Description: Set in the 22nd century, The Matrix tells of a computer hacker (Reeves) who joins a group of underground insurgents fighting the vast and powerful computers who now rule the earth. The computers are powered by human beings...
Amazon.com essential video: By following up their debut thriller Bound with the 1999 box-office smash The Matrix, the codirecting Wachowski brothers--Andy and Larry--annihilated any suggestion of a sophomore jinx, crafting one of the most exhilarating sci-fi/action movies of the 1990s. Set in the not too distant future in an insipid, characterless city, we find a young man named Neo (Keanu Reeves). A software techie by day and a computer hacker by night, he sits alone at home by his monitor, waiting for a sign, a signal--from what or whom he doesn't know--until one night, a mysterious woman named Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) seeks him out and introduces him to that faceless character he has been waiting for: Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne). A messiah of sorts, Morpheus presents Neo with the truth about his world by shedding light on the dark secrets that have troubled him for so long: "You've felt it your entire life, that there's something wrong with the world. You don't know what it is, but it's there, like a splinter in your mind, driving you mad." Ultimately, Morpheus illustrates to Neo what the Matrix is--a reality beyond reality that controls all of their lives, in a way that Neo can barely comprehend.
Neo thus embarks on an adventure that is both terrifying and enthralling. Pitted against an enemy that transcends human concepts of evil, Morpheus and his team must train Neo to believe that he is the chosen champion of their fight. With mind-boggling, technically innovative special effects and a thought-provoking script that owes a debt of inspiration to the legacy of cyberpunk fiction, this is much more than an out-and-out action yarn; it's a thinking man's journey into the realm of futuristic fantasy, a dreamscape full of eye candy that will satisfy sci-fi, kung fu, action, and adventure fans alike. Although the film is headlined by Reeves and Fishburne--who both turn in fine performances--much of the fun and excitement should be attributed to Moss, who flawlessly mixes vulnerability with immense strength, making other contemporary female heroines look timid by comparison. And if we were going to cast a vote for most dastardly movie villain of 1999, it would have to go to Hugo Weaving, who plays the feckless, semipsychotic Agent Smith with panache and edginess. As the film's box-office profits soared, the Wachowski brothers announced that The Matrix is merely the first chapter in a cinematically dazzling franchise--a chapter that is arguably superior to the other sci-fi smash of 1999 (you know... the one starring Jar Jar Binks). --Jeremy Storey
The Matrix 10th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray I recommend The Matrix on Blu-ray, as does blu-ray(dot)com. 4.5 out of 5 stars.
A/V. The 1080p video quality is excellent. I don't know if it was remastered for BD because the DVD quality is great too. The audio in Dolby TrueHD 5.1 is also excellent; the best feature of this disk. The Matrix won Academy Awards for best sound and best sound effects editing in 1999.
DELIVERY. Good menu interactivity. The booklet has grainy pictures and typical bios of the stars, trivia, and an egotistical essay. Sub-par graphic design.
SUPPLEMENTS. The are several entertaining SD supplements which have been described elsewhere, they are mostly the same as on DVD. There is one unusual supplement, "The Music Revisited," that is a massive collection of songs, almost entirely electronica or ambient music. The "In-movie Experience" shows PIP selections from the special features as the film plays, which is great, except for the permanent logo in the upper-left corner of the screen, which could cause burn-in on some displays. Another trait the Wachowski brothers share with the Coen brothers is that they don't like to talk about their movies, so there is no commentary from them here. An interesting replacement are commentary tracks by philosophers, another by critics, another by a small group of cast/crew, and one by the composer.
Movie: 5/5. Presentation? A little irritating. Innumerable reviews are available across the internet extolling this unusual movie. "The Matrix" is certainly one of my ten favorite movies ever.
And many reviews are available praising the picture quality and sound quality of the movie as presented in this particular package, "The Matrix 10th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray Book [Blu-ray]." The picture is nearly flawless, save occasional graininess. The sound is demo-worthy, especially if you have a TrueHD receiver. There are dozens of hours of great previously released extras, almost all of it in standard definition. Plus there is a new "picture in picture" mode that's quite interesting.
I have only two small observations for you to consider as you prepare to buy this disc (of course you *will* buy this disc, because it's stupid to pay three times more for the ultimate collection, and because you want this great flick in your library in high definition). First observation: the "book" included with the disc is nothing more than marketing fluff and will not be of interest to...well, to anyone. For a great Matrix book you can really sink your teeth into, check out "The Art of the Matrix" edited by Spencer Lamm.
Second, every time you put this disc in your Blu-Ray player, you will be treated like a criminal with the following message. Every time.
SUPPORT ANTI-PIRACY FIVE YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON
DO NOT COPY, DISTRIBUTE OR PUBLICLY EXHIBIT MOVIES AND OTHER PROGRAMS, INCLUDING UPLOADING AND DOWNLOADING MOVIES AND OTHER PROGRAMS OVER THE INTERNET. IF YOU DO - WHETHER FOR MONETARY GAIN OR NOT - YOU RISK SEVERE CRIMINAL AND CIVIL PENALTIES.
FINES OF $250,000
Why present this message, EVERY TIME, to the person who followed the rules and paid for this disc? I don't know about you, but I don't like doing business with people who treat me like a criminal when I use their products.
These irritants will not keep you from buying "The Matrix 10th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray Book [Blu-ray]." You know you want it. It is useless to resist. The Matrix has you.
If you only buy one Matrix The 10th anniversary of The Matrix is celebrated with this wonderful edition on blu-Ray disc. It is a fitting tribute to have the film that solidified "Bullet Time" into the film vernacular is treated to this single, solo book edition. The package is fitting for the Matrix universe, the built in book is a nice addition, it is fairly easy to read without having to damage the packaging, it has some good stills from the film, filmographys of key players and some handy bits of trivia. The inclusion of a digital copy is certainly a bonus for those who care about that sort of thing, especially as it is not advertised as a "2-Disc" special edition.
The meat of the package is of course the actual blu-ray disc which is nothing short of spectacular. The film in HD is wonderful. Crisp clean image that really highlights the films cinematography. One could go on for a long time about how good the disc is and it's special features, but the bottom line is, if you like the film and you like blu-ray's just get it. It is a treat and will do well in any collection.
I would recomend this Blu Cool book cover case. The picture quality is not the greatest of blu's, but it's not to bad either. I would give picture quality a 3/5 and sound 4/5
The movie was still great but... Blu-Ray was supposed to mean more... More extras, more clarity. I keep finding, not only with rereleases of older movies, but also with new movies, that a lot of the special features not only fail to fill the screen, but they look like crap. Seriously, if you're going to put the time in to bring a movie to Blu-Ray, you need to get your act together and make the entire disk BLU-RAY!
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
