>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
PRESS CONFERENCE JOEL SILVER
Source: <Sydney Morning Herald>
During a press conference Joel Silver had some interesting info on the special effects of the sequels:
It is deep into the shoot for the two sequels to The Matrix in Sydney, but producer Joel Silver says the toughest leg is still to come. "The most complicated sequence of the entire movie will not start shooting for two or three weeks," he says. "That is a 14-minute sequence that is the most complicated sequence ever put on film."
Given the secrecy surrounding the sequels since directors Larry and Andy Wachowski started filming late last year, it was not surprising that Silver was keeping quiet about the details of this ambitious sequence.
But he did suggest The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, due for release in May and then December next year, aimed to be about something meaningful rather than just escapist action.
"It's so weird to say this but it's a treatise on our times and where we're going and how to not go there," he said in response to a question about how the terrorist attacks on September 11 affected film-making. "It's about global warming and the Catholic church. It's about all that stuff that's going on in our lives that we can't really grab onto."
A press conference also featuring Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Laurence Fishburne, Hugo Weaving and other key actors was a rare glimpse into a production that has monopolised Fox Studios this year.
Such is the international interest in the sequels that a teaser trailer released on the Internet earlier this month was downloaded more than two million times within 72 hours.
Silver continued the hype by saying that some of the visual effects were so expensive and time-consuming they will never be repeated for a film. One visual effect for a single shot took two-and-a-half years to create.
"I really think that the bar has been raised so high that there is no more bar."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
WB OFFERED WACHOWSKI'S BATMAN
Sources: <Batman-on-film>, <The Matrix Online>
Although this is in no way confirmed, it has been rumoured before.
Apparently, after the success of The Matrix the Wachowski brothers were offered the next Batman film - Year One. Not only that, but they were offered full creative control for the film, as well as the option to work on a Batman trilogy. However, the Wachowsi Brothers, despite being Batman fans decided to simply focus on the Matrix series.
One point from the article, is that apparently the Wachowski Brothers, and Joel Silver have been given $600 million for the remainder of the Matrix series, this includes Reloaded and Revolutions, the AniMatrix projects and the recently announced online Matrix game, which is apparently costing $45 million to make.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
TRAILER DOWNLOADS: 8 TERABYTES
Source: <Countingdown.com>
From a press release:
Fans around the globe have converged upon TheMatrix.com to view the first teaser trailer for "The Matrix Reloaded" and "The Matrix Revolutions," the hotly anticipated sequels to Warner Bros. Pictures' ground-breaking, Academy Award-winning action blockbuster "The Matrix."
TheMatrix.com has received over 20 million page views since the teaser trailer was released, demonstrating unprecedented Web traffic at a feature film Web site over a year in advance of the release of "The Matrix Reloaded," the second installment in the trilogy that stars Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss and Hugo Weaving.
In the first 72 hours following its release on May 15, the trailer was downloaded over 2 million times, shattering records previously set by Web sites for "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" and "The Lord of the Rings." (If these "Matrix" downloads were played back to back, the trailer would run continuously for over five years.) This translates into over 8,000 gigabytes of data being downloaded worldwide, an amount that would typically crush or freeze most Web servers -- but through the power and support of the AOL server which houses the site, fans were able to view the trailer and explore the world of TheMatrix.com to optimum effect.
"The teaser trailer clearly drove the initial traffic, but the jump in hits above and beyond the teaser is a testament to the fans' massive sustained interest in the sequels," producer Joel Silver noted. "TheMatrix.com is our direct connection to the fans, and it is our singular purpose to provide unique and continuous content to the online community."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
INTERVIEW WITH 'THE KID'
Source: <Moviehole>
Clayton Watson talks to TV Week today about his role as 'The Kid' in "The Matrix Reloaded", and Moviehole's transcribed it. "It's a great part", Clayton enthuses." He's 16 years old and eager to be part of everything. I can't say much more than that". Watson admits it's hard juggling his day-job (TV's Always Greener) with the Matrix gig. "It's difficult. But it's just a matter of doing one thing at a time. Because I landed The Matrix sequels before Always Greener, they've written me out of about 6 episodes of Always Greener", he explains. "They've been great". Watson admits The Matrix is big, but not new territory. "Film is different because you have a lot more time to think about the scene and your motives", he says "and the scale is a lot larger, of course. But as far as the cast and crew are concerned, everyone's a professional whether they're working on film or TV". "The enormity of it (The Matrix Reloaded) is amazing. Every time you walk into one of the studios you marvel at the size and lifelike look of the sets" "I started filming in San Francisco last June, so it's a long gig!", he adds. "My Matrix character wears such distinct make-up and costume that it helps take you into the scenes. As soon as you walk onto the set you know exactly where you are. I saw (the first Matrix) twice at the cinema. I fell in love with the film - I even bought it on DVD". But how did he get the gig? "I remember my agent called and told me there was a role available in the film. I said 'Right...I have to have this role!' "The cast is amazing", raves Clayton. "We've got some good additions like Jada Pinkett Smith and Harold Perrineau Jr, and some great Australian actors like Steve Bastoni and Lachy Hulme". Watson also has a good word to say about the local crew. "It's a great opportunity for those involved. Apart from the money it brings into the local industry, Australian crews are getting a reputation for being professional and being able to handle large-scale productions".
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
MATRIX MMORPG
Source: <Team Xbox>
Thanks to: <The Matrix Online>
Warner Bros., Monolith Productions and EON Entertainment are producing a massively multiplayer online video game based on the hugely successful "The Matrix" franchise, it was announced today by Kevin Tsujihara, Executive Vice President, Corporate Business Development & Strategy, Warner Bros.; Jason Hall, Chief Executive Officer, Monolith Productions; and EON Entertainment, a collaboration between the films' producers, Joel Silver, and the films' creators, writers and director, Larry and Andy Wachowski.
Able to accommodate tens of thousands of players in a single shared environment, the game will be a re-creation of the virtual world of "The Matrix," employing cutting-edge 3-D graphics, networking and server technology. The game will combine the best elements of the action-adventure genre and character building/role playing games with the social interaction/community of an ongoing online game. Under the direction of Warner Bros., Monolith Productions and EON Entertainment will design the game using LithTech's Discovery System, a completely new set of tools and technology, including a new 3-D renderer and high-capacity server system, built to accommodate the unique challenges presented in the creation of this type of product.
"`The Matrix' is a perfect property on which to base a massively multiplayer online game," said Tsujihara. "This project will combine the online entertainment resources and expertise of Warner Bros. and AOL Time Warner with one of the most cutting-edge game developers in the world."
"We know fans of the franchise are extremely dedicated and loyal and we intend to do everything we can to remain true to `The Matrix,' while providing them with the ultimate online gaming experience," said Hall.
Warner Bros. Pictures' "The Matrix," released in 1999, took in more than $475 million in box office worldwide. The next two segments of the trilogy, "The Matrix: Reloaded" and "The Matrix: Revolutions," are scheduled for release in 2003. Warner Bros. Online will premiere its new Matrix Web site on May 16, 2003, as the teaser trailer for the two upcoming films appears nationwide in theaters. www.thematrix.com will now be the official online source for all things "The Matrix."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
INTERVIEW KEANU REEVES
Source: <Sci Fi Wire>
Keanu Reeves, who reprises the role of Neo in the upcoming sequel films The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, told SCI FI Wire that his newly powerful character faces stiff challenges and continues his journey of discovery in the new films. "The brothers [writer-directors Andy and Larry Wachowski] have put up some great obstacles to test those powers, and the story kind of goes outside of the Matrix and starts to concern itself with the machines in Zion," Reeves said at a press conference at Fox Studios Australia in Sydney, where the films are currently in production.
Reeves added, "So it’s almost [that] what he can do in the Matrix is not enough. And he’s still on the path of discovery and choice. He’s told by the Oracle that ... he has some choices that he’ll have to make that will affect the survival of the human race. And there are some hardships. And all of us are trying to save the world. And the development between Neo and Trinity [Carrie-Anne Moss] is explored, and with Morpheus [Laurence Fishburne] and [Agent] Smith [Hugo Weaving]. And so I think that’s just about it. It’s the development of the hero journey for my character, which is new challenges and choices. And it’s not so much about being born. He wanted to find out where he was. Now he knows. Or he thinks he knows."
For his part, producer Joel Silver promised to reporters that the visual effects in the two sequels will outdo anything seen in movies so far. "When we made the first movie ... we didn’t have an enormous amount of money to work with, and the boys had very strict ideas about a specific visual effect that they wanted to explore, and they ended up using it four times in the picture, and ... we called it ... bullet time. And it was during the Stone Age. It was a Stone Age effect. ... And immediately when the movie opened, we saw repetitions of that. ... Television commercials came first. They were the first out. And then we began seeing it in a few movies here and there. And then every movie. And it wasn’t just the visual effects that were being stolen. ... It was the way the boys staged, shot, cut, moved the camera. It was pretty much everything they did began to be copied in every other movie."
Were the Wachowskis flattered? "For a while ... I bet they thought it was flattering," Silver said. "But after a while, they kind of got angry about it. So they decided that, in these two movies, they would create visual effects that could never be copied. So we have done visual effects for the movie that, because of the time that we took to make them and the cost, will never be seen again. So I really think that the bar has been raised so high that, you know, there is no bar. This will end the way movies have been made up to now, because they can go no further. The computer is allowing us to do things that we never dreamed we could do before. ... The [first film’s] bullet-time sequences ... were the beginning, the embryonic stage of what computers could do. It’s just now at such a level that they can do anything they want. And the great thing about it is that ... the guys have enough intellect and understand the process enough so they are able to create an arena that this stuff can exist in that could not exist anywhere else."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
HIGH SPEED STUNT DESCRIPTION
Source: <MatrixFans.net>
A discription of a high speed traffic stunt which they filmed for the sequels. It's taken from a report of Access Hollywood, and described by 'The Dark Mallard':
NARRATOR: You're gonna like this. Welcome back. "The Matrix" raised the bar of special effects. Next year's sequel, "The Matrix Reloaded", takes stunts to a whole new level. Buckle up for a car chase that leaves anything you've seen before... in the dust.
LAURENCE FISHBURNE: The movies will be unstoppably watchable.
CARRIE-ANNE MOSS: We're trying to do something more extreme.
KEANU REEVES: The action aspect of it is much more complex.
NARRATOR: Call it choreographed insanity: Careening cars; Mac trucks out of control; Perhaps the most audacious car chase in the history of cinema; Action so intense, they buiult a freeway from scratch to pull it off.
KEANU REEVES: When you flew into San Fransisco, you could see it from the sky. It was cool to drive on. It was two sides, two three-lane directions, with overpasses...
R.A. RONDELL (STUNT COORDINATOR): 1.4 Miles, three lanes of traffic, all brand-new asphault. A giant playground, is what it became.
NARRATOR: A playground frought with danger, as the stars push themselves to their physical limit, to do many of their own pulse-pounding stunts. For this scene, Laurence Fishburne and Carrie-Anne Moss were actually in the car as it appeared to spin out of control. And Carrie-Anne jumped on a bike for this high-speed cat and mouse chase.
R.A. RONDELL: Carrie Anne basically had some motorcycle background from her childhood. She did very very well. They all excel with instruction.
NARRATOR: Every detail of the action was meticulously planned for maximum visual fear. Cameras were placed inches from speeding vehicles so you'd actually feel like you were there. Cars were sliced in two so they'd come apart on impact. And stunt coordinators literally dodged death over and over to make each shot better than the next. But perhaps the biggest risk of all when stunt coordinators decided to choreograph one of the most ambitious multi-car chase scenes ever attempted. Almost unheard of all of the action would happen simultaneously, something rarely ever done because one wrong move, and you've got an eminent disaster.
R.A. RONDELL: Two cannon rolls in it, two dragon pipe ramps, two T-bones, and a jack-knifing truck all in the same 250 feet of the freeway, all at 60 miles an hour, and choreographed to do that, and to do it twice.
NARRATOR: Talk about raising the bar. See how it all plays out when the Joel Silver-produced "The Matrix Reloaded" hits theaters a year from thursday, May 23rd, 2003.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
TWO NEW IMAGES
Source: <The Sun Online>
Thanks to: <The Matrix Online>
Two new images of The Matrix Reloaded published by the internetsite of the UK newspaper "The Sun" It's nothing really spectacular, but it's the first time we actually see Commander Lock on duty. There are some doubts on the internet whether Lock is played by Harry Lennix or Harold Perrineau. Look at the picture below Trinity and judge yourself.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
TRAILER ON E3 TO PROMOTE GAME
Source: <Infogrames>
An Infogrames press release on the videogame "Enter the Matrix"
Infogrames' Enter The Matrix Goes Cross-Platform at Launch Exclusive Showing of First Official Film Trailer for THE MATRIX RELOADED And THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS at E3
Infogrames, Inc. (Nasdaq: IFGM), a leading global publisher of interactive entertainment software, announces that its highly anticipated video game, Enter The Matrix, developed in conjunction with the upcoming sequel to the critically acclaimed Academy Award-winning action thriller THE MATRIX, will be created for all next-generation platforms, including the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox(TM) video game system from Microsoft, the Nintendo GameCube and the personal computer.
Developed by Infogrames' Shiny Entertainment, Enter The Matrix, is currently scheduled to be released simultaneously on all platforms in conjunction with the theatrical release of THE MATRIX RELOADED from Warner Bros. Pictures in May 2003.
To kick off the game, Infogrames will show the first official movie trailer for the highly anticipated sequels, THE MATRIX RELOADED and THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS, in the Company's booth (South Hall #924) at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) May 22 - 24, 2002 in Los Angeles.
"THE MATRIX redefined the action genre for the film industry and movie audiences, and the never-before-seen gameplay and technology behind Enter The Matrix will redefine next-generation video games," said Bruno Bonnell, Chairman and CEO of Infogrames. "There has been extensive creative crossover that has taken place in the development of the film and the game. Warner Bros., Joel Silver, the film's producer, and Larry and Andy Wachowski, the film's writers, creators, and directors, have clearly shown their appreciation for the connection between the interactive world and THE MATRIX audiences. We are thrilled to unite the two with the screening in our E3 booth of the first official trailer for THE MATRIX RELOADED and THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
TEASER TRAILER ONLINE!
Source: <The Official Site - TheMatrix.com>
The Teaser Trailer is online! It's one trailer for both The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, both to come out next year. It's one minute and eightteen seconds, it's got that Matrix feel, it's fast, it's mysterious, it's dark, it's green, it's cool. Download it now on the <trailer> page or visit the official site <here>. Do it. Do it NOW!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
MATRIX MANIA BEGINS
Source: <ET-online>
On May 15th 2002 Entertainment Tonight has the world premier of showing the Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions teaser trailers to the public:
May 14, 2002
Let the countdown commence! The two 'Matrix' sequels won't arrive until 2003, but don't fret: ET has the exclusive world premiere of not only 'The Matrix Reloaded' teaser trailer, but 'The Matrix Revolutions' teaser, too -- all coming tomorrow night!
After spending months boning up on their martial arts and high-wire training, KEANU REEVES, LAURENCE FISHBURNE, CARRIE-ANNE MOSS and bad guy HUGO WEAVING are hard at work in Sydney, Australia filming the back-to-back sequels to the 1999 box-office smash.
"The sequel carves a continuation of [my character] Neo's journey and his quest to find out the truth," Keanu reveals to ET. "It's more about the conflict with the machines and the humans." And this time around, the stunts and special effects in 'Reloaded' and 'Revolutions' are even more spectacular than the first go-around! "We are trying to do some crazy things out here," offers Keanu. "The kung-fu sequences are more sophisticated and more challenging than the first film. Some of the wire work [allows me to] do back flips and cartwheels all in one shot. "It's pushed me to my limits. Before it was like, 'Can you do two kicks?' and now it's like, 'Can you do three kicks, but with a jumping backspin hook-kick?' So it's like you have learned to walk -- now can you fly."
Although co-directors ANDY and LARRY WACHOWSKI are keeping all of the 'Reloaded' and 'Revolutions' storylines tightly under wraps, we can tell you that 'Malena' star, MONICA BELLUCCI, and WILL SMITH's significant other, JADA PINKETT-SMITH, have trained hard and joined the athletic cast for the next adventure. Monica's character remains a mystery for the moment, but Jada will play Niobe, the love interest of Morpheus, Laurence Fishburne's character in the movie. "These sequels are going to blast the original off the screen, and that's exactly what the fans want," says Jada.
After shooting some preliminary scenes in San Francisco and some test footage stateside, the Aussie portion of Warner Bros.' 'Reloaded' started filming last year on September 24 at 20th Century Fox's Sydney studios. Filming of the two sequels is expected to wrap in Sydney this August, and 'The Matrix Reloaded' is due for release in summer 2003. 'The Matrix Revolutions,' is due just months later in November 2003.
The original 'The Matrix' and a special behind-the-scenes documentary, 'The Matrix Revisited,' are both currently available on VHS and DVD. Don't forget to watch ET Wednesday night for the exclusive world premiere of both teaser trailers!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
STAR WARS FANS WANTED THE MATRIX
Source: <The Force .net>
George Lucas talked to the AP about the bad buzz on The Phantom Menace:
The director said he disagrees with critics who say "Episode II — Attack of the Clones" needs to be better than "Episode I — The Phantom Menace" to get the "Star Wars" franchise back on track. "I don't think I was off track," Lucas told reporters. "I loved that last movie, and it was the most successful 'Star Wars' film of all time.
I knew when I made the film that I was doing something that was not commercially wise, but I had a story to tell. And to me, this is one big movie in six parts. And it's not something that you sort of go out and do some market surveys and say let's put this together."
Lucas said he knew a movie starring a 9-year-old boy and featuring a strange-talking creature named Jar Jar would be risky. "There's a certain core fan audience that when you have a 9-year-old hero, forget it. Suddenly it becomes a Disney movie. They don't want to have anything to do with it," he said.
Lucas said fans who complained wanted him to make a movie like "The Matrix," but he needed to concentrate on furthering the "Star Wars" story line. "It wasn't helped by the fact that the movie that they wanted 'Star Wars' to be, which is 'Matrix,' came out two weeks ahead of us," he said. "I love 'Matrix,' but I was telling a story about a nice kid who becomes a Jedi and later falls into the abyss."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Q & A WITH CINEMATOGRAPHER
Source: <The Matrix Community>
Thanks to: <CountingDown>
Cinematographer Paul Warren held a Q&A session, and talked about all things Matrix. As described by gOoBaLL, a Matrix Community board visitor:
Involving The Matrix: Revisited 2:
-they are documenting EVERYTHING. including production of things like the anime..
-the interview with bros in hotel (filmed year ago? or more...) will probably be their last ever if they have anything to do with it. he said they are just normal chicago guys
-at the moment they have about 450 hours of footage from the sequels, compared to several hundred for the original. this is on a variety of formats.
-he said the doco will be huge, perfect for dvd
-he doesn't know how josh (the director) will be able to log and work out all the material in his mind. there's so much stuff.
Involving the sequels/games/site...:
-The script to the matrix was sold to Warner as a three-parter. I am pretty sure the whole thing was written at the time it was sold to warner.
-The bros didn't really expect the sequels to be made (although i am sure the wished to), until it was realised the first was a success
-the "style" will be continuous. he said it (the trilogy) woukd work as one long movie if you really wanted to do it that way.
-the last shot of the first matrix is literally (maybe not literally... but pretty close) the first shot of reloaded. the last shot of reloaded is the first of revolutions
-the special effects stuff will be amazing... people can't even imagine it based on what they've seen at the moment. he said something along the lines of "it will really be pushing the bubble"
-the site will be HUGE. every drawing, every etching... will be on there
-the sequels are being shot on FILM. he was pretty criticial of digital at the moment (from a technical standpoint).. specifically HD but said it will probably eventually reach same quality as film. he said HD really doesn't even look as good as 16mm. he cited something from star wars episode 2.. apparently they had trouble filming some clothes or something.. they kept giving a moireing effect when filmed with HD.. i don't know if they resorted to FILM in the end (although i don't think so)
-sometimes you have a vision in mind that you know exactly.. but when you come on set (talking about both the doco production and the film's production) their are unexpected logistical problems you have to overcome to acheive the required shot. he mentioned something that occured last week(?) on the film's production but as he couldn't reveal anything or give descriptions this was incredibly cryptic....
-he said the agreement that he had to sign which says he can't discuss it was (using hands to indicate size) about 15cm (5.5inches?) thick. i don't know if this was to be taken literally but i so wouldn't be suprised. he said you read it and by the end your sayign (okay, okay i wont talk about it). he said he really wants to talk about the sequels but obviously he can't
-the movie/game/revisited 2 are in parallel production at the moment.
-he mentioned a 12mth shoot. i can't remember if this was for the original or sequels, but from what i can remember hearing from both i'm pretty sure it was the sequels
-he mentioned that they had 100% access. i can't remember if he said this in relation to the original or sequels, but taking into account the agreement he signed i assumed it applied to both.
-he said the special effects will be so amazing, that not liking the plot is irrelevant (although i'm sure he wasnt infering there was anything wrong with the plot of the seqeuls ;-)
-jokingly, he mentioned how huge the production is and he wondered how long the credits will be.. he said they migh end up being around 10 mins ;-)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
TIPPETT DOES VISUAL EFFECTS PART 3
Source: <Tippett>
Thanks to: <CountingDown>
The end sequence of Matrix 3, considered to be the prize of the Matrix sequel visual effects work, has been awarded to Tippett Studio. "We're thrilled to be part of this great sequel," said Craig Hayes, Tippett Studio Visual Effects Supervisor who leads a team of talented Tippett craftsman onto one of its most challenging productions to date. Work has commenced and will continue into early summer of 2003. The Tippett team will be closely coordinating their efforts with Matrix 3 visual effects supervisor, John Gaeta, and visual effects producer, Terry Clotiaux.
[...] Producer Joel Silver and his Eon Production team are producing the Matrix 3 for Warner Bros. for an early Fall, 2003, release.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
THOUGHTS ON SEQUEL INFO
Source: <The Matrix Online>
Nerje sent in some thoughts:
"Those of you who have read the recent Time.com article will be one of those now realising that we are rapidly descending into an exciting and turbulent time for each and every Matrix community on the Internet. Warner Brothers are releasing so much more Reloaded and Revolutions footage and screens that it is going to quickly become a bigger challenge for purists to avoid spoiler material. Sooner or later they'll run into one of those new pictures or script excerpts that will ruin the whole illusion for them.
But what about those of us who are constantly searching for the secrets? Or even worse, those of us who have to deal with the spoilers every day when posting up news for everyone to read? What makes us 'ruin' the movie for ourselves? The Time.com pictures got me thinking. We have just officially seen our first proper glimpse of Zion, and I like it. We now know that the character the Key Maker does in fact exist (or at least, his chamber does). We anticipate the scene where Morpheus takes on the platinum twins in what looks like a car park. But the best part is knowing that we're going to have a whole lot more real world action in the third film.
This sort of information excites me, and I'm pretty sure it excites our readers too. But still, I don't think it explains why we obsessively slave over our computers scouring the web for new information, or freeze framing every scene on our Revisited DVDs just to see if there is some little nuance we missed the first time, and nobody in the world has noticed. Is it the desire to be recognised as "that person who figured this out"? No, I don't think so.
I think the truth lies in our obsession for the first film. We are so attached to The Matrix that we want to make sure the rest of the story doesn't damage its credibility. It was such a work of art we don't want forgeries masquerading as sequels and lowering its value. It's our little baby and if anything happens to it our world will come crashing down.
Well I want you to know that we don't really need to worry. After looking at those pictures only one word came to mind, "again," and it was the very same word that popped into my head when the credits rolled on The Matrix. Other words come to mind also; "groundbreaking," "brilliant," and "oh geez wow cold shivers on the back of my neck" were a few of them. Whatever happens Reloaded and Revolutions WILL be good. Better than good, actually, my thoughts would be leaning more towards awesome, excellent and practically every other word under "great" in the thesaurus.
We have something to look forward to, mark my words."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
ANIMATRIX CHARACTER
Source: <Whatisthematrix>
Thanks to: <The Matrix Online>
The official Matrix site posted an image of an Animatrix character called "Jue". Jue was created by Square USA (The studio responsible for the computer animated sci-fi film "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within") and will participate in Episode 9 of The Animatrix (which also means that we'll probably see ten episodes instead of the earlier rumours that they would only make six). Episode 9 will be titled "The Matrix 1.1" and will directly relate to the events in The Matrix Reloaded.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
IMAGES AND TIME ARTICLE
Source: <Time.com>
An interesting article on the the sequels by Time.com including some new images:
When we last visited the Matrix, computers had taken over the planet and imprisoned the human race in a computer-generated "reality." Keanu Reeves played Neo, a hacker turned superhero recruited to save his fellow man, and the movie ended with him literally taking flight. It was a cliff-hanger that might as well have been subtitled "Watch for the sequel, coming soon to a theater near you — that is, if this thing makes any money."
And it did — $459 million worldwide. More than a sleeper blockbuster, it was a blazingly original collage of martial arts, Oscar-winning special effects and high-toned philosophy borrowed from sources as diverse as Plato, the Bible and Snow White. Since Larry and Andy Wachowski, the fraternal directing duo, had always envisioned "The Matrix" as part one of a trilogy, Warner Bros. quickly put not one but two more Matrix films into production. "The first movie was like 'The Hobbit' for 'The Lord of the Rings'," says producer Joel Silver. "It's the setup to the big story."
The Wachowski brothers are currently in residence at the Fox studios in Sydney, Australia, simultaneously shooting "Matrix Reloaded" (part two) and "Matrix Revolutions" (part three). The movies won't come out until 2003 (Reloaded in May, Revolutions in either August or November), but the hype has already begun. This month a trailer for "Reloaded" hits theaters, and not since the "Star Wars" movies has a film inspired so much breathless anticipation on the Internet.
Details about the further adventures of Neo have been closely guarded, but we found some clues on the set in Sydney, where the cast and crew have been working since September and are expected to wrap this summer. On a remote corner of a sound stage stand dozens of latex, life-size replicas of the dastardly Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving), all in single file. Why so many Smiths? Since the original film, Smith has learned to replicate himself (he's a computer virus), which means Neo will have to fight several Smiths at once.
Across the stage, in front of the cameras and under the lights, we find Reeves in his familiar uniform (long black coat, dark shades) at the bottom of a crater being drenched by a rainstorm manufactured by overhead sprinklers. [...]
[...] This much we know: in parts two and three, Neo must persuade the omnipotent machines to set his people free. The action-packed part two takes place primarily in the gleaming world of the Matrix, while the more serious-minded part three is set in the scorched real world. In the sequels, we will also visit the vast underground city of Zion, inhabited by the few hundred thousand humans who have managed to escape cyberimprisonment. Laurence Fishburne (as the sage Morpheus) and Carrie-Anne Moss (as Neo's love interest, Trinity) are also back. This time they're joined by Jada Pinkett Smith as Niobe, another rebel and a former lover of Morpheus', and Nona Gaye (daughter of Marvin). Gaye stepped in to replace R.-and-B. singer Aaliyah, who had been cast in the role of Zee, a resident of Zion, before she died in a plane crash last year. Gloria Foster, who played the wise old Oracle in the original, also died in September, at age 64, after she shot her scenes for part two. What about part three? Thanks to a quick rewrite on the script, the Oracle will be back, but in a different form.
In the world of the Matrix, all things are possible, but the vexing real-life question is, How do you top a film whose unique style has been copied by nearly every action movie since? "We're just trying to make the best and most surreal action ever," says visual-effects supervisor John Gaeta, who developed the groundbreaking and extremely cool "bullet time" technique, in which the camera seemed to circle Reeves in slow motion as he dodged bullets. Gaeta says he's "expanding" on that technique for the sequels, though "there's pressure to do it without going into military-budget levels." Too late. Warner Bros. will spend close to $300 million on "Matrix" two and three, all in hopes that Neo can still soar.
Some (high quality) new images from the sequel:
