The Matrix Reloaded

[rmatei]

I stopped by the world premiere tonight, in West L.A. It was nice - got to see everyone from the movie. Reeves, Fishburne, Moss, Weaving, everyone, and plenty of other celebrities - Jodie Foster, Sandra Bullock, Lucy Liu, Cornel West, and FRED DURST.

Of course, I couldn't get in - invitation only - but I have tickets with several friends for the first public showing, next Wednesday at 10pm, at the same theater (Mann's Village in Westwood, possibly the nicest theater in North America).

Is anyone else excited to see it? I imagine doom9 is, since the first one is his favorite movie. Do you expect it will be better than the first one? Have you checked out the incredible trailer (http://whatisthematrix.warnerbros.com/rl_cmp/trailer_final_1000v2.html)?

I'll report back next Wednesday - no spoilers, promised. Just felt like starting a discussion - and making some people jealous :devil:

[Doom9]

I'm going to watch the "premiere" here on Friday next week. There will be a couple of pre-screenings prior to Friday but it's going to be one of the first public screenings in my country. Don't spoil it or I'm going to use the strike button :devil:

[BlackSun]

spoiler: trinity is a girl

/me runs :D

[rmatei]

Originally posted by Doom9
I'm going to watch the "premiere" here on Friday next week. There will be a couple of pre-screenings prior to Friday but it's going to be one of the first public screenings in my country. Don't spoil it or I'm going to use the strike button :devil:
Wow - nice to see that the gap between theatrical releases around the world is closing.

trinity is a girl
Bah - can't be. Carrie-Ann Moss is a man.

[int 21h]

A pregnant man, will wonders never cease.

[ultimatebilly]

Well, I actually thought it would be released on the same day everywhere like for example "lord of the rings", because they want to minimize the chances that people will be able to get it in the net before it even starts (well, you can get it in Kazaa for at least three years :D )
I was wondering very much when I read that it will be released sooner in some countrys, in germany it will start on the 21st...
But maybe they are confident that nobody will watch a shitty telesync or cam of matrix 2 before he has seen it in the cinemas...

[ultimatebilly]

Hey, int 21h, that was a spoiler!! Or did you mean in the real world? :D

[int 21h]

She showed up to the premiere very pregnant.

[thekid]

i'm seeing it next Wednesday at 7pm

in a private theatre rented out just for this movie

:D

can't wait

thekid...

[thop]

I dont really care if Carie Ann Moss is a man or not, as long as Monica Belucci isnt :) I hope she has a bigger role though than the trailer suggested, in which she appeared for only a fraction of a second :rolleyes:

[wmansir]

There seems to be a trend for worldwide releases for the Big block busters. X2 just did it also. I think the major reason for delayed foreign releases are the cost of extra prints. (it's around $2500 per print, ~3000 theaters in the US for a normal wide release, X2 was 3700) $.75 Million just for prints, for your average $20 Mil movie that's a significant chunk of change, but for your $150+ Mil blockbuster budget movies it's not that big a deal to order a few thousand extra prints for the foreign markets.

Of course another factor is promotional and marketing resources. Not only does it take more resources to market a world wide release, but there are only 1 copy of the stars, director, ect. So to do a world wide release they have to spread themselves pretty thin doing promotion for both domestic and international press. Block busters like LOTR, Matrix and X2 don't have to worry about this as much either because for the most part they are not star driven movies. Smaller movies really need the stars doing talk-shows and interviews to sell tickets.

Speaking on the topic of star promotion and the Matrix, if you really want a gun/fu action fix try renting Equilibrium. It comes out on DVD May 13 here in the states and has been compared to the matrix for some of it's action. It doesn't use slow-mo or bullet time, but has some really excellent fight choreography. Not in a HK kinda way, but in a way that still looks cool on film.

You may not have heard of the movie because it got horrible promotion. Someone posted (claiming to be part of the production team) on a message board I frequent that the bad promotion was due to the star of the movie refusing to do any personal appearances, so the studio didn't put much money into marketing. For a $20 mil movie the marketing was pathetic, here (http://www.apple.com/trailers/miramax/equilibrium.html) is the trailer they didn't even put into theaters until a week before it opened. I'm not saying it's a great movie, but it's decent and worth a look if you want some action. I just take pity on it for being screwed by the studio. The DVD release is also kinda screwed, coming out just before the Matrix release it probably won't get much attention.

Man this was a long rambling post. I'm way too tired.

[Fischerbot]

that's the advantage of being a foreign exchange student in America. you can see all the new released movies and don't have to wait until they are translated.

the sad thing about it is that i have to go home (Switzerland) in two months and won't be able to see the the third part of matrix at it's release.

[thop]

fortunately they are a few cinemas here that show the original. i hate dubbed movies!!

[BlackSun]

Originally posted by thekid
i'm seeing it next Wednesday at 7pm

in a private theatre rented out just for this movie

:D

can't wait

thekid...

if that one of the advantages of working @ DXN ? :D

[dTb]

It seems we're a little lucky here in Australia, probably because the movie was filmed here, it comes out on the 15th. I figure due to the time difference this is even before the US. The premiere was last Tuesday the 6th iirc.
It was a similar situation with star wars I think but in general we're totally screwed over here, we're usually months behind. Xmen2 only came out a week or two ago:(

[wmansir]

Originally posted by dTb
Xmen2 only came out a week or two ago:( [/B]

Xmen2 only came out last week here in the states too.

[dTb]

doh! well that shows how much I know. I guess Xmen2 is a big enough movie to demand a prompt release.
Trust me though, a lot of movies are delayed too long for release here. That movie Equilibrium you mentioned wmansir hasn't even been released yet but from what I hear of the US release I don't hold much hope for a local release at all. Probably straight to DVD.

[ppera2]

Ah, this nowaday's youth doesn't have any patience.

I see already comments after watching Matrix 2 : Ah, it was brilliant, I can't wait until November for third part :D

[Jazz]

ultimatebilly wrote:

But maybe they are confident that nobody will watch a shitty telesync or cam of matrix 2 before he has seen it in the cinemas...

Yes, you'd think that an intelligent person doesn't torture himself by experiencing this scintillating piece of art in anything but the most optimal conditions. Personally I feel tempted to schedule an appointment with the two, three great movieplexes in the area for a rigorous interview about the technical specs of the room where they'll project TMR. (Doom9 - we're all ready for a shoot-out comparing screening conditions, now that we've digested the wonderful codec meal you've prepared for us). ;) I fear their confidence may be optimistic though.

[aleksander]

Well...
Don't wanna get into any troubles, but for some of you that don't want to wait to see what's the movie like, you can grab the latest TIME magazine (dated May 12th, US Edition) and read a little bit about it....
But be warned...
They kinda tell you the whole story....

take care guys...

aleksander

[Arky]

Originally posted by int 21h
She showed up to the premiere very pregnant.

Carrie assured me she was on the pill.

Moral of the story - never trust a woman. I learned the hard way! :D


Arky ;o)

[chemmajik]

Looks like we will need a DNA test, I most surely assure you.

:devil:

hehe

[Lord Sandwich]

Here in NYC they're fully booked even for the advance screenings--I just barely got into an 11PM show on Fandango (which tacks an extra $1.50 onto an already-overpriced $10 ticket for the privilege of sending them cash in advance. :rolleyes: )

I wonder if all these night-before screenings are to counter the time difference in Asia? Obviously they can't market a single date and have a truly simultaneous worldwide release without a little leeway.

[Doom9]

10$? I call that cheap. Where I'm from we pay at least $12 for a regular movie. Advanced screenings are rare and hilariously overpriced (but of course, it if comes with a dinner in a fancy restaurant, a vodka martini aperitif and a limo ride it can't exactly be cheap). I think my ticked for Reloaded is somewhere in the area of $13 (I had a friend get it for me).

[Lord Sandwich]

Ugh, $13. I can see that happening here soon. On the flipside, decent-quality theaters in the Philippines charge a mere $1--or $2.50 if it's a posh theater with reserved seats!

[epere4]

$13?? That is 13 US dollars??

I love Matrix, but I am not willing to pay overprice to see the sequel. Here the movie comes on May 22nd and at a regular price of $3,20 aprox, but there are some special days or times of the day where you can go for $2,80 aprox.

CU

[oddball]

I find the biggest problem these days is that some dudes get to see it first and then start blabbling about it on the forums and you have a hard time avoiding all the threads about how it stank or having spoilers all over the place. I think I should just avoid the forums for a week or two while it is out abroad :)

[gldblade]

regular price of $3,20 aprox, but there are some special days or times of the day where you can go for $2,80 aprox Are those US dollars?! :eek:

[dTb]

Originally posted by Lord Sandwich
I wonder if all these night-before screenings are to counter the time difference in Asia? Obviously they can't market a single date and have a truly simultaneous worldwide release without a little leeway.

You might be right, the first sessions here in aus would be sometime during the middle of the night in the US afaik.
Cinema tickets here are about AUD 12 (standard screenings) which is about USD 8 right? Being a cheap arse I go on tuesdays which is about AUD 8 iirc.

[epere4]

Originally posted by gldblade
Are those US dollars?! :eek:
Yeap :D

[Lord Sandwich]

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/TheMatrixReloaded-1122457/

Oh thank God it's fresh! Those initial negative reviews were driving up my blood pressure. :D

[wmansir]

Since the opening is almost here I would like to ask that anyone who posts spoilers give an ample spoiler warning or if enough people want to we can keep it spoiler free for a while.

I was orginally planing to wait until next week to see this to avoid the crowds. But I was showing the HD(ish) Quicktime trailer to my brother and in the middle I was like "damn, I have to see this as soon as possible". My brother agreed so we're going tomorrow night.

[rmatei]

Me and my friends have kind of been watching that trailer every night for two weeks... The graphics are breathtaking. And I'm usually really not into action/special effects-driven movies - but the visuals in this transcend everything, probably even good plot and acting.

[int 21h]

I have my ticket :)

There are some shortcomings in that trailer, but it only became apparent to me after watching it many, many times. (i.e. the Semi that Trinity veers in front of on the motorcycle, has really bad lighting underneath of it).

[Koepi]

Finally got my ticket too. I'm not going to the "usual" show (translated to german here) on may 22nd, but I wait until may 28th. There they show the english original version - the matrix is so much better in original.

It costs 7€ though - is it that much longer than 90minutes? Man, I'm really looking forward to it.

Regards
Koepi

[ultimatebilly]

AFAIK, its 135 minutes...
But 7€ sounds ok, the regular prices for the "prime-time" in the cinemas where I live for movies with that lenght are around 8€...
Still not too expensive compared with what doom9 has to pay for example...
translated to german here
Normally I can live with that in the cinema, but in this case I really wish too they would show the original version...
Have you seen the german version of the trailer?
For example the scene where Neo says "Welcome, fellas!" to the arriving agents just sounds totally stupid in the german version, where it is "Hallo, Jungs!"...
Well, I will see it anyway in the preview on the 21., and then I will see that I can watch it in the OV somewhere later...

[Wilbert]

translated to german here
There should be a european law which forbids post synchronization. Both for cinema and tv.

[ultimatebilly]

When I was in Poland last year, I saw that some TV series were dubbed with one guy speaking all the actors!
It was really funny...
But in the cinema most movies are shown in the original version there, which is quite uncommon here (a friend told me that usually only children movies are dubbed in Poland)...
In Germany, there are a few cinemas which are specialised to movies in the original version, and some multiplex-cinemas show one or two of the movies in the OV...
In Holland it is much better in my opinion than here in germany, more programs in TV are shown in the original version (at least it seems so to me whenever I am in Holland and watch TV)
Here everything is dubbed, but sometimes you can switch to the original language (both mono then of course).

PS.: IIRC, even on the RC2-edition of "Starship Troopers" is a russian track with everything spoken by one guy...

[Wilbert]

When I was in Poland last year, I saw that some TV series were dubbed with one guy speaking all the actors!
lol, and sad of course.

In Holland it is much better in my opinion than here in germany, more programs in TV are shown in the original version (at least it seems so to me whenever I am in Holland and watch TV)
Everything is shown in the original version, except "kid"-cartoons and most commercial breaks.

[kaitsuburi]

Originally posted by ultimatebilly
PS.: IIRC, even on the RC2-edition of "Starship Troopers" is a russian track with everything spoken by one guy...

It even gets funnier and sadder when the movie is too long and the dubbing person changes mid-way :D Talk about change in mood and tone.

I've heard of "video clubs" back in the time of the USSR where a guy would sit at the back of the room and do simultaneous translation...

On a separate note, I can't wait to see Matrix Reloaded!!! And heck yeah, I definitely want the DVD!!! Too bad it's another 3 long weeks before the movie comes out over here and the DVD is going to be a while :(

-kaitsuburi

[thop]

In Poland the movies are dubbed by one guy, thats correct, and in addition to that you hear the original movie in the background at about ~50% volume, which means sound effects too!

[kdiddy]

was VERY VERY disappointed by this movie...too many useless scenes broken up by overdone graphic animation...only thing worth seeing is highway sequence

[Lord Sandwich]

Just got back from the theater. Is it okay to make spoiler-free comments yet?

[kaitsuburi]

No spoilers, please!!!

[wmansir]

I think spoiler free comments are fine. I'm just returned a little while ago and I'm still digesting so I'm not really going make any comments though.

One thing that distracted me was the fact that the theater screwed up the projection. During one scene (at least it was a dialog scene and not a cool action scene) the tracking was off so the picture got split down the middle horizontially, with the top on bottom and the bottom on top. They had to stop the film twice in order to fix it. It went something like this:

Character: See that machine over there?
Screen goes blank, lights come up.
ME: NO!

It also occured to me while waiting for the Revolutions trailer after the movie that Reloaded must have employed more people than any film in history. The credits seemed to go on forever, and most of the time the entire frame was filled with names.

[ppera2]

Why no spoilers?
If someone want write here his imressions about movie, let him to write what wants.

I don't like one sided opinions and childish blisses.

I'm sure they will make good money, whatever whoever will write here :D

[ultimatebilly]

Well, I think spoilers means in this context rather people who tell how the movie ended, and not if they liked it or not...
And I definitively don't want to know how it ends before I saw it!:scared:

[kaitsuburi]

I guess if I really didn't want spoilers I could just ignore this thread, but I know I'd have a hard time stopping myself from peeping :(

oh well. no BIG spoilers please. I'd love to hear if people who saw it were satisfied...

-kaitsuburi

[Lord Sandwich]

Okay then.

Oh dear God it was terrible. IMHO.

I know some, maybe most people will still enjoy this film but I was completely let down in every single aspect. Not even the special effects or action sequences were all that great. Phantom Menace comparisons are right on the money--you'll find the same overindulgences everywhere.

And yeah, I know the hype is too great for Reloaded to meet expectations, but the only thing that kept me from walking out was the fact that it was a Matrix sequel! I forgot about the Revolutions trailer at the end of the credits and frankly I don't care.

There, I guess I got it out of my system. Doom9, when the Reloaded DVD comes out, please don't use it in the codec comparison. :D

[wmansir]

Well I had a night to sleep on it and I have to say I disagree with what has been said here so far. I wouldn't call it bad, but I also can't call it great. The reason is because the movie is basically only half of a film. More so than Empire or either LOTR movies it sets up a lot of questions and doesn't resolve them. Therefor it's hard to judge on it's own. There are definitely some interesting concepts being introduced and depending on where they take it in the next film it could be a total mind-fuck (<-ispell correct this from "mindfuck").

However, this film could definitely use a good editor. Some sections run way to long (both non-action and action sequences). 30 minutes to an hour could easily be cut without significantly harming the film, in fact it would probably help. The pacing is way off. At points I was thinking, come on I want some action DO SOMETHING, then an extended action scene would come along and I would think, ENOUGH ALREADY.

There are characters introduced that I don't care about, nor am I given reason to care. They just seem to take up space. The original focused on 4 people (Neo, Trin, Morph, Smith) with a few of minor characters (Cipher, Oricale, Tank). Then sequel still has the original 4 but adds a shitload of minor characters. In this sense it reminds me a lot more of The Phantom Menace, then Empire Strikes Back.

This is why I can understand the TPM comparisons, but I don't think this film suffers from these problems nearly as much as TMP. There is the above mentioned character bloat but this is a sequel, so the audience is familiar with the core characters already. In TMP everyone was new so everyone suffered from underdevelopment. TMP also had CGI/effects bloat, and that's here too but to a lesser extent.


Sorry to cut this off but I gotta go, let me just say these were mostly my criticisms and even tough it may look like it I didn't hate the movie. If it didn't cost me $8 I would go again today without hesitation but I'm a cheap bastard.