>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
TAKING
THE RED PILL
Source: <BenBella
Books>
Thanks to: Glenn Yeffeth
BenBella Books is bringing out a new book on the Matrix, called Taking
the Red Pill: Science, Philosophy and Religion in the Matrix. It's an intellectual
thrill-ride through The Matrix, with leading computer scientists, philosophers,
science fiction authors, religious scholars, postmodernists and media critics
all weighing in on the world of The Matrix.
Edited
by Glenn Yeffeth
Introduction by David Gerrold
"With the release of The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, 2003
is going to be the year of The Matrix (again). Published four years after the
release of the first film, Taking the Red Pill: Science, Philosophy and Religion
in The Matrix is a significant contribution to the field of film and literary
studies, as well as the most approachable collection of essays for non-specialists
who simply adored The Matrix and its complex and thought-provoking storyline.
Taking the Red Pill contains many answers to the questions raised by the film,
and offers exciting and daring new readings of this blockbuster…Taking
the Red Pill is a must-read for anyone interested in a broad ranging literary
and cultural analysis of one of the most important twentieth-century films."
- Dr. Michael Eberle-Sinatra, founding editor of the e-journal Romanticism on
the Net and editor of Mary Shelley’s Fictions: From Frankenstein to Falkner
Since its blockbuster release, The Matrix and its sequels have astounded and
enthralled their fans with their subtle allusions and seemingly infinite depths.
The Wachowski brothers, who wrote and directed The Matrix, deliberately integrated
a myriad of philosophical and religious themes with futuristic science and technology.
How many layers of meaning lie in The Matrix? We can only quote the Wachowskis:
“More than you will ever know.” Taking the Red Pill is a thought-provoking,
mind-expanding thrill ride through The Matrix, examining the technological challenges,
religious symbolism and philosophical dilemmas the film presents. Renowned scientists,
technologists, philosophers, scholars, social commentators and science fiction
authors provide engaging and provocative perspectives. Taking the Red Pill will
change how you view The Matrix – and the world around you.
Contributors include scientist and entrepreneur Ray Kurzweil, Sun chief scientist
Bill Joy, media critic Read Mercer Schuchardt, Yale philosopher Nick Bostrom,
philosopher of science Robin Hanson and best-selling science fiction authors
Robert J. Sawyer, David Gerrold and James Gunn.
Trade paperback, 280 pages, includes bibliography and index.
All copies ordered from BenBella Books are autographed by the editor (unless
otherwise requested). Shipping is free.
Publication date: April 2003. Book begins shipping March 2003.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
HEXIDECIMAL
PANEL FOR CODE FREAKS
Source: <TheMatrix.com>
Thanks to: <TLFC>
On the official site the infamous binary panel has been altered, so that
it when you enter "01101111" into the panel you get presented with
a new hexadecimal input panel called "Access Panel 2". From here you
can enter new input strings in groups of 4 number binary (i.e "1"
or "0").
The first code you can enter is: 1100 1100 1000 1000 0011 0011 0000 0000 which
presents you with a hexadecimal value of "CC883300". If you enter
this you get presented with the following message:
"You have correctly input the example 32 bit string
You have 4,294,967,294 remaining combinations to search
Thematrix.com"
One of the codes that has been found leads to <this>
The last free city opened a forum topic on this subject. Visit it <here>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
P.O.D.
TO SHOOT VIDEO FOR MATRIX SINGLE
Source: <Jesus
Freak Hideout>
Thanks to: <MatrixFans.net>
Amidst the band's current membership turmoil, P.O.D.'s newsletter has released
an update on their latest recording... "P.O.D. are currently in Los Angeles
finishing work on the lead single for The Matrix Reloaded. We can't wait for
you to hear what Jason Truby and the boys have been up to... this stuff is insane....
"menacing and supernatural." The film people have their jaws on the floor. Next
month, P.O.D. will film the video for the single... which will no doubt be one
of the hottest videos you will see this year." The guys were also treated to
a surprise visit in the studio by Billy Graham's son Franklin Graham and Greg
Laurie! We'll keep you posted as we hear stuff on the band!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
PRODUCER
ON DIRECTORS
Source: <The
Sunday Times>
Thanks to: Sub7
Producer Joel Silver gives some insight into the mysterious directors,
the Wachowski Brothers: There are those who say the ideas behind The Matrix
are just rehashed versions of what the Wachowskis have gleaned from philosophy
books, divinity classes and a close study of Japanese anime films such as Akira,
but they seem to have the knack of tapping into what is happening in the world.
The first film came out when the internet boom was in full swing, and now their
deeply paranoid vision seems perfect for a time when we are more security-conscious
and the state is closing in around us.
How much of that is deliberate is another matter. "If you look at the movie,
then you know nothing is a coincidence," smiles Silver. "I guess they do keep
an eye on things, but these are the same problems mankind has been having for
thousands of years." Despite the fact that he is in closer contact with the
Wachowskis than anyone, you get the feeling Silver doesn't really have much
of an idea about what makes them tick.
All that the rest of the world knows about them is that Larry is 37 and Andy
35, and that they grew up in Chicago. Before The Matrix, they had written the
screenplay for the Sylvester Stallone vehicle Assassins, and had directed just
one film, 1996's lesbian drama Bound. "The only comparison I have is with the
Coen brothers," says Silver. "The Coens come to the set knowing exactly what
they want because they write their films together, and Larry and Andy are the
same kind of guys. They, too, come from the Midwest, they are very well read
and articulate and they plan out everything together."
[...]
Such is the secrecy surrounding the plot, the cast speak about it only in the
most general terms. "It's really the hero's journey, with new challenges and
choices," mumbles Keanu Reeves.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
HUGO
WEAVING ON AGENT SMITH
Source: <SciFi
Wire>
Hugo Weaving, who reprises his role as Agent Smith in the upcoming sequel
films The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, told SCI FI Wire that
his character's ability to replicate himself made for some interesting challenges
during the filming. "We achieved the multi Smiths in a number of different ways,"
Weaving said in an interview. "Sometimes I would move into a room, say, and
do it 10 times and end up in 10 slightly different positions. And then there
would be 10 of me."
Weaving, who is also known to audiences as Elrond in The Lord of the Rings trilogy,
added, "Then there are other scenes where there are stunt doubles or doubles
of me, men the same height as me, and there would be face replacements done
afterwards. And then there would be completely CG Smiths in other scenes, and
then also sometimes there were dummies. There were just stationary dummies."
In addition to the new duplication ability, Weaving said there will be another
big change in his character. [...] "But he has the same goal and the same purpose
and focus, which is to destroy Neo." The Matrix Reloaded opens May 15 and The
Matrix Revolutions opens Nov. 7.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
CARRIE-ANNE
PREPARES FOR MOTHERHOOD
Source: <IMDB>
The Matrix beauty Carrie-Anne Moss is set to embark on her biggest project
to date - motherhood. Now that she has finished filming the next two Matrix
movies in Australia, she is now expecting the arrival of a baby.
A friend close to the 35-year-old screen star and her actor husband Steven Roy
tells American magazine Us Weekly that the pair are expecting a child. Moss
will next be seen in the highly anticipated Matrix sequel, The Matrix: Reloaded,
to be released in May.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
STAR
WARS FOR GROWN UPS
Source: <Herald
Sun>
Thanks to: <MatrixFans.net>
It's Star Wars for grown ups - a futuristic trilogy so complex many diehard
fans can't understand it. But that doesn't stop the next Matrix episode being
one of the most anticipated films of the year.
The Matrix Reloaded, which opens on May 15, and the third episode, The Matrix
Revolutions, opening November 7, were shot back-to-back over 200 days in Sydney,
the longest shoot in Australian film history.
Tomorrow's Hit M has an exclusive page of pictures from the forthcoming Matrix
sequels, plus an interview with producer Joel Silver who claimed: "When I say
no one out there can compete with us, I mean it. We're going to change the world
with these sequels."
Silver also paid tribute to the Australian crew who helped make The Matrix such
a hit. "The financial side is a significant factor, but the crews and the art
departments in Australia are geniuses," he said.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
P.O.D.
ON SOUNDTRACK
Source: <Undercover
Music>
Thanks to: Sub7
P.O.D. have recorded the lead off single for The Matrix Reloaded, the sequel
to the hit Keanu Reeves movie. The soundtrack album is due May, around the same
time as the movie hits screens around the world.
In The Matrix Reloaded Keanu Reeves returns as neo, Laurence Fishburne is once
again Morpheus, Hugo Weavings plays Agent Smith and Christine Anu gets a starring
role playing Lazarus.
For P.O.D., this will also be their first new music since the release of their
platinum selling Satellite album. The band were in Germany last weekend where
they picked up their first major music award, "2003 International Group of the
Year." Next week they are up for two Grammy's.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
DIFFERENT
TWIN POSTER
Source: <Nostalgia>
Thanks to: Chris
Chris
sent me this email:
"I came across some information about the UK posters. The Twins are now
pictured with guns instead of razors (apparently too violent, big guns aren't
apparently??) Go figure.
On Nostalgia.com:
"Featured is The Twins image from the set of 7 Matrix Reloaded advance one sheets.
This is from the U.K. set and for some strange reason it was felt that the U.S.
image of the characters holding a razor was too violent for a country where
the personal ownership of guns is banned, so they placed automatic weapons in
their hands instead. All the other images are the same as the U.S. sets"
Odd. You can buy it at the source link.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
MATRIX
RIP-OFF
Source: <BBSpot>
Fans
Angry That The Matrix Reloaded Looks Like Another Matrix Rip-off
By Brian Briggs
Hollywood - Since the premiere of the futuristic Sci-Fi thriller The Matrix,
fans have been lamenting the overabundance of movies which clearly rip-off its
ground breaking style and effects. The recent trailer for The Matrix Reloaded
has fans outraged at how blatantly it has stolen from the original.
"This movie is such a Matrix rip-off. The black clothes, the guns, hell they
even got Keanu Reeves to star in it. What the hell is up with that?" said angry
fan, Tabatha Paro. "You'd think the creators of The Matrix would sue these guys
into oblivion and get the movie banned before it premieres."
"I say if you want to see The Matrix then watch The Matrix, not some half-baked
retread," continued Tabatha. "Try to come up with something original for once.
It seems like we have one of these movies every six months."
Film critcs agree. Jay Valiente of the St. Louis Times-Post said, "This looks
very similar to The Matrix. Same actors, similar effects. It's almost looks
like a re-make of the original film, and I think it's too soon for that."
Kellen Fuqua who saw the first film 174 times said, "Haven't we seen enough
of this? I mean The One, Charlie's Angels, Scary Movie 2, haven't they all ripped-off
The Matrix to one extent or another? This one takes the cake."
Producers of The Matrix Reloaded don't deny the similarities to the 1999 hit,
but claim they have a good reason: box office. "Studies have shown that rotating
the camera while a fighter is airborne increases the box office by 1.3%. You
can call it a Matrix rip-off, but we prefer to call it a reimagining."
Brad Jerabek, who was picketing outside the Warner Brothers studio calling for
a boycott of the new film, said, "I saw three seconds of the trailer and I screamed
'Matrix rip-off!' They should call it I Know What You Did Last Summer - You
Ripped Off The Matrix! I'm not going to sit idly by while Hollywood rips off
my favorite movie once more. If they want to do The Matrix 2 that's fine, but
The Matrix Reloaded? No way."
Keanu Reeves has received lots of hate mail from his fans, complaining that
he's taking part in a Matrix rip-off. Reeves commented, "Whoa."
Warner Brothers still plans to release the film May 15th despite the protests.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
ENTER
TECHNOLOGY
Source: <Wired>
Igpajo
has pointed us to this story in Wired Magazine. Be sure to check their site
with the link at the bottom of this story for the images that go along with
this story. You may even want to read this there:
AN EXCLUSIVE LOOK AT THE TECHNOLOGY BEHIND THE GAME
The wait is over. After four long years, the highly anticipated videogame based
on The Matrix franchise is about to hit store shelves for all platforms at once.
Directors Larry and Andy Wachowski and Shiny Entertainment serve up a driving,
fighting, and adventure shooter so engrossing you may begin to believe that
life on Earth is nothing more than an elaborate facade. The brothers, who are
avid gamers, wrote an original 244-page script and shot one hour of footage
on location specifically for the small screen. Nearly 60 developers toiled for
two years creating proprietary technology to make Enter the Matrix as seminal
as the original film. The epic story line runs parallel to the plot of the sequel,
The Matrix: Reloaded, which will be released May 15, the same day as the game.
A door that goes unopened on the big screen could be a portal to another level
in Enter.
Here's an exclusive guide to the tech behind the game. But remember: It's just
one piece of the puzzle. To truly master the Matrix world, you have to take
in all of its parts - the game, the movie trilogy (The Matrix: Revolutions is
due in November), and everything else the Wachowskis churn out. As for whether
to take the blue pill or the red, you're on your own.
Motion Capture
The best way to get realistic character movement is to go straight to the source.
While on set in the US and Australia, all the movie's actors - including Keanu
Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Matrix newcomer Jada Pinkett Smith - performed
for a record 32 motion-capture cameras that registered their every move. An
additional 14 infrared cams were directed at their faces, which were dotted
with 42 reference points to log the interaction between muscle and bone as they
read their lines. Plus, every cast member was cyberscanned into a 3-D synthespian.
The process took six months.
Bullet Time
Of course the game has it. Slow down the action and take out enemies with an
arsenal of weapons (some modeled after actual next-gen gun prototypes) or in
brute hand-to-hand combat. There's so much detail here that bullets even reflect
the surroundings en route to their target.
Action
A typical game character's repertoire consists of 300 to 600 moves, most of
which are animated by programmers. Here, playable stars Niobe and Ghost (sorry,
you can't be Neo) can each bust more than 3,500 moves - all derived from the
motion-cap sessions. So when Niobe is battling baddies, she kicks exactly like
the real Pinkett Smith. This extensive library of maneuvers also means that
the virtual vixen can sprint, jump, and shoot in just about any way possible
- including handling a gun when running on a wall.
Virtual Modeling
Good-bye blockheads, hello funky dos. A modeling technique called alpha-mapping
animates each lock. This system also allows light to pass through hair, adding
glisten to beards, eyelashes, and styling gel. Beyond that, Shiny wrote an app
to stretch virtual skin in real time, making those deep knee bends and smile
lines look like the real McCoy.
Zoom
To achieve the Hollywood feel, the Wachowskis insisted that wide shots seamlessly
fade into close-ups with no loss of clarity. Shiny developed a real-time tessellation
system that ups the standard battle-scene polygon count from, say, 400 when
you're in the action to about 30,000 as you zoom in on a face or hand. The game
automatically knows when to add and subtract details so that, to the player,
the adventure always looks the same and runs at a speedy 60 frames per second
- more than twice as fast and smooth as movie footage.
Rendering Engines
It's tough to tackle so many genres without suffering for it. This time the
approach works, primarily because of the five proprietary engines running beneath
the game. The most innovative: a fighting engine that spins you from kung fu
master to backstreet thug, so you never miss a beat, and a hacking engine that
lets you break into the Matrix (or any PC within the game) using a variety of
real-life computer languages.
- John Gaudiosi
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
ENTER
THE MATRIX: IN-GAME VIDEOS
Source: <IGN.com>
The
stuff we've been waiting for. Screenshots are nice, but it's a lot better to
see it moving. IGN posted these videos with in-game footage of the upcoming
Enter the Matrix videogame. It's all work in progress, so don't judge them on
bad collision detection and graphical flaws. Shiny still has a few months to
get things right. The play mechanics already look very promising...
To download: Right-click and "save target as..."
<Niobe kung fu action>
320 x 240 - 5,39 Mb
<Ghost
kung fu action>
320 x 240 - 6,69 Mb
<Flying
through the tunnels>
320 x 240 - 3,84 Mb
<Driving
a Pontiac>
320 x 240 - 2,79 Mb
Please visit <IGN.com>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
FINAL
FLIGHT OF THE OSIRIS PREVIEW!
Source: <IGN.com>
A preview of Animatrix episode
#9: Final flight of the Osiris is available for download. The CGI animation
is truly stunning but people who've seen Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within already
new that these guys can work miracles with computers. The preview is just over
a minute and weighs in at around 9Mb so even people with a slower connection
can get a glimpse of what is to come.
The full version of Final flight of the Osiris (around 10 minutes) will be in
theaters bundled with the supernatural thriller Dreamcatcher and will be on
the Animatrix DVD coming out on June 3.
<Final flight of
the Osiris preview>
320 x 256 - 9,24 Mb - Quicktime
To download: Right-click and "save target as..."
Please visit <IGN.com>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
SAMSUNG
MATRIX PHONE
Thanks
to: <TLFC>
Samsung Electronics and Warner
Bros. Consumer Products will soon divulge the specific details regarding their
unprecedented global partnership with Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow
Pictures' blockbuster Matrix franchise.
The unparalleled joint venture covers worldwide promotional rights for the highly
anticipated second and third installments of the groundbreaking Matrix trilogy,
The Matrix Reloaded (set for release May 15, 2003) and The Matrix Revolutions
(November 2003), and extends to the DVD/VHS releases of The Matrix Reloaded
and The Animatrix, a collection of nine visionary short films that inter-connect
with the upcoming Matrix films and video game "Enter the Matrix."
More details about Samsung's innovative partnership with Warner Bros.' vastly
influential Matrix property will be announced in coming weeks.
"The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions offer Samsung unique opportunities
to ignite excitement and enthusiasm among consumers, our employees and our retail
partners," said Eric Kim, Executive Vice President, Samsung Electronics Global
Marketing Operations. "It is a natural fit for Samsung to be a part of an exciting
entertainment franchise that provides a perfect showcase for our products and
integrates our technology into the hyper-advanced, effortlessly fashionable
world of The Matrix."
"What Samsung is preparing in conjunction with The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix
Revolutions is unlike any promotional venture," said Joel Silver, producer of
The Matrix trilogy. "We look forward to unveiling different aspects of this
truly inventive partnership as we approach the release of The Matrix Reloaded."
Silver and writer-directors Larry and Andy Wachowski are currently in post-production
on The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions. Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne,
Carrie-Anne Moss and Hugo Weaving reprise their roles from The Matrix, the acclaimed
action thriller that won four Academy Awards, broke Studio box office records
by accumulating over $475 million in worldwide theatrical receipts, and was
the first DVD title to sell one million units. To date, The Matrix has accumulated
worldwide VHS/DVD sales of $325 million.
The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions will be released worldwide in
2003 by Warner Bros. Pictures, an AOL Time Warner Company, and in select territories
by Village Roadshow Pictures.
Samsung is the world's fastest growing brand as ranked by BusinessWeek / Interbrand
in July 2002 and one of the largest producers of wireless handsets, flat panel
TVs, DVD players and other consumer electronics.
TLFC noted that <thematrixphone.com>
has been registered by Samsung and came up with this screenshot from the site:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
THE
ANIMATRIX PRESS RELEASE
The official press release
for the Animatrix, including the features for the DVD:
Warner Home Video and Village Roadshow Pictures Present
THE ANIMATRIX
A Groundbreaking Collection of Nine Short Films From the Creators of The Matrix
Trilogy
Featuring Techno Soundtrack Including Juno Reactor,
Death in Vegas, Meat Beat Manifesto & More
Music Supervised By DJ Jason Bentley
Worldwide Release June 3 on DVD & VHS
After breaking domestic and international box-office and DVD sales records,
garnering four Academy Awards® and setting the standard by which all futuristic
action films are measured, The Matrix is poised to break new ground with the
highly-anticipated release of Warner Home Video and Village Roadshow Pictures’
The Animatrix.
An unprecedented fusion of CG-animation and Japanese anime, The Animatrix is
a collection of nine original short films conceived by the Wachowski Brothers,
the creators of The Matrix trilogy. Inspired by the visionary action and innovative
storytelling that power the trilogy, this spectacularly visual short film series
delves deeper into the mind-bending world of The Matrix and the characters who
inhabit it. Created in the anime style pioneered by Japanese animation artists
and helmed by world-renowned anime directors, The Animatrix also features the
voices of actors Keanu Reeves (Neo) and Carrie-Anne Moss (Trinity) in two of
the shorts.
One complete episode from The Animatrix, The Final Flight of the Osiris, will
accompany the worldwide release of the supernatural thriller Dreamcatcher when
it debuts in theaters on March 21. Written by Larry and Andy Wachowski, this
nine-minute computer-generated short serves as an explosive prelude to The Matrix
Reloaded.
The Animatrix debuts worldwide on DVD and videocassette on June 3, between the
release of the next two films in The Matrix trilogy – The Matrix Reloaded, which
opens theatrically on May 15, followed by The Matrix Revolutions, which debuts
in theaters in November. The Animatrix will be available on DVD for $24.98 SRP/$19.95
MAP and on VHS for $19.98 SRP/$13.95 MAP from Warner Home Video (WHV).
The Animatrix features an eclectic techno soundtrack supervised by renowned
DJ/producer/remixer Jason Bentley with some of today’s hottest electronica artists
such as Juno Reactor, Death in Vegas, Meat Beat Manifesto and others. The original
score for the project is provided by Don Davis, who crafted the music for all
three films in The Matrix trilogy.
The Animatrix features short films directed by some of the world’s premiere
anime filmmakers, including:
· Yoshiaki Kawajiri (writer/director of the anime classics Ninja Scroll and
Vampire
Hunter D)
· Shinchiro Watanabe (writer/director of the anime feature Cowboy Bebop)
· Koji Morimoto (animation supervisor of the seminal anime film Akira)
· Mahiro Maeda (director of the sci-fi anime series Blue Submarine No. 6)
· Takeshi Koike (lead animator on several of director Yoshiaki Kawajiri’s films,
including Wicked City)
· Peter Chung (creator and director of the popular MTV series Aeon Flux)
· Andy Jones (animation director for the stunning CG film Final Fantasy: The
Spirits Within)
This “ultimate dream team” of anime collaborators provides The Animatrix with
the creative power to take viewers on a cerebral journey of cutting-edge animation,
mind-blowing visuals and pulse-pounding music.
To generate early awareness for the release, fans will be able to view several
complete episodes before street date as well as learn more about The Animatrix
by visiting www.theanimatrix.com.
“The Animatrix is certain to become the genre-defining standard by which all
other anime films are judged. More than three years in the making at animation
studios in Japan, Korea and the U.S. with some of the most revered talent in
the anime world, The Animatrix is truly a not-to-be-missed experience,” said
Mike Saksa, WHV vice president U.S. marketing. “With the release of The Animatrix
along with The Matrix two-disc Special Edition DVD, the two theatrical films,
the new video game and other ancillary projects spawned by the franchise, 2003
is strategically poised to become ‘The Year of The Matrix.’”
THE ANIMATRIX DVD FEATURES
The Animatrix DVD is highlighted by the following special features:
· Scrolls to Screen – The History and Culture of Anime
· Seven “making-of” featurettes including director profiles featuring interviews
and behind-the-scenes looks at each film
· Four audio commentaries (featured on the films The Second Renaissance Pt.
1 & 2, Program and World Record) – all with Japanese audio and English subtitles
· Enter the Matrix Game Trailer – exclusive look into the creation of the “Enter
The Matrix” video game, featuring interviews from some of the film’s stars including
Jada Pinkett and Carrie-Anne Moss
THE ANIMATRIX FILM SYNOPSES
The Final Flight of the Osiris
Written by Andy and Larry Wachowski; Directed by Andy Jones
Animation and production design by Square USA, Inc.
The crew of the hovercraft Osiris must get a message back to Zion, a message
of vital importance. Easy to do, but for the armada of Sentinels between them
and Zion.
The Second Renaissance – Parts 1 and 2
Written by Andy and Larry Wachowski; Directed by Mahiro Maeda
Animation and production design by Studio4°C, Tokyo
The Genesis of the Matrix: the last cities of mankind, the war with the machines,
and humanity’s ultimate downfall. An epic guided tour of the Zion archives and
the history of the Matrix.
Kid’s Story
Written by Andy and Larry Wachowski; Directed by Shinichiro Watanabe
Animation and production design by Studio4°C, Tokyo
Sitting in his high school classroom, THE KID gets a personalized invitation
from Neo (voiced by Keanu Reeves) to escape the Matrix. But finding an exit
proves more difficult than he ever imagined.
Program
Written and directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri
Animation and production design by Madhouse Studios, Tokyo
In the simulated world of a Samurai training program, CIS, a soldier of Zion,
is forced to choose between love and her comrades in the real world.
World Record
Written by Yoshiaki Kawajiri; Directed by Takeshi Koike
Animation and production design by Madhouse Studios, Tokyo
Through an incredible combination of will power and physical strength, DAN,
a world-record-holding sprinter, breaks out of the Matrix and gets an all-too-brief
glimpse of the real world beyond.
Beyond
Written and directed by Koji Morimoto
Animation and production design by Studio4°C, Tokyo
In a quiet town where all is not as it seems, YOKO finds a bug in the system:
an abandoned mansion in which anything seems possible. And then the exterminators
arrive to “de-bug”.
Detective Story
Written and directed by Shinichiro Watanabe
Animation and production design by Studio4°C, Tokyo
Hard-boiled private investigator ASH tracks cyber-criminal TRINITY (voiced by
Carrie-Anne Moss) through the looking glass…
Matriculated
Written and directed by Peter Chung
Animation and production design by DNA, Seoul
A small group of rebels have captured a sentient robot and proceed to program
it to act as an ally for their cause. They succeed too well in teaching the
robot to prefer their “human Matrix” to machine reality. And the robot’s appetite
for the “human Matrix” may exceed the humans’ ability to supply it.
The Matrix revolutionized science-fiction action films and boggled the minds
of moviegoers, becoming one of the most successful sci-fi films of all time,
with a domestic box-office gross of nearly $172 million. Recently inducted into
the DVD Premiere Academy of Artistic Achievement, the DVD was the first ever
to reach sales of three million units. Voted “DVD of the Year” by the Video
Software Dealers Association at the first annual DVD Festival 2000 Awards, it
has sold over 15 million units worldwide, and its fiercely dedicated fan base
has spread feverish anticipation of The Matrix sequels across the Internet.
BASICS
DVD SRP $24.98/$19.95 MAP
VHS SRP $19.98/$13.95 MAP
Street Date: June 3, 2003
Languages: ENG (5.1), JAP (5.1)
Subtitles: ENG, FR, SPAN
Program Running Time: Approx 90 mins.
DVD Running Time: Approx 180 mins.
Rating: Not Rated
Dolby/Digital [CC]
With operations in 78 international territories -- more than the video division
of any other studio -- Warner Home Video 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 Company, Castle Rock Entertainment,
HBO Home Video and New Line Home Entertainment.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
PREMIERE
REPORT
Source: <Lights
Out Entertainment>
LightsOutEntertainment visited
the premiere of The final flight of the Osiris and the Enter the Matrix videogame.
Here's what they had to say:
Thanks to Joel Silver, the man that constructed so many magical movie moments
in my life, Tuesday night was a night to remember. A huge press junket was held
for two events which coincide with the release of this year's Matrix films,
The Matrix Reloaded & The Matrix Revolutions.
Part of the action surrounded hype for the Animatrix anime series which comes
to DVD on June 3rd, and which serves as a backstory to characters within the
Matrix realm. We were treated to an unbelievable CGI sequence which kicks off
The Animatrix, entitled "Final Flight Of Osiris". "Flight" showcased a amazing
fight training simulator sequence between two characters. The characters are
then pulled out of their simulation only to realize that they, along with their
crew, have stumbled upon a breeding ground of sorts of thousands sentinels which
are trying to make their way into the underground city of 'Zion'.
Without spoiling it for anyone, the sequence of action packed scenes that take
place after the crew is discovered by the hell-bent sentinels is mind boggling.
The CGI is set at even higher standard then that of Final Fantasy: The Spirits
Within which would be expected since the same team worked on both projects.
With the spirit of Anime intact, set against the cyber-techno-apocolyptic world
of The Matrix, The Animatrix is going to prove as a very welcome companion to
the world of this incredible series of movies. Catch "Final Flight Of Osiris",
which serves as a sort of prequel to The Matrix Reloaded, attached to copies
of Dreamcatcher which hits theaters March 21st.
Enter The Matrix, the video game coming soon to a platform near you. This was
the main event, or as it would seem since this whole shin dig was put on by
the folks Infogrames. I got a chance to play the PS2 version game a bit at the
after party. Playing like any other search and destroy type of action game,
Enter The Matrix bumps it up a few notches by adding many of the aspects of
the movie into the game. The Wachowski brothers went and filmed tons of new,
game exclusive footage just for the overall experience of the game. Supposedly
parts of the game will fill in elements of the plot that might seem a little
vague in the film.
With my actual hands on experience of the game, I can say that the fighting
system could use a little bit of tweaking. I noticed as I played Jada Pinkett
Smith's that I couldn't really control the combos as well as I would have liked.
There was also what seemed to be a tiny bit of a glitch where a 'bad guy' would
be about to be taken out, in which the game goes into 'cool Matrix mode' and
does a slow motion preview of the kill, but the fight would not be over and
the slow motion would still be commencing. It might have been a little too much.
Aside from my pickiness, Enter The Matrix should be enthralling to any Matrix
fan as well as any hardcore action gamer!
You can watch some movies of interviews on their site <here>.
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ANIMATRIX
SOUNDTRACK
Source: <Video
Business>
The Animatrix (prebook May 6;
DVD $24.98, VHS $19.98) includes nine short anime films conceived by the Wachowski
brothers, the creators and directors of The Matrix. The films are directed by
world-renowned anime directors such as Yoshiaki Kawajiri, Koji Morimoto, Mahiro
Maeda, Takeshi Koike, Peter Chung and Andy Jones.
The studio will promote Animatrix as it would a new theatrical release and expects
the title will be placed in the new-release sections of stores, Saksa said.
A soundtrack CD, which also will be promoted and distributed by WHV, features
techno music by Juno Reactor, Death in Vegas, DJ Shadow and others. It will
be released day and date with the DVD.
Warner Home Video originally slated The Animatrix for fourth-quarter 2002, but
the video was delayed because the Wachowski brothers were busy with the theatrical
sequels.
"The idea is that we want to entertain fans and give them a deeper insight into
the property," Saksa said. Aside from the Pokémon films, Animatrix will be Warner's
first anime release, a category that the company believes is "the breakthrough
medium now," Saksa said. The studio believes The Matrix will drive fans to anime
and push one of the fastest growing video genres into the mainstream.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
VIRTUAL
REALITY MEETS HOLLYWOOD
Source: <Reuters>
Thanks to:
<TLFC>
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A movie
about machines creating an alternate reality for enslaved humanity is turned
into a video game that draws the pretty and the powerful from the movie business
to a lavish party to be amused by machines.
Virtual reality meets Hollywood.
"Enter the Matrix," the most ambitious effort yet to marry high-powered Tinseltown
talent with high-tech video game production, was given a red carpet premiere
on Tuesday night by movie studio Warner Bros. and French games publisher Infogrames.
The game and the next two "Matrix" films -- "The Matrix Reloaded" and "The Matrix
Revolutions" -- are virtually one and the same, since Larry and Andy Wachowski,
who wrote and directed the movies, also wrote the game and shot an hour of original
footage with the cast of the films just for it.
The offerings need each other to be successful: a big-ticket "Matrix" sequel
will draw attention to the video game, while a popular Matrix video game will
make people want to see the "The Matrix Reloaded," due out in May, and "The
Matrix Revolutions," set for a November release.
"Entertainment is not about storytelling anymore, it's about building universes
where people can express themselves," Bruno Bonnell, the chief executive of
Infogrames, which will publish the game this spring, told Reuters at the launch
party.
The game is a big bet for Infogrames. It spent $47 million to acquire developer
Shiny Entertainment while the project was in progress. The company thinks "Enter
the Matrix" could be its best seller ever, with the potential to sell 3 million
units or more and account for up to 20 percent of the company's revenue for
the year.
"Enter the Matrix," which is being released for all major console platforms
and the PC, is intended to be a crucial companion to the upcoming films. Jada
Pinkett Smith, the actress who stars in "Matrix Reloaded," also features prominently
in the game. "I just think it's great intermixing those mediums," she said at
the opening party.
BIG BUSINESS, BIG SPENDING
In 2002, sales of video game hardware and software rang in at $10.3 billion,
even as revenue from hardware actually declined. That figure topped Hollywood's
domestic box office, which was around $9.4 billion.
Some of the biggest video games of 2002 were also based on or tied to movies,
including Activision Inc.'s "Spider-Man" and Electronic Arts Inc.'s "Harry Potter,"
"James Bond" and "Lord of the Rings" titles. (Although the biggest title
was Grand Theft Auto III, selling more than 8 million copies - Code 808)
Electronic Arts, the No. 1 video game publisher, said last week it will build
a major hub in Los Angeles and hire 300 people -- creative talent with movie
studio backgrounds -- over the next two years.
But for all the success of games based on movies of late there have been notable
flops.
Activision, which had a hit with "Spider-Man," saw a game based on the Steven
Spielberg-Tom Cruise hit "Minority Report" fall flat last holiday season, in
part, some have said, because the developers lacked the right to use Cruise's
likeness.
'HOLY GRAIL' OF CONVERGENCE
"The way that (Shiny Entertainment President) Dave (Perry) worked with the Wachowskis,
Warner and the producers is unprecedented and I think it's an indicator of where
things are going and where they should be going," said Keith Boesky, an agent
at Hollywood talent agency International Creative Management.
Boesky, who once served as president of British publisher Eidos Plc, joined
ICM in the fall with a mandate to help bring Hollywood and the game industry
together.
Things between the game business and Hollywood never used to be this cozy. Before
the mid-1990s, movie-based games had little to do with the movies themselves
beyond a shared title, an arrangement that did not begin to loosen until the
mid-1990s, as the studios realized the profit potential.
Celebrities are also getting in on the act. Vin Diesel, the Hollywood action-star-of-the-moment,
has reportedly set up his own video game studio. Cobi Jones, the U.S. soccer
star, now hosts a video game show on the specialty cable channel G4. And the
next film based on the "Tomb Raider" games is due out this summer.
Despite the increasingly close ties between the two industries, even some backers
concede that the technology is still not far enough along for games to inspire
the same range and depth of emotions for an audience as film.
"I think we're five to 10 years away from complete acceptance," Shiny's Perry
said. "The Holy Grail is that you burst into tears at some point."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
GAME
AND ANIMATRIX PREMIERE
Source: <MTV.com>
Thanks to:
Sub7
Warner Bros 10 minute medley
-- State of the Matrix
BURBANK, California — Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jada
Pinkett Smith and Marilyn Manson walked the red carpet. A theater marquee reading
"Enter the Matrix" loomed brightly over the flashing bulbs of the paparazzi.
It was exactly like a "Matrix" movie premiere — except for one thing. The "Matrix"
film making its debut at the Warner Bros. lot Tuesday was only 10 minutes long.
Part of a group of shorts called "The Animatrix," "Final Flight of the Osiris"
was conceived by "Matrix" creators Larry and Andy Wachowski. Its story line
ties into the upcoming "Enter the Matrix" video game, which premiere guests
were given a chance to play. The game's plot will also impact this year's "Matrix"
movie sequels, "The Matrix: Reloaded" and "The Matrix: Revolutions". It allows
gamers to fight as either Pinkett Smith's "Niobe" character or as "Ghost," a
new hero played by Anthony Wong.
An avid gamer herself, Jada was excited to try out "Enter the Matrix" on her
rapper/actor husband. "When we play 'Resident Evil,' he's the controller, he's
the one manipulating the buttons, the joystick, what have you," she said. "And
I'm the brains. I'm like, 'Will, go to the left, go to the right, go up, go
down, get that.' So it's going to be interesting playing this game [where] he's
actually playing me."
Scripted by the Wachowski brothers, "Enter the Matrix" required Jada to shoot
several new scenes. Clips of "Matrix" regulars Fishburne, Reeves and Moss also
appear in the game.
"I find that the whole sound of video games drives me crazy," admitted Moss,
who plays "Trinity" in the films. "[But] I'm open to the possibility of being
into a video game. Maybe I'll be into one that I'm in — but maybe not. My husband
is a huge fan of the whole video game thing [and] that's probably why. The whole
sound of the whole thing can be a lot when you're not playing it."
For Reeves, the story and the unique world view laid down in the smash 1999
original film lend themselves to all kinds of mediums. "It's the platform of
the story, of having the aspect of a real world and a computer-generated world
[and] the struggle that's inherent in that and the ideas that the brothers have
put together in it — choices, reality, evolution, revolution. I think the platform
itself — if you relate to it, and I think people do — lends itself to many different
stories, because of the richness of the characters. If you care about it, there's
lot of stories to tell about life and about how we live our lives."
Fishburne, whose "Biker Boyz" film opened last week, said, "It was part of the
Wachowski brothers' intention to utilize both [the film and video game] mediums
to tell their story, which is pretty far-ahead thinking." The actor promised
that the next two full-length "Matrix" movies will provide a look "further down
the rabbit hole." Like Marilyn Manson, the world of "The Matrix" is very much
inspired by "Alice in Wonderland."
"I have a lot in common with Lewis Carroll — his inspiration, him tapping into
the darker side of his mind," Manson said. "It's a book that I always loved
growing up as a kid. I actually wrote many pieces of music related to 'Alice
in Wonderland' in the past that were never really used for anything. So when
I saw that [reference] in the first 'Matrix,' it made me very happy. And I'm
a bit of a mad hatter."
Though Marilyn Manson was technically at the premiere as a DJ, he mainly used
the event as an opportunity to unleash a few tracks from his upcoming album,
The Golden Age of Grotesque.
"I wouldn't call myself a DJ. I'm just here as a fan and, well, I'm a dandy,"
he said. "And I like to make anything an exploit. Any scene will be obscene
once I arrive. The Wachowski brothers used some Marilyn Manson [music] in the
last film. And they stuck by me and we kind of stuck together when entertainment
was being blamed for violence."
The "Enter the Matrix" video game will be released May 15, the same day "The
Matrix: Reloaded" hits theaters. "The Matrix: Revolutions" will follow November
7. Meanwhile, the film's Web site is streaming parts of "The Animatrix," which
will be available later this year on DVD.
—Ryan J. Downey
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
OFFICIAL
ENTER THE MATRIX SITE
Source: <Enter
the Matrix Game .com>
The official site for the 'Enter the Matrix' videogame is up. At <EnterTheMatrixGame.com>
you can get game and character info, download desktops, view the gallery, get
behind the scenes info, read the latest news and press releases and of course
pre-order the game. It's a great site to navigate, but unfortunately it's not
so user-friendly if you have a slow connection.
View more images in the videogame
pictures section <here>.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
FIRST
ANIMATRIX EPISODE ONLINE
Source: <TheAnimatrix.com>
The first Animatrix episode, The second renaissance (part 1) will be available
today on <TheAnimatrix.com>.
The episode is about the first events that lead to the war between the humans
and the machines. Or, as the official site claims: "The Genesis of the
Matrix: the last cities of mankind, the war with the machines, and humanity's
ultimate downfall. An epic guided tour of the Zion archives and the history
of the Matrix." The later events that result in the creation of the Matrix
will be in part 2 of "The second renaissance", which will be available
for download in the beginning of May.
The episode was written by Andy
and Larry Wachowski, directed by Mahiro Maeda and the animation and production
design was in the hands of Studio 4°C, Tokyo.
If you have a slow internet connection try visiting a friend who has broadband...
Watch the episode through the following links:
Animatrix Episode #1: The Second Renaissance (part 1)
<Low
resolution - 320 x 136 - 30,6 Mb>
<Medium
resolution - 480 x 204 - 90,5 Mb>
<High
resolution - 640 x 272 - 141,4 Mb>
To download: Right-click and "save target as..."
Please visit the official site <TheAnimatrix.com>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
MATRIX
BEST SUPERBOWL COMMERCIAL
Source: <Box
Office Mojo>
Thanks to: Sub7
'Matrix' Wins Marketing Super Bowl
by Brandon Gray
(Box Office Mojo) - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 48-21 routing of the Oakland
Raiders wasn't the only decisive victory on Super Sunday. The big game served
as the opening salvo in the battle of the 2003 tentpole pictures, and the highly
anticipated Matrix sequels may have emerged the winner over the likes of The
Hulk and Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.
The studios often use the Super Bowl to lure potential moviegoers with the first
glimpse of the big movies of the year, and they pay a sizable chunk of the movies'
marketing costs to do it. This year alone, each 30-second spot cost just over
$2 million -- the highest rates yet. It may have been worth it as the game drew
88.6 million, the sixth most watched ever.
The following is Box Office Mojo's scorecard of how the movie ads fared, listed
in the order they aired in Hollywood. Maybe because most movies advertised were
either sequels or based on other franchises, the studios played it safe this
year using the tried-and-true structure of a brief mysterious intro leading
up to the introduction of the highly recognizable character followed by a bunch
of rapid-fire action shots.
[...]
The Matrix Reloaded / Revolutions (Warner Bros.) - May 15 / November 7
From the get-go, this spot places the viewer right back into the world of the
Matrix with a voiceover by Laurence Fishburne about the war between the humans
and the computers. From there, it hits all the notes fans of the first movie
have been craving -- a new riff on the famous bullet-time fight sequence, plenty
of Carrie Anne-Moss, a multiplying Agent Smith -- not to mention the Warner
Bros. logo going Matrix digital. Plus it hints at even greater dazzling eye
candy. The end shot of Keanu flying like Superman was perhaps the one misstep.
All in all, it was almost as exciting as our first glimpse at the first Matrix
-- quite a feat given that the novelty has waned. Reloaded is expected to bow
at over 3,700 theaters -- the widest opening release ever -- and will follow
Attack of the Clones' Thursday release pattern established on the same weekend
last year. Clones grabbed $110,169,231 in its first four days, a number not
out of Reloaded's reach despite its R rating. Grade: A-
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© 2003 Code 808