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All Sorts Of MATRIX RELOADED Craziness! More Reviews! Quicktime TV Spots! TIME MAGAZINE Ruins The Ending!!
SPOILER ALERT !!
Hey, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab.
Howard Stern just read Neill Cumpston’s MATRIX RELOADED review on the air. That’s how he started his show, actually. And he actually just read bits and pieces... he couldn’t read it all, obviously. Between that and Peter Travers quoting Neill extensively in his X2 review over at Rolling Stone.com, it’s obvious that Neill has struck a chord.
The funny thing is, his mania regarding MATRIX RELOADED doesn’t appear to be an isolated incident. It’s causing all sorts of hysteria all over the internet this weekend. Some of you are just excited about every frame of new footage available, like this guy:
Hey Mori,
In case you weren't excited enough to see the Matrix 2, here are some links to a few great TV spots that I haven't seen air yet for you to download. In the first link I included called "Jack In", I could swear I saw some sort of Mech Warrior type of thing. That one's new to me...enjoy:
MacGuffinAnd then there’s those of you who have actually seen the film. Reactions are all over the place right now, and I’m actually encouraged to see that it’s not an across-the-board blanket positive reaction. I like it when films divide audiences. Keeps things interesting. Check this out:
Hey Harry,
Never wrote in to you before, but I saw something interesting Friday night. The Matrix Reloaded. I know you have at least 4 reviews of this, but I thought I’d give you my two cents, especially because of the circumstances of the particular screening I went to. I’ll try to keep it pretty spoiler free, since if you’re absolutely craving specifics you can refer to Neill Cumpston’s review, and quite frankly, this movie deserves to be watched without any spoilers beyond those included in that review. Sure, the wait is hard, but your will power will be rewarded.
So the screening - I got to be part of the audience for MTV’s Movie House. It was in an absolutely beautiful theater on the Warner Brothers lot in Burbank CA, and I was told the episode is supposed to air this Thursday night. By about 6pm, nearly 200 people had shown up to wait on line to get in for the 7:30 start time, and as you can imagine people were stoked. Starting around 7pm, they herded us into the second of six or eight lines that we stood in over the course of the night. To make a long story short, after about three and a half hours of waiting on lines and in cold empty sound stages, and in the rain (a rarity for sunny LA), and being treated to the most strictly dictated and controlled form of MTV-style youthful 18-24 demographic spontaneous excitement and jubilation I’ve ever witnessed (applaud now, a little louder, no that’s too much, okay, half a decibel higher, good, now stop, okay, commence spontaneously clapping now, okay stop, okay wait 20 minutes and then you’ll clap again, and so on…), the movie was ready to begin. I’m not telling you this to complain about the experience (it was worth it) or to take a shot at MTV (I guess it goes with the territory of making a TV show), I’m telling you this because the crowd was psyched to see this flick, but after a nearly 4 hour wait for many, people were tired, hungry, and needed the bathroom, so whatever energy level you may witness on Movie House you should multiply by about 10.
So the movie - well worth the wait. I think I can safely say that the special effects were by far the best I’ve ever seen. Period. The moves they gave Neo were unbelievable. My jaw dropped at the beginning of Neo’s first fight sequence, and I didn’t scoop it up off the floor until the credits started rolling (and by the way, it dropped again when they showed the Revolutions trailer). You know, I was pretty skeptical about Joel Silver’s whole line about the bar not being raised but broken, but I admit now, he wasn’t too far off.
I loved Reloaded. Although, to be completely honest I have to say that I thought the first Matrix was better overall. But as most people would agree, that was a pretty fucking amazing film that would be damn hard to top by anyone. My main reason for liking the first one more has to do with the non-action moments. Reloaded was complicated, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but so much was crammed into this movie that something had to give. Some parts felt pretty rushed, and others were a bit lengthy when comparing their importance to the importance of other scenes that received much less time. Also, when the first Matrix came out, it was a novelty. We didn’t know what the matrix was, and we spent the length of the movie learning about it. Reloaded does have some twists that will blow your mind, but that big idea of our lives being nothing more than an elaborately contrived source of energy for machines was a pretty big shock to deal with. That’s definitely not something to hold against Reloaded, which really did do a good job at keeping things mind bending. Just a thought on why I may have like the first one a little bit more. But Reloaded is an UNBELIEVABLY COOL FILM!!! It was worth the years of waiting, and I already can’t wait until it’s released so I can see it again!
If you use this, call me Captain Popetastic.Okay, Cap’n. Seems like a number of people were at that Movie House screening. And not everyone was as pleased by what they saw as you were:
Disappointing. I hate to say because I certainly had the highest expectations for the film going in - but overall disappointing. In thinking about this for the last day, I seem to remember that my initial response to the first Matrix was not that it was a Science Fiction Masterpiece that was going to change action cinema as we knew it but that 'Hey - that didn't suck'. The second Matrix is a worthy follow-up to that film - but as a sequel to a film that has become a legend - it's somewhat of a letdown.
The biggest problem is that this seems to be a film by filmmakers that have been wrapped up in nothing else but the Matrix for the last few years. It is completely so immersed into it's own world and it's own story that unless you've watched all the shorts and have an intimate knowledge of the first one, you not only feel lost - but you also lack any emotional response to the characters. The filmmakers act as if you are supposed to automatically care about what is happening without giving you reason to care.
The deadly slow first thirty minutes of the minutes of the film highlight this problem most of all. As Neo and the team return to Zion, we are subjected to scene after scene of meetings and exposition and council chambers and talk and talk and talk in scenes that are just not special in any way. This is, obviously, setting up the story for both films but it has all the specialness and excitement of a preachy Gene Roddenberry 1975 tv-movie. (It's certainly not helped by the presence of Anthony Zerbe (Star Trek: Insurrection, Licence to Kill), whose very presence screams - lousy cheap sequel)
To quote the great Joe Bob Briggs - there is too much plot that gets in the way of the story.
During this whole section of the film you are dying - pleading to return to the Matrix. The Matrix - that's what we love - the weird and exciting technoworld of The Matrix, not this Cecil B DeMille-lite bullshit. When finally, Neo makes a visit to the Matrix to visit the Oracle the film finally comes to life. There is something electric about the world of the Matrix and from this point on the film seems alive.
There is some incredible filmmaking in the next hour of the film. The fight scene with the hundreds of Agent Smiths is the action highlight of the film (and maybe of any film for the last four years). It is vicerally charged and brings your whole soul out of the seat with the audacity of it's filmmaking.
On a quieter vein, when Neo and the rest make a visit to Monica Bellucci and beau in what is most certainly, the hippest restaurant in The Matrix - the Wachowski brothers show that even with a non-action scene they can mesmerize.
From here on out, it's mostly all action with the extended highway chase (which is great but doesn't live up to expectations).
Finally, the film comes to a complete stop on one of those cliched sci-fi 'okay we're in a weird quiet sci-fi setting where we're going to explain it all to you' scene out of Mission to Mars or Contact or something like that. This scene will bore or baffle you (or both - as it did me) If you treat the Matrix religiously, I'm sure this scene will totally engross you and for the rest of the great unwashed of us - this is prime bathroom break material.
Finally, after some more impressive shootouts and fights (that are kind of-sadly, all starting to look all the same), the film comes to a halt on what I guess is supposed to be a shocker and one of those 'To Be Continued' things like it's a cliffhanger at the end of the Next Generation's fifth season or something.
In short, this is a not a bad film in any way. It had moments of brilliance. But the whole is just a long, long way from a sum of it's best parts. Not a letdown close to Phantom Menace, but a letdown nevertheless. Nowhere near as fun as X2.
Call me Frank PooleHmmmm... sorry to hear it left you cold, Frank.
That’s nothing compared with this next review, though, which features MAJOR SPOILERS, and which appeared first in our TalkBacks:
While it's true that Neill Cumpston's review could've been lifted by reading the back cover of a DVD, all of the things he says are true, at least sequentially.
I got to see Reloaded as part of a taping for the MTV show "Movie House". They made us wait for about 4 hours in the Warner Brothers Parking garage, out in the rain and inside a huge soundstage. We had to go through no less than TWO sets of metal detectors. No backpacks or electronic equipment were alowed inside. And we got some neat "Matrix code outlining the shape of a key" tee shirts.
So finally, after a bunch of warm-up bullshit, the movie begins. No trailers, just that green WB logo on the black storm clouds. Matrix code streams down. (stop reading now cause I'm gonna ruin THE WHOLE DAMN MOVIE FOR YOU) From the opening logo on out, the most unoriginal, uninspired sequel that has ever shot down my expectations played out. Yes, everything Neill said happened, in the order he said. But before I go into any depth on this movie, I want to make it clear that I was pretty biased coming into Reloaded.
So, I'd like to take a moment to poll everyone and let me know what they think about the following... At the end of the first Matrix, Neo could stop bullets by putting his hand up! He could dive into Agents and make them explode! He could fly! He could come back from the dead, even! Now then... In Reloaded, we are treated to Neo FIGHTING 100 AGENT SMITHS WITH A POLE (as you all know from the trailers). Umm...maybe it's just me, but if he can put his hand up and stop 100 bullets in the lobby where he fights the Merovingian's henchman (the people with the weapons on the staircase)...well why the hell can't he just put his hand up and stop 100 Agent Smiths as well??? Of course the fight with 100 Agent Smiths LOOKS COOL...but I'm sorry, I just don't view it as a worthy successor to the action of the first Matrix.
If Reloaded was a stand-alone movie the Wachowskis had done, sure, I'd be slobbering too. It looks really great (except for a few really bad CGI Neo moments). The best parts of the fight, to me, were when Neo would slam the fuck out of a copied Agent Smith and the sucker would go flying up into a building 200 feet away and bounce off a window sill. LOL The 100 Agent Smiths scene, while looking really great and making me wonder how the hell they accomplished it, was just a bunch of chocolate candy with no real substance. I was realy bored most of this movie. What do you all think? Also...if Neo can get killed and come back to life, where is there any danger inherent in fighting ANYONE in the Matrix? Oh crap, I just got shot the fuck up! Ooop! Now I'm resurrected! When you end a movie like they ended the first one, the stakes have to be that much bigger in a sequel. Maybe spend some more time in the real world, fighting stuff you AREN'T prepared for. How about a raid on the humans-in-pods battery plant? Neo has to destroy the Matrix, free everyone and then they have to actually get those millions of people to Zion somehow...while something that makes Sentinels look like Gameboys enters the melee??? The car chase scene is neat-o in most parts, but whenever Morpheus and Agent Johnson are on top of the semi duking it out, the backgrounds look so horribly Playstation 2. Am I crazy or could they have green screen projected some actual highway footage for this??? Trinity heading into oncoming traffic on the motorcycle was badass. Morpheus with a sword and an uzi reminded me of Snake-eyes from G.I. Joe.
I suppose I should talk about the characters now... Neo. Keanu hasn't so much learned to act, as the Wachowskis keep him quiet and pensive. Harry Knowles was right in his review of the original Matrix way back when. The sunglasses help hide bad facial expressions. Eyes are the windows of the soul, and nobody would be convinced if they saw Keanu's blank stare while delivering the Wachowskis' dialogue. But of course, a LOT of the dialogue is weak (especially this time around). The actors do their best, but shit Brothers Wachowski...you got enough money...pull in somebody to help out with something that, to me, is more important that Neo hitting a bunch of CGI with a pole! Anyway, they up Neo's powers a bit, but they don't take it all the way. Maybe they're saving up for the third one, but fuck that. A sequel, a the very least, should be twice as good as its predecessor. That would mean Revolutions should be off the chart compared to the first Matrix. Yeah, that may sound like a tall order, but shit man, look at the brilliance of the first film. The framing, the SFX, the concepts (although lifted from many sources such as religion, anime, kung-fu films, etc.)
Trinity. She gets to kick ass of course, but I was really bored by her hitting cops with her helmet and fighting the Agent in the hallway (they even reused her infamous freezing in the air crane-style kung-fu kick). She was relegated to heroine in distress, and that's bullshit for someone such as herself. They tried to have a neat little moment where he brought her back from the dead the same way she brought him in the first one. The idea of pulling a bullet out of her chest like plucking ice from a cup of water was great. Him jump-starting her heart by squeezing it was great also. But I just wasn't compelled. Of COURSE she ain't gonna die! Fuck man, don't expect me to be on the edge of my seat when I know that Carrie-Anne Moss' name is in the credits of Revolutions!!!
Morpheus. He gets to have a Sparticus speech to the gathered masses of Zion (looking hella buff in the real world...he must do isometrics while piloting the Neb). It was slightly rousing, but shit how I wanted him to say something about humans touching and warmth and feeling and emotion and closeness being the opposite of being a machine. That would've been a better transition into the Neo/Trinity sex scene (which really conveyed a sense of hunger on both of their behalfs). They really play up Morpheus possibly being crazy and the prophesy being a buncha bullshit (as expressed by Captain Lock, who Niobe left Morpheus for).
One thing I gotta note about the Wachowskis is how they take classically shat-upon groups like lesbians and blacks and give them strong, empowering roles. The lesbians in "Bound" don't apologize for what they are and what they do. And the black people in the Matrix are often smart and hard-working and WELL-SPOKEN. Tank, Dozer, Morpheus, Lock, Link, Niobe, Zee...they're all just regular people who happen to have black skin. Morpheus is, to me, one of the single-greatest black role models in the history of cinema. Intelligent, suave, not a womanizer, doesn't swill 40 ounces or talk in slang. I had never really thought about the symbolism inherent in Morpheus breaking the chains in the first Matrix when the Agents are trying to hack into his mind in the government building. Now, after that black-empowerment speech of mine, I do have to say that both Niobe and Link were mis-/underused. Now, they're still fleshed out and not racial stereotypes. They're just movie convention stereotypes (ex-girlfriend with an attitude who comes back around and disbelieving comic sidekick). As for Niobe, maybe she'll show back up in Revolutions. Guess we'll just have to play the video game to find out more on her. Harold Perrineau, Jr. as Link just didn't sell the part for me. I didn't buy any of it, he had no emotion. Whenever he gave a little cheer after something dope happened in the world of the Matrix, it just felt SOOO hella third unit.
But I gotta say, worst of all, he was there to replace Tank (Marcus Chong had payday conflicts and got his ass booted). What chaps my ass the most is that Zee (Link's girlfriend and sister to the dearly-departed Dozer) says she lost BOTH her brothers to that ship (the Neb) and doesn't want to lose Link. Ummm...time out, Green Bay! Tank was hurt, but alive at the end of the first Matrix! If he died on a mission that happens between it and Reloaded, I'd like to know about it. Has anyone heard if there's going to be an Animatrix that deals with this?
The Kid...annoying as shit, useless to the movie, and I suppose it will make more sense once we see the Kid's Animatrix episode. Boy, that's a really stupid name, too. Spoonboy was cool, but "the Kid"??? How generic is that??? And no, people, the Kid does NOT fight Neo. He doesn't even plug into the Matrix. He just stumbles around, acting badly, and irritating the shit out of me.
Agent Smith. Now, I talked about the fight, but not about his character. He's been freed. Somehow, during getting blown up, a bit of Neo got imprinted on him. Something copied or rewritten. But he is no longer an Agent. He's a free agent, pun intended. So, he's got his own agenda. I don't even remember why he wanted to kill Neo still, I was so bored. It just felt like...hell, people loved Smith...gotta put him back in! People loved Agent Smith and he was badass. Sooo...let's put in ONE HUNDRED AGENT SMITHS! And he'll be ONE HUNDRED TIMES as badass!!! It all just felt so forced and contrived and like a buncha popcorn eater bullshit! Don't get me wrong...I love Agent Smith as much as you guys do. If Hugo Weaving had've made it into the X-Men trilogy as well as the Matrix and Lord of the Rings series, I wouldn't hesitate to call him the most brilliant actor (from a business standpoint) in the entire universe. But enough is enough. Also, I just thought about this. It's a problem that's bothered me with Jamie Madrox, the Multiple Man (a character in X-Men who spent most of his time on the team X-Factor)... What happened to the other 99 Agent Smiths? At the end of the fight, they all walk away. But where do they go? Some, but not all, of them show up in a hallway sequence near the end of the film. But what I'm really wondering is...are they exact copies that have their own motivations? Cause then they wouldn't want to die either. It was shown that they all have that infection/replication ability, cause three of them start to infect Morpheus in the hallway. So imagine a perfect copy of Doctor Doom. Wouldn't it try to destroy/betray itself???
Moving on to...the new Agents (Johnson and Tompson). They don't have 1/100th the stage persona that Agents Jones and Brown had in the first film. Which, by the way, where did they go? They ran away after Neo blew up Smith in the first Matrix...did they get deleted? These new Agents are more like low-level body builders. I mean, it makes sense they'd up their power and speed, but you don't have to make someone bulky to do that. To paraphrase Morpheus, do you think size would matter in a world such as the Matrix? The Sentinels now spin around and throw bombs at the hovercrafts of the resistance. Yay. How fucking boring. Replace the Sentinels with something that eats them for breakfast, please.
The Oracle. The revelation that the Oracle is not human, but a sentient program as well was a neat twist. Too bad Gloria Foster passed away, I'd be really curious to see what else they would've done with her. Turns out that she's the mother of the Matrix, or something. I'll have to watch a key scene again to figure out what's what.
Seraph. The Oracle's bodyguard, of sorts. If you can get past him, you MUST be the One. Um, sorry. The fight wasn't that great and Neo could've just jumped into your ass and blew you up. Boring. Move along.
The Merovingian. A French bad guy who talks a bunch of nonsense. Basically, he has the Keymaker and isn't letting him go. Also a sentient program from an earlier version of the Matrix. Blah blah blah. He runs away, might be back for the sequel, although I doubt it.
Persephone. The Merovingian's wife who betrays him because he cheats on her. This is a good idea gone bad. Programs that become sentient and become more and more human as they become more and more complex. I just didn't care about any of them, though. And then they go and waste a ton of $$$ on CGI of the Matrix code showing a woman's bladder popping, making her have to go pee or something. Either that or the Merovingian gave her an aphrodisiac and she ran off to the bathroom. Now that I think about it, that may have been it. Cause he does retreat away to the bathroom himself or some shit.
Bah, move on to his bodyguards, the Twins. The Twins look cool, but all their dialogue is pretty worthless (sadly, there are NO really great quotable lines in this movie, except MAYBE Morpheus' speech about "isn't that worth fighting for? Isn't that worth dying for"). About the Twins...that part where the giant explosion happens on the overpass during the car chase is what's supposed to kill them, but it's unclear whether or not that's what happened. They get blown up into the sky and turn into ghosts. Couldn't really tell if they disapated or not. But even still, damnit! They can turn into GHOSTS! They were shot through, sliced through and punched through by "ghosting out" just before the impact came...so why the hell didn't they just do that when their SUV started flipping over??? And they never explain how the Twins can ghost out. Just that they are from previous versions of the Matrix.
The Keymaker. Has found backdoor entries to get to certain locations in the Matrix (as well as bubbles where you can't be detected). He has the key that can get you to the Matrix mainframe, where the idea is that in Revolutions, Neo will fight his biggets challenge and free all human minds from bondage.
The Architect. The guy who created the Matrix, now turned into a sentient computer program model of himself that guards the mainframe. I wish they'd explain WHY it was made in the first place, by a human at that! Was it for military training? Erotic fantasies? Anyway, his monologue was really boring and really confusing, and those two go together like peanut butter and chocolate when it comes to making me tune out. But since I'm so big into the world of the Matrix, I'll go to another free screening (be DAMNED if I'll pay to see this) so I can try to make something of all his gobbledy goop.
Then there's Zion. Pretty neat how they designed the place. I love the idea of a city deep in the ground where it's still warm, built in a huge cylindrical chamber that has hundreds of crosswalks connecting areas together. But really, the logistics of sewage removal boggled my mind. There's a great little exchange here between Neo and the head Chancellor-type guy about how machines and people are interdependent and how they don't always know how machines work, but there is a reason for them and it all works out in the end (a metaphor for Neo and faith and whatnot).
Oh yeah...in Zion, they have these giant robot suits with guns for arms that watch the main gates when hovercraft dock. And oh, how clever...the operator of that robot suit spun his guns and dropped them to his side like a Wild West cowboy. Yee fucking ha. That is so goddamn inane. That in the "real world", having done that 20 million times in your life, you would spin your gun arms like that at that exact moment. Feh! Alright people, I realize that by now, I must sound like a total asshole. Don't get me wrong. You AIN'T gonna find a Matrix fan who knows more about backstory or has thought more about this concept than myself. But goddamnit, I guess that's just the curse of having an active imagination.
And just so I'm not totally ragging on this movie, let it be known that I thought there were some BRILLIANT moments. Such as... Neo flying out of the building just as it explodes, pulling a wake of fire behind him. Neo flying into the sky, coming down through the clouds and pulling them after him as well. Generaly, the flying sequences were just plain DOPE! When Neo pulls the wake of cars behind him as he rockets at 2,000 mph through the concrete canyons of the city was phenomenal! When he swoops in to catch Morpheus and the Keymaker just as two semis crash into each other and explode in bullet time was pretty cool also, but hella fake compared to the wake of cars. Oh, and when Neo has to fly from the mountains back to the city...well hell, just how big is the world of the Matrix when you're inside of it? Is it a full world, like Earth? With continents and countries? Are there are stars and the moon in the sky? Cause, if he could, Neo could fly to the moon since "that's not air you're breathing" and rules like gravity don't apply. Why the fuck am I the only one who thinks about all these extrapolations?
Shit, someone let ME write some comics, yo! Agent Smith answering the phone and coming out into the real world! This has the single best potential, IMHO...but they squandered it. No scene were Smith talks about what it's like to have human senses and weaknesses and have to breath and eat and whatnot. If he could escape from the Matrix that way, he would be free and have no reason to want to kill Neo. It would have been a great turn of events to have Smith need to join the resistance to stop the machines cause he was now mortal and could die. He'd have information on how to stop Sentinel attacks and take out key strategic points and whatnot. But NOOOO...buncha bullshit instead about Kain (the guy he infected) being taken over by Smith and sabotoging stuff.
At the end, they reveal that Neo has powers in the real world as well. Neat twist, but dammit, I like the idea that the Architect proposed instead. The Architect says that even the prophecy of "the One" was made up by the Matrix as a system of control. I've always been keen on the idea that it was all one big lie, one big fantasy cranked out by the Matrix that spun out of control and led to the downfall of the machines. I just love the idea of perfect machines having to create an imperfect fantasy world because humans are imperfect and hence, imperfection leads to chaos and boom, the system fails. Hubris, baby!
Alright, I'm basically done bad-mouthing this film except for one last note: how goddamn horrible the soundtrack and the score are. Don Davis' score of the first Matrix basically hasn't left my mp3 player for about four years now. The use of horns and synths just got to me. Horns ALWAYS make songs sound bigger, more epic. And they were just GONE in this score. Hell, even the soundtrack was lame. Yes, we get another Rage Against the Machine song. P.O.D. is on there. The hell? But worst of all, the movie ends with a goddamn DAVE MATTHEWS BAND song!!! Umm...now, I happen to like most of his early stuff (before it all sounded like the same song). But in no way, shape or form does a cyberpunk thriller need to have DAVE MATTHEWS BAND playing at any point! The beauty of the first soundtrack is not only are all the songs dope and make you wanna rock out...but the titles and the lyrics are relevant to the movie as well. "Mindfields" by Prodigy. "Wake Up" by Rage Against the Machine. Etc. Hell, the music (mainly remixes) that use for all the TRAILERS is better. "The Revolution Will be Televised" is a GREAT song. "Chonga Fury" by Juno Reactor in "Final Flight of the Osiris" was a great choice also. But fuck, man! :(
To recap: All-in-all...this movie is NOT a worthy successor to the Matrix. I think it's pretty obvious that if you watch the first one, it's a stand-alone story that is just great ending where it does. Much like the first Star Wars. Unfortunately, Reloaded ain't no Empire Strikes Back. So yeah, of course everyone is gonna go see it. And yeah, everyone is gonna rationalize and say "yeah, but the fights were really cool" or "but the flying was dope" or whatever. But that does NOT a good movie make, IMHO.
Disappointed and getting ready to "doge this!" from everyone's replies, Derek C. Wallace
P.S. If you wait through the credits to see the trailer for Revolutions, be prepared to be disappointed. It's a random series of clips that doesn't really convey what's going to happen. Besides, if you've seen the 2 minute, 30 second trailer for both Reloaded and Revolutions, then you've seen most of the footage already.
derekwallace79Holy cow. And before you jump on me for printing spoilers, I only decided to do it after I realized that TIME Magazine, which was granted official access by the studio, has already run all the story details possible, including a detailed description of the cliffhanger ending. Keep in mind... this is a magazine that is consider the “real” press, one that was given a screening of the film by Warner Bros. and which, presumably, was asked to do a cover story as a result. I’m guessing Warner didn’t know that the story would come across as a fairly negative review, and that it would give away every secret of the movie almost two weeks early. Way to court the “legitimate” press, Warner Bros., and way to act like total fucking assholes, TIME. We intentionally worked with our first reviewer, Neill, to make sure there were no spoilers in the review that would ruin the movie. He hinted at quite a bit, but he was careful. And we’re the ones who are considered the “outlaws.” Go figure.
Last up today, an ANIMATRIX review:
In the Beginning, God saw that it was good, said that it was good, and it was good.
Thus is this h
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I thought they did.
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And Cumpston's review was fuckin' funny. I don't care what any of you wowsers say
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May 05, 2003 9:03:38 AM CDT
When spoilers are written in this much detail they're actually t
by kevin costner
Listening to all that descriptive technical detail about a film I haven't seen yet was pretty much too boring and I had to stop reading after two paragraphs. And I'm glad I did 'cuz not only would it give away a 'probably' cool story... but this artical goes on forever. I just didn't bother reading the whole thing. Spoiler free!! I mean who wants to hear it like this?!!
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So the backlash will arrive sometime this week, then people will get excited again just before it opens. We are a nation of pop culture whores! (But I love it.)
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May 05, 2003 9:21:23 AM CDT
With four short words, Neill Cumpston has made all movie reviewe
by nordling
"This movie is tits!"
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No wonder the movie sucked for him. Example, he knew the other agents besides Smith were named "Jones and Brown". How could anyone know that unless they watched the credits on slo-mo and wrote that shit down!! It would take days to explain all of his "faults" of logic in the movie (not to mention think about them in the first place). Does Wallace spend hours using calculations and experiments to back up all of the Matrix's scientific "facts"? Probably. And about Neo's powers.. My theory is that in the first one it was an awakening of sorts and that's why he he could do even more. In Re-loaded there wouldn't be a movie/story at all if he had absolute power. He could just stop everything and go where he needs to go. Oh well, I am ready to see a fun popcorn movie and not analyze it too much. Out here.
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Usually, I'm the first to poo-poo something on the basis of its infantile philosophy, or creative theft of someone else's ideas - but fuck all that - Matrix was shot the way I want all my live-action cartoon pop-mystic films to be shot from now on. Just love the look the feel and the fact that these guys aren't afread to give you a superstar payoff. Remeber how you felt when Neo and Trinity went in and saved Morpheus in a 'top this' kinda action spectacular and you thought - 'my god that was great, and I know that despite the fact that that was the massive set-piece, this film can't end without a kung-fu mexican stand off between the wierdo who keeps screwing up Neo's name and Neo.' - and then it delivers. Films that deliver are sorely underapreciated. X2 was pretty good - but it didn't knock me on my ass. why didn't Iceman freeze the lake? I mean, what the fuck did you come along for anyway?
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WHAT THE FUCK! WHEN DID IT BECOME ACCEPTABLE PRACTICE TO WRITE SPOILERS ANYWHERE? TIME MAGAZINE, AND ANY FILM FAN WHO HAS SEEN ANY MOVIE AND FEELS THE NEED TO GIVE AWAY MOVIE SECRETS, NO MATTER HOW MUCH THEY MAY HAVE DISLIKED THE FILM, DESERVE TO BE DRUG INTO THE STREET AND SHOT. HAVE SOME FUCKING RESPECT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO PUT IN A HELL OF A LOT MORE TIME AND EFFORT ON A FILM THEN YOU WILL PUT IN ANYTHING YOU WILL EVER DO IN YOUR ENTIRE PUNY STUPID WORHTLESS LIFE. STOP TAKING UP SPACE AND PRECIOUS AIR ON MY PLANET YOU SIRTY FUCKS. STOP RUINING MOVIES FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY ACTUALLY LIKE THEM. SURE THERE ARE SOULESS, MONEY GRUBBING, EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULE, SOME MOVIES JUST SHOULDN'T BE MADE. BUT THE MATRIX IS NOT ONE OF THOSE MOVIES. NO MATTER WHAT YOUR OPINION OF IT, IT IS THE WACHOWSKIS OPUS, A STORY SO GRAND IT TAKES THREE FILMS TO TELL, AND SOMETHING THEY HAVE GIVEN THEIR HEART AND SOUL TO SINCE THE MID 90'S. HAVE SOME FUCKING RESPECT FOR THAT. AND IF YOU CANT JUST FUCKING DIE. YOU ARE ALL FUCKING CLOWN SHOES. DISRESPECTFUL DIRTY JUVENILLE LOSERS WHO CANT MAKE THEIR OWN FILMS SO ALL THEY CAN DO IS PUT DOWN OTHERS. STOP WASTING YOUR TIME TRYING TO HURT THE ARTISTIC ENDEDVORS OF TALENTED PEOPLE. IF YOU NEED TO VENT, TAKE IT OUT ON THE MAKERS OF FILMS LIKE SCOOBY-DOO OR CROSSROADS. TAKE IT OUT ON BRUCKHEIMER AND BAY. TAKE IT OUT ON PEOPLE WHO MAKE WORTHLESS STUPID, INTELLEGENCE DRAINING, SOUL SUCKING GARBAGE EVERYTIME THEY SIT DOWN AT THEIR TYPEWRITER OR GET BEHIND THE CAMERA. AND AS FOR TIME MAGAZINE AND ALL OF ITS AFFILIATES (AND wb FOR LETTING THIS HAPPEN) FUCK THEM, FUCK THEM IN THEIR STUPID ASSES, I HOPE THEY NEVER SELL ANOTHER ISSUE. WE SHOULD TRY AND CREATE ART, NOT DESTROY IT.
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At first, I completely agreed with you. In fact, I was having the very same thought while reading the deluge of posts at various sights all over the net. Then I remembered that I didn't give one shit about the first Matrix film. I was one of the MANY MANY MANY people that had huge amounts of hate for Ted...uhh, I mean Keanu, as an actor. He may be a great guy, but honestly, his best film before the Matrix was Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure (with My Own Private Idaho being PASSABLE). I never even saw the Matrix until it was bundled with PS2's. However, I saw it with someone that had seen it 20 times by then and (with my consent) pointed out all the shit that many people either slowly figured out, read about, or just plain projected on to this film. I "got" some of the mythology and I did enjoy the film. But I still don't own it. So I think this backlash, which I still agree with Mr. Smalls, will die down a bit a couple days before the film opens. But I also think that the negatives attached to this film are OK. Maybe a little lowering of the expectations is OK with this one. Maybe, just maybe, these films will not be quite as good as X2 and ROTK (or FOTR and TTT). After all, that's a lot to live up to. But I will be seeing this one in the theater, and that's what WB wants, after all.
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May 05, 2003 1:03:26 PM CDT
Jesus, that derekwallace79 guy asked some of the dumbest fucking
by shabbadoo
And I thought there were HUGE spoilers...I was too bored off my ass to catch any of them. I just wanna' see this movie for myself instead of having it explained to me by someone that didn't even seem to understand it.
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Damn... He was disappointed and still wrote all that to convey his feeling. AICN should make him a reviewer for movie. WOW!!!!
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Man, i hope this movie won't suck.
Personally i don't think so but there is some overhyping to this movie i think just like with The Phantom Menace.
I saw X2 on the first of may on thought it was great.
Indeed twice the first movie.
Oke reloaded may very well not be as fresh as the first one but still......
So far i have heard more negative reviews then positive ones.
As where X2 got mostly positive reviews very early on.
I would like to know what others make of it. -
I love it. Now everyone is falling off the bandwagon, asking questions like "Will it be better than the first?" or "Will it better than X2?". Calm down people, really, just calm the hell down. Buy your ticket, watch the movie, and judge for yourself, because just like the first movie, every single last person that watches it is going to be affected differently. Enjoy the effects, enjoy the fights, enjoy the downright brilliant cinematography, and while you're at it, enjoy the twisting and turning script.
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I have to laugh at all this. All these nervous Matrix fans remind me of nervous Star Wars fans in 1999...trying to explain away all the reviews, attacking the reviewers, etc. Glad you Matrix fanboys can finally understand how we SW geeks feel. Get ready to have your favorite movie trashed and crapped on.
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OK, you say that we "ain't gonna find a Matrix fan who knows more about backstory or has thought more about this concept". I don't think so. Is that 79 your IQ because your reviews seem like it was done by a child.
1)"Well why the hell can't he just put his hand up and stop 100 Agent Smiths as well" Because it is a story and if all he needed to do was go into the Matrix and freeze everything, there would be no story now would there. If you would like a theory, maybe because the bullets are just programs and are not sentient like people and the agents.
2)"Where is there any danger inherent in fighting ANYONE in the Matrix?" Refering to Neo. Just because he wasn't defeated in the first movie doesn't mean that he cannot be killed by other means. He also still has to defend/free the remaining human population from enslavement. This is a fight for freedom!
3)"Are there stars and the moon in the sky? Cause if he could, Neo could fly to the moon since 'that's not air you're breathing' and rules like gravity don't apply. Why the fuck am I the only one who thinks about all these extrapolations?" Why the hell would you have Neo fly into space/the moon? What point would that make in the story? How would that further the story? What are you smoking?
I didn't have anything to say regarding your opinion on the characters/FX since I haven't seen the movie, but if you ever did make a comic book, I think you would fail miserably. What have you written? Are you making a comic? Written a movie? Who the hell are you anyways? -
Anybody seen em? Is that agent in Reloaded?
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i hope, cuz that's all i care about. the matrix was all about the cool imo. it was about those chunks of marble and plaster exploding from the bank columns, the spent shells raining from the sky, the now-ubiquitous multi-camera action sequences. as long as i get more of that cool-ass sh*t in that same formaldehyde green hue, i'll be happy. this will not be another phantom menace me thinks...
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Courting the press, Moriarty? They're the same company, you twit. Someone at Waner Brothers probably courted it all the way down the hall and past the water cooler and dropped a copy of the film in the Time Magazine guy's inbox. If there's any print media in the world that WB could influence what the article reveals about their film, it'd be Time...
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I was skeptical about the first Matrix film, VERY skeptical. I had seen Johnny Neumonic years earlier and it was one of the worst films that I had ever seen. I was not about to repeat thatsame mistake. I waited, despite the trailers, the TV spots and the opinions, I waited. I finally gave in and went with my father to a small theater in the heart of Indiana. I could not believe what I saw, and was persuaded to think about after seeing that film for the first time. One time became two, two became three, and three became 5 times. I could not get enough of this movie. Being someone who considers himself a follower of the teachings of Jesus there were some obvious overtones that drew me to the film. Being a student of film at that time at Columbia College Chicago I was excited even more so about the opportunities of movie making.
The Matrix film worked on so many levels, it was not just a glossy shell with a hollow interior, nor was it a film that was self-indulgent. I saw the film for what it was, I was impressed with the bullet time effects, the complexity of the story and the revolution it started for the effects industry world wide. The bar was raised that year and easily beat out The Phantom Menace for Special Effects at the 2000 Academy Awards.
Fast forward to 2003 and we are on the cusp of The Matrix Reloaded, the follow up and as everyone realizes, the film is highy anticipated and expectations are high. MY expectations for the film are hard to describe. What excites me most is not the seeing what level of effects the Gaeta and the Wachowski brothers can bring me but how the will challenge me intellectually. I want to know how the story ends more than I want to see how the story ends. I want to hear the doubt of Morpheus vision from his fellow brothers and sisters of Zion. I want to know and understand the workings of Neo and Trinitys relationship. I want to know what happens with the Oracle and who she really is.
I think the stage that has been set for Reloaded is an unfair one. I believe that if the movie does not live up to expectations it's not the movie that fails but our hopes of the movie. I personally do not know how the Wachowski boys could please everyone. I see them as artists, pioneers of a specific genre of film. It was their creativity that brought us the first installment, I have faith that they are smart enough to bring me the next knowing the trappings of sequels and the pitfalls filmmaking. From the trailers and adds what I have seen satisfies me. I look at the world of the Matrix presented to me through the various previews and it's still the same world I remember from the first film. I see Trinity and Morpheus and Neo and they look the same. My only hope is that the is told with the same ambition and drive the first one was told with.
People must realize that expectations realy end up cheating us out of many experiences in life. We know the world of the Matrix now. The beginning has been told to us. We saw Neo resurrect from the dead and smite his oppressors. We watched how Morpheus taught Neo the ways of the Matrix and all it's possibilities. And so, knowing and seeing these things I do not expect to be blown away again. The world is too familiar, and so now I want to strap in for the ride and see, where the rabbit hole goes if you'll pardon the pun. Opinions must be sorted out. There is a difference in judging art based on our own ideas and judging art based on whether the artists ideas work or not. I personally have no opinions one way or the other on how things should go. The only people who could possibly finish telling this story are the ones who began writing it. I do not expect Reloaded to be a perfect film, but as an artist myself I expect the Wachowskis to stay true to their vision and who they are. If they did not then I know Reloaded and Revolutions would fail miserably.
J.M. Prater -
May 05, 2003 6:40:26 PM CDT
I was going to read Wallace's review but it was too boring
by darth phallus
What movies has this guy been watching that make him so "over" every thing? Every other line in his review was...this was cool...but I found it really boring. How post-modern of you, Wallace. Irony is the shackles of youth. Anyway, I only know that I enjoyed the five minute preview of Matrix 2 much moreso than I did the entire 2 hours plus of X2. All of the exposition Wallace bitches about is exactly the stuff I can't wait to see. Fuck the new action shit...I mean yeah great -boom boom-bring it on... but it's the story that is so well done in the Matrix and the extra new twisting and turning puzzle pieces (mixed metaphor aside) is what really has me jonesin' . OF COURSE ROTK WILL DESTROY X2 AND MATRIX 2 AND SPIDEY 2 ALL AT ONCE BEEYATCH!!
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May 05, 2003 7:17:45 PM CDT
my expectations for this film grow smaller with each passing day
by beamish13
In the end, I think that Revolutions will disappoint me no matter what. Probably not on an Episode I/II level, though. I won't cry like a banshee for the heads of the Wachowski's like I did for Lucas after allowing Lucas to siphon money from me TWICE.
anyway, how's "Equilibrium"? Maybe I'll just stay home and rent that.
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Exsanguine nailed it. How can you work in the film industry and not know that Time Magazine and Warner Bros. films are under the same big corporate umbrella? Hell, housewives in Boise know that!
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May 05, 2003 7:20:40 PM CDT
Fook this, I ABSOLUTELY LOVED the first Matrix, but these sequel
by uncle sam
Besides, after X2, all that matters now is X3 and X4. - I WANT YOU, but not in that way.
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Derekwallace79: The Matrix is part of a system, movie fans. That system is our enemy. But when you're inside, you look around. What do you see? Starbucks baristas, grocery store baggers, college students, cubicle hampsters, auto mechanics. The very minds of the people we are trying to save. But until we do, these people are still a part of that system, and that makes them our enemy. You have to understand, most of these people are not ready to be unplugged. And many of them are so inert, so hopelessly dependent on the system that they will fight to protect it. Were you listening to me movie fans, or were you mindlessly dedicating yourself to the latest pop culture phenomenon like it's a New Age religion?
Movie fans: We were...
Derekwallace79: Look again. Freeze it.
Movie fans: This...this isn't a good Matrix sequel?
Derekwallace79: No. It's another media campaign program designed to teach you one thing. If you do not love a soulless franchise with all your heart, you are one of "them".
Movie fans: Who are "we", then?
Derekwallace79: Sentient human beings. We can move in and out of any conversation with objectivity and logic. We can resist the programming. But that means that anyone we haven't unplugged is potentially an agent of the movie's hype. Inside media blitzes like the Matrix Reloaded, they are everyone and they are no one. We have survived by hiding from them, by running from them. But they are the gatekeepers. They are guarding all the doors. They are holding all the keys, which means that sooner or later, someone is going to have to fight them.
Movie fans: Someone?
Derekwallace79: I won't lie to you, movie fans. Every single man or woman who has stood their ground, everyone who has fought a media blitz has died. But where they have failed, you will succeed.
Movie fans: Why?
Derekwallace79: I've seen a country spend the gross national product of Canada on a film about an alien invasion stopped by a laptop computer. Fans have emptied entire bank accounts at flicks with podraces and Jar-Jars and wound up nothing but broke. Yet a movie's strength and box office gross are still based in a world that is built on word-of-mouth. Because of that, studios will never be as strong or as fast as you can be.
Movie fans: What are you trying to tell me, that I only have to see bad movies the prerequisite one time "because it's (insert title of soulless franchise here)"?
Derekwallace79: No, movie fans. I'm trying to tell you that when you're ready, you won't have to. -
I loved the first Matrix but I tend to agree with the negative reviews so far. The first 30-40 minutes are really kind of deadly, with the same sort of boring talk (note that I do not think that DIALOGUE translates automatically to 'boring') you get in a Star Trek movie or Star Wars prequel. I love watching great action but honestly, there's a LOT of fights and especially the first half dozen or so just look like more of the same, maybe not quite as well done as in the first movie. There's a great scene with Monica Belluci but very little of that fascinating conceptual vibe you get in the first movie where EVERYTHING is interesting because of the idea. Here, you know the idea, the new ones introduced come off just as more sci fi twists you've seen in other things. Honestly, I was as bored during a lot of this as I was during either Star Wars prequel. It's a shock to watch a Matrix movie that feels ORDINARY.
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...It was a comedy bit by someone who almost certainly didn't see the film. If AICN wants to have a Komedy Korner, go ahead, it'll be fun. But please don't present phoney reviews as NEWS... Unfortunately, AICN has no incentive to screen out false reviews for hot films. All the people who Google "review" and "matrix" end up at AICN. Ka-ching!
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i'd bet good money that zion is a part of the matrix... that what we know of as the matrix is actually only a simulation of the actual matrix within itself. so essentially, everything that has happened so far in both the original movie and in "reloaded" all took place within the matrix, they're all still in there. that seems to me to be where it's headed. the only question is, will they figure this out and discover earth isn't in such bad shape as they thought, or will it be revealed in the twist ending to "revolutions"?
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"Did IQs just drop sharply while I was away?"
The question is, how can one judge before seeing? The above talkbacker said and I quote "I tend to agree with the negative reviews". How can one tend to agree with or disagree with views taken if the subject in question [Reloaded] has not been seen by the one agreeing or disagreeing? I keep hearing this line "more of the same" and it boggles the mind. It said with so much dissapointment. That's what I look frward to with Reloaded and Revolutions, more of the same. If I did not want more of the same than I would be looking forward to Reloaded. We must think reasonably. This is the same matrix with the same rules, like Morpheus said, "some of those rules can be bent or broken." Because of this it's not like we are going into another Matrix where the residuals can walk on water or scale walls. I would not want to see that. We can look at so many artists and when they stay true their art and formula they are praised and when the Brothers Wachowski stay true to a revolution that THEY started it just turns into "more of the same". I don't know about any of you but I could watch bullet time all day long. It's an intriguing process/effect and not really duplicated the way we have seen it in the Matrix. There were many copy cats but nothing authentic. Joel Silver even produced The One with Jet Li and Aaliyah and much of that films action comprised of effects rendered before in The Matrix. The question begs itself again, WHAT DO YOU PEOPLE WANT? What I am understanding is that in order for many of you to enjoy the new films it has to be completely different than what we have seen before to satisfy you. I fell in love with the Matrix because of what it offered my sense of vision and my intellect. If I wanted to see all action than I would rent a Dolph Lundgren film or a Van Damme movie. Iam at the edge of my seat with delight waiting on how this story will twist and turn and then I come to this website and see people judging this new film most of you have not seen based on 2-3 minute trailers, and 30 second to 1 minute and teasers and your conclusions are "It all looks like the first movie, nothing new." So, with that I bid adieu, to you and you and you. It's clear that there are two schools of though [or not] when it comes to these films. There is the "bigger and better and flashier" crowd and the "Good story, complex plot, and stimulating philosophically, religiously" crowd. I myself will stay with the latter. Again I do not expect Reloaded to be perfect, but if the Wachowchski Brothers made the film to the best of their abilities than I truly respect that. Most of the opinions seem baseless and hollow, like these people are setting themself up to NOT like the movie.
J. M. Prater -
well, i gotta agree with most people, there is to much hype, i loved the first matrix, and judging by what i saw so far with traliers ect., iam gonna like the second, but people you gotta stop saying, its gonna suck, its gonna rock, cause avvid matrix fans like myself might be dissapointed on th 15th and the same might go for the people who want to see the matrix franchise crash and burn, we will see, but, people who are putting the hulk and matrix in the same sentance should be fucking shot in the ass, the hulk looks so amazingly gay its not even funny. so, we might want to dumb down a bit on the hype, and keep watching acess hollywood till friday, cause the matrix is on it all week and an hour special on friday (just heard about it myself) so all matrix fans TO THE TV!
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really really fucking funny.
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because I don't give a fuck about Zion's waste disposal system. Of all the things to let annoy you...do you enjoy anything? The first Matrix was kinda talky in the first hour too. SJR over a CHUD hinted that his so-so review of X2 maybe attributed to viewing it in the shadow of Reloaded. Even if it does suck, I can always pop in my Equilibrium DVD...gun kata rules.
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http://progressive1.stream.aol.com/wb/gl/wbonline/progressive/thematrix/us/med/2R2_640_dl.mov
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May 05, 2003 9:49:52 PM CDT
motherfucker "LOL"ed in his review. how can i take that serious
by miltonwaddams
and he could stop the bullets because the bullets were objects, like.. chairs, or peices of wood, whatever. the agent smiths are actual moving thinking guys, programs, whatever you want to call them. LOL. retard.
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May 05, 2003 9:56:53 PM CDT
derekwallace: "the equivalent of canada's GNP spent on ID4"??
by jackburtonlives
that would mean US$700 billion... are you sure you've got your numbers right? that seems like a hefty film budget for a bill paxton vehicle.
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Burly Brawlin' Smilin and Jack Ruby have the best coverage of the movie so far and even go into why the movie has been getting such mixed reviews.
http://www.chud.com/ -
May 05, 2003 11:14:23 PM CDT
How did Wachowski bros feel about TIME spoiling crucial storylin
by fd resurrected
Jesus...I imagine Wachowski bros are PISSED AS FUCKING HELL at the shitheads and fucktards at Time Warner/Warner Bros studio letting a national weekly magazine do something like that when THEY'RE the one who tried hard keeping the tight lip on the plot and essential storyline surprises of The Matrix Reloaded (and Revolutions?). They even went so far as to have the screenplays printed in color codes with cast/crew member's name printed on the corner of the page (or so the rumor claims) for more than two years only to be ruined by Time magazine's disregard for readers' interest in NOT being spoiled. Since that occured due to a major editorial fuck-up for pure promotional purpose, this spilling-the-bean fiasco aggravates the readers so much as to NOT bother attending the movie on the opening weekend - because the whole fucking shit is spoiled thereby deflating the chance of maximum audience enjoyment (for the unfortunate and the naive who read Time article). Imagine James Cameron losing his temper and screaming at the top of lungs on the top of the two-digit story-high roof for Los Angeles to hear this madness if his latest film were spoiled big time weeks in advance. Suppose Jim privately stated he HATES movie gossip web sites like Ain't It Cool because spoilers take away the magic the first time you see a movie with low or mild expectation knowing little what it's about only to be blown away at the conclusion. I think Jim should say the same for printed media now that this have happened and he should avoid doing interviews unless the reporters sign contract swearing not to divulge crucial storyline and surprises in the new film, otherwise there's hell to pay. I have not and will not read Time magazine's spoiler-ridden article. I can't believe something as legitimate a source as Warner Bros providing exclusive sneak peek on The Matrix Reloaded only to penetrate the virginal experience of moviegoing innocence and joy when you saw an unbelievably cool movie. Who's the fuck to blame and blacklisted to be assassinated for screwing Wachowski bros over for the purpose of promoting by spoiling as much as possible a couple weeks in advance when the brothers are the ones PROVIDING Warner Bros and its parent company and its stockholders a financial and creative opportunity to recover from the catastropic failure of obscenely expensive and ultimately shitty movies like the $100m megabomb The Adventures of Pluto Nash? I hope it's not Joel 'Egotistical Fatfuck' Silver himself who never seems to stop babbling and shut the fuck up. This is worse than hackneyed studio-assembled trailers with Mr. Voice intoning "In the world of..." giving away crucial shots, surprises, plots, subplots, dialogues, jokes, gags and everything imaginable in two minutes. I sure hope it doesn't affect the potential box office intake of The Matrix Reloaded with nary a dent as the result of Time magazine's selfish self-promotion trying to sell the hype overkill of an issue hot off the rack. Fuck AOL Time Warner, fuck 'em the stupid ass!
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Yes indeedy. That blow-dried saxophone-playing crime-fighting Glen Larson-resurrected batbrain. Look closely.
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I've never seen worse fucking reviews in my entire life. I actually wasted my time reading that bullshit by derekwallace or whatever the fuck his name his, and would've rather watched to goldfish swim around in a bowl for twice the time, then listen to some fucking jackoff whine like a little pussy about how they waste too much money on CGI. Maybe if you took the time to get your shit straight instead of looking through the thesaurus in your hands right now, which by the way just pains me to know somebody can actually make it obvious enough that they don't know what the words they're using mean enough to make tears come out of my eyes, that you'd realize that bullshit like that is what attracts audiences. What you need is a life and a girlfriend, and then maybe you'll be set to go to even think about criticizing a movie you made perfectly clear you didn't even fucking understand with half the brain in your head, to begin with.
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Okay, I just want to make sure that all of y'all UNDERSTAND the difference between a film REVIEWER and a film CRITIC. A REVIEW is what we get on this site. Very little personal insight or critical dissection in any way. Whereareas a CRITIQUE has all these things. You need to realize that these "reviewers" are just telling you what they SAW. Not what they FEEL or THINK. They are saying "Matrix Reloaded is good!" or "Matrix Reloaded is bad!" And that's about it. Raise your hand if you remember all the "good" reviews of The Matrix. Wasn't it the "critiques" and "essays" about The Matrix that actually discussed the film for what it was about? Jesus. I think if ANYBODY is worried about Matrix Reloaded being any "good" should just skip the reviews and wait to make up thier own minds. Jesus. There are so many lame people with shallow, worthless opinions on this site that I wonder how Harry and his ilk tolerate it all. Lots of fanboys denounce the new-school Star Wars films, but does it REALLY make you ashamed or embarassed that you LOVE these films? Here's a news flash: NOTHING IS ORIGINAL. Don't be such a fucking shriv. Yeah, maybe your friends won't think you're as cool anymore, but at least you find out who your real friends are. Here's a reason why you might think the Hulk looks "gay": you're thirty. Or maybe you're twenty. If you're under twenty, you're probably some retarded Eminem fan anyway. Maybe you've grown up a bit too much to really enjoy any of the films celebrated on this site on any level. You know and I know that we had ZERO problem suspending our disbelief when we were kids. God, if you hate the Matrix so much, why the FUCK are you wasting ANY time on it? I mean, I hate Good Charlotte, but I'm not over on the MTV talkbacks talking shit. Whatever happened to NOT BEING JADED. I think Bad Boys 2 is gonna suck. Can't wait til Harry posts a review so I can dash to the Talk Back to give my two-cents. Psych! I don't care who you are or who you THINK you are, but not a single goddamn one of us "understood" The Matrix the FIRST time we saw it. If you try to claim you did, you're a poser. I'm not gonna read anymore Matrix stuff on this site or any other or in any magazine from this point on. I don't want any of you nay-saying dickboys to "ruin" the movie for me.
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Whatever happened to caring about cinematography? Zombie that run? Gee, original. Didn't any of you retards see "Night of the Comet?" Those zombies ran. But, I have to admit that the shot of the zombie with the orange eyes at the end of the trailer looked terrifying. Too bad it was in the trailer, thus "ruining" the shock of not expecting it. Yawn. Where's "Undead?" Or "Versus?" GRANT MORRISON AND THE WACHOWSKI BROS. NEED TO HUG AND MAKE UP AND MAKE THE NEXT BATMAN MOVIE!
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May 06, 2003 12:39:01 AM CDT
WARNER BROS SHOULD SUE WHOEVER FUCKEN SAID THE ENDING!!!
by rcamacho2278
This has gone TOO FAR.!! I have avoided reading ANYthing with reviews because it doesnt matter what people think. Its enough that trailors are like 10 minutes long with enough footage to give away the movie. but now to give away the ending of a movie?? Can legal action be taken so that people can learn NOT to fuck with a movie?
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Cause Time is part of AOLTimeWarnerTurner.
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derekwallace79
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Peter Jackson and Co are singing along the 'can't touch this' song...nah nah nah can't touch this...The Pelenor Fields Battle will be the most memorable thing ever put on film. Can't wait. oh and frodo will lose a finger. don't tell me u didn't know.
hahaha. Tasty fingersessssssss my precious. -
May 06, 2003 1:49:05 AM CDT
Why keep it under lock and key? What do they have to hide?
by alwaysthere
Keeping so quiet says that there is something wrong with it.
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I am getting worried about this film... Oh and can we go a single TB without comparing something to the LOTR its getting really lame ass.
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I am getting worried about this film... Oh and can we go a single TB without comparing something to the LOTR its getting really lame ass.
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May 06, 2003 2:54:02 AM CDT
I am SOOOO bringing my Dio CD's with me for that first hour...
by beatrice_kidd
...just cause Neill told me to. Fuck the Matrix haters.
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CAN ANYONE ANSWER THIS QUESTION: WHY THE FUCKING HELL IS P.O.D. ON THE MATRIX SOUNDTRACK??? PLEASE GOD DO NOT LET THEM BE IN THE MOVIE!
FUCKING DUMB P.O.D. WB BASTARDS, ANYONE YOU SEEN THEIR VIDEO? SHIT THE SINGER IS A DORK, SOME PINK SUIT WEARING UBER-FAG NEEDS TO TAKE HIM UP THE ASS!!!! -
May 06, 2003 6:43:03 AM CDT
I love it when people say I'm stupid because I think too much or
by derekwallace79
I also love it when people call me psycho and crazy and say I should either love the Matrix sequels or go fuck myself whenever I post my own thoughts in regards to a movie about brainwashing.
Boy! An army of zombies, all convinced that Cypher was right. That's it's better to turn your brain off and not question anything.
Now THAT'S irony defined. ;) -
Im reading most of all these hatred posts towards the matrix reloaded. Avoid the ones that give the story away then carry on reading hatred posts.
Can I ask how many of the posters have actually seen this movie?.
On top of that how old are you. From the responces seems below the age of 14.
I look forward myself to seeing this movie. Im a great fan of anime and hong kong actions flicks, which is where The Matrix gets most of its ingredients from to produce such an amazing film/s. -
May 06, 2003 10:27:15 AM CDT
I love it when people say I'm stupid because I think I think too
by saibot
God Derek you are so smart man. You seriously outthought all of us here. What an intellect! How old are you dude? 12? Because you sound like it. And what the fuck are you yapping about again? No one is asking you to love The Matrix. But at least find some mental capacity to think 2 steps ahead and maybe try to explain at one or two of the inconsistencies you point out in your review. A child could. Or is your brain only half way on? Your, lame biased review is almost as bad as your half baked, obscure responses
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May 06, 2003 10:41:17 AM CDT
"Props to Cumpston for wittily epitomizing the devalued state of
by sharon needles
- props to rolling stone for taking something funny and making it NOT FUNNY. props also for MISSPELLING BAMF, you dried-up ejaculate sculpture.
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Is there a MORE bland pop act in the world? Dave Mathews is for people that are just 5 years to old to feel comfortable bying an N' Sync record. I fucking hate Dave Mathews. Fuck him. Fuck his "band."
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Look at the panic and outrage spreading here! I agreed with the negative reviews because I SAW THE MOVIE. And I did not post a review because I get paid to post reviews in print, not at AICN Talkback.
Still love the first movie...but I found Reloaded kind of perfunctory. -
May 06, 2003 1:28:53 PM CDT
The last guy reflects my underlying problem with the Matrix sequ
by devil0509
To their credit, the W brothers put it all out there on the first flick. But the ending had Neo so powerful, that it killed the sequels. Neo comes back from the dead, stops bullets in mid air, and kills the agent by jumping in him. Basically his mind have totally overcome the prison of the matrix, and he can make up the rules as he goes. So, at what point in the future can the matrix pose a threat to him? There is no suspense, no danger for Neo. To keep up suspense, they have to largely remove his character from the Matrix, so that he faces danger in the real world, if he is to remain the protagonist. Or they could put him to the side, have him as this godlike peripheral character while the story shifts to the struggles of Morpheus or Trinity. Or option 3, twist Neo so that he becomes an antagonist, which would make him the danger in the Matrix to be overcome (absolute power corrupts, etc). The line they've chosen, just upping the number of agents or upgrading their abilities, doesn't enthrall me. Doesn't matter of course. The film will make INSANELY huge bank.
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This is the ultimate in geekoid analysis, but what the hell...someone probably already noticed it anyway. If the construct was supposed to be the "Hieght of our civilization" at the turn of the century. Then I would assume that the real worlders enter the construct at the same point in time, around 1999. Why is it then that a Cadillac Escalade, a brand new car model, is in the movie? Does time continue progressing in the construct? Is there an annual auto show for the coppertops? I know....I'll shut up now.
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Let me start by saying that it is very obvious that you know a lot about the first Matrix...a true alpha-geek amongst the many of us. But I have two things to say about you and your review:
1 - Get off your own dick! Your review, while longwinded and organized, was filled with so much self-promoting sensationalism it made me want to vomit. If it's validation you're searching for...go hug your Mom.
2 - It's called "spell check" -- you might want to use it once in a while. -
May 06, 2003 2:46:03 PM CDT
One Year Ago... OR... "You Know Those Bad Talkbackers That Every
by jollydwarf
This post is going to fragment all over the place, but (hopefully) will come back together by the end. First and foremost, how many people saw "X2" (I refuse to acknowledge this post-O:IF-inspired subtitle that someone at Fox puked up) and said that there were two young male actors that could've at least salvaged SOME respectability for AOTC by being cast as Anakin? It's clear that Hayden wasn't right for the role, but what I really wonder now is HOW MANY CANDIDATES looked at the script and/or listened to advisors and said "Fuck it. I'm not about career suicide at this point." I just had to commended Bryan Singer and co. for putting together such a fine cast. I mean, who would've put money down four years ago (or even one) on Mrs. Romijin-Stamos acting circles around Ms. Portman? ***But enough about the other movies.*** With each day, my sense of deja vu is getting stronger, pertaining to "Reloaded". I sense that this movie CANNOT please the average TBer, or even would-be TBers, because a.) we're a very difficult crowd and b.) I've seen this movie before, so to speak. The anticipation and hype for this film sets it up very nicely to let everyone down. Plus, in the winter of '99, who had March 31st pegged as the day that they would be at the first showing of a(nother) Keanu Reeves cyberthriller? It took me 5 or 6 weeks to overcome the denial that "The Matrix" could actually be a good film. Of course it was a bona fide phenomenon by the time "Episode I" was released, and we had found a new champion, especially when coupled with a film that we had been dying for for 16 years, saving our energy like Finch for Stiffler's mom. And we got a high school play with cartoon characters, a deceivingly underused villian, and Jake Lloyd's big star turn. Shit. So we torn down the Lucas statue and dragged it's head around the cineplex. We had to find Neo. You see, he freed us. So fast forward to May of 2002. At the midnight showing of "Episode II", the first trailer starts with the infamous trickling green code, and the crescendo of cheers began. This is what we were TRULY pumped for. We just forgot about it for a second. And I can tell you this much: When the last iris wipe to the credits occurred, the biggest applause of the whole evening was when Zach de la Rocha implored us to "C'mon!" No longer was "The Matrix" the revolutionary upstart. It wasn't the Anaheim Angels of geekdom. It was now the New York Yankees. And we all know that for every Yankee fan out there, there's a lot more "haters", and even MORE of the ficklefucks that will flinch at the first losing streak, or in the case of this film, the first cheesy line or two star review and proclaim this franchise overhyped and simply "over". That's just the way we are. I just hope that when November rolls around and "Revolutions" is getting second billing to "Return of the King" or "Raiders" on DVD, the Super Wachowski Bros. and Shitty Warner Bros. know why. Meet the new boss....
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I HATE typos, and I caught "torn" when it should've been "tore" and "it's" instead of "its" in my previous post. UNFORTUNATELY, you cannot EDIT posts here at AICN. But anyway, just thinking about what TIME printed/posted about "Reloaded" (didn't read it, just skimmed a couple sentences then hit the "Back" button with the quickness), and I've got to say that they seem to have a penchant for this sort of thing. Remember, one year ago they EXPLICITLY gave away that Anakin's arm was amputated at the hands of the arcane, fencing-style saberwork of Count Dooku. They clearly don't care about how many of us get pissed about this sort of thing. And besides, aren't there many in the fanboy camp who have no compunction about knowing EVERYTHING about a film AS SOON AS POSSIBLE? See, you do it to yourself, you do, and that's why it really hurts....
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May 06, 2003 5:30:26 PM CDT
There's a very good reason why most of humans are black in the M
by uhzoomzip
In fact, it's quite intellectual on the W. brothers part. Let's imagine for a moment that the scenario which created the Matrix in the first place is going down, tomorrow. Humans vs. the Machines, pt 1. The machines are going to destroy strategic targets. This means 1st world and nuclear armed countries that might have the technology to resist. This also means that areas such as AFRICA are left alone or are not targeted by the machines per say because they would represent no real threat to the machines.
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May 06, 2003 5:54:51 PM CDT
Sean Connery's Dad: "why don't you settle down with that nice Ms
by beamish13
Sean Connery: "for the last time, dad, it's just a bloody movie!"
sean connery's mom: "pipe down and eat your hagis." -
Remember Morpheus' words about some people being so inured and hopelessly dependent on the system that they will fight to protect it....now think about it....who has more to lose from discovering that the world around them is just an illusion.....a middle class black man, stuck at a job with zero upward mobilityand only retirement to look forward to, if he makes it that long, or the white, cigar-chomping suspender man on the 125th floor with 2 wives, 3 mistresses, 8 digits in his paychecks, and the power to have any pleasure he pleases. the black guy will probably hesitate, but eventually realize the truth, and accept it. The white guy, fearing that he might lose all this wonderful shit he's accumulated, will freak. Just like Cypher, the truth isnt so important to him, only his personal comfort. Just a theory, but one that makes sense to me. Revolution is my name.
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Is this worth waiting in line for?
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I'm really looking forward to the storyline of reloaded. Why does every movie have to be simple and completely explained? I want a storyline that i'll have to see a few times and think about. X2 was very entertaining, but it really was a fluffy, fun summer action movie. The Matrix is that, but it's a bit deeper. And I like that. I want a deep story to go with my action scenes, which should be quite amazing. And Harry and Mori, please dont post reviews that bad mouth the movie cuz the critic didnt get it and/or has ADD.
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ne1 no wot the music is from matrix reloaded trailer pole fight bit?
fluke? juno reactor? -
Would you like to know my definition of someone who has no life, Grimloch? It's when someone searches for reviews for a movie that they've already made perfectly clear they think sucks, then reads 5,000 talkback reviews on a messageboard of the same topic, and then goes and takes the extra step to reply divulging your elderness and expecting people to grovel. If you think I'm some half-brained twit with not an ounce of common sense who's just supposed to believe your bullcrap and hop down in fear that I've angered the almighty 'old hag' into shoving his two cents in which no one gives a shit about, then you really need to start questioning whether or not your brain is still functioning.
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May 06, 2003 7:49:36 PM CDT
The more I read the last review, the more I felt like I was read
by red raider
By the way, how cool was the scene where Neo, Trinity, & Morpheus escape the MCP's tanks by mounting light cycles?!! The only that Carrie Ann-Moss would look hotter in than black leather is TRON neon blue!
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May 06, 2003 7:59:51 PM CDT
"The Pelenor Fields Battle will be the most memorable thing ever
by purityofessence
So says you. I liked maybe even loved (if you believe in crap like that) the first two films and probably will love ROTK (NOTE I ALSO "LOVE" the books). But you know what, based on helms deep - I doubt it being the most memorable thing ever put on film or even close to it. Helms DEEP was good but felt a little hollow if anyone knows what I mean, it also felt held back (I wanted to see some blood).
THE FOLLOWING IS A RANT:
The Lord of the Rings is trendy right now everybody is "oh it's the best... OOOOO ahhhhhh blah...." and shit like that. That doesn't make it a bad film, but doesn't make it a good film either... PS I know I am a hyppocrit for talking about LOTR after complaining about people doing it every talk back. But my main problem is people constantly comparing things to it.
PPS By the way there is nothing that is truley origional. NOTHING, not you (miscalanious third person not anyone specific this includes me) or any ideas "you" may have... -
This won't hold a candle to X2. The Matrix is tired, and was pretty lame in the first place. I'll go see a matinee, but I won't be buying any Matrix-related merchandising or crap like that. Frankly, this looks like your standard special effects movie, with little in the line of a worthwhile plot. In other words, it's designed for anime fans who think "coolness" makes up for lame storylines.
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You know what I respect your opinion, I don't know if I share it - becuase I haven't seen it yet. I do hope I like it better than you did though. But I am not going to take shots at you for not liking it.
SIDE NOTE:
Oh and the guy who said the thing about cyber-punk, NO SHIT. Of course it's (the GENRE) older than a good portion of the people that post on this site. WHAT A REVELATION that you have shared with us punny mortals, so young and fresh to the world that we could not fathom the archaity of this anchient genre it dates back to fuckin cave paintings. But I guess if that means we can't "enjoy" something (like the matrix) becuase we weren't born before its inception. Oh and I think most people are aware that the matrix isn't this original work of art, rather a compossit of ideas and concepts that someone collected and recycled. Guess what? So was the LORD OF THE RINGS, DUNE, STAR WARS, Boewulf, and a shit load of other fables and stories that are regarded as classic or epic or even original. You are arogant. So what if the future generation doesn't like it. Am I supposed to be afraid of peer presure from people who aren't even born yet. Ooh scary. I don't care if the Matrix is laughed at years from now, hopefully it will pave the way for better more refined stories. -
May 06, 2003 8:27:44 PM CDT
The Flip Side to "Fight Club"? OR... At Least It's Not a DMB Ca
by jollydwarf
Dave's got the same hairline as Agent Smith. You don't think that during the "Burly Brawl" he might...nah. No, if you (like me) despise the DMB, you're SOL. They're on the soundtrack. But every artist is allowed ONE anomaly, that one song you just can't admit to liking, but you listen to it in the car with the windows sealed airtight. But while my skepticism has been significantly raised from skimming the "reviews" of this film (it's hard to assign much credibility to a guy who comes across like he ate a can of double fudge cake frosting and a pound of chocolate-covered coffee beans...see the "FIRST REVIEW ANYWHERE!!") on this site, I got a perspective check by scooting over to CHUD. A point to consider for this film is that it's probably NOT supposed to be an "easy digest". "Spiderman", last year's "big winner", was an easy digest. What was the biggest point of debate? What? If MJ knew who Peter was before/during/after the kiss at the cemetery? While a lot of people will see this to see things go "Boom!", "Clank!", and other onomatopeia over an electronic soundtrack (well, Em, apparently SOMEONE listens to techno), quite a few will also dissect what's going on here, looking for secondary and even tertiary meanings in this. As the writer from CHUD put it, it's not the kind of film that a critic who sees 7 or 8 films a week can really give fair time to. I know, I know. "But the other films deserve deep meditation then, too!" I'm willing to say that on any given week, 5 or 6 of them don't. "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle" for example, will only welcome further exploration on DVD, with one hand on the remote and...ahem. ***And if you read ANYTHING from this post, know this: THESE SEQUELS ARE THE ONLY FILMS THESE DAYS RECEIVING MASSIVE HYPE THAT ARE TRULY GOING INTO UNCHARTED TERRITORY.*** We all know where the prequels are going (so get it over with!), Harry and Frodo have respectively speaking very good and phenomenal adaptions of extremely popular fiction, and the comic films are either retelling or reimagining what many of us already know. Hell, even the seemingly stillborn "T3" is just filling in the gaps of the loopy timeline from the first two films. This is a "season finale" cliffhanger episode. Who knows where this is going (please don't tell me if you REALLY DO know)?? I expect another "Back to the Future II" here. Something that lacks the spontaneous "magic" of the first film, but twists everything around, so that ideas that are revisited also need to be rethought and viewed from a different angle, and leaves you marking big red "Xs" on your "Two Towers" 2003 calendar. I also expect this film to polarize a LOT of people, not just "us", but also "them". Like "Fight Club", "Reloaded" will not be a movie for everyone. If it were, then it would've been whittled down to a PG-13. I'm focusing my faith in this film SQUARELY on the "R". Also like Fincher's most notorious work (besides associating with Fred Durst), it's also about breaking away from the artificially-imposed parameters of our day-to-day Dilbert world. With the Narrator, he projects/hallucinates his self-actualized creation, a.k.a. Tyler. "Mr. Anderson" accepts his inner-Neo, dies, and BECOMES that entity. With such similarities, I would expect this film to get a comparable albeit watered-down reaction. Ultimately, it's really going to come down to tastes and how much you're going to emphasize the chop-socky effects and how much you're willing to give it. Is it FAIR to ask someone to PUT SOME WORK into seeing a SUMMER BLOCKBUSTER? Is all of the "philosophy" included just remixed and reheated fortune cookie proverbs? Dude, I can't answer that, but either way, red pill or blue is YOUR choice. Whoa.
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I gotta agree with you, brother. Here's a newsflash people, the Matrix is not original! Read some scifi books like "Snow Crash" and see where the W. brothers lifted this shit. People act like the Wachowski brothers invented color films....Matrix 2 will be like Blade 2....kung fu and 5000 shell cases...and be forgotten 1 hour after you left the theater...only slightly less fecal than the upcoming Arnold "I don't want to be Stallone" vehicle, T3....
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Fuck Wal-Mart. Fuck them up their Dale Earnhardt Jr.-lovin' asses. No, wait. The "Deliverance" crowd probably WANTS that. Okay. (Deep breath and pause) I just saw on the Yahoo! homepage that Wal-Mart has dropped Maxim, FHM, and Stuff from their magazine racks for scantily-clad models on the cover showing to much of their, well, racks. And asses and everything else. Now ***I*** personally HATE those magazines, as they're completely substance-free (I can say that, having to subscribed to Maxim for a year...once), and they're also not really porn, either. I enjoy ogling Kirsten Dunst or Tara Reid in provocative poses and outfits as much as anybody, but trying to read those magazines make me feel worse than "dirty" or "creepy". How about "STOOPID"? Still, there are plenty of adolescent males that get off on these magazines, and I'm sure many a Stiffler has taken a copy into the restroom for laughing at a monkey or spanking it. They have a right to buy these periodicals, from Cali to Nebraska to Rhode Island. And lots of places in-between, where it's Wal-Mart or (no) bust. Let's not be myopic here. Sure, you probably don't go to Wal-Mart either and you probably can't stand the aforementioned mags beyond the alluring cover shots. BUT!!--there is a chain reaction. Wal Mart is a force in the retail industry and along with previous similar incidents, to quote Dooku, "This is just the beginning!" Moves like this funnel all forms of media into the realm of the soft PG-13 eventually. It's not like a boycott of free-speech types is going to have any adverse affect on the chain. With the disturbing trend of renewed and BRAINLESS conservatism in this country (just think of what a mildly skeptical view of Episode II: Operation Iraqi Freedon got you with most of Middle America), it's not implausible to think that studios and record labels and publishers are going to want to take even LESS chances than before. Political Correctness was Awful, but a public self-imposed state of censorship is too horrific to think about. Again, the blue hairs and the Bible-Thumpers can't have a DIRECT impact over Rockstar's next "Grand Theft Auto" or Jenna Jameson's enterprise, but Dittoheads realizing that America ain't goin' back to "the way it was" can still make for some impactful death rattles. (Not that we're PROGRESSING, mind you, just going from one frying pan to another) MTV and its ilk have over time destroyed the attention span and independent thinking, the PC movement cripples us before making any sort of cultural strides/improvement, and in this uncertain new century, we're really not about taking any chances. Just look at mainstream films. I mean, it IS distressing to think about 11 year olds having oral sex parties (not fair!--kidding) based on watching MTV's programming and whatnot, but something tells me that if Carson Daly took a couple "lucky" TRL audience members to a shooting range or if they allowed celebrities to flog Iraqi POWs, it would be just fine with said complainers. Sure, kids are oversexed. But that doesn't mean that we have to clear off the monthly wank material for more space for Guns & Ammo and Soldier of Fortune, does it? If this works, what next? Do these losers then target Target? Inconvenience the convenient stores? So how does this tie in to "The Matrix Reloaded"? It's "R". It doesn't have a cartoon or a Nickelodeon tie-in or a much-anticipated fifth novel in the wings (although it's only a matter of time before shoddily-disguised Satanist Harry Potter gets the boot!). Go see it two or three times just for that alone. Make it far and away the biggest film of the summer. Then with Persephone as inspiration, go harrass the Wal Mart electronics clerks about when they're going to have "Irreversible" on DVD. And bitch about how offensive you find all of the Olsen Twins posters. I mean, Jesus, there was a ton of whining and paranoia in the '90s, but at least brains were still functioning and you could find creative expression without a major excavation. Something tells me that the computers weren't the ones ripe for the big meltdown on Y2K. Hey, Hugo Weaving said it himself. Maybe Agent Smith had a point about us.
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The dumbshit that did the last review needs to stop chocking on his own dick for a second...Neo has control over bullets but not people. People in the matrix have their own mind, and the only people that can take control over them are Agents, b/c they're part of the matrix program as well *they are everyone and they are no one* Neo is a hacker...he's not in the same network as the Agents and People in the Matrix, so he can't control them. He can only control/bend/break the rules of the Matrix, manipulate it to how he sees fit.
One more thing...Neo didn't bring himself back to life...Trinity did you dumbshit. It's not like he can just resurrect himself when he's dead. -
Um...it's not the dittoheads and the bible thumpers that want the magazines and the games off the store shelves...it's actually quite a few democrats in the Senate, namely J. Lieberman. He's the one that got the law passed that R-Rated movies can't be advertised to a show that caters towards minors, he's the one that thinks DOA Beachvolleyball 'allows you to view the women topless, and customize the breast size.' Now he has a few republican friends as well, but J.L. wants everything questionable *like R-rated movies/mature rated games* to not even be in the same room as minors. I'm sure he's very happy w/ the decision made by wal-mart.
btw..they're really hypocritical if they're going to take Maxim etc. off, but continue to sell GTA Vice City and sell R-Rated movies. -
This is a quote from the first review. It had me laughing.
"I -
One more thing...The first Matrix wasn't all action. In fact there were only 3 big action scenes in the entire movie, the construct fight w/ neo and morpheus, and the gov't building/helicopter, and agent smith v. neo. In between all that was story and dialogue. But I guess some people have the attention span of a 3 yr. old and start crying if they don't see an action scene every 10 minutes.
Also, I think WB is smart bashing it's own movie in Time Magazine. They're trying to bust the balloon that is hype. The bigger the hype, the bigger the let down. Hell, Reloaded could be way better than the first one for all we know, but if it doesn't live up to the hype, it won't seem like it's better, and a great movie could be a disappointing movie just b/c it doesn't live up to the unfair hype that's upon it.
Before you see the movie, don't think about the hype, don't think about the 4 yrs you've been waiting for the movie...like Morpheus said on the jump program...'free your mind' -
While I really don't want to get this Matrix TB off on a FULL-BLOWN tangent, I just wanted to quickly (??) comment on your reply. First of all, agreed that Liebermann and friends want them to take it down, take it ALL DOWN! That would include aforementioned games and R-Rated films. However, Wal Mart is clearly acting on the specific complaints of repressed shoppers and uptight (at least in public) mothers, as the shapely young thing in the 'barely-there' bikini draws the strongest attention. It's because 12 year olds are BUYING the magazines SOMEWHERE,taking them home to stash under their bed mattresses, and when said stuffy bitch SEES the same magazine at the store, they know that Wal Mart will cave. While I probably wasn't clear on it, the hypocrisy was one of my points. It's sex AND violence that kids want, and Wal Mart seems pretty OKAY with the violence, but not the (blatantly packaged) S-E-X. Politicians would've railed for games and music to be extracted. But does it matter where the starting point is? Wal Marts patrons (and I've been to multiple Wal Marts, sadly, so I know what I'm talking about) largely are closed-minded and stupid enough NOT to see the hypocrisy until it's in blinding neon in front of them. And of course they'll go after what requires the smallest sacrifice (professional wrestling misogyny and cartoon violence is untouchable 'til further notice). These shoppers presently feel most threatened by hot girls in bathing suits. That's a subject that could psychologically cause this to delve into a plethora of other issues (envy, self-loathing, unrequited love generating bitterness towards beauty, etc.) but let's just leave it right there. My big fear is not that Maxim will cease publication, but rather that, the games and the movies will be next and that it'll get progressively more ridiculous with each type of item. Then, the other "image-conscious" stores will feel pressured to follow suit. Then, when a form of media has no mass market, it will cease production. That could be a magazine, a type of movie, a genre of video game, or a collection of (banned) bands. Sure, Wal Mart is the one truly reactionary place of commerce in the U.S. But so far, that seems to be the type of mentality gaining the strongest foothold so far this millenium (again, forced patriotism and the overreaction to hip-hop's deathgrip on "White America"--see Eminem). There are three things that I truly fear in this plane of existence: Bill Gates, Censorship, and Reactionary Thinking. While the first of the trio may be unstoppable, the latter two seem to be firmly in our hands. While I don't want a Martha Burke outside every Augusta country club, so to speak, I also don't want a "Hootie" concealing backwater mentality in the cloak of capitalism. Emotional Issues-motivated Super Liberals and Adamantium-skulled Ultra-Conservatives...fuck 'em both, they deserve each other. As you can imagine, I'm not real popular when it comes to a political stance. P.S. Anyone working at a Wal Mart or with family or friends there, sorry, that's just how the bigger picture is. Times are beyond tough, and I'm not knocking someone for making a living. Believe me, bitchy affluent trophy wives are just as likely to complain, but complaining at Border's ain't gonna get you very far, what with everyone working there probably willing to defend any given piece of literature with their soy product-consuming bodies.
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That my friends, is the best track of the entire Reloaded OST. Not a damn song matches is livelyness and feeling. The movie might be a letdown, but that song is amazing.
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Screw the matrix i want a sequel to that eighties classic " The Boys in Blue ". That'll do fer me Tommy!
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OK, OK...So Neo has powers in the real world! Wanna bet that this'll turn into just another plot retread? Like...oh...how about...a Matrix within the Matrix!
Been done before...remember Star Trek TNG's "Ship In A Bottle" episode? And how about the movie "The 13th Floor"?
The Matrix was a great flick...it had fresh visuals, and a great sci-fi concept...and I'm sure I'll be disappointed with the sequels. -
Bound was a pile of crap, they ripped off Blood Simple so much, Matrix had some cool stuff but overall was a bad film with no cohesive drive or outcome and some pretty bad acting chuck in a bit of half arsed new age philosophy and presto you've got every kid on the block "wow man that was so cool"
I'm sick of hollywood filmmakers raping other peoples cultures for material
(Lukas included) American culture has turned into the ugliest, most syphyletic slut
spreading it's disease to everyone.
Dude's you are already living in the matrix, you have no control, no say and no freedom, the only freedom you have is to purchase, so run a long and buy your Matrix
turd shake and I hope you like the taste of shit.
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I get what you're saying now about the patrons....I myself am forced to go to wal mart to shop sometimes, and while I stay in California I never go, when I'm in VA I go all the time, and yeah, it's basically a white trash, bible belt, good ol' boy convention. So, yeah, Sex will always be the first to go w/ those people. They already have all the CD's edited. The worst thing about Wal Mart is...they're the nations biggest video game retail chain, they're the nations largest dvd chain, they're basically the largest or one of the largest in every multi media classification. If they won't sell something, it won't make money, or as much as it could. Wal Mart probably has as much power as politicians. They can force alterations on products they don't seem fit..and if they don't they'll just shut them out. But, you'll be happy to know I stick it to Wal Mart hardcore. I work at Gamestop, and we get trade ins on DVD's and video games. Well recently we've gotten an influx of Season DVD's like X files, Star Trek etc. Well, I'll buy them w/ my discount at gamestop and it'll cost me about 30 dollars, re-seal the DVD, then I'll go to Wal Mart and return it for store credit. I spend 30 dollars and get anywhere between 90 and 115 dollars of store credit from those bitches. I also had a first gen. PS2. After a while it wouldn't read blue discs, so I went to WalMart, bought a PS2..went home, took it out swapped the bad one for the good one, returned it the next day and got my money back. Take advantage of Wal Mart's return policy, if you have access to a sealing machine you can screw them big time.
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You were talking about how the Matrix will be a rip off of the 13th Floor and ST TNG...well, I'm going to let you in on a secret...what you're doing right now...reading, you learned it in school, well, they have these things called books, they have stories, and people write them and they are published, and people read them. There was this one author *the guy that writes the books* his name was Daniel Galouye. He wrote a little book called "Counterfeit World" aka 'Simulacron-3'. Well, wouldn't you know...that's what the 13th Floor is based off...his book. The book contains a potentially endless series of VR's, one superimposed upon another. The book has actually been filmed twice, once as "Welt am Draht" (1973) aka 'World on a Wire' and of course more recently 'The 13th Floor'. So the 13th Floor and that ST TNG episode you were talking about isn't as original as you thought now is it?? Moral to this story, read books or you'll get owned on stupid message boards from people that actually do read books.
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"...read books or you'll get owned on stupid message boards from people that actually do read books."
"Owned"??!?
I posted an opinion regarding my anticipated disappointment in the Matrix sequels, which I'm afraid will progress like most movie sequels...if a little is good, too much is better. I did not assert that the concept of VR within VR was original to STTNG or "The 13th Floor". I only made the point that I've seen it before and I'll be disappointed if the Matrix story takes that same turn.
Thank you for informing me about the book "Counterfeit World" by Galouye. I'll get a copy and, judging from your description of the concept, I'm sure I'll enjoy it.
Why do you post with such an arrogant tone? Yes, I read. I prefer a book to a visual medium like TV or film. I own a room full of books, but only a handful of DVDs and video tapes. Unlike yourself, I am not familiar with all science fiction titles. I have a few favorites that I like to read over again periodically. The 'Ringworld' stories, for example, or Greg Bear's 'Eon', among others. I enjoy SF stories for the depiction of what might be.
I enjoy SF, but I have a wife, a house, a job, a mortgage and car payments. In short, I guess I don't have as much time as you do to become an authority on SF stories. In short, I have a life.
If you posted your response to demonstrate what a pompous asshole you are, then you have succeeded.
By the way...are you French?
-
May 08, 2003 10:42:18 PM CDT
"Reviewer" (chuckle) Derek Wallace manages to simultaneously off
by stickyrice
Gawd, how nauseating to read Derek Wallace's wonderment that "black people in the Matrix are often smart and hard-working and WELL-SPOKEN". Imagine that! Collin Powell, Larry Elder, Walter Williams, Thomas Sowell, Ward Connerly, Condi Rice, etc etc etc...Wallace obviously limits his view of blacks to rap videos. Not content to leave his offensive remarks at that, he blurts "Tank, Dozer, Morpheus, Lock, Link, Niobe, Zee...they're all just regular people who happen to have black skin". Wow. "Regular people" with "black skin"...wonder of wonders! For this numbskull, the two are mutually exclusive and it's a miracle they ever came together. Gag. This is the Mt. Everest of his stupidity though: "Morpheus is, to me, one of the single-greatest black role models in the history of cinema. Intelligent, suave, not a womanizer, doesn't swill 40 ounces or talk in slang." Yes, goodness knows that finding blacks who are "intelligent, suave" and not "womanizer(s)" who "swill 40 ounces or talk in slang"...that must be like looking for a diamond in a coal mine (sarcasm Wallace).
But then, after all that, Wallace lets us know: "Now, after that black-empowerment speech of mine, I do have to say that both Niobe and Link were mis-/underused. Now, they're still fleshed out and not racial stereotypes."
Yes Wallace, after that "black empowerment speech" about how blacks typically can't be "intelligent, suave" and how they're "womanizer(s)" who "swill 40 ounces or talk in slang", now you're going to be the official consultant on racial stereotypes. Goodness knows you're a proponent of them.
Someone point this Greek Tragedy of an idiot in the right direction. Thanks in advance. -
Wow. Has it really been 8 years since I posted my early review of "The Matrix: Reloaded"? Nearly a decade now? So long that I actually forgot my old password and had to create a new account just to post this message?
I watched the first Matrix again tonight with a friend/fellow fan and the topic of the other two films came up. Then I remembered how..."interesting"...the comments were in this thread the first time around. When I wrote it that night, most of these responses were made by posters who hadn't even seen the film yet.
I'm curious, looking back now, what you all think of "The Matrix: Reloaded". Did it live up to the hype? Were you impressed? Disappointed?
And wow to the person who somehow interpreted that I was racist because I pointed out how Hollywood typically portrays African-Americans in film in a negative way (see "Hancock" and "Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen" for example) and how the Matrix films actually did a good job of not being racist but instead just failed to flesh out their characters.
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