The swordfight in the beginning: wow! Some of the techniques were ones I've always wanted to see in Highlander. I didn't care for the sexual aspect of the fight, but man, that is some intense swordwork, and I enjoyed seeing it carry the same visual technique as the gun battles from the film.
I appreciated the story: a threat to Zion, I guess elaborated on in the new films? I haven't seen 'em yet - probably wait for DVD. Meh, shut-it! I enjoyed the sacrificial aspect of the story, wish it could have been drawn out a bit more.
"The Second Renaissance"
I'm reviewing this as one bit, although it is packaged as parts one AND two.
I enjoyed the animation style of this the best. I liked seeing how the robots eventually took control -- what's so sad is how often mankind had the opportunity to change their future by extending the hand of friendship, but instead extended the hand of war: and lost everything.
I don't get *how* they completely blocked out the sky. How do you destroy a sky?
I enjoyed the World War II and Vietnam parallels in this story: i.e., the soldier putting the gun to the robot's head and firing, the robots being pushed into giant graves by 'dozers. That imagery worked, to my mind, particularly well.
I also enjoyed how the liberals were all for standing up for the robot's rights
"Kid's Story"
I didn't like the animation style on this -- too, "choppy"? The story seems uninspired, or rather, inspired too much by Neo's own journey. Kid searches for "truth" on net, gets mystery reply; next day in class phone rings, "they're coming for you." Big chase, agents trap him, only escape is to fall off a building. Somehow, miraculously, survives and is rescued by the Nebecanezzer. Forgive my spelling.
* I thought the reason Neo was rescued was because Morpheous and Co. were able to somehow track his physical body by doing something to his Matrix form? Did this happen with this kid?
* Since he's "dead" in the Matrix world, can he still rejoin?
"Program"
Woohoo, more bladed weapons. A test for a new escapee from the Matrix. Not sure how "new" she is. A comrade - implication, lover - tells her he's made the decision to sell out to the machines and rejoin the Matrix. Cypher all over again, right? Big fight, steel against steel, massively oversized bladed weapons doing ridiculous amounts of damage. Stylish, but I didn't really care for it. Like "Kid's Story", it seemed like a direct rip-off of the movie which fails to "expand" the understanding of the universe of the Matrix.
* Note: she was on Zion, I assume? She boards elevator later, and it takes her up MANY levels -- I don't think the hoverships even have elevators, and they certainly don't have that many decks.
"World Record"
Worst of 'em all. The animation is plain horrible, it looks like the characters are experiencing 20gs or something, their faces and bodies are being "peeled" back in all directions. It's hard to focus on. Athelete through supreme physical exertion manages to "regain awareness" in the red-bubble-bath before collapsing on track. Later overcomes "physical" restrictions on his body placed by the Agents. Okay story, animation bad, clarity poor.
This is all I've seen so far. I've got "Beyond", "A Detective Story', and "Matriculated" to go.
Posted by Nim (Member # 205) on :
"I don't think the hoverships even have elevators, and they certainly don't have that many decks."
Not necessarily, there could be more ship classes than the two we've seen so far.
"probably wait for DVD. Meh, shut-it!"
Living life to the fullest, eh? *KA-SNORT!!*
About the weapons and damage in "Program", you seem to forget Morpheus' moves in the sparring program of Matrix 1. I loved it, all of it, especially Hedy Burress' seksee voice.
You'll hear her again, in "Beyond". She's cutesy redhead.
Note: If you liked MTV's "�on Flux", you'll like "Matriculated", believe me.
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
I need to pick this DVD up. I wonder what Amazon is selling it for...
I saw a few of them on the site, but I want to buy the DVD. Mostly for "Osiris".
I *loved* Aeon Flux, so naturally, I'm all curious to see "Matriculated".
I thought Detective Story was good, though I think it could've done more.
Posted by Wraith (Member # 779) on :
I've seen Final Flight, World Record, Kid's Story and Second Renaissance pt1 on Five (although for some reason they put them on at midnight and I forgot to set the video up for Rennaisance pt2 )
I agree with Snay; Final Flight and Second Rennaisance were definitely the best of the ones I've seen and I didn't care for the animation styles on Kid's Story and World Record. I'll probably get the DVD; I have a �5 Amazon voucher somewhere in my inbox...
quote: She's cutesy redhead.
Sounds good to me... Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
Not only did I watch all of these, but I also listened (well, read) the commentary tracks. Thus, I can answer this:
quote: I don't get *how* they completely blocked out the sky. How do you destroy a sky?
According to the director, those clouds of inky blackness were made up of nanomachines. Admittedly, nanotech is the new magic, but the implication is that they weren't simply creating clouds that block the sun, but instigating some sort of active (and self-renewing?) process that created an opaque layer in the atmosphere.
Really, the whole "scorched the sky" thing makes very little sense. If you're faced with an apocalyptic war between robots and organic life, a strategy that will ensure the extinction of 99% of that life hardly seems sound. Plus it didn't work, even a little.
Posted by aneurysm (Member # 906) on :
The Kid from Kids Story is the same person that follows neo around in Reloaded. Quite cool in my opinion, and i really like the art work on this one. Beyond is basically about a group of kids who find a glitch in the matrix..gravity isnt working as it should. not bad, but by no means the best. that goes to Osiris in my opinion. Dectecive Story is perfect film noir...excellent story, excellent art.
Posted by NightWing (Member # 4) on :
The message from the Osiris is expanded upon in the game Enter the Matrix. And in the movie Niobe mentions it as well.
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
I've been seriously considering getting a video game system just so I can play Enter the Matrix. I want to know all this stuff.
Posted by Mark Nguyen (Member # 469) on :
Or you can wait for the walkthrough.
Mark
Posted by aneurysm (Member # 906) on :
Aban the question you need to ask yourself is whether or not you want to spend the money. Enter The Matrix really isnt that great a game. I'm playing it solely to see the whole story. The gameplay is VERY glitchy. The graphics aren't really that impressive. Unless your planning on butying other games for the system you buy, in which case I recommend the Gamecube. I have owned all current systems and have sold my PS2 and Xbox. The PS2 is an awful machine. The Xbox is good but there isnt the quality games that there is for GameCube. If you would be buying it just for the Matrix game then I@d just get it for the PC.
Posted by David Templar (Member # 580) on :
quote:Originally posted by Sol System: Really, the whole "scorched the sky" thing makes very little sense. If you're faced with an apocalyptic war between robots and organic life, a strategy that will ensure the extinction of 99% of that life hardly seems sound. Plus it didn't work, even a little.
Question: was the Osiris mentioned in the Matrix Reloaded? I heard something about the Sentinels capturing the Osiris and downloading the location of Zion, thus alerting Niobe to the threat.
Posted by David Templar (Member # 580) on :
quote:Originally posted by Saltah'na: Question: was the Osiris mentioned in the Matrix Reloaded? I heard something about the Sentinels capturing the Osiris and downloading the location of Zion, thus alerting Niobe to the threat.
Um, Osiris detected the AI's drilling activity/plan and alerted Zion.
Posted by NightWing (Member # 4) on :
Niobe mentions the Osiris in the gathering after which Agent Smith delivers his earpiece.
Posted by Reverend (Member # 335) on :
quote:Originally posted by Saltah'na: Question: was the Osiris mentioned in the Matrix Reloaded? I heard something about the Sentinels capturing the Osiris and downloading the location of Zion, thus alerting Niobe to the threat.
They didn't capture the Osiris, they tor it to bits. Also, the machines seamed to already know exactly where Zion was.
Posted by Wraith (Member # 779) on :
I wonder what exactly did cause the Osiris to explode? It didn't look big enough to be a fusion reactor failing (assuming they have them). Air supplies?
Posted by aneurysm (Member # 906) on :
Maybe the fact that it crashed into the floor at one hell of a speed?
Posted by The Mighty Monkey of Mim (Member # 646) on :
quote:Originally posted by Reverend: Also, the machines seamed to already know exactly where Zion was.
But of course, considering that they've destroyed it 5 times before...
Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
Even if we ignore that, there's dialogue suggesting that Zion has repelled previous and less intense invasion attempts within the lifetimes of its current inhabitants.
Posted by Wraith (Member # 779) on :
quote:Originally posted by aneurysm: Maybe the fact that it crashed into the floor at one hell of a speed?
Well, yes but things don't just explode if they hit the floor at high speed. Anyway, it skidded along a bit beforehand.
Posted by Topher (Member # 71) on :
My impression was that the Sentinels cut off enough of those pads to make the Osiris fall to the ground, and then some of them managed to get inside and get at whatever power system runs those things.
Posted by The Mighty Monkey of Mim (Member # 646) on :
quote:Originally posted by Sol System: Even if we ignore that...
And why would we do that?
quote:...there's dialogue suggesting that Zion has repelled previous and less intense invasion attempts within the lifetimes of its current inhabitants.
True enough.
-MMoM Posted by Sol System (Member # 30) on :
Uh, it's a phrase meaning "even if example X did not exist, we could prove the same with example Y." Or at least it is in my hands.
Posted by The Mighty Monkey of Mim (Member # 646) on :
Oh. I thought you were somehow saying you disbelieved what the Architect was telling Neo. My mistake...
Posted by Dr Phlox (Member # 680) on :
I believe The Animatrix outdoes and puts to shame the Matrix Reloaded. Where was the Osiris crew was in the movie? If they had not killed them off they should have had a spin off. Final Flight should have been the intro. All the talking slowed the movie. But I do give props to Andy and Larry for doing what they wanna do, maybe revolutions will be better. *********************** Axel Foley: Don't you think I realize what's going on here, miss? Who do you think I am, huh? Don't you think I know that if I was some hotshot from out of town that pulled inside here and you guys made a reservation mistake, I'd be the first one to get a room and I'd be upstairs relaxing right now. But I'm not some hotshot from out of town, I'm a small reporter from "Rolling Stone" magazine that's in town to do an exclusive interview with Michael Jackson that's gonna be picked up by every major magazine in the country. I was gonna call the article "Michael Jackson Is Sitting On Top of the World," but now I think I might as well just call it "Michael Jackson Can Sit On Top of the World Just As Long As He Doesn't Sit in the Beverly Palm Hotel 'Cause There's No Niggers Allowed in There!"
Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :
Wow, Phlox, that's a bit of a long signature, don't you think? Short & sweet, I always say.
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
You are the anti-Simon winkie man!
Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :
Well, we can't all be solar systems, now can we?
Posted by Ultra Magnus (Member # 239) on :
Or have giant, sour penises.
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
It's sour?
Posted by Ultra Magnus (Member # 239) on :
Short & sweet.
Anti-Simon.
Giant & sour.
ZING!
Posted by Dr Phlox (Member # 680) on :
Since talking about your swizel sticks stops u long enough to stop rewinding the part in Final Frontier where Uhura Feather dances then my geeks I've made the world a better place. -------------------------- Axel Foley: Don't you think I realize what's going on here, miss? Who do you think I am, huh? Don't you think I know that if I was some hotshot from out of town that pulled inside here and you guys made a reservation mistake, I'd be the first one to get a room and I'd be upstairs relaxing right now. But I'm not some hotshot from out of town, I'm a small reporter from "Rolling Stone" magazine that's in town to do an exclusive interview with Michael Jackson that's gonna be picked up by every major magazine in the country. I was gonna call the article "Michael Jackson Is Sitting On Top of the World," but now I think I might as well just call it "Michael Jackson Can Sit On Top of the World Just As Long As He Doesn't Sit in the Beverly Palm Hotel 'Cause There's No Niggers Allowed in There!"
Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :
If you want to make the world a better place, please shoot your computer.
Posted by Dr Phlox (Member # 680) on :
Snay I pray they let u out of your basement soon to see some sunlight. Say it with me Wooosah. Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :
I don't live in a basement, I live in a 2-bedroom apartment because I work my ass off and I can afford nice things. I wish someone would buy you a dictionary so you can learn to properly communicate within the English language. Loser.
Posted by Dr Phlox (Member # 680) on :
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOsahhhhhhhhhh Posted by Malnurtured Snay (Member # 411) on :
Why do I reply to you? Oh, right, I'm drawn to trolls like I'm drawn to deer. I'm Snay: The Deer Slayer. Sort of like Buffy with demons, trolls get thrown in there somewhat randomly. You're mine Phlox-o-rama.
Posted by Siegfried (Member # 29) on :
Like a fresh morning rain shower, so shall I piss on the bickering in this thread. And I just drank a Super Gulp from the 7-11.
Let's stay on topic so that I may not have to urinate on the tirade.
This has been a public service announcement from The Committee To Keep Siegfried's Penis In His Pants.
Posted by Cartmaniac (Member # 256) on :
That committee must not be called upon often. B)
Posted by PsyLiam (Member # 73) on :
Also, Uhura dancing in ST V was enough to make my penis run up to my spleen and hide for at least three weeks.
Posted by Balaam Xumucane (Member # 419) on :
Talk about injaculation. Stop already. Jeez-X.
Hey I have something to keep Siegfried to himself. Something like being on topic, and yet somewhat self-important with my reviews of these fine animations.
The one I liked the best was predictably "Matriculation" because Peter Chung gets TEH POWW4R Up!!1!! and he makes me think about things that I might not have otherwise in a kind of tragic-comic way.
But the one I liked second best is sure to start a row. I liked "World Record" the second most best. I liked that crazy hyper-exaggerated ultra-contrast drawing style. I really liked the story.
I did not like "Detective Story" as it really didn't go anywhere new. I mean it was cool and it looked neat, but kind of dragged.
"Kid's Story" was interesting only that the kid outted himself or whatever and the animation was cool, but his disaffection was clearly not scribed by one who has had the pleasure of an American education (and before anyone starts telling me that Larry and Andy wrote it, I should mention that on the extras they talk about how Larry and Andy's script started with the kid at the school.)
"Osiris" was incredible eye-candy. The faces were better and more expressive than even Final Fantasy. The story wasn't too bad, but I found it kind of cookie-cutter.
"The Second Renaissances" were amazingly cool. Really excellent and unrelenting, unflinching style that underlined the theme of human arrogance/self-destructiveness and yet wasn't too preachy. I heart this animation style. Never seen Blue Sub 6, but I'm curious to now. That guy seems like he does not rest. Very cool. My problem was maybe more with it's integration into "The Matrix" as saga. Like I liked this independent of the whole "Matrix" world, but then I never really liked the whole human battery premise anyway so, I'm probably just biased.
"Program" cool. Uh. Ninja scroll, much?
"Beyond" was probably the most human of the stories. I liked it very much. It's weird and had this very dream-like quality without huge over-arching exciting� plot twists. I just thought it was a cool and original little vignette.
Pretty much the only one I was actually disappointed with was "Detective Story", and that was more a problem with story than anything else. Very cool. I will likely buy this soon.
Posted by Dr Phlox (Member # 680) on :
Did anybody understand World Record? I think he was running so fast he almost ran right out of the Matrix. --------------------- If they can't take a joke fuck 'em.
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