The Matrix Revisited

Rating:
Summary: Five Stars just for the concept, take one away for the price
Review: Kudos and assorted other cheesy nitrate laden snack-foods to Warners for pushing the envelope with this release. This is a second DVD loaded with supplements released as a companion to the original Matrix DVD. There are promo materials for the upcoming sequels, additional documentaries about the first film and an interview segment with uuber-fans of the original.

Warners recognized the animosity that releasing the "definitive" or "super special edition" DVD years after the primary release fosters among fans of particular films. Think of this as a service patch for the original. The price should be a bit lower, but nothing's set in stone until it actually hits the shelves.

Thanks for the effort Warner. You're very close to getting it right.

Rating:
Summary: More than it seems...
Review: Most of the other reviewers have covered the main content on the disc well. If you would find a 2 hour documentary that goes deeper into the making of the Matrix than the extras on the main DVD interesting, this is for you. A must-have for hard-core Matrix fans, a decent rental for the casual fan. You probably won't watch the documentary twice.

HOWEVER, this DVD has huge benefit which I haven't seen mentioned anywhere else online- the "hidden" features. There are a bunch of them. Most are short, video clips covering particular subjects (example, an anecdote about "the Woman in Red" describes how a bystander was so distracted by the actress that he seriously damaged his car). But the real gem is the hidden "jukebox". It's found off the "languages" menu, and has 41(!) full-length audio-only tracks, all leading-edge indie electronica stuff (no Prodigy or Rob Zombie here!). Many (all?) of the songs are used as background music in the video portions of the disc. Sound quality is pretty good -- some songs are more obviously compressed than others. It's this feature that really "made" this disc for me... it's a shame they chose to hide it so well, since many people (and apparently most "professional" reviewers) don't know it's there.

Rating:
Summary: It's a "The Making of the Matrix" DVD"
Review: One of the best and coolest documentaries I've ever seen. Anyone who loves the matrix, or loves 'technical but not overly technical' documentaries will love this.

One thing I love about Revisited is how much it feels more like a separate film from the Matrix; at the moment I'm watching Revisited more than the movie, and enjoy it every time.

Also, the movie is divided into chapters (just as every other DVD is...) except on this DVD, each chapter is a separate sub-documentary that focuses on a spacific aspect of the film (example: special effects, costumes, etc.) Come to a chapter on the DVD that you don't think will interest you? Hit the ol' skip button on your remote and you can go to the next fascinating sub-documentary.

Another thing I love about this is how much closer you feel to the cast and crew when you are finished watching this movie; you see how they think, train, work, film, imagine, create, design, build, and just about everything else that has to do with the matrix films (yes, it briefly discussed the trilogy near the end.) You feel higher than other Matrix nerds after you watch this simply because you know a few more random facts about it than they...and I love that feeling.

Rating:
Summary: Love the Matrix? You'll love this...
Review: One of the best and coolest documentaries I've ever seen. Anyone who loves the matrix, or loves 'technical but not overly technical' documentaries will love this.

One thing I love about Revisited is how much it feels more like a separate film from the Matrix; at the moment I'm watching Revisited more than the movie, and enjoy it every time.

Also, the movie is divided into chapters (just as every other DVD is...) except on this DVD, each chapter is a separate sub-documentary that focuses on a spacific aspect of the film (example: special effects, costumes, etc.) Come to a chapter on the DVD that you don't think will interest you? Hit the ol' skip button on your remote and you can go to the next fascinating sub-documentary.

Another thing I love about this is how much closer you feel to the cast and crew when you are finished watching this movie; you see how they think, train, work, film, imagine, create, design, build, and just about everything else that has to do with the matrix films (yes, it briefly discussed the trilogy near the end.) You feel higher than other Matrix nerds after you watch this simply because you know a few more random facts about it than they...and I love that feeling.

Rating:
Summary: An exhaustive (and exhausting) look at THE MATRIX.
Review: Released before extras-stuffed DVDs were more and more the norm, THE MATRIX had a fairly thin selection of supplementary material: a couple of commentaries, a trailer, and that's about it. Rather than follow the "double dip" method, whereby the movie is released with a new set of extras, and forcing people to shell out for the same picture they already bought, the minds behind THE MATRIX produced THE MATRIX REVISITED, a completely separate DVD with all the "making of" goodies for which a film fan could ask.

THE MATRIX REVISITED consists primarily of a lengthy documentary on the development and production of the first film, and additional features drop hints concerning the new movies and about THE ANIMATRIX, a collection of animated shorts set in the fictional world of the matrix. Taken together, all of these materials will take viewers three hours or more to work through. Not a bad value at all.

It's true that THE MATRIX REVISITED won't be for all tastes. The documentary is exhaustive in its detail, even going so far as to discuss what fabrics were chosen for costumes inside and outside the matrix. Those with a low tolerance for extended forays into filmmaking geekery will doubtless find themselves bored stupid by the time this DVD stops spinning. There are no fight sequences to break things up here, and no profound revelations about the actors or the story they brought to the screen. Rather, THE MATRIX REVISITED is pure trivia. It's interesting trivia, but it's still trivia.

This dearth of fun material on the disk is a side effect of THE MATRIX REVISITED's release as a standalone product. If all of this had come with the original film attached, then viewers could excuse the excess. After all, the buyer would have picked up THE MATRIX and gotten all the rest of this as a bonus. Even if he or she never watched it all, so what? Purchased separately, though it sidesteps the dreaded double-dip, THE MATRIX REVISITED confers a sort of obligation on the buyer. If one buys the disk and doesn't watch every minute of it, one didn't get a very good deal.

Even die-hard MATRIX freaks will have some trouble getting excited after a while by handheld video footage of actors working out on a cold sound stage. There's a tiring sameness about the material in THE MATRIX REVISITED that sometimes makes watching it a trial. Thankfully the documentary has been structured in such a way that something truly interesting tends to pop up every few minutes. If the viewer can stay awake during the rest slow bits, these tidbits are a reward.

In the end, how one approaches THE MATRIX REVISITED depends upon how interested one truly is in the process of making a film like THE MATRIX, and how rabid a fan one is of the film itself. Casual viewers of THE MATRIX won't find anything here worth spending the time to discover. Viewers without at least some idea of how a film is made might be confused by the documentary's familiar approach to filmmaking. Those with interest and patience, though, will find watching THE MATRIX REVISITED time well spent.

Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly interesting
Review: Since there is almost nothing in either Matrix I or II but special effects (and asinine dialog like "you will know your purpose when you know your purpose"). Matrix Revisited comes off like Matrix' Greatest Hits.

Some may find Keanu in a bathrobe being chased by Max Headroom is entertainment--and to each his own. And I admit watching Lawrence Fishburn imitate Patrick Stewart is funny! But think of the pain if there were no effects in a movie like this. They deserve their own DVD and this is it. Well done.

Rating:
Summary: Will Expand Your Appreciation for the Film
Review: The first film of, "The Matrix Trilogy", was a surprise in terms of its success, and the degree to which elements of the film have been imitated repeatedly, with very little expertise, since the original opened. The Wachowski Brothers who made their debut with, "Bound", managed against all manner of odds to not only bring the film to fruition, but to direct the movie as well. Prior to this they had been entrusted with 5 million dollars for a budget; this time is was to be at least 65 million so the studio was a bit cautious. Their case was not helped when virtually everyone who read the script loved the story, but was almost without exception very confused about what they read. The people that were to be tasked with bringing the script to the screen had very little confidence the effects laden film would work. Happily all the concerns were to be unfounded.

The physicality of the film is stunning, and is made more remarkable as the actors due virtually all of their own stunt work. Many of the sequences require being suspended by a wire during phases of a scene, and the reason the imitators are all so poor is immediately apparent. Most movies are made in less time than the 4+ months spent just learning the fight sequences. Some of the fights took place after 8 months of development; name another film that makes that kind of time investment in training the actors instead of using stunt doubles? Even with all the preparation, broken ribs, a variety of fractures, and in the case of Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss), a broken leg at the start of training for the next film's installment. In this documentary you will see her turn an ankle in a manner never intended. How she continued to make the final take was a testament to pure guts, and a high tolerance for pain. Although the gutsiest/riskiest effort has to go to Keanu Reeves, who wore a neck brace as he trained, for he was waiting to see if two vertebra in his neck would successfully fuse and allow him to do the stunts the film called for.

Many of the most fascinating visual effects are explained, but unlike a magician that reveals how an illusion is done, there is no disappointment when the effects secrets are shared. Part of this is due to the complexity involved. The explanation that an image is computer generated is simple, try understanding the software involved!

This disc barely hints at what the next 2 films will present. The producer suggested the next should be called The Matrix Squared, and the third The Matrix Cubed, as the films are going to be significantly more complex. The suggestion is that these next films will be as radically innovative, and visually stunning as the first, except they will be exponentially better and even more complex.

Two and one half hours of remarkable footage that reminds you how amazing the film was, and makes you mark your calendar for May 15 2003 when the next film opens.

Rating:
Summary: Go to bed.
Review: The making of the movie. It is also availible as a two-pack with the Matrix (if you can find it. Try www.deepdiscountdvd.com and search for "matrix".

The hidden features are neat, especially the jukebox. Lots of neat song on it.

There you are. go to bed..........

Rating:
Summary: Go to bed.
Review: The making of the movie. It is also availible as a two-pack with the Matrix (if you can find it. Try www.deepdiscountdvd.com and search for "matrix".

The hidden features are neat, especially the jukebox. Lots of neat song on it.

There you are. go to bed..........

Rating:
Summary: Go Beyond The Film...
Review: THE MATRIX REVISITED is a great companion to the blockbuster film from 1999. The DVD has a 123 minute documentary, that not only examines the film, but it also looks at the entire "Matrix" phenomenon, as well. When the DVD for the film was released, I thought, 'wow this is pretty feature-packed'. But now this disc goes further behind the scenes This DVD takes viewers deeper into the maze. Clearly released to wet the fans appetite for the 2 sequels that are now in prduction, this marketing tool is a more than just a tease. It's an assult. However, it doesn't give away the plot of the next chapters, the way some first look specials do. There's enough here to satisfy any fan. Aside from the main documentary, directed by Josh Oreck, the disc also includes: Information on the next 2 movies of the trilogy. As well as stuff on the Matrix Anime project that looks awesome, never before seen fight footage, and a lot of hidden features that I haven't accessed yet. For fans of the film, this is definately for you, as for those of you haven't yet discoverd what all the fuss is about , see the film first and then come along if you want. THE MATRIX REVISITED comes Highly Recommended