When it first came to my attention that Warner Brothers planned to release an ‘Ultimate Collection’ of the “Matrix” series, I really wasn’t all that surprised, after all DVD box sets are all the rage, and having all three films neatly tucked into one case was certainly a preferred method for collectors. But when I further learned that this ‘Ultimate Collection’ was going to take up a whopping 10 discs, the first question that came to mind was, “Why?” The quality of the films not-withstanding, it seemed that the original releases pretty much covered every aspect of the making of the films… and then some. The release of the “Alien Quadrilogy” only took up 9 discs, and there were four films. “The Matrix” was a trilogy and it needed 10?

Once I got my hands on a set, I had my answer. “The Ultimate Matrix Collection” doesn’t just offer up all three films and the subsequent extra features, oh no. It includes “The Animatrix”, and a whole slew of additional features that weren’t available before. The three films also have some… interesting new commentaries (2 each) from ‘experts’ who take opposing sides, one side praising while the other side is more critical. What I found odd was there were still no commentaries anywhere by the film’s directors, The Wachowski Brothers. They have in the past steadfastly refused to talk about the films, which some might view as being a bit pretentious, though I would venture to say that it is more a sign of the realization that if asked the wrong question, it would get out that they didn’t understand the universe they created anymore than those who sat through the films.

There is also another theory about the Wachowski’s silence that was brought to my attention by a good friend of mine that I work with, which in retrospect is a highly plausible one. His thought is that the brothers had a very clear idea of where they were going with the trilogy, but were forced to re-write the story and take whole chunks out of because the studio heads and marketing didn’t understand it. All they cared about was that the sequels come in under a certain running time and make them excise important scenes that would have made the story as a whole make more sense. He likened it to the classic film “The Big Sleep”, which for years had the stigma of confusing many audiences. It wasn’t until a few years ago that it came to light that the studio marketing department forced the cutting of key scenes in order to make room for more scenes of Bogart and Bacall, which they believed is what audiences wanted to see. This might be the same case with the Matrix sequels and the Wachowski’s are either contractually obligated not to talk about it, or would just rather not bring up the fact that their vision was ‘screwed up’ by the studio. I’m sure one day we’ll find out if this true or not.

As for the films themselves, I have long had a strong mixed feeling about them… well at least the two sequels. I thought “The Matrix” was a brilliant film, both in terms of its creative (though not necessarily original) plot as well as the technical aspects of its creation. I left the theatre with a total understanding of the story and it’s ending, and there was no question that it ‘pushed the envelope’ of what could be visualized onscreen. I’ve watched this movie numerous times, and it’s joined my short list of ‘movies I have to sit down and finish if I so much as catch any scene on TV.’

I was extremely excited when I originally learned that there were two sequels in the works, and even more so that they were being shot back to back in order to ensure a short wait between their subsequent theatrical releases. However, once I saw the films I was filled with mixed emotions unlike any I had ever felt for any other films in recent history. Watching the movies I was extremely impressed and even exhilarated by the amazing (though admittedly somewhat flawed) special effects, but each time I walked out of the theatre scratching my head trying to figure out what the heck I just saw. At first I thought it was just that I had missed something, but upon a couple of repeat viewings of each film, I still ‘didn’t quite get it.’

To make matters worse, I had several deep conversations with friends about the philosophical, physiological and sociological meaning behind the films and began to worry that I wasn’t as smart as I thought I was. I was concerned that my ‘intellect chip’ somehow got turned off. But as these conversations continued, and now that I have taken the time to view some of the extra features on this new DVD set, I figured out it wasn’t me… it was them.

The best example I can use to explain what was wrong with my friends and the myriad of pseudo-intellectuals who praised the films to the heavens is to turn to those who ‘love and understand’ modern art. I work near a museum and sculpture garden in the Dallas Metroplex (which, by the way, is pseudo-intellectual central) and have to look out my window at piles of rusted metal bent into various shapes. Some of them are painted different colors (an attempt to hide the rust I gather), but still they are nothing more than hunks of metal. Modern art aficionados will sit for hours looking at these hulking behemoths and tell you that they represent all manner of subjects from ‘man’s inhumanity to man’ to the ‘juxtabronchial aspects of upper mollusks’. Most can wax rhapsodic about the deep meaning of nothing. They do this because they are told to by other pseudo-intellectuals who happen to have a degree in marketing, and because it makes them sound much more intelligent than they actually are. This works on some people, but it doesn’t work on me.

This same theory works when it comes to the ‘Matrix’ films (at least the sequels), because despite all of the story attempts to cover up plot holes with even bigger plot holes (think telling bigger lies to cover up a lie), there are those who will explain to you exactly what each and every part of the trilogy meant. Never mind the fact that none of these explanations hold water, it’s simply enough that they can speak about it so coherently and with enough authority that it almost becomes believable.

I was going to get into direct reviews of the films themselves, but instead felt it was better to direct you to reviews that were posted on this site before. For mine and Joe’s thoughts on “The Matrix Reloaded”, you can click here, and for Joe’s take on “The Matrix Revolutions”, check it out here. If you want to take in my reviews of the previous DVD reviews of the sequels, you can go here and here. Finally, for my review of “The Animatrix”, go here.

What I would like to point out, especially because I’ve probably given you the idea that I don’t like the Matrix Trilogy at all, is that just the opposite is true. I already mentioned that I thought the first film was quite brilliant, and even though the story gets way too convoluted in the sequels, watching the films is quite enjoyable. It’s just best not to read into them too deeply. Once you get past the confusing aspects of the story and focus on the visual wizardry you can have a great time.

Getting back to the subject of “The Ultimate Matrix Collection”, there are two versions available; one is only the 10 discs in a box set, while the other comes in a collector’s plastic case with an 80 page booklet and a bust of Neo. The set I have is the first one, sans the case, booklet and bust, but I am in no way disappointed. If you’re a fan at all of the series and just want the discs, you can’t go wrong with this one.

I was especially impressed with the outer design of the slipcase, which features the image of the glowing green letters which is supposed to represent the onscreen look of the actual Matrix. It’s extremely eye-catching and looks great on the shelf. I was a little less enamored with the disc holders, which were no more than folded cardboard, similar to what was used in “The Godfather Collection” a few years back. Granted, they are very nicely decorated with pictures and descriptions of the discs contents, but I would have preferred the super slim snap cases that have become popular with TV series releases. There is also an enclosed booklet with detailed listings of each disc.

Besides having an all-new transfer of “The Matrix”, there are tons of extra features that you couldn’t find before. To the best of my knowledge all of the extra features that were available are here, they’ve just been moved around a little bit. If any are missing, I’d be hard-pressed to find them. As much as I’d like to get into every single little detail about these extra features, it would take me more space than I think our host allows! The cover of the DVD set boasts over 35 hours of bonus features, which include over 100 new featurettes. Looking the set over, I believe it. I’m still not quite through all of them. I think the best thing to do is to list what each of the discs has on them, which I have done below. This set might be overkill for some, but it’s a techno-files dream.

In retrospect, especially after viewing a mini-marathon of all three movies (being very careful to check my brain at the door for the sequels) there are at their core, very entertaining movies. They are visually stimulating and technically amazing. The fight sequences, stunts and wire work are beyond belief, and the special effects (with a few exceptions) are stunning. The often copied “Bullet Time” effect alone is worth seeing each and every time it is used.

I highly recommend and applaud the DVD set of “The Ultimate Matrix Collection”, which might seem odd considering my mixed reactions to the films. But I felt the same way about the aforementioned “Alien Quadrilogy.” The first two movies were great, while the other two sucked pretty hard. But the DVD set itself was very well put together and offered everything a fan of the series could ever want, making it the most impressive DVD release of 2003. In the case of “The Matrix Trilogy”, the first movie was great while the other two were just so-so. But again the “The Ultimate Matrix Collection” offer fans everything they could ever want in a very well put together package, making it the best DVD release of 2004.

**Addendum to the review 12/7/2004:

It has come to my attention that the reason why the Wachowski’s refused to do any interviews about the film series might be a combination of the two theories I mentioned above. As it turns out, there are reports of a decision reached in a little-heard-of copyright infringement case against the Wachowski’s and the studio. It seems author Sophia Stewart, after seeing “The Matrix”, decided it was way too close to her 1981 short story, “The Third Eye.” Stewart had submitted the short story to the Wachowski’s in the mid-80s in response to an ad where they were requesting new sci-fi works. There are more details, but until I can completely corroborate the story, I’ll not mention them.
If this little piece of news turns out to be true, it might explain why Team Wachowski has remained so silent on their mega-popular trilogy.

Here’s that breakdown of the discs and their extra features:

Disc 1:
The Matrix Feature Film
Two All-New Commentaries – The Critics: Todd McCarthy, John Powers and David Thomson, The Scholars: Dr. Cornel West and Ken Wilber, Written Introduction by the Wachowski Brothers

Disc 2:
The Matrix Revisited Documentary (which includes)
Behind the Matrix:
Dance of the Master: Yuen Wo Ping’s Blocking Tapes
Bathroom Fight and Wet Wall
Code of the Red Dress
The Old Exit: Wabash and Lake
Agent Down
But Wait—There’s More
Take the Red Pill:
What Is Bullet-Time?
What Is the Concept?
Follow the White Rabbit:
Trinity Escapes
Pod
Kung Fu
Wall
Bathroom Fight
Government Lobby
Government Roof
Helicopter.
Subway

The Music Revisited

Disc 3:
The Matrix Reloaded Feature Film
Two All-New Commentaries – The Critics: Todd McCarthy, John Powers and David Thomson, The Scholars: Dr. Cornel West and Ken Wilber, Written Introduction by the Wachowski Brothers

Disc 4:
Enter the Matrix – Scenes shot for the video game
I’ll Handle Them:
The Great Hall
Building the Merovingian’s Lair
Tiger Style: A Day in the Life of Chen Hu
Heavy Metal: Weapons of the Great Hall
The Car Chase:
Oakland Streets and Freeway: Unseen Material
Tour of the Merovingian’s Garage
Queen of the Road
Arteries of the Mega-City: The Visual Effects of the Freeway Chase
Foresight: Preplanning the Mayhem
Freeway Truck Crash: Anatomy of a Shot
Fate of the Freeway
Freeway Action Match
The Teahouse Fight:
Two Equals Clash
Guardian of the Oracle: Collin Chou
Unplugged:
Creating the Burly Brawl
A Conversation with Master Wo Ping
Chad Stahelski: The Other Neo
Burly Brawl Action Match
Spiraling Virtual Shot: Anatomy of a Shot
Exiles:
The Exiles
Big Brother Is Watching: The Architect’s Office

Disc 5:
The Matrix Revolutions Feature Film
Two All-New Commentaries – The Critics: Todd McCarthy, John Powers and David Thomson, The Scholars: Dr. Cornel West and Ken Wilber, Written Introduction by the Wachowski Brothers

Disc 6:
The Matrix Revolutions Revisited (which includes):
Crew:
Owen’s Army: The Australian Art Dept.
2nd Unit: A World of Their Own
Bill Pope: Cinematographer of the Matrix
Masters of Light and Shadow
Hel:
Coat Check
Upsidedown Under
Fast Break
Exploding Man
Gun Club
The Extras of Club Hel
Siege:
Dig This
The Siege Action Match
Anatomy of a Shot: Mifune’s Last Stand
Building an APU
Product of Zion
Super Burly Brawl:
The Sky Barn
The Crater
The Egg
Anatomy of the Superpunch
New Blue World:
Geography of Zion
The Ships
Tour of the Neb
Matrix TV
Logos Fight Expansion
Aftermath:
Revolutionary Composition
The Glue
Dane Tracks
Cause and Effects

Disc 7:
The Animatrix (which includes the animated short films)-
Final Flight of the Osiris
The Second Renaissance Part 1
The Second Renaissance Part 2
Kid's Story
Program
World Record
Beyond
Matriculated
Bonus Data:
Voices
Scrolls to Screen: The History and Culture of Anime
Creators
Execution

Disc 8:
The Roots of the Matrix (which includes)-
Return to Source: Philosophy & The Matrix
The Hard Problem: The Science Behind the Fiction

Disc 9:
The Burly Man Chronicles (which includes the feature)-
Follow the White Rabbit
Pre-Production: Steve Skroce, Geof Darrow, George Hull, the Pre-Production process, Kym Barrett, Owen Paterson, and Rock Galotti
Alameda Shoot: Rigmaster, Ronumentary, A Day in the Life of Agent Johnson, and Anthony Zerbe
Australia Shoot: Tribute, Roy Jones, Mary Alice, Dessert of the Real, Peter Robb King, Upgrades, Ian Bliss, Publicity Shoot, A Day in the Life of Dr. Cornel West, and The End

Disc 10:
The Zion Archive
The Media of the Matrix
Rave Reel.
Matrix Online Preview

The Matrix Films:
Directed by: The Wachowski Brothers
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne
Studio: Warner Brothers
Release Date: 12/7/2004
Region 1
MPAA Rating: R
Website

We'll give The Matrix Ultimate Collection an A.