MATRIX REVOLUTIONS
Warner Video

- Although I believe that Andy and Larry Wachowski lost their way with the last two Matrix films in this astonshing trilogy, there is no doubt that they changed the face of futuristic action movie making when their 1998 film, "The Matrix" hit theaters around the world. The depth of Neo's loneliness in that slimy green articifical world and the cool black leather-clad superhero that he becomes dazzles your imagination and has influenced every genre of film to follow. Upon a second (and I suspect a third and fourth viewing), "Matrix Revolutions" looks much more coherent than the first time that I saw it in theaters. The new DVD release allows the viewer a chance to digest the story and the visual spectacle at their leisure and some of it makes a weird kind of sense. I think expectations were very high -- possibly too high -- so the conclusion seemed confusing. There is an entire host a characters introduced in the second film, "The Matrix Reloaded" that appear in the final chapter and they are simply thinly conceived. The best example of this is the decadent French man and his wife. And, the concept of the Matrix changing is very confusing despite the superb casting of Mary Alice who replaced the late Gloria Foster as the Oracle. However, Mr. Smith's madness and prolification is clever and eye-popping. The same is true of the killer machines and their machine world.

The two-disc widescreen editions has loads of extras, great sound and it is breathtakingly beautiful. It has many features that explains the creative excitement that the Wachowskis ignited. I'm secretly hoping that there is more video out there and that we'll see a more expanded version of the film and behind the scenes look. Clearly, once "The Matrix" became a world-wide sensation, the brothers had a chance to explore all of their ambitions -- ie. animation films, games and the last two films shot back to back. After the initial conceit was introduced, the Wachowskis didn't have a clear plot to follow but their visual genius realized by dozens of artists with computers, F/X, costumes, etc. tantalize the audience. Some of the extras include "Super Burly Brawl" - A crash course on the final Neo/Smith showdown with three multiple video streams: storyboards, behind-the-scenes and the final scene all running in sync.
"Follow the White Rabbit" - Watch the special features and select the White Rabbit icon to go further into the making of the film.
--Neo Realism: The Evolution of Bullet Time - A closer look at how "Bullet Time" was taken to the next degree of madness.
--Super Big Mini Models - The intricacies of filming in the world of models and miniatures.
--Double Agent Smith - A look at what it took to make this incredible scene, including the work to replicate Hugo Weaving, with body doubles, lifelike mannequins, head casts and costumes.
--Mind Over Matter: The Physicality of The Matrix - A look at what it takes for the actors and stunt people to perform the dramatic stunts of The Matrix.
· Future Gamer The Matrix Online - An introduction to the massive multi-player game The Matrix Online, created by the Wachowski Brothers.
· 3-D Evolution- Transition to different levels of the Matrix to view concept art, storyboards, pre-visualizations and realizations for several elements in Revolutions
· Before the Revolution - 3-D timeline of the concurrent story development occurring in the Matrix between the Matrix trilogy, The Animatrix, and Enter the Matrix.
There is also a theatrical trailer and
weblinks to the official Matrix website and The Matrix Online test site.

It's fun to watch the actors --Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Hugo Weaving and Carrie-Anne Moss -- reveal their feelings and strut their stuff as they act, play and create. The documentaries about the set design, fashion, creatures and visual illumination is an informative look at the life of artists who work in film. Furthermore, fans will get a glimpse of the reclusive Wachowski Brothers as they create their movies. Unfortunately, they don't provide a director's commentary or interview tapes and that is disappointing. Nevertheless, along with the two other Matrix films, the Animatrix and the games, "Matrix Revolutions" is a must have DVD.

Edited by Veronica Mixon
images courtesy of Warner.

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