Thanks to Natasha for mentioning it, I guess there is going to be a "Special Edition" Matrix DVD release at the end of April.
Of course there is. Viva la Marketing!
Here's what's in the set (thanks to matrixfans.net)
DISC ONE - ORIGINAL DVD FEATURE FILM-- Commentary by star Carrie-Anne Moss, visual effects supervisor John Gaeta and editor Zach Staenberg (Not Keanu? Strike one)
-- "Making the Matrix": 26 eye-opening minutes of
behind-the-scenes insight (Wasn't this on MTV?)-- Music-only track with commentary by composer Don Davis (Music only? what's the point?)
-- "Follow the White Rabbit": Interactive feature jumps from a scene to a featurette on the effects that shaped the scene; nine "White Rabbit" featurettes in all (stuff like this bugs. You have to keep looking for the damn bunny)
-- Take the Red Pill to two hidden special effects documentaries: "What Is the Concept?", a dazzling musical-montage journey from sketch to final effect; and "What Is Bullet Time?", the anatomy of the trailblazing technique (been there, done that)
-- Filmographies (imdb.com)
-- Widescreen presentation (don't get me started)
-- Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio (my TV is old and sucks, this means nothing to me)
-- DVD/ROM features galore: (note! these are only for playing it on your computer)
-- Interactive screenplay - read the script as you view comparative storyboards, stills and clips (this sounds like work to me)
-- "Are You the One?" interactive challenge (if you're not sure? You probaly aren't)
-- Seven special genre essays and articles - "From Strip to Screen" explores comic books on film; martial-arts movie featurette "Everybody Loves Kung-Fu Fighting!"; a sci-fi film retrospective and more (lots of interesting philosophical essays on the website. "Retrospectives" make krix go 'ugh')
-- Link to original theatrical website (um...hello? www.thematrix.com)
DISC TWO - ORIGINAL "MATRIX REVISITED" DVD PLUS NEW BONUS
MATERIALS-- "Preload: On the Set of Reloaded": Exclusive behind-the-scenes preview of the May 15 theatrical release "The Matrix Reloaded" (I've spent many month trying to avoid being spoiled for this, I'm not going to pay for the privilege)
-- Two mind-blowing episodes from "The Animatrix: The Second Renaissance, Parts 1&2" (will be found here)
-- Marilyn Manson music video - "Rock is Dead" (barf)
-- "What is the game?": teaser for the new "Enter the Matrix" videogame (teasers for games? what's the world coming to?)
-- Thematrix.com: theatrical website preview (preview? wow, I think it's done ready for viewing)
-- "The Matrix Revisited": the complete, behind-the-scenes two-hour companion piece to "The Matrix" phenomenon (seen it)
-- Six behind-the-scenes featurettes on "The Matrix" (Ooooh! featurettes is such a cute word! bah.)
-- The Music Revisited: sample up to three hours worth of audio music tracks of the music from the world of "The Matrix" (I don't have time to listen to the music I already own. Plus I think this is already on Revisited)
-- The Art Revisited: multiple stills galleries with over 800 images (funny thing about movies...they move. Who wants to watch a slideshow? Buy the book.)
-- "The Animatrix" preview (check the website)
-- Theatrical trailers/teasers/TV spots (ditto)
Spiffy.
I doubt I'll be buying it, but go nuts. I'm holding out until 2004, when the big end-all be-all boxed set with all three films, Revisited, Animatrix and Wachowski-freaking-home-movies all packaged in a holographic foil-wrapped scale model of an embryo pod with a sound chip that says "I know kung-fu!" everytime you open it.
I'm sure I'll be buying the Reloaded and Revolutions DVDs when they come out, because the most agonizing time is that span between when the movie leaves the theaters and it's available for home viewing. I spent WAY too much on video copies of The Gift and Hardball because I didn't have a DVD player but wanted to see them. In fact, for what I paid, I pretty much could have gotten a player at the time. I'm dumb that way sometimes.
I guess I'm just not as enamored with DVDs as I should be. I've been disappointed in a lot of "extras". Have you noticed that most of the time, the audio on "deleted scenes" sucks? That was the only reason I bought a DA disc and I was almost pissed.
I've tried watching DVDs with the commentary feature on.....drove me nuts. I don't like that shit in the theater, why should I want someone going on and distracting me in my own home? Shut up already, and let me enjoy the film.
Behind-the-Scenes and "Making of..." is interesting, to a point. But really...Movies are Magic. And when you know how the CGI was done and where to look for the wires and all that, it takes a little of that magic away.
Part of me doesn't want that.
Now I sure hope it doesn't make me any less of a fan, that I resist throwing money at every carrot that this franchise waves in front of me (mix metaphors much, krix?), but good grief, if I did I'd be as orange as an oompa-loompa by now. *OH! free idea, marketing people! These DVDs need FIVE GOLDEN TICKETS to the premiere. Then I'd buy one.*
I will say, if you don't already have Revisited and you don't plan on going to the official site and checking out The Animatrix stuff ("The Second
Renaissance, Parts 1&2" extra? Available on the net soon), and you love sitting there with your forty-leven button remote looking for "easter eggs" and you have an awesome home theater system that will make the music tracks sound like Don Davis is waving his baton from your couch, buy this.
Buy it and I'll come over and watch it with you, I'll even bring the beer.
It's less than thirty bucks and hell, you get a free movie ticket with it.
I'm saving my money for popcorn and raisinettes on the 15th.
Completely agree. Unless they come with a life- sized holographic Neo projected onto my sofa in "sensaround", I'm gonna pass.
Posted by: Chianti on January 31, 2003 02:41 PMhee!
Or if one of those "featurettes" was footage of him shaving in the bathtub.
I guess I will the lone woman out and be WB's marketing bitch. I am so hopelessly hooked on these films I can't help myself.
Hey Keanuette, you will stand with me won't you?
Posted by: Tyler on January 31, 2003 04:03 PM:-D You are SO right! No offence to anyone who might want it, -sorry Tyler ;-) -but it is becoming a bit of the 'Starwars-hype' in a sense. What's next? Trading cards? Zillions of books? Bubblegum? Matrix-conventions where everyone dresses up as... Mmm. Wait. I kinda like that ;-)
Anyway, I'll wait for the grand dvd-box after 3... The money I thus save, will go into my 'special fund'. One day... That original Matrix costume will be MINE! See you at the convention!
I hate it when people keep re-releasing old stuff with a new package and fancy names... Makes me feel I'm a dumb 'matrix-a-holic'.
Posted by: Bea on January 31, 2003 05:56 PM1. What was he shaving in the tub?
2. Do I even want to know?
3. Does the punkette white rabbit girl have a part in either of the new films?
Heh. I know kung fu That line had me laughing for weeks.
Posted by: scott on January 31, 2003 05:57 PMSee that's the thing. I know this was a little snarky, but it's really the "packaging" side of the industry I'm blowing raspberries at. It's all product, and they release it in "tiers" making sure that they time it as to optimize every bit of $$$ potential. Which on one hand is good. If The Matrix wasn't such a huge profitable franchise, the 2nd and 3rd parts of the trilogy would never have been made. They have to make profits beyond the ticket sales these days. I'm just saying, for me-with no home theater or DVD rom drive- it doesn't make sense to repurchase this stuff. Because I don't *need* to see every little thing. Some people want to. And that's great. I thank them for buying this stuff to support the franchise. And I'm sure I'll be flinging my wallet at enough other things Matrix this year.
Posted by: krix on January 31, 2003 06:06 PMOh, and he shaved *everything*.
I have a sort of...um...fetish with that..
*squish*
And I doubt it about the girl, she served her purpose early by getting him to the club.
Posted by: krix on January 31, 2003 06:09 PMFor all you true Matrix shopaholics ;o)
http://www.screenused.com/forsale/Matrix.htm
Posted by: I'm broke on January 31, 2003 06:43 PMhey scott, i actually read somewhere that Dujour and Choi would both be back (that's your punkette and her boyfriend). so, we might get to see the bunny tattoo again...
Posted by: Lori on January 31, 2003 07:07 PMGee Krix, I didn't mean to make you all snarky, I swear (cross my heart)! And on Ass Friday no less! :) For the record, I don't buy ALL things Keanu or Keanu-related. Did a long time ago, but not so much anymore. Hell, I haven't even bought the first Matrix (was waiting to get a DVD player). That being said, I do agree with you and the "too" much marketing that is going on with these sequels. I was even a tad disappointed in the Super Bowl trailer (just because I thought the first one was a little more mysterious and the new one that they showed seemed to show A LOT. IMHO. Plus, I liked a different version of what Laurence Fishburne is saying over the action being shown, but that's just me). I've been trying not to read stuff so I go into the movie(s) relatively fresh & uniformed. But sadly, I have been tainted. So, I don't know? I don't have MTV or have seen some of the other Matrix-related anime things online. So I thought it was kind of cool to have it all together in a set like that. I guess Warner Brothers just felt they really blew it the first time around (with hardly anything related to the Matrix to sell and people clamoring for things. Nicompoops! Keanu in leather! D'uh! That's a no-brainer! Big seller! Not to mention Trinity and Morpheus!) and now are going gangbusters with merchandising stuff for the sequels. Sigh. Art and commerce. I guess it really is a thin line.
You know what would really be cool? A night with Neo contest. Dude, I'd enter as many times as humanly possible. And I don't think I'd be alone in that. ;) Do I hear an "amen"? Have a great weekend and seriously, I'm sorry I made you look at(or directed you to) snarky-making material. My bad. Will refrain from doing so in the future. :)
Posted by: Natasha on January 31, 2003 08:27 PMOh please, Natasha.
Please don't think that any of that besides the 'Thank You' was meant for you or that you are to blame for my snark.
I'm grateful you pointed it out.
I just needed something to rant about, kind of like a release.
I'm glad you mentioned it.
And a Night with Neo contest would RAWK!
:)
And as for buying things "all Keanu", you know what? If they could promise me that at least one of the featurettes was at least 20-30 minutes of pure unseen-before Keanu footage (of any kind) I'd change my tune and be at Best Buy with bells on to get this disc on the day of release.
Posted by: krix on January 31, 2003 08:42 PMthey should do a 'featurette' of this post. bloody f'g brilliant!! lol i love laughing at 1:41 am :)
Posted by: Alex on January 31, 2003 10:38 PMROFL krix!!
I'm wid you Tyler. Plus hubby will appreciate because I don't give him a chance to get onto the 'puter to check out all these sights and news.
He's walking around with anti-reloaded-spoiler sunglasses and ear-muffs.
It'll be virgin viewing for him when it comes out. He's so resilient.
I know people that haven't even bought The Matrix on DVD and they own a DVD player. I feel like slapping them...LOL I guess WB are filling the gap, hyping the hype. I just hope these movies don't blow.
Posted by: Keanuette on February 1, 2003 02:33 AMWell Keanuette,
I guess its just us!
Have a great weekend everybody!
Posted by: Tyler on February 1, 2003 07:50 AMCouldn't they have at least added DTS sound?! What kind of lame special edition is that?!
Posted by: mxv on February 1, 2003 09:14 AMThanks Krix (for the explanation)! I totally understand about wanting to rant & release. :) I'm also totally with you about the 20-30 minute unseen Keanu footage. At this point in my fandom (though I love Keanu movies, don't get me wrong!) I really LOVE just watching Keanu be Keanu. Sigh.
Man, with your great ideas and the others that are put forth here, I think WE ALL (with Krix as our ring leader) need to be the PR people for the Matrix sequels. Why does no one else see the wisdom in this? :) Sometimes genius really does go unrecognized. Boo to that!! But,if somewhere along the way a "Night With Neo" contest pops up, remember you read about it here first! ;)
R.I.P. Columbia crew... 02/01/03
The Matrix was the first DVD I bought, when Barry bought us a DVD player for the family.
It Rocks!!
you guys are all so funny :) it pisses me off that they do that -- i went out and bought matrix revisited, but now i feel like i'm getting ripped off because of the re-release. what i usually do with stuff like that is ask for it for christmas that way it's not my money i'm spending on it. And I'm sooo glad I did not watch the superbowl -- as much as i loooove seeing little sneak peaks, i want to go into the theater without knowing anything. that's how it was for the first one and it blew me away. i want the next two to blow me away too.
Posted by: laura on February 2, 2003 04:46 PMI can't wait to see thematrix it's going to be awsome
Posted by: Joshua lomas on April 21, 2003 06:03 PMRemember, this is a fan site.
Keanu Reeves is in no way connnected to this website.
Please do not make a comment thinking he will read it.
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Thank you.