New Matrix

[Coffee Warlord]

Initial reviews coming in are not good. There's a post on slashdot with a bunch of links to various reviews.

Anyone gone out to see it yet?

[Franklin]

Not yet. My 14 year old is practically wetting his pants with anticipation, but I probably won't have time before this weekend.

[Coffee Warlord]

"The Wachowski brothers have delivered a dud so dissapointing, they may as well have bussed in Ewoks to save Zion."

Ouch.

[JeeberD]

Eh, no matter how much it's panned I'm still planning on seeing it sometime this weekend...

[Honolulu_Blue]

I have avoided reviews to avoid spoilers, but according to Rottentomatoes.com the reviews are pretty much negative. I think because the last one sucked so hard, reviewers finally felt like it was "OK" to pan the Matrix and have (most likely rightly) done so.

It's a shame, really. The first one was so great. A precipitous fall indeed. Not quite as bad as say First Star Wars trilogy to the next, but it aint good.

[Francis_Cole]

Just seen it now at the cinema. Imagine a film with quite good special effects, but no story line and terrible acting and you've got it

[wbonnell]

what do you mean no story line!?!?!? There's no many loose ends that need tying up...

[Francis_Cole]

what do you mean no story line!?!?!? There's no many loose ends that need tying up

I guessed you ment to say that there are so many loose ends....

I just personally found it extremly predicatble... and the choice of actors for some roles was questionable.

[cthomer5000]

Heard nothing but bad about this. I was pretty disappointed with Reloaded, so I'm expecting more of the same. I'll still go waste 8-10 dollars seeing it though.

[Francis_Cole]

I'll still go waste 8-10 dollars seeing it though

That's what the makers are hopeing for

[wbonnell]

I should have avoided this thread because now I'm gonna go into the theater predisposed to criticize it.

As grouchy about pop culture as I've become, I have been pleasantly surprised with the Matrix series. The original was a blast, and Reloaded, sans the indulgent special effects, was stimulating on an intellectual level that is rare in most movies. Sure, there were contradictions and inconsistencies, but I was able to adequately suspend my disbelief.

So, if REvolutions is a dud, I will be greatly disappointed. With all the watered-down garbage, it's becoming increasingly more difficult to find movies that satisfy me. And don't get me started on the Two Towers disaster...

Maybe I'll like opera better. My wife and I are going to see "Turandot" in 2 weeks!

[cthomer5000]

Originally posted by Francis_Cole
I'll still go waste 8-10 dollars seeing it though

That's what the makers are hopeing for

I know, and I feel stupid for doing it. If there is any chance of enjoying this movie, it'll be on a huge screen with amazing sound. It will be even worse at home on DVD.

Ok, I'll at least wait 10 days and use one of my discount movie tickets. That way I'll only wast $5.50.

[wbonnell]

Originally posted by cthomer5000
I know, and I feel stupid for doing it. If there is any chance of enjoying this movie, it'll be on a huge screen with amazing sound. It will be even worse at home on DVD.

Ok, I'll at least wait 10 days and use one of my discount movie tickets. That way I'll only wast $5.50.

or if you're really frugal, you'll wait 6 months for the dollar theater showing...

[cthomer5000]

Originally posted by wbonnell
or if you're really frugal, you'll wait 6 months for the dollar theater showing...

I don't know about you, but my cheap theaters (which are more like 2.50) are theaters that were built in like 1970 and have basically been untouched since then. The seats are disgusting, the screens are small, and worst of all - the sound is HORRIBLE.

As I said, most of the enjoyment of this movie will probably (sadly) come from impressive visual effect and sound. If there's any enjoyment to be had there, i don't want to miss out on it. I'll have to catch it in its first run.

[wbonnell]

Originally posted by cthomer5000
I don't know about you, but my cheap theaters (which are more like 2.50) are theaters that were built in like 1970 and have basically been untouched since then. The seats are disgusting, the screens are small, and worst of all - the sound is HORRIBLE.

As I said, most of the enjoyment of this movie will probably (sadly) come from impressive visual effect and sound. If there's any enjoyment to be had there, i don't want to miss out on it. I'll have to catch it in its first run.

good point! My local "dollar" theater should be condemned. There's nothing like a seat spring sticking in your back while watching a movie...

[cthomer5000]

Originally posted by wbonnell
good point! My local "dollar" theater should be condemned. There's nothing like a seat spring sticking in your back while watching a movie...

Exactly. This is why my friends and I dubbed our local cheap theatre "Discount Lion Safari!," anyone who's seen that Simpson's episode will know precisely what I'm talking about.

[Blackadar]

I've read a number of reviews and while most have not raved about it, most said it was at least decent. Around a 2 1/2 out of 4 stars kind of movie. Ebert and Roper both gave it a thumbs up.

[Tex Schramm]

Wbonnell what did you find stimulating?. IMHO, there is little if anything at all in Reloaded that is intellectually stimulating.

Most of the "philosophical" dialogue in the movie struck me as overly verbose psychobabble the screenwriters felt was necessary to explain the movie's rather simple basic premise. The whole idea was ludicrous to begin with anyway, so why complicate it with wordy dialogue that may or may not have no effect on the story or the audience's enjoyment? I just have issues taking all of it seriously when the "great struggle" involves fighting computer software with kung fu and machine guns--obviously it makes things a little more interesting, but I get the distinct impression that the Wachowskis are trying too hard to make what began as a simple action sci-fi flick into something as magnanimous and epic as its hype. The only thing I felt was stimulating was my pure confusion as to what was really going on, and letting my imagination run wild as to possible scenarios for the final installment of the trilogy.

Wow reading this I must sound like a real Matrix-hater. Honestly I loved the first one, and I was disappointed by the second. The more times I saw it, the less I liked it (minus the awesome car chase--isn't that what these movies are all about anyway?)

I also might not end up seeing this one, at least in theaters, because people can probably approach it in a similar fashion to the third Star Wars movie. There is enough bad in the first two movies to make critics' negative reviews about the new installment much more believable.

[wbonnell]

Originally posted by Tex Schramm
The only thing I felt was stimulating was my pure confusion as to what was really going on, and letting my imagination run wild as to possible scenarios for the final installment of the trilogy. .

That's it; that's exactly why it stimulated my intellect; my mind was pregnant with possibilities. Of course, I had to ignore the problem that the universe's "existence" was contrived in the mind of other men- The Wachowski bros.- who could modify its laws to suit their needs as well as their audience's. Nonetheless, I enjoy speculating.

And I must admit, I enjoyed the Architect scene.

[Bee]

I guess I am one of the few who actually enjoyed the 2nd one. I went in having heard how bad it was and was actually pleasantly surprised that it wasn't the horrid pile I was led to believe. Guess I'll have the same approach to the 3rd one according to the early reviews.

[FrogMan]

Originally posted by Bee
I guess I am one of the few who actually enjoyed the 2nd one. I went in having heard how bad it was and was actually pleasantly surprised that it wasn't the horrid pile I was led to believe. Guess I'll have the same approach to the 3rd one according to the early reviews.

NO! NO! ME TOO!!... :waves childishly: I did like the second movie, found it quite enjoyable, but then maybe I'm not very tough to please...

FM

[JeeberD]

I enjoyed the second one too, but not as much as the first. One of my favorite scenes ever is the shootout scene with Neo and Trinity in the hallway when they're one their way to save Morpheus. Great effects, stunts done by the actors, just a great look to it. My problem with the second one is that too many of the effects are too "video gamey". Both the scene where Neo is fighting the hundreds of Smiths and parts of the highway scene look totally animated. It just kind of killed the mood for me. I'm hoping that in this third installment they've done a better job of coverig up the animation...

[Wasabiak]

Originally posted by Francis_Cole
Just seen it now at the cinema. Imagine a film with quite good special effects, but no story line and terrible acting and you've got it

So it's a porno?

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally posted by Wasabiak
So it's a porno?

Word to the wise, Wasab... Avoid porn with special effects. It's bound to suck (both figuratively and literally).

[Alan T]

I am usually easy to please movie wise too.. I didn't mind the 2nd one at all. Went and bought it on DVD too.. since we got it on dvd, we probably have watched it 4 or 5 more times.

[Maple Leafs]

Just got back from it. Not having seen the first two... um, I have no idea what just happened. Some cool effects, wooden acting by guess who, and reasonably nice battle scenes. Other than that, I couldn't tell you. It wasn't good, it wasn't bad. It just was.

On the other hand, the people who had seen the first two seemed to really dislike this one. They hated the ending.

[Franklin]

There is no spoon.

[korme]

franklinnoble

[sabotai]

FWIW, Ebert and Roper both gave it a thumbs up. They compared the Matrix series to the Alien series. How it went towards action instead of "sci-fi". But they both said it was, I think their word was, a "worthy" end to the trilogy.

From what they said, it almost sounds like if you liked the 2nd, you'll probably like 3rd.

Also, it's trendy to bash something that is very popular (see new Star Wars movies), so I wouldn't bank too much on reviews.

[wbonnell]

Originally posted by sabotai

Also, it's trendy to bash something that is very popular (see new Star Wars movies), so I wouldn't bank too much on reviews.

I don't know about trendy. The new movies, especially the second, were terrible. There a number of egregious scenes that make me cringe with an embarrasment for the actor.

[ice4277]

I just got back from seeing it, and the best way I can describe it is, better than the second, not as good as the first. I must say I was a little disappointed in the ending; it was ok, but, without giving up any spoilers, didn't really take it in the direction I thought it would. Overall though, not bad.

[sabotai]

Originally posted by wbonnell
I don't know about trendy. The new movies, especially the second, were terrible. There a number of egregious scenes that make me cringe with an embarrasment for the actor.

But apparently enough people liked them for both to make tons of money. But if you were to just listen to the reviews, you'd think they would have been flops.

The new Stars Wars movies are very popular, but they get bashed a lot. That's why I used it as an example.

(And your trendiness forced you to even bash it here. )

[tucker342]

I actually really liked the 2nd one. Maybe I'm just easy to please.

[Sharpieman]

I may just being too hopeful, but I don't base movies on reviews, for example, all the reviews I read about half-baked were bashing the movie, but it's one of my favorite movies of all time, but if this movie sucks as much as reloaded, then I would not be surprised. Now the real question is this, I keep hearing different arguments about whether the bro's wrote all three movies before the first on came out, or did they write the 2nd and third after the first was a success?

[cornbreaD]

Am I the only person in the world who hated the first film?

[Draft Dodger]

I would see the 2nd one again in the theater just for that car chase - but the rest of the movie was rather mediocre. I do like the first one, but I also think it's a tad overrated. I may wait for DVD on the 3rd one.

[IMetLyleAlzado]

I reaaly was hoping to play around with FOF2k4 this weekend (it being my birthday and all, what better way to reward me for living so long than locking myself up in a room with a computer, a TV, and ignore the girlfriend all weekend) Now we have tickets to see the latest Matrix up in SanFran on IMAX! 30 bucks!!

All in all, I' rather plan to play 2k4.

[Glengoyne]

This just in from the theatre.

"It's Over!, It's Over!, It's Over" and thank god for that.

[sabotai]

Originally posted by cornbreaD
Am I the only person in the world who hated the first film?

Yes.

Sharpie, I think they probably had a general idea for the plot for 2 and 3 before the 1st came out, but they wouldn't have written them until after the success of the 1st one.

To make a Star Wars example again, Lucas had an idea for Episodes 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 but didn't actually write them until Episode 4 was a hit.

[tucker342]

Little did Lucas know that Episodes 1 and 2 would suck so badly

[sabotai]

I like them.

[Pumpy Tudors]

I've never seen the first two (nor do I ever plan to), but I'm being dragged by the little woman to the new one. I'm not looking forward to it, as I generally despise the movie-going experience. Couple that with the fact that I know practically nothing about the story, and I'll be in for a long evening whenever we go see it.

If I have to see a Keanu Reeves movie (I know that the "Matrix" series is much more than Keanu, but bear with me), give me "Point Break" or "Hardball."

I love it when you call me Big Poppa.

[sabotai]

"I generally despise the movie-going experience. "

That's why I'm waiting until Saturday afternoon to go see it.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Well, it's not just the opening night experience or the weekend evening experience. It's the whole thing, really. I'm just plain uncomfortable in a movie theater. Maybe if there were only 3 other people in the place, I might feel a little more comfortable, but I have a feeling that this film will draw a pretty nice crowd at many showings for a while.

[Easy Mac]

No story-line? Have you even seen the first two? I think the story-line is pretty evident in this movie alone. There are 2 different story arcs in the movie, which I won't get into at this moment. THey start together, move apart, then finish together.

'll agree with opinions I've read elsewhere that there's not enough of the Merovingian, the Twins and Persephone (grrrrowl). The little indian girl was a tad annoying, and a lot of new characters were thrown at you. I think they made it work well.

Anyone who says the acting is wooden... did you see the first 2? Thats half of what makes the movie what it is. Its the fact that the people are so stoic. Sure, there there are points where I'd prefer Neo to show some bewtter emoting, but I thought it fit with what the Matrix is.

It is definitely a more action based movie than the other 2 combined. Its as if they decided to philosophize in the 2nd and make the 3rd almost pure action.

THe best CG work (combined with human elements) I've ever seen in a movie, I'd say even better than the last LOTR. The Mechs were freaking amazing.

And I can't rationally discuss the Neo v. Smith fight scene. Quite possibly the greatest, most beautiful fight scene I have ever seen in my life. Whenever they make another Superman movie, they have to watch this over and over just to get an idea of the right way to do it.

Hugo Weaving should just get an overall Best actor after LOTR 3 comes out. He hammed it up a lot, but he did it in a great way. Agent Smith will be one of the top 10 villians of all time. Keanu was Keanu, not much you can say. He was born to play Neo, and I think he made it work as well as anybody could. Carrie Ann Moss, well, she always annoyed me.

Overall, it was better than the second, and over time it is better than the first (the first just looks old when looked at today). I'd give it around an 8.3. Everyone I talked to on the way out said it rocked, and almost everyone clapped at the end. There were also a lot of moments when people laughed, not really something I expected.

Not quite the way I wanted it to end, but if you pay attention to a lot of the info from the first 2 movies, the ending makes sense, and almost leaves it unresolved in a way.

But no spoilers for a few days.

[Chief Rum]

Originally posted by Easy Mac
No story-line? Have you even seen the first two? I think the story-line is pretty evident in this movie alone. There are 2 different story arcs in the movie, which I won't get into at this moment. THey start together, move apart, then finish together.

'll agree with opinions I've read elsewhere that there's not enough of the Merovingian, the Twins and Persephone (grrrrowl). The little indian girl was a tad annoying, and a lot of new characters were thrown at you. I think they made it work well.

Anyone who says the acting is wooden... did you see the first 2? Thats half of what makes the movie what it is. Its the fact that the people are so stoic. Sure, there there are points where I'd prefer Neo to show some bewtter emoting, but I thought it fit with what the Matrix is.

It is definitely a more action based movie than the other 2 combined. Its as if they decided to philosophize in the 2nd and make the 3rd almost pure action.

THe best CG work (combined with human elements) I've ever seen in a movie, I'd say even better than the last LOTR. The Mechs were freaking amazing.

And I can't rationally discuss the Neo v. Smith fight scene. Quite possibly the greatest, most beautiful fight scene I have ever seen in my life. Whenever they make another Superman movie, they have to watch this over and over just to get an idea of the right way to do it.

Hugo Weaving should just get an overall Best actor after LOTR 3 comes out. He hammed it up a lot, but he did it in a great way. Agent Smith will be one of the top 10 villians of all time. Keanu was Keanu, not much you can say. He was born to play Neo, and I think he made it work as well as anybody could. Carrie Ann Moss, well, she always annoyed me.

Overall, it was better than the second, and over time it is better than the first (the first just looks old when looked at today). I'd give it around an 8.3. Everyone I talked to on the way out said it rocked, and almost everyone clapped at the end. There were also a lot of moments when people laughed, not really something I expected.

Not quite the way I wanted it to end, but if you pay attention to a lot of the info from the first 2 movies, the ending makes sense, and almost leaves it unresolved in a way.

But no spoilers for a few days.

Thanks, Easy Mac. That sounds a lot like I expected it to be.

I figured I was going to see it anyway, but I was concerned about the bad reviews it was getting. I knew I would get a lot from the action sequences and the overall thrills, but I wasn't sure if that would be enough.

It sounds to me like you like a lot of the same kinds of things I do (in movies anyway), so the fact you enjoyed it probably bodes well for me. I'll probably try and catch it Friday.

Chief Rum

[cody8200]

I just went and saw it. Loved the first, liked the second, and really liked this one. I loved the fight scenes. Very realistic for CG. Now I cant wait for LOTR 3.

[tucker342]

Well it sounds like we like the same kind of things in movies, plus that's what I pretty much expected from it, so now it sounds a lot more promising

[VPI97]

Originally posted by Pumpy Tudors
Well, it's not just the opening night experience or the weekend evening experience. It's the whole thing, really. I'm just plain uncomfortable in a movie theater. Maybe if there were only 3 other people in the place, I might feel a little more comfortable, but I have a feeling that this film will draw a pretty nice crowd at many showings for a while.

Aside from taking my daughter to a kid's matinee, I've been to a movie theatre four times in the last 8-9 years. I cannot stand the movie experience.

[Havok]

Originally posted by Easy Mac
No story-line? Have you even seen the first two? I think the story-line is pretty evident in this movie alone. There are 2 different story arcs in the movie, which I won't get into at this moment. THey start together, move apart, then finish together.

'll agree with opinions I've read elsewhere that there's not enough of the Merovingian, the Twins and Persephone (grrrrowl). The little indian girl was a tad annoying, and a lot of new characters were thrown at you. I think they made it work well.

Anyone who says the acting is wooden... did you see the first 2? Thats half of what makes the movie what it is. Its the fact that the people are so stoic. Sure, there there are points where I'd prefer Neo to show some bewtter emoting, but I thought it fit with what the Matrix is.

It is definitely a more action based movie than the other 2 combined. Its as if they decided to philosophize in the 2nd and make the 3rd almost pure action.

THe best CG work (combined with human elements) I've ever seen in a movie, I'd say even better than the last LOTR. The Mechs were freaking amazing.

And I can't rationally discuss the Neo v. Smith fight scene. Quite possibly the greatest, most beautiful fight scene I have ever seen in my life. Whenever they make another Superman movie, they have to watch this over and over just to get an idea of the right way to do it.

Hugo Weaving should just get an overall Best actor after LOTR 3 comes out. He hammed it up a lot, but he did it in a great way. Agent Smith will be one of the top 10 villians of all time. Keanu was Keanu, not much you can say. He was born to play Neo, and I think he made it work as well as anybody could. Carrie Ann Moss, well, she always annoyed me.

Overall, it was better than the second, and over time it is better than the first (the first just looks old when looked at today). I'd give it around an 8.3. Everyone I talked to on the way out said it rocked, and almost everyone clapped at the end. There were also a lot of moments when people laughed, not really something I expected.

Not quite the way I wanted it to end, but if you pay attention to a lot of the info from the first 2 movies, the ending makes sense, and almost leaves it unresolved in a way.

But no spoilers for a few days.

Amen Easy Mac.... i saw it tonight and i liked it alot. I swear half the people bashing the Matrix movies on this thread haven't even seen the dam movies it would seem.