Matrix Collection: 4 Film Favorites [DVD] [2008] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

This is the Ultimate Collection of "The Matrix" trilogy. It consists of three films: 'The Matrix' (1999), 'The Matrix Reloaded' (2003) and 'The Matrix Revolutions' (2003), starring Keanu Reeves as Neo, Laurence Fishburne as Morpheus, Carrie-Anne Moss as Trinity, and Hugo Weaving as Agent Smith. This trilogy is a popular contemporary sci-fi film series, known for its 'bullet time' special effects and philosophically derived story elements. All three films were directed by the Wachowskis, and all three were financial successes. However, the first instalment in the saga is typically regarded as a far superior film - as compared to its sequels. Indeed, 'The Matrix' won four Academy awards (as well as two BAFTA's and two Saturn awards). The first film can be watched and enjoyed as a standalone movie ... while the sequels really only make sense as part of the overall saga. This Ultimate Collection in HD is a 7 disc set (note, the DVD edition consists of 10 discs). The 3 movies are all in HD, as is the 'Animatrix' (a collection of short animated films). And there are extra discs - featuring bonus features - in standard definition. This set is rather costly, and as such I recommend it to enthusiastic fans. A more reasonably priced edition (without the animated films and bonus features) is Complete Matrix Trilogy [Blu-ray] [1999] [Region Free].The Matrix saga is about a dystopian future, in which the bulk of humankind have been reduced to little more than fodder for a race of intelligent machines. These machines rule the Earth, and use humans as a power source. These humans are trapped in pods, and know nothing of their real existence. Each person is connected to a complex computer programme - a virtual reality - called the Matrix, and (nearly) everyone thinks that this is reality ... As such, people live out their whole lives inside this virtual world. Yet a few people, living deep underground, have made it their mission to free the enslaved humans. These freedom fighters enter the Matrix and try to persuade individuals that the world they know is fake. Of course, the machines don't like this - and so they use super-powered 'agents' to defend and maintain the Matrix. To greatly simplify, the main story of the films concerns one man who is born into the Matrix is destined to be able to manipulate the code of the programme and free others ... This is Neo. In the first movie, Neo is located by the freedom fighters and trained. He experiences an existential crisis of sorts, recognising that he is 'the One' - capable of doing virtually anything (and becoming akin to a super-hero). In the sequels, Neo uses his amazing powers to prevent the machines from destroying all of humankind.The first film is excellent. It's one of the defining sci-fi movies of all time. It's unfortunate that the sequels don't live up to the quality of the original. Yet all are packed full of amazing special effects and action sequences. If you haven't seen these films, I do recommend them. I suggest watching the first - and, only if you really enjoyed it, do I then suggest watching the sequels.

In short: This edition is food for thought. If you want a bunch of classic action movies go buy Die Hard, Lethal Weapon and True Lies but if you want to think about a movie like you've never thought about one before this is essential.The detail: Time for honesty. I didn't like Reloaded. I despised Revolutions. Not for the reason that they were sprawling and overcomplicated but more for the fact that because they were sprawling and overcomplicated they lost so much of the solid audience base they'd built up with the original Matrix.By the time I'd taken in all three movies, the Animatrix, Enter The Matrix and The Matrix Revisited I felt I'd pretty much got a feel for the series, its spirit and its intentions. Then I saw the roll call of features on this edition and, well, realised I might have some more work to do to get my head around what The Matrix experience was all about.Finally someone has produced a DVD not with the director telling stories about how lovely it was to work with everybody and how the whole thing was neat-o but with two philosophers discussing the 'Manichean overtones' of the original Matrix. To then couple this with a commentary of movie critics ripping the film to pieces is a brave move and the most public admission that a film might not be everyone's cup of tea a film's director(s) are ever likely to make.The fact is this is a risky box set. It does not massage its own ego and where the hyperbole threatens to be vomit inducing the Wachowskis have been very careful to deflate their own egos by giving voice to the many people who were unhappy with the conclusion of the trilogy.As such for an interested party such as myself it has forced a re-evaluation of my previous opinion. Not merely because a bunch of intellectual heavyweights are saying that there is more to the Matrix than meets the eye but because upon listening to their discourse it is possible to see that the Matrix rather than being disjointed and ultimately incoherent is, in fact, an incredibly complex piece of work with a deep message. How successful the Wachowski's were at putting extremely subtle philosophical and spritual arguments into a Keanu Reeves vehicle is another matter. But I find myself now in the position of being unable to write the latter parts of the trilogy off as I previously had.

This is the 10 disc Ultimate collection of the Matrix films and it well deserves it title.I've never known a trilogy which began as promisingly as the Matrix to fall in quality as much as this trilogy - the first film is unforgettably good, but the last is actually painfully stupid in places.The difference in quality between the movies is even more striking when they are viewed back-to-back.However this collection really redeems the franchise with its well put together extras.It's not an exaggeration to say that some of the extras are better quality than the third Matrix film and some even compare favourably to the second film.Of the seven non-film discs all but two are very entertaining/thought provoking/insightful.I can't really rate the final disc which is under an hour, but all the other discs provide useful material. The sixth disc "The Matrix Revolutions Revisited" is also a disappointment but only because the film itself is also a disappointment.The real gem in the collectin was Disc Seven - a series of Anime episodes based around the Matrix theme. You definitely don't have to be an anime fan to enjoy this disc, but you may well become one after watching it. It's very entertaining and extremely well put together. Thoroughly enjoyable and more than makes up for the disappointment of the final film in the trilogy itself.The presentation of the DVD is first rate - the DVDs are actually separated into holders which mean that you can take out the sleeve for each film individually and you'll find the associated "Revisited" disc in the same sleeve.This collection would make an excellent gift for someone who is into the Matrix films.