer
scientists, anthropologists, science fiction writers and so on to discuss the
possibilities of a true matrix and how these schools of scientific thought can
be found in The Matrix Trilogy as well. One might take for granted much
of what they see onscreen when they watch these films, but it is amazing how
much scientific thought went into the creation of the series because it is
definitely easier to get caught up in the philosophical questions the trilogy
poses, which ironically begin to blur more and more into the science as one
watches the second documentary.
The
evolution of humanity and the interdependence that humanity shares with machines
is made so clear that it is easy to forget the plausibility and implausibility
expounded upon by the various speakers with regard to the films because so much
compelling food for thought is offered that as a film critic I found myself
marveling at the Wachowski Brothers’ mammoth achievement and realizing now
more than ever that for a new generation, The Matrix Trilogy is what the
original Star Wars Trilogy was for me when I was growing up. An epic
fantasy that set the standards for all that followed it and an archetypal human
story that I wonder for the young teenagers who are watching these movies at
home, if they can in some ways empathize with Neo’s journey the way I still
feel today the great sense of emotion in “Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope”
when we see young Luke Skywalker watching the twin suns set on Tatooine and we
get this simple, but truly dramatic moment of Luke’s yearning to see the stars
and the personal hurdles and challenges that he must face. Haven’t we all at
various points of our lives looked upon a character in a movie and feel empathy
because the emotion being expressed was truly universal in nature? The best part
of that scene I just mentioned above is that it is simply minimal action and
music that conveys everything that needs to be said without dialogue. A true
cinematic moment that I wonder for some 15 year old kicking back on the family
couch watching The Matrix Trilogy exists for him or her.
Both
documentaries are presented in a (1.78:1) anamorphic widescreen aspect ratio
with English Stereo Sound and French Language Subtitles encoded as options. The
second DVD features The Burly Man Chronicles (94:33) covers everything
related to the behind-the-scenes action that was not necessarily touched upon in
the three respective “Revisited” documentaries complete with the “Follow
The White Rabbit” feature that enables the option of branching off to see
additional featurettes while watching the main title or one can view these
featurettes individually or in collections covering Pre-Production
(32:23), Alameda Shoot (15:30), and Australia Shoot (33:49). These
extra value features are all presented in a full screen (1.33:1) aspect ratio.
English Stereo Sound and optional French Language Subtitles are provided here as
well and the same holds true for The Zion Archive, which is on side B of
disc two and concludes the extra value materials found within Warner Home
Video’s The Ultimate Matrix Collection HD DVD box set.
In
addition to the detailed concept artwork, storyboards, drawing, and model
images, both the theatrical teaser (1:01) and trailer (2:33) and eight TV spots
(3:53) are presented for The Matrix. The theatrical teaser (1:20) and
trailer (2:27) is presented for The Matrix Reloaded as well as eight TV
spots (4:40) and the trailer (2:24) for The Matrix Revolutions along with
six TV spots (2:48) are presented in a mix for four by three letterboxed and
anamorphic widescreen aspect ratio presentations. Music videos for Marylyn
Manson’s Rock Is Dead (3:20) and P.O.D.’s Sleeping Awake
(3:44) are also included along with a rave reel (9:34) and a featurette on The
Matrix Online (9:23), which continues the story where the movies left off
and explores at least in part the theme of peace and the things people do to
wreck it. For whatever the reason, much of the material included on the other
discs for the individual films have been repeated here. The main interactive
menus on both discs are easy to navigate and well rendered.
I
suppose if all of the extra value materials were in high definition and the
discs were double sided HD DVDs instead of hybrids, that would make this box set
even more ‘Ultimate’, but as is The Ultimate Matrix Collection is the
most comprehensive home video product on both DVD and HD DVD devoted to The
Matrix Trilogy and at the time of this writing, the most comprehensive home
video set on HD DVD period. If you want everything, this is the way to go. The
Ultimate Matrix Collection as well as The Matrix Trilogy are now both
available on HD DVD at retailers on and offline courtesy of Warner Home Video.
©
Copyright 2007 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
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