Update:

"Hello again everyone! Thanks to all who entered my little contest, and a huge thanks to Krix for helping me do it. Congratulations to Erika H. of Canada...The Matrix Online Game is on it's way to her. Again, thanks to all who entered, and have a great day!

Renie

"Hi Guys! Renie here. I have a brand new copy of The Matrix Online Video Game, plus a subscription card for more Matrix Online game time. The package is new, but the box is a bit ripped, and I did open the box to insert the subscription card, which was sold separately. If you'd like a chance to win this way cool prize, just answer this question correctly:

Name 3 films in which Keanu is not holding or drinking beer

This just ain't right.

-via metafilter

The bigass Matrix DVD box set hits the stores today. I'm not rushing out to buy it due to both time and money but I'm sure I will eventually. I expect the Keanurati will have lots of screenshots and whatnot by the end of the week. I know I'll eventually get it because I'm a sucker for those extras.

For insights into the subtle direction of actors, watch as Larry Wachowski gives cues to star Keanu Reeves, suspended on wires for a fight scene, in a manner Ingmar Bergman may never have considered: "Head jerk. Then thrashing. Then a big thrash. And another one. Then clench. Tighter. And die."

-from a Time magazine article about the DVDs

Actually, now that I think about it, I may have heard those exact same instructions on a date once.

DVD.IGN.com has a full review of the upcoming 10 disc Matrix set that includes some really nice screenshots showing the quality of the new transfer.

All and all the set, including audio and extras gets a score of 9 out of ten.

-via KeanuWeb

The Matrix comes in at #9 in the Top Ten Sci-Fi movies of all time.

Huzzah.

Well, the good news is you can get your super special Matrix Trilogy 10 DVD set in a special box with Neo de Milo and a cute little book this Christmas. The bad news is that the Keanu commentary previously reported? Not gonna happen. Feh. According to the report at thedigitalbits.com (via keanuweb):

There will be two audio commentaries for each film - one from philosophers Ken Wilber and Cornel West (who analyze the meanings behind the films), and one from three professional critics who hated all three films (no names given). According to Andy Wachowski, "It's the best idea we've ever had. It's hilarious. They just sit there and rip the shit out of us for six hours."

Hee! That is hilarious. I can't wait.

Also in DVD news, Mayor of the Sunset Strip was released on Tuesday. Yes, it's true that Keanu is only in it for the 2 seconds, as seen in the trailer, but if you have an interest in music and the LA scene it's definitely worth the rental.

Wait, there's more. The sucktacular Even Cowgirls Get the Blues will be out on DVD in November according to DVDanswers.com(via keanua-z). I have it on video from my "must have everything" completist phase a couple years ago. It's bad. Really bad. Recommended to rent ONLY if you've never seen Keanu as the asthmatic Julian Gitche AND you have a coupon or something.

Unless you've been trapped in limbo or living in an underground city near the core of the earth, I'm pretty sure you've heard that the marketing team over at WB is set to give us red pill addicts an overdose with a Matrix 10-disc DVD set just in time for Christmas....

In case you haven't, here's what the set (which should come with its own APU to carry it) shall include:

• Disc 1: The Matrix - with all-new transfer & audio commentary

  All-New transfer supervised by the Wachowskis and Director of Photography (DP), Bill Pope

  Audio commentary by Keanu Reeves["Yay!"--krix], Carrie Anne Moss, Laurence Fishburne, DP Bill Pope And Other Cast And Crew

  The Matrix Revisited (180 Minutes) - same special features as previous release

• Disc 2: The Matrix Reloaded Extended Version

  New cut incorporating 55 minutes of footage shot for the Enter The Matrix game.

  Audio commentaries by Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Laurence Fishburne, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Production Designer Owen Paterson, 2nd Unit Directors David Ellis And Kimble Rendall and other cast and crew.

• Disc 3: The Matrix Revisited - original version with behind-the-scenes footage.

  Audio commentaries by Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Laurence Fishburne, Special Effects Supervisor, John Gaeta; editor, Zach Staenberg and other cast and crew.

• Disc 4: Matrix Reloaded Revisited - special features (180 Minutes) - Includes all-new footage including dozens of never-before-seen cast and crew interviews, scene dissections, explorations of the production design and special effects, and more.

• Disc 5: Matrix Revolutions - Original Cut With Audio Commentaries

• Disc 6: Matrix Revolutions Revisited - (180 Minutes) - Includes all new footage including dozens of never-before-seen cast and crew interviews, scene dissections, explorations of the production design and special effects and more.

• Disc 7: The Animatrix

• Disc 8: The Roots Of The Matrix - 3 Hours Of Features

  The Matrix And The History Of The Action Genre - examines the many influences of action cinema that make up The Matrix

  Brainiacs' Revenge - Scholars, philosophers, theorists, and charlatans deconstruct the intellectual underpinnings of the trilogy

  The Science Behind The Fiction - Is the notion of a real matrix plausible? An investigation of the technologies that inspire the metaphor of The Matrix

• Disc 9: The Burley Man Chronicles (75 minutes)

  The Burley Man Chronicles - The "human" story of the making of The Matrix, as well as the game Enter the Matrix

  Rave Reel- A club-oriented montage of unused and newly edited footage from Reloaded.

  Spoofs Of The Matrix -The "Best-Of" these various clips

• Disc 10: The Zion Archive - A Tour Of Matrix Design Concepts, Storyboards & Drawings

  The set will also contain a 20-page soft cover Matrix booklet.
  

Seems like pretty much everything a Matrix fan could want, right?

Well, except for that DVD standard- DIRECTORS' COMMENTARY.

Sigh.

That's right. The Brothers W. still "don't wanna talk about it". Instead, there will be commentary by Cornel West, who also appeared in the films as a member of Zion's council and by Ken Wilber who is apparently some fabulous philosopher and a good friend of Larry W.'s.

BUT!

If you go to integralnaked.org's what's new section you'll see that there is audio of Ken Wilber in an an interview with Larry Wachowski about The Matrix. (Thanks to Petra)

"In the [...] dialogue, for the first time ever, we are lucky enough to hear Larry publicly comment on this situation. As he explains, the movies were in many ways designed not to give answers, but to introduce questions. What does it mean to be human? What is reality? Who is in control? Does God exist? and so on. If he was to explain what he thought the movies meant, he would be providing people with another concept of reality to either accept or reject—either way, the open space created by the question would vanish."

IntegralNaked.org is an interesting site that delivers "Behind the Scenes with the Most Provocative Thinkers in Today's World".

Whatever, dude.

It's also subscription-based so be prepared to whip out your credit card to hear the interview. There is a first month free deal if you really want to check it out, frankly they lost me at "tres cool!" (plus, isn't there an old joke that says "I don't want to part of a club that has Billy Corgan as a member?" Maybe I'm paraphrasing...)

Anyway, yes, I'm sure I'll be drinking the WB kool-aid and getting this set when it comes out, because they've hooked me with the Keanu commentary and extra behind-the-scenes (I so love to watch him at work). I really wish that Larry and Andrew would have done some commentary, though. I loved hearing from them in Revisited.

The Matrix 101 has part 2 of Stephen Faller's article series on feminist themes and symbolism in the Matrix Trilogy.

"It could be argued, in fact, that Trinity is a neo-Pygmalion (no pun intended). Pygmalion is the story of a woman who is created around the personality of a man, by him, and for his enjoyment. Maybe this is Trinity -- not that she was created by Neo, but that maybe she represents the new ideal of how nerds like their women. Are her qualities really hers, or does she represent the epitome of what nerds really desire? She knows her computers. She’s physically fit. She’s lusty and aggressive about satisfying her desire. She resorts to violence to solve her problems (in that she’s more concrete than emotional in problem-solving). She’s jealous. And she’s devoted."

Click the quote to go read the whole piece.

TheMatrix101.com has all kinds of interesting reading. Definitely worth checking out.

Once again, when you thought that you've looked at The Matrix from every angle, someone comes along and adds a whole new dimension.

Stephen Faller, who wrote Beyond the Matrix and also the 5-part essay: The Passion of Neo, has started a new article series on feminist themes and symbolism in the Matrix Trilogy entitled The Matrix and The Mater over at The Matrix 101.

"I wanted to start a series of articles called "The Matrix and The Mater" because a number of my readers are women and they have expressed considerable interest in these themes. Elsewhere, I have written about the white, male privilege as depicted by the Agents, and the issues of patriarchy as depicted by the Architect (perhaps Derrida would say the Patriarchitect). But I had never explored the feminist themes strictly for their own sake, and upon further study, I discovered a gold mine of insights into the movies."

The series will be in four parts, stay tuned to Stephen's website or the much-easier-on-the-retinas Matrix 101, which is chock full of all sorts of Matrixy goodness. I especially like the "Did You Know?" feature.

• KeanuWeb reports that Lou Taylor Pucci's site reports that:

  Lou [..] was reshooting scenes For "Thumbsucker" with Director Mike Mills, Keanu Reeves, Vincent D'Onofrio, and Tilda Swinton, in fact he said he felt like he was in "The Matrix" as he was shooting scenes in the daytime with Keanu and at night with Carrie-Anne Moss [who just joined the cast of Lou's newest project, titled "The Chumscrubber"]...

• USA Today (and a bunch of other sources) reports that Keanu will be honored for his work in action movies at the upcoming Taurus World Stunt Awards, which are scheduled to air on May 26 on SpikeTV.

  The awards, which recognize the men and women who put their lives at risk to make fights, explosions and tall-building falls on TV shows and movies look more realistic, will be presented May 16.

  The 39-year-old Reeves will receive an honorary trophy for best action movie star. His films include The Matrix trilogy, Speed and Chain Reaction.

  "Keanu's work with The Matrix trilogy was some of the best from an actor of his generation," said Gernot Friedhuber, executive producer of the show. "He has consistently shown an ability to learn from the stunt teams on his many films and has expressed a genuine interest in the field of stunt work."

  
  
• becky's Paulie will be tending goal at two charity hockey games this weekend in Calgary and Vancouver. See HollywoodCelebrityHockey.com for details.
  
• Keanu co-star Diane Keaton makes People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful list. The man himself is overlooked once again, which is fine as it allows me to keep up the tradition of NEVER, EVER buying People Magazine.
  
• Vibemerchants officially have a new drummer, and she has a rad haircut (which allows me to usurp her old one, glee!) and completely rocks. Expect gigs as soon as July.
  
• Red Bull comes in handy to carry 4-packs now. Be still my heart......no, really.
  

According to this press release, The Matrix Reloaded is nominated in in two MTV Movie Awards categories : Best Kiss (Keanu and Monica) and Best Fight (Keanu and Hugo)

You can vote and see clips at MTV.com

The MTV Movie Awards airs on June 10th at 9PM

On Saturday afternoon, I finally got around to watching the Matrix Trilogy from start to finish. I love the way it all fits together and anyone that continues to bitch about these movies can freaking bite me.

My....so eloquent today, no?

Seriously, though. In watching the three together I really saw things brought full circle. And also with the help of the subtitles, I caught a lot of important dialog that had gotten by me before. One thing that stood out was Morpheus' speech in the temple.

"Tonight let us send a message to that army. Tonight let us shake this cave! Tonight let us tremble these halls of earth, steel, and stone! Let us be heard from red core to black sky. Tonight, let us make them remember. This is Zion! And we are not afraid!"

The citizens of Zion dance to shake the earth, to show the machines that humanity is not afraid. It wasn't a "cave rave", it had purpose and especially cut with Trinity and Neo's lovemaking it makes so much sense. Again, anyone who bitches about that scene not making sense or going on too long can bite me.

Anyway, I could probably go on and on, but not today.

For more deep mind feeding matrixy goodness, Stephen Faller, author of Beyond the Matrix, has written a 5 part article , The Passion of the Neo.

The first 4 parts can be found at his website

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

UPDATE: Part 5 is now up at The Last Free City, I imagine it will be also at Mr. Faller's website shortly.

-via The Last Free City

Today's the day! Bring on the behind the scenes featurettes!

Oh wait.....

I've got a Matrixfest in one hand and a drummerquest in the other.

Damn, it looks like I will miss out on the mass consciousness of synchronized matrixy viewing goodness because we're practicing with (hopefully) a drummer tonight.

If he actually shows up it'll be worth it, though.

KeanuA-Z.com has a huge collection of screen captures from Revolutions up.

Wowsers.

One more day until full-on trilogy goodness. I can't wait to watch all three films together.

Some of you lucky ducks already have your Revolutions DVD!

Thanks to Niobe for this scan of the cover of the German DVD booklet that I've sized for wallpaper.

"The first film shook the foundations of Hollywood and instantly became one of the most enduring film images of the modern era. Not only a special effects film, The Matrix blended an incredibly intricate storyline with mind-blowing special effects, something which audiences took to immediately. A sequel wasn t immediately on the cards, but with the film's success it was probably inevitable. The Matrix Reloaded was born.

The second film tried to take the action and, more importantly, the story to a new level. Special effects were again the focus with some of the most visually appealing showcases sequences since, well, the first film. The narrative was really beefed up the second time around, much to the detriment of keeping the audience in touch with what was going on. I swear I could see a giant question mark over the whole cinema on first viewing, and a smaller version when I reviewed the new release DVD. But, like all great trilogies, the third installment is always the one to behold. Bring on The Matrix Revolutions."

Go to DVDanswers.com for Pete Roberts on the film, the transfer and the extras of The Matrix Revolutions DVD, due for release early next month.

This gorgeous drawing of Neo (found at Keanuweb) was done by a russian artist (and Keanu fan), "Coffs", who has a website with some more lovely artwork, both hand drawn and digital. Check her out.

After you've filled up on eye candy, feed your mind by reading Brian Takle's insightful and interesting essays about the 2nd and 3rd chapters of The Matrix Trilogy.

Then, when you're feeling all smart and brainy, feel free to come do my taxes for me while I learn Funkytown.

VFX Expert to Speak at Art Institute in San Francisco Bay Area students, visual effects fans and members of the public are invited to learn some of the visual effect secrets used in "The Matrix: Revolutions" during a special presentation at The Art Institute of California - San Francisco.

The event will feature Mike Morasky, a visual effects expert who worked on all three of The Matrix films. Using clips from the film, he will show how visual effects were used to bring the film's sentinel machines to life, and also explain the visual effects pipeline in a motion picture production.

The event takes place 7 to 9:30 pm; Wednesday, March 3, 2004 at The Art Institute of California. Click here for more information on attending.

Sounds interesting, if I was in the area I'd go. It's only five bucks and there's snacks, even.

Speaking of VFX and the Matrix, anyone else blowing off the Oscars this year?

Roi (very excitedly and pleased with himself) brought me a copy of December's Maxim magazine because it has an interview with Hugo Weaving that mentions Keanu:

So we hear that you Australian men are all supposed to be tough. Are you a tough guy?

No, I'm not. [whispers] Don't tell anyone.

No martial arts background?

Not at all. My background for the last 20 years has been that I'm an actor, prepared to jump in and do whatever is necessary for the role, whether that means bulking up or getting frail or getting really fat or whatever.

Any workplace injuries?

We all had our knocks and bruises, but certainly there were a few more serious injuries too. When you get up to take 17 doing the same movement that involves, like, kicking in the ribs, you know, you're all black and blue.
There were times I wanted to go home.

Did you ever "forget" to pull a punch and actually bean Keanu?

Yeah, I hit him in the face every now and then, but he did the same to me. So first there's a little suspicion and then an apology. Keanu Reeves is a gentleman. By the time we got on set, we were pretty careful not to whack each other around too much.

Did you have any idea that The Matrix would explode the way it has?

No one really knew for sure. The more we worked on the first one, the more I felt the Wachowski brothers are wonderful people. They are really intelligent and interesting, funny guys. They conceived it in such detail. The more we worked on it, the more we realized it was pretty extraordinary.

There. Now I can get this magazine back to him and out of my car...

Also, Justin Clark of Screenwriter'sVoice selects "Why, Mister Anderson, Why?" as one of the top 11 scenes of 2003:

#10 - "WHY, MR. ANDERSON, WHY?" FROM "THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS"

BY THE WACHOWSKI BROTHERS

Description: A bloody, broken mess of Neo continues to rise against a seemingly triumphant Smith, prompting the ultimate questioning of Neo's motives.

Why: I can hear the flames in my inbox now. But, I continue to stand by this trilogy. I continue to believe. And I relish the fact that time will smile very fondly upon this trilogy when the clouds of hype and expectation die down. And I offer this scene as solid proof. Granted, this scene is pretty much owned by Hugo Weaving from end to end. But again, what has always kept me rapt and attentive to this trilogy is how the ideas and influences at hand mix together to create something unlike anything American film has seen. What we have here is the bookend to an incredible anime-influenced fight, given human perspective by a rebel computer program who honestly cannot grasp the human propensity to keep fighting, even when there's zero hope for any victory. The Wachowskis ask all the right questions, and give Smith all the right lines to say, but Weaving gives it life: a combination of confusion, pity, and unflinching superiority. Say what you will about the series as a whole, but the Wachowskis have at the very least left cinema history with one of the most interesting villains in history.

Key Elements: A simple response to a big question; Hugo Weaving's gloriously over-the-top final portrayal of Agent Smith.

I certainly agree that "time will smile very fondly upon this trilogy".

"What was it like shooting with Keanu Reeves? That was a great fight you both had in the Tea House."

Collin Chou: Yuen wo-ping did a great job on the fights, along with his team. I was very impressed with Keanu Reeves' work attitude. He only trained for half a year to prepare for his part in the Matrix sequels. From watching the movies, you can see that he has attained such skills that are equal to many martial artist who have been training since childhood. You can imagine if Keanu had started his martial arts training when he was a child, his abilities would surpass many of the martial artists of today.

-Read the whole interview at KungFuCinema.com

To the one searching for "keanu with balls"....

I'd say he certainly has some balls here.
Mmmmm.....spandex.

*wink*

Read This.

Really interesting. Thanks, Nudel.

'Matrix' suite soon available for concert programmes:

Don Davis and his orchestrator Erik Lundborg are currently working on a concert suite based on the three critically acclaimed scores for the Matrix films. The suite will be approximately twenty minutes and in three movements using material from each and one of the films: The Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions. The suite is being re-orchestrated for a standard orchestra, which means that the brass section will be different from the original scores, the percussion will be reduced a bit, and there will only be one piano.

The first movement of the suite, featuring music from the first film, will be performed in concert by the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra in Sweden in three film music concerts from 18th-20th March 2004. More information about this event when the complete programme is ready.

Thanks to Lisa, of DVDfanatic.com, who sends news of an exclusive Q&A with Warner Home Video about the DVD release of "The Matrix Revolutions" at DVD Fanatic. (This link was also posted yesterday in the comments by Melissa, but I wasn't paying attention. Sorry and thanks)

Along with a little more detail on the features and extras of the 2-disc set, Warner shimmys like a lap-dancer around the pressing question...

Question: Are there any plans for a special edition DVD?

WHV: The Wachowski brothers are extremely creative and have a rich and complex vision for this story and WHV is continuing to work with them to bring their vision to the fans. We have no specific plans for a special edition that we can discuss today.

Which pretty much means "Just buy the DVD. Of course there'll be a special edition someday, but we can't say that now because we don't want you putting off purchasing our yummy Matrixy goodness in April for it. Ask us again around Thanksgiving 2004."

Everything That Has a Beginning Has an End: ``The Matrix Revolutions'' Premiering April 6 on DVD and VHS From Warner Home Video

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 12, 2004--Warner Home Video:

-- Must-Own Explosive Conclusion in the Unparalleled "Matrix" Trilogy -- One of the Most Successful Film Franchises Ever, Having Grossed Over One Billion Dollars Worldwide Box-Office This Year

-- Mind-Bending DVD Bonus Features Transport Fans on an Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Journey Into the Creation of "The Matrix" Phenomenon

-- "Two Thumbs Up!" -- Ebert & Roeper

-- "A mesmerizing conclusion to the best trilogy in cinematic history." -- Shawn Edwards, FOX-TV

The end is near as the epic war between man and machine reaches a thundering crescendo with the must-own DVD and VHS release of "The Matrix Revolutions," the stunning action-packed final chapter to one of the most highly touted and groundbreaking film series ever produced. Debuting April 6, 2004, from Warner Home Video (WHV) and Village Roadshow Pictures, "The Matrix Revolutions" will be priced to own at $29.95 SRP for DVD and VHS priced for rental.

Released in an unprecedented worldwide scenario that unveiled the film simultaneously in 80 countries around the globe, "The Matrix Revolutions" debuted to the worldwide box-office gross of $310 million in its first 10 days of release. One of the biggest film franchises of all time, "The Matrix" trilogy has grossed a staggering $1.5 billion dollars in worldwide box-office receipts to date.

Written and directed by the Wachowski brothers and produced by Joel Silver, "The Matrix Revolutions" stars Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving and Jada Pinkett Smith.

DVD ELEMENTS

The two-disc DVD release includes hours of bonus features:

-- Revolutions Recalibrated -- A behind-the-scenes overview that drills deep into the groundbreaking work that went into the final chapter.

-- CG Revolution -- Explore the special effects arsenal and take an inside look at the making of the creatures and environs of the CGI-intensive third movie.

-- 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."

-- Theatrical Trailer -- Weblinks to the official "Matrix" website and "The Matrix Online" test site

SYNOPSIS

In the powerful final chapter of the "Matrix" trilogy, Neo (Keanu Reeves) took another step forward in the quest for truth that began with his journey into the real world at the outset of "The Matrix" -- but that transformation has left him drained of his power, adrift in a no man's land between the Matrix and the Machine World. While Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) holds vigil over Neo's comatose body, Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) grapples with the revelation that the One in which he has invested a life's worth of faith is merely another system of control invented by the architects of the Matrix. During the stunning conclusion, the rebel's long quest for freedom culminates in an explosive battle. As the Machine Army wages devastation on Zion, its citizens mount an aggressive defense -- but can they stave off the relentless swarm of Sentinels long enough for Neo to harness the full extent of his powers and end the war?

BASICS

DVD - $29.95 SRP
VHS - Priced for rental
Street Date: April 6, 2004
Running time: 129 mins.
Rating: R (for sci-fi violence and brief sexual content)
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish

With operations in 82 international territories, Warner Home Video, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video's film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Home Video and New Line Home Entertainment.

Congratulations to Laurence Fishburne on his NAACP Image Award nomination for Best Actor for his work in The Matrix Revolutions.

....for getting all of that crack off of the streets, as you're obviously smoking it...

Academy Announces Films in Competition for Visual Effects Oscar

Beverly Hills, CA - The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences today announced the seven films being considered for Achievement in Visual Effects for the 76th Academy Awards.

The films in consideration are listed below in alphabetical order:

• The Hulk
  
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
  
• Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
  
• Peter Pan
  
• Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
  
• Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
  
• X2
  

Fifteen-minute clip reels from each of the seven films will be screened for the Visual Effects Award Nominating Committee on January 21. The members will then nominate three of these seven films for Oscar consideration.

The finalists will be announced along with nominations in 23 other categories on Tuesday, January 27, at 5:30 a.m. PST.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2003 will be presented on Sunday, February 29, 2004, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland and televised live by the ABC Television Network at 5 p.m. PST, beginning with a half-hour arrival segment.

The Hulk?
The fucking Hulk gets Oscar consideration and neither of the Matrix films do?

(Not that I actually saw it, but I'm pretty sure that this is six kinds of wrong.)

Thanks to Nook for bringing this to my attention and also for the link to this petition about it.

Since they're apparently scared of technology, if you really want your opinion heard you might want to compose a good old-fashioned letter to the Academy of Arts and Sciences and send it to:

Thanks to Mikey2 for the link to The Matrix Online, the online role playing game based on the world of The Matrix due to be released next year. Looking at the screenshots it seems either they expect a lot of women to be playing, or maybe a lot of teenage gamers just want to see what it's like to kick someone in the neck while having really big boobs.

And speaking of boobs, Pam Anderson and Jenna Jameson are scheduled to appear on Spike TV's Video Game awards tonight, but I don't see Keanu's name there anywhere.

You can tape or TiVO it if you think he might be on, but I think I would have felt a surge of sexy if he'd been in Vegas on Tuesday.

Thank you to Nadia for this....

'Matrix,' other geek icons become philosophy-class fodder

ALLENTOWN, Pennsylvania (AP) -- Long after The Matrix Revolutions morphs itself off the big screen, the eternal battle of reality versus illusion, fate versus free will and good versus evil will rage on in philosophy classrooms everywhere.

The third and final installment of the trilogy opened November 5 on more than 10,000 screens at the exact same time, and, in spite of mixed reviews, soared quickly to No. 1.

"It didn't raise as many philosophical issues as the other two, but there certainly was a philosophical overlay to the darn thing," said Theodore Schick Jr., head of Muhlenberg College's philosophy department.

He's one of many educators across the country using pop-culture examples of timeless conundrums to challenge students into new thoughts. "It's what a liberal education should do: liberate people from preconceived ideas and prejudices," said Schick.

He's also one of the professors who contributed to a recent book, The Matrix and Philosophy, which reached the New York Times best seller list earlier this year.

To briefly sum up the plot of the movies, the matrix is an illusion generated by robotic machines that have finally gotten their revenge on humans by enslaving them as living battery cells. Humans don't know this, however. They think they are living free.

Along comes Neo (Keanu Reeves), who just may be The One to lift the veil and set humans free; his wise mentor and rebel leader, Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne); and Neo's love interest, Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss). They have the ability to travel between reality and illusion, kung fu fighting with robots and battling giant metallic squids. Symbols from the works of Carl Jung, Joseph Campbell and James Frazer abound.

In his introduction to The Matrix and Philosophy, William Irwin, assistant professor of philosophy at King's College in Wilkes-Barre, describes the Matrix writers and directors, the Wachowski brothers, as "college dropout comic-book artists intrigued by the Big Questions."

In his contributed chapter, "Fate, Freedom, and Foreknowledge," Schick addresses a predominant Matrix topic: Is anyone -- man or machine -- free, or are they slaves to inescapable destiny?

Schick said there are only three branches of philosophy, and the Matrix trilogy supplies examples for them all.

Metaphysics asks: What makes something real or not real? If all that exists is matter and motion, what is a mind? Can a computer like Agent Smith, Neo's nemesis, have a mind?

Epistemology asks: What is the nature of knowledge? "Skeptics say we can't acquire knowledge by means of the senses, because we can't be certain that what our senses tell us is true," said Schick. So how can we be certain that we're not living in the matrix?

Ethics asks: What makes something right or wrong? Is all that matters in life having good experiences even though you're a "brain in a vat," or the kind of choices you make?

"Neo thinks that leading a good life requires making good choices," said Schick, which brings up the whole issue of fate and free will -- the illusion of a choice, or a real choice -- which leads back to metaphysics.

The Matrix and Philosophy was published before the second movie, The Matrix Reloaded, was released, "but I got the Oracle right, suggesting that she really didn't know the future but was using humans' faith in her to manipulate them," said Schick.

Schick also has contributed a chapter to another book in Irwin's series, Seinfeld and Philosophy. Schick analyzed the final, "Good Samaritan" episode of Seinfeld, in which Jerry and friends end up in a Massachusetts jail for not coming to the aid of an injured person, or even calling 911 on their cell phone.

"What is our obligation to our fellow human beings?" Schick asked, comparing the libertarian duty not to interfere with the communitarian obligation to help.

And he's also in the latest Irwin book, The Lord of the Rings and Philosophy with a chapter titled "The Cracks of Doom: The Threat of Emerging Technologies and Tolkien's Rings of Power."

Schick's contribution examines what we should do with technologies that threaten to destroy us, said Schick, just like J.R.R. Tolkien's rings gave their possessors wealth or dominion over others, but also had the power to corrupt.

Some people think we should stop all research into genetics, robotics and nanotechnology because they have the potential to destroy the human race, said Schick. "We should throw these technologies back into the fire," just like the Council of Elrond voted to destroy the One Ring of Sauron, the Dark Lord, he said.

The Return of the King, the final film in the adaptation of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings fantasy, opens December 17. It follows hobbits Frodo and Sam into the land of Mordor to destroy Sauron's ring of power.

Schick also finds material in Tolkien's story as a study in loyalty and courage. "Frodo is seduced by the ring, and Sam keeps him true," he said.

"The original theories of ethics developed by Plato and Aristotle were based on virtue, in which a good life was one that was led in accordance with the virtues, such as temperance, courage, loyalty, honesty and prudence," he said.

Students: For an easy A, expound on this in your next classroom discussion: What are the philosophical implications of Hugo Weaving, the Australian actor who is Agent Smith in The Matrix trilogy, also playing Elrond, the elven Lord of Rivendell, in the Lord of the Rings trilogy?

If you're keen on the music of the Matrix, you should check out MatrixBeats.com. It lists music from all the films, the trailers, the Animatrix and even the game.

Thanks to Rhonda for the link.

By the way, did you know that the Revolutions CD is enhanced? Pop it into your computer.

I'm still enjoying it in the car, especially on the way to work. Yesterday was yet another somewhat surreal driving/listening experience.
Let me just say, if you have the chance to listen to Neodämmerung in the pouring rain, do it.

And then be prepared to laugh maniacally when you come around a corner and see yourself reflected in the back of a gasoline truck emblazoned with the word...Mobil, because it's just all too weird.

LOS ANGELES, California (Hollywood Reporter) --Neo is indeed mightier at the box office than Frodo.

In a game of revision and counter-revision, the title holder for the biggest worldwide opening in history -- which has passed during the past few days from "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" to "The Matrix Revolutions" and then back to "Two Towers" -- is once again in the "Matrix" camp.

After adding in some late-arriving international grosses, Warner Bros. is now claiming victory for "The Matrix Revolutions," which amassed $202.8 million in its first five days since opening last Wednesday. That puts it slightly ahead of New Line's "Towers," which racked up $201.9 million in its first five days late last year.

The contest over bragging rights began Sunday when Warners estimated the five-day opening of "Revolutions" at $204 million. The studio issued a news release dated Monday that hailed the film as "the biggest consecutive five-day opening in motion picture history."

At the time, New Line's last-reported tally on "Towers" stood at $201.4 million.

Advantage: Warners.

But later Monday, Warners revised its number down slightly -- to $201.4 million.

That would have put Warners in a dead heat with New Line, except that since New Line last reported its $201.4 million figure in May, it revised the "Towers" number, raising it to $201.9 million, which put "Towers" $500,000 ahead of "Revolutions."

Advantage: New Line.

On Wednesday, however, as a few more international dollars trickled in, Warners revised its "Revolutions" take up to $202.8 million, slightly above the revised New Line number on "Towers."

Current winner: Warners.

Overall winner: Time Warner, which owns both studios. (It's also the parent company of CNN.)

"We've never released this broadly before and in this many countries, so it's been an incredible challenge coming up with an accurate box office count for this many territories," said Veronica Kwan-Rubinek, president of Warner Bros. Pictures International Theatrical Distribution.

"When we released in 107 markets, we were in many territories that we don't traditionally track daily box office figures."

"Revolutions" went out in a record 94 countries, 107 markets and with more than 10,000 prints internationally in an unprecedented day-and-date, hour-to-hour release November 5.

Kwan-Rubinek also noted that various countries were on holiday Monday, which delayed getting accurate numbers, and she also said that smaller countries usually take extra time to tally.

The newly revised international box office for "Revolutions" is $119 million, up slightly from the $117.6 million reported by the distributor Monday. In either case, in terms of its international grosses, "Revolutions" easily topped the first five days of "Two Towers" in the international marketplace, which brought in $99.8 million.

"Revolutions" earned a relatively disappointing $83.8 million in its first five days of release in North America, compared with about $102 million for "Two Towers."

In its first seven days, "Revolutions" has amassed a worldwide gross of $232.2 million, with $93.6 million coming from the domestic side and $138.6 million from international receipts. Traditionally, the international side of the "Matrix" series has outperformed the domestic side, and the third film in the series looks to continue that pattern.

MovieMistakes.com already has over twenty mistakes spotted in Revolutions.

From the 'quite nitpicky, actually':

"In the rain battle scene, where Neo is laying on the soaked ground after crashing into the road, Neo's ear is filled with water, in the next shot, the water is gone. Neo's head hasn't moved between the two shots."

[Stop scrutinizing my sweet baboo's ears you maniacs.]

To the 'well, this is sort of important':

"In the train station, the Indian program explains to Neo that he cannot come with his daughter because it is his karma to keep doing his job as a program. In both Hinduism and Buddhism (it is not definite which religion he is) karma is the overall value of one's spirit, or soul. The concept that he was speaking of was dharma, which is the duty that a soul is obligated to perform."

Reloaded has a count so far of 80 mistakes spotted, and The Matrix? 112.

Also Matrix related, this entry has taken on a life of its own as a idea exchange for cracking the new 128-bit code over at the official site.

Which is just so cool I can hardly stand it. You rock on hax0r boys!

What's the difference, in movie terms, between want see and must see? Answer: the second and third Matrix films. Before it opened in May, The Matrix Reloaded had fans drooling to find out how Larry and Andy Wachowski, the gifted brothers behind The Matrix, would expand the first movie's vistas and visions. That's want see in its most avid form. It earned Reloaded a record $209 million in its first 10 days but only $72 million in the rest of its run, a sure sign it disappointed its audience. So when the trilogy's finale, The Matrix Revolutions, arrived last week, seeing it was not so much a craving as a duty. Hence must see. As in must eat soybeans. Must visit Aunt Harriet. Must complete my set of Matrix in-theater viewing experiences.

Like Reloaded, Revolutions begins with no flashbacks, no summary of the story thus far. For those who are hazy on the battle of the reborn computer whiz Neo (Keanu Reeves) and his band of rebel humans against Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving) and the nasties of the virtual-reality Matrix, a brief refresher course is in order.

The 1999 original was a genuine Neo classic. It trumped its nifty martial artistry and digital effects with a theme of self-discovery in the great heroic tradition. So, what did the brothers do for an encore? They spread the sequel over two feature-length films and, with all that time to fill, got a little gassy in their storytelling. The rebel fortress of Zion was a drab lair whose denizens engaged in way too much Jedi Council — style nattering. Then — as if producer Joel Silver had pleaded, "Could you please have somebody hit somebody?"--Reloaded 180'd into an action film, with the most elaborate car chase ever shot but without the first film's zip or resonance.

Well, Silver did warn us: M2, he said back in April, was "only half a movie." Revolutions is the other half, and if it doesn't touch the original for sheer cinematic wow, it's a big improvement over M2 and brings the enterprise to a satisfying climax.

Neo is now unplugged, lost in a nightmare realm between the Matrix and the machine world. He's pursued by Smith, who has gone free-lance and has become a fatal computer virus. Neo's friends Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) can't count on him, so they must plan the defense of Zion with the help of only the fractious rebel commanders. Their immediate obstacle: the pruny, petulant, dangerous Merovingian (Lambert Wilson). Their possible key to Neo's location: the Oracle (Mary Alice), who, we learned in M2, is a computer program and not always trustworthy.

The movie takes its time reaching warp speed. The Zion debates drone on, and much of the acting and dialogue is stilted, perfunctory, at a level somewhere between a Star Trek TV episode and a Star Trek convention. But the ass kicking starts early, when Morpheus and Trinity have a cool fight with the Merovingian's goons. Meanwhile, Neo is being dogged by a "human" whose voice sounds ... strangely ... familiar. Our hero's lids are seared shut, and through the hot coals of his X-ray eyes, he sees Smith, grimacing triumphantly. It's one of the epiphanies of the movie year.

Any martial trilogy needs a climactic battle scene. This one pits the humans against a swarm of the Matrix's sentinels — those metal octopests, those enemy anemones that chased the humans in M1 and M2. They're back in megaforce, forming a snake shape that rears and strikes at Zion. So the human soldiers get outfitted in gigantic robot armor — clinking, clanking, clattering collections of collagenous junk.

Ah, yes: The Wizard of Oz. That's the touchstone here, not just in the war of a few good guys against a vicious aerial host but in Neo's trip to the Machine (Emerald) City to meet its virtual vizier — who, as seen on a giant screen, looks a bit like the Oz wiz in the 1939 movie — and learn how to get home.

Somehow, though, you knew that the fate of the universe would hang on the outcome of a kung-fu fight between Neo and Smith. It comes at the end on and above city streets in a slow, heavy rain. The trilogy ascends and soars with the two combatants and ends not with a whimper but with a blast of light.

Thus the fabulous original film has found an honorable way to sign off. For those who didn't bother to join the early crowds, The Matrix Revolutions is a definite might see.

The Matrix Revolutions Ignites Global Box Office Revolution with $204 Million Opening, Setting a New Record for the Biggest Consecutive 5-Day Opening of All Time

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 9, 2003--Matrix fans around the globe turned out in record numbers to experience Warner Bros. Pictures' and Village Roadshow Pictures' The Matrix Revolutions, the final explosive chapter in the blockbuster Matrix trilogy. The combined five-day opening weekend box office receipts for The Matrix Revolutions totaled a staggering $204 million, charting the biggest consecutive five-day opening in motion picture history. The announcement was made today by Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures, and Veronika Kwan-Rubinek, President of International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.
Additionally, The Matrix Revolutions scored the biggest international weekend of all time with an estimated $118.6 million, and set a new domestic record for the second largest R-rated opening ever behind The Matrix Reloaded with an estimated $85.470 million. The film also earned an estimated $14.9 million in the UK, Japan $14.8 million, France $11.2 million, Germany $8 million, Spain $6.3 million, Italy $6.2 million, Australia $5.5 million, Korea $5.2 million, Russia $4.8 million and $1.5 million in China.

In an unprecedented global release distribution scenario, Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures unveiled The Matrix Revolutions to fans in every major city around the world at the exact same moment in time on November 5. The film opened simultaneously at 6 a.m. in Los Angeles, 9 a.m. in New York, 2 p.m. in London, 5 p.m. in Moscow, 11 p.m. in Tokyo and at corresponding times in over 90 additional countries worldwide. Marking the widest global opening ever, The Matrix Revolutions launched approximately 18,000 prints in 109 markets on six continents, ranking it #1 around the world. The film was also simultaneously released in 60 IMAX(R) Theatres worldwide.

"It required the unparalleled efforts of our international teams on six continents to bring this film to 107 markets simultaneous to its release in the United States and Canada," Kwan-Rubinek said. "It is (therefore) extremely gratifying to see these terrific numbers reflect the impact of everyone's efforts worldwide."

"The zero hour simultaneous opening of The Matrix Revolutions once again positioned the Matrix films as the cutting edge experience in motion pictures, and we're thrilled that this remarkable trilogy continues to break global box office records with the performance of Revolutions," Fellman added.

"This achievement is a testament to the brilliant vision of Larry and Andy Wachowski, the work of our exceptional cast and crew, and the devotion of Matrix fans around the world," said Joel Silver, producer of the phenomenal Matrix trilogy. "The film's unprecedented zero hour release and the record-breaking audience turnout worldwide makes for the perfect ending to our incredible five year journey in bringing the Wachowskis' groundbreaking trilogy to the screen."

The success of The Matrix Revolutions comes just five months after the record-shattering release of the trilogy's second chapter, The Matrix Reloaded, on May 15. To date, The Matrix Reloaded has earned over $737.9 million in worldwide box office, making it the highest-grossing film of 2003 and the highest-grossing R-rated film in history, both domestically and internationally. Additionally, Reloaded scored the domestic record for the largest single week ever with $158.2 million and reached $150 million in a record-breaking six days. Internationally, it is the 10th highest grossing film of all time, and is the first film in history to gross more than $100 million in a single weekend.

Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures and NPV Entertainment, a Silver Pictures production, The Matrix Revolutions, starring KEANU REEVES, LAURENCE FISHBURNE and CARRIE-ANNE MOSS. The film also stars HUGO WEAVING and JADA PINKETT SMITH.

The Matrix Revolutions is written and directed by THE WACHOWSKI BROTHERS and produced by JOEL SILVER. The executive producers are ANDY WACHOWSKI, LARRY WACHOWSKI, GRANT HILL, ANDREW MASON and BRUCE BERMAN. The director of photography is BILL POPE, A.S.C.; the production designer is OWEN PATERSON; the editor is ZACH STAENBERG, A.C.E.; the music is composed by DON DAVIS; the visual effects supervisor is JOHN GAETA; and the costume designer is KYM BARRETT.

The Matrix Revolutions is being released worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures.

This film has been rated "R" by the MPAA for "sci-fi violence and brief sexual content."

KEANU RELOADED
'Matrix' star had to be smart as a whip to shake image of being dumb as a post

By Stephen Whitty
Newhouse News Service

NEW YORK -- Keanu Reeves is smarter than you think.

Sure, those two long-ago "Bill and Ted" movies stereotyped him in a heinous way. ("I used to have nightmares that they would put 'He played Ted' on my tombstone," he admitted.)

And, yes, he has said some silly things in the past and even merits his own chapter in the snarky book "Movie Stars Do the Dumbest Things."

And -- OK, OK -- he does tend to overuse the word "awesome," and salute people with "hey, man," and wonder aloud about things like spontaneous combustion, and did utter the movies' most famous "Whoa!" in "The Matrix."

But Keanu Reeves is also smart enough to love Shakespeare, and read the great Russian novelists, and listen to Joy Division. He's been smart enough to say yes to working with Gus Van Sant and Bernardo Bertolucci, and no to making "Speed 2."

And he was smart enough four years ago to see something in the screenplay for "The Matrix," and to sign on for a sci-fi milestone -- and increasingly profitable payday. (Reeves' reported salary on "The Matrix Revolutions," which opened Wednesday: $15 million plus 15 percent of the gross.)

"When I saw the script for the first one, there was just a kind of modernity in it that appealed to me," he says, sprawled in a Manhattan hotel suite. "The synthesis of all the forms -- classic myth, a love story, even kung fu. I loved that. And the question, 'What is the Matrix?' you know, being really 'What is the world? What is reality? How do we get past that veil to see the truth?' I thought that was fantastic."

The movie's vision of a sexually liberated, casually colorblind society appealed, too.

"It doesn't draw attention to itself and yet it's there," says Reeves of a script by the reclusive directors Larry and Andy Wachowski that gives equal weight to all its characters. "It takes this opportunity to go beyond racial issues and gender orientation to create this kind of inclusive world, and I thought that was a really cool element as well."

The movies don't often feature that sort of multicultural world. Yet, growing up, it was the only one Reeves knew. [...]

"It was just awesome," Reeves remembers happily. "There was no fear, no worry -- I remember chestnut fights, and hide-and-go-seek games that would go on in the street until 11 o'clock at night. . . . People fought, but it was never about anything more than two people wanting to fight. I didn't hear a racial epithet until I was in high school, and when I did, I was just like, 'Are you kidding me? Did you actually just say that?' "

Reeves wasn't much of a presence in high school, where he seemed to major in hockey. But then one day in a sophomore English class, he was called on to recite one of Mercutio's scenes from "Romeo and Juliet." And something happened.

"I just remember that it was really fun, and I felt really alive, and I said, 'This is what I'm going to be,' " he says. " 'I'm going to be an actor.' "

The boy who had no interest in going to school during the day started taking serious acting classes at night. By 22, he'd landed a couple of parts on Canadian TV and a supporting part in the Rob Lowe film "Youngblood." Encouraged, Reeves moved to Los Angeles, where he got a bigger part in a better film: the creepy, alienated "River's Edge."

It was a dark little classic about aimless youth, but co-star Crispin Glover got most of the attention, while Reeves got stamped as a pleasant, not-too-bright hunk. Signing on for "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" in 1989 (and then doing the voice for the Saturday morning cartoon spinoff, and returning for the 1991 movie sequel) only confirmed his image as a handsome, vaguely hammered high schooler.

It was profitable for a while, but in the end it was unwelcome and mostly undeserved. Reeves' performance as the clueless Ted was sweet and unforced, and gave Hollywood its funniest dope since Sean Penn lit up "Fast Times at Ridgemont High." Yet while everyone knew Penn wasn't Jeff Spicoli, no one seemed able -- or interested -- in telling Reeves apart from Ted.

Eventually Reeves pulled himself out of the rut by taking on more challenging material such as Van Sant's "My Own Private Idaho" and Bertolucci's "Little Buddha." Neither was a mainstream success, but they helped Reeves shake the surfer-dude image and rebuild his credibility as something more than a movie stoner.

Then "Speed" hit and made him a major star at 30.

Since then, Reeves' career has been marked by some odd choices and even odder films. (Remember "Feeling Minnesota"? "The Last Time I Committed Suicide"?) For every "Speed" and "The Matrix," there have been two or three or four films such as "Sweet November," "The Watcher" and "Johnny Mnemonic."

His life has been marred by some horrible tragedies, too. [...]
Some of that Reeves has used in his work ("I've lost my best friends," he says, "and that can't help but be a part of certain scenes"). Much of it he's tried to deal with and move past.

And so Reeves now plays bass in an underachieving band called Becky. He rides vintage motorcycles, way too fast. He thinks about marriage, and kids, but not too much. ("Before you get married, you have to meet someone you want to marry, and you can't control that.") He hangs out with old buddies, some of whom he's known since grade school.

"I've been fortunate to make some pretty incredible friends in my life, and friends keep you down-to-earth," he says. "But my nature is pretty down-to-earth anyway."

He still looks like a college senior and talks like a bright high-schooler, but Reeves turns 40 next year. Although he has a number of projects either already finished or lined up -- including the romantic comedy "Something's Gotta Give" in December -- he has "no idea" what the next decade will be like. This one has been dramatic enough to last for quite a while.

Mostly, he says, he's looking forward to continuing to act, to "finding the truth in the make-believe," and to simply enjoying life.

"I watch my little goddaughter and I think, life is so precious, so beautiful. There's so much possibility and potential in it. It's all such a gift. So why can't we just enjoy it?"

It's not such a dumb question. And sometimes Keanu Reeves sounds like he just might be smart enough to figure it out.

LOS ANGELES — Which way do you spin "The Matrix Revolutions"? The third movie in the cyberpunk trilogy earned $24.3 million at the domestic box office in its first day of release, Warner Bros. said Thursday.

That's a great one-day total for any other movie, but it comes in far below what "The Matrix Reloaded" collected in its nationwide debut last spring.

In May, "Reloaded" opened with a few late-night screenings on Wednesday evening and earned about $5 million. Then it expanded to 3,600 theaters on Thursday and earned about $37.5 million, according to Brandon Gray, proprietor of BoxOfficeMojo.com.

At the time, Warner Bros. lumped the Wednesday totals in with the Thursday figures and announced a total debut of $42.5 million for "Reloaded."

Gray said there may have been less anticipation for "Revolutions" simply because of the rapid-fire release timing.

"With the last one ('Reloaded') there was four years of pent-up demand and 'Revolutions' comes out after only six months," he said. "It's not quite the same event as the one that came out after a long drought."

Dan Fellman, Warner Bros. head of U.S. distribution, dismissed the notion that some viewers may be less enthusiastic about the franchise after "Reloaded," which scored poorly with critics and many fans.

"These are staggering numbers," Fellman said. "If you talk to any large theater operator they're totally out of their minds with joy."

"Revolutions" also collected $18.8 million internationally after staging the widest simultaneous release for a single film by opening in an unprecedented 18,000 screens around the world at the same hour (9 a.m. ET), according to Variety. Part of the studio's worldwide effort was to combat piracy.

"Revolutions" also ranked as the third best Wednesday debut for a movie, behind $28.5 million for 1999's "Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace" and $26.1 million for last year's "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers."

Although hampered by critics who lambasted "Revolutions" as a glorified videogame, the Keanu Reeves sci-fi adventure could still come close to topping $100 million domestically by the end of the weekend.

Paul Dergarabedian, president of box office tracker Exhibitor Relations Co., said he would wait until the weekend to judge how "Revolutions" compares to "Reloaded."

The critically acclaimed first film, "The Matrix," earned $33.7 million in its first weekend in April 1999 and went on to rake in $171.5 million.

"Reloaded" earned a total of $281.6 million and became the year's third highest-grossing movie of the year, behind "Finding Nemo" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," respectively.

The Matrix Official Site has a load of new content now that the movie is out.

Now that I don't have to worry about spoilers, I'm going to take a bit and check out the various matrix boards and see what people are saying and also try and catch up on some articles.

Well, there was no official Matrix swag to be had at the screening I went to, but I did score 2 CDs (Train, 3Doors Down) and a leather CD wallet for outing myself as the Über queen geek of Matrix Trivia in Las Vegas.

"What is the name of the compan...."
"Metacortex! Hah! In your face!"
*does victory dance down the aisle*

OK, so I really just raised my hand. And the victory was a little hollow because I was apparently the only one in the theater that knew it.

Well, that knew it and wanted some crappy radio promo.

Anyhoo....Second viewing was as good or better as this morning. I think I'm going to actually have to take notes next time.

I do have a couple pressing questions that I'll ask before I head to bed...

blah blah spoilers yadda don't click pfffft!

• What's the deal with the candy? is it important or not?
• What the FUCK up with the sentinal passing through Neo when they are following the power lines?
• Did the elevator button at Mero's say "Hell"?
• Wasn't there supposed to be a big helicopter sequence in one of these movies (2&3)?

I could be wrong about that last one, maybe they used the helicopter for filming but it wasn't actually a helicopter scene (like you actually see it).

I hope I can get to sleep. I had two mochas before the show tonight.

Don't click if you haven't seen Revolutions yet.
This goes for the comments link as well, as it will show the whole entry.

I mean it.

OK, of course the whole thing needs to be watched again. Here's a few things I can remember wanting to comment on:

• While sitting in the theater, when the green-tinged Warner Lot/Village Roadshow logo came up, I panicked. For a moment I wanted to flee, because this was it, the story would be over and I wasn't sure if I wanted that.
• I was glad that they got right into it, picked up right where Reloaded left off.
• "MOBIL" = LIMBO. Got it.
• Liked the upside-downedness of the bondage lobby fight, I also liked the "deja-vu" feeling re: the original lobby gunfight. There were a few times in the movie they did this, calling back to the first film. Nice.
• "Merv"...Bwahahahaha! I "heart" Trinity.
• The battle at the dock was breathtaking. Like I said in the audblog, bless the twisted mind of Geoff Darrow. Fucking Amazing, I can't wait to see it in IMAX.
• Liked the way they explained The Oracle's "new look", Gloria Foster left a big cookie sheet to fill and Mary Alice was perfect.
• At this moment, my favorite part was when Trinity saw the sun and the blue sky.
• Sigh, Trinity.
• Neo, heartbroken. Unable to shed tears. Fuck ALL Y'ALL who say he can't act. I lost it. Note to Self: Bring tissues next time.
• Hugo was fucking MARVELOUS.
• The rain fight was also incredible, loved the various sybolic effects withing the lightening.
• Much more....

Really, so much more. But that's all I can wrap my mind around right now.

I can't wait to see it again tonight.

audio post powered by audblog

Hooray!
I'm going to the "official" Revolutions opening screening here in Vegas tomorrow night, thanks to Dave.

I'm still going to the first showing at 6am, too.

The Matrix Revolutions' Soundtrack Set For November 4th Release on Maverick Records

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Oct. 29 /PRNewswire/
-- On November 4th, 2003, Maverick Records will proudly release the soundtrack to "The Matrix Revolutions," the final chapter in the epic "Matrix" trilogy, on the eve of the film's unprecedented global release.
Music From The Motion Picture The Matrix Revolutions will feature over an hour of original music by composer Don Davis, who also scored the two previous installments, "The Matrix" and "The Matrix Reloaded." Included is the song "In My Head," performed by Pale 3, and collaborations with Davis and the group Juno Reactor, including a nine-minute remix of the track "Super Burly Brawl." The album also features an orchestral score composed by Davis. Selections include "The Trainman Cometh," "Saw Bitch Workhorse," "Neodammerung" and over a dozen others.
In "The Matrix Revolutions," the rebels' long quest for freedom culminates in a final explosive battle. As the Machine Army wages devastation on Zion, its citizens mount an aggressive defense -- but can they stave off the relentless swarm of Sentinels long enough for Neo to harness the full extent of his powers and end the war?
Written and directed by the Wachowski Brothers and produced by Joel Silver, "The Matrix Revolutions" will be released worldwide on November 5 by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures.

These are pictures from tonight's Revolutions Premiere that I found over at Yahoo. There are also some of the whole cast, etc. And I'm sure there will be more tomorrow.

He looks dashing as always.....sigh.

Apparently there is a BIG FAT HAIRY POSSIBLE SPOILER right in the title or something of a new Carrie-Anne article or interview. I've been lucky enough to avoid it, thanks to Tyler and others. If you've been spoiled by just seeing the title without benefit of spoiler warning, I would suggest that you write the site owner nicely alerting them to this and asking that they alter something so others can avoid it. I'm sure it's unintentional, or perhaps a red-herring.

In any case I'm going to be a cyber recluse for the next week, avoiding all other sites, boards and news alerts until I hear an "all-clear" or something.
So things might get a little weird, or stupid....or boring.

I'm so sorry for anyone that was accidentaly spoiled.

Short non-spoilery Keanu interview at ComingSoon.net...

Keanu will be saying goodbye to "The Matrix" and Neo soon, something that he's been around for years now. "The three films, in working on them, have been some of the best days of my life as a person and as an artist. So I'm very grateful to be a part of them, just grateful."

Read the whole thing here.

Fandango Announces Tickets on Sale for `The Matrix Revolutions' Two Weeks before November 5 Screen Date

HOLLYWOOD--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 23, 2003--
Final 'Matrix' Expected to be Top Seller as 'Reloaded' Broke Fandango Sales Records

In May, "Matrix Reloaded" became Fandango's best-selling picture in company history, breaking multiple Fandango sales records. Anticipating a repeat performance in advance ticketing for the final installation in the sci-fi thriller trilogy, the nation's largest online and phone movie ticketer is giving moviegoers a two-week jump before the November 5 debut to buy tickets at www.fandango.com. Tickets will also be available by phone three days in advance by calling Fandango's toll-free number, 1-800-FANDANGO.

"The 'Matrix' franchise has the fan base and momentum to drive huge advance ticket sales for 'Revolutions,'" said Art Levitt, president and CEO of Fandango, Inc. "Moviegoers have a vested interest in the story and we expect them to again turn to Fandango to ensure they have tickets in advance to the trilogy's conclusion. We look forward to kicking off the holiday moviegoing season with this great franchise."

I haven't even thoug