The Matrix is the beginning stages of dating. It’s new, fresh, fun, and exciting. There’s a little romance, a lot of action, and even though things get a little bit confusing in places, it’s still a real thrill. No matter how it ends, you will always have a special place for it in your heart.

The Matrix Reloaded is the midpoint of the relationship. Things are still pretty good, even if there are some moments where things are a bit less exciting than they used to be. You’re comfortable with the main players at this point; you’ve spent a lot of time with them, after all. The action is more spread out and doesn’t happen quite as often, but it’s a lot more spectacular and intense.

The Matrix Revolutions is the break-up. Things come to an end, and not in the way you had hoped. When it’s all over, you’re left bitter, angry, and confused. You can’t help but wonder if the whole relationship might have been a waste of time. You still have affection for the people involved, but it is somewhat tainted now. You’ll always remember those golden early days, but the end just leaves you depressed and shaking your head, feeling as if you invested all that time in something that ended up going nowhere.

Now, Warner presents The Matrix Revolutions on DVD, a photo album of those last, painful stages in the relationship. It’s a really nice photo album: the pictures look great, the sound is amazing, and the extra features are excellent, but the memories it contains will just never be the best ones.

The Matrix Revolutions is presented in anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen, and it looks pretty amazing. There are just a few minor flaws – edges ring slightly at times, and contrasts lean just a bit to the dark side, obscuring detail in some of the darker scenes. Other than that, however, the transfer is really strong. Image clarity is crisp, clean, and sharp, although the level of detail is noticeably more impressive in close-up shots. Colors are appropriately muted; in the matrix, everything takes on that green overtone that’s become such a part of the film’s identity, while in the real world, colors are solid and lifelike, with good, strong flesh tones. There is no dust, debris, or other blemishes of any kind, ensuring that the film is impressively clean from start to finish. While not entirely flawless, this is still a superb transfer.

Even more impressive is the fantastic Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack that adorns the film. This is what an action film should sound like; aggressive surrounds, superior imaging, and a deep, rich soundfield that encompasses every aspect of the aural spectrum. Surround usage is set to maximum, with the rear channels delivering every sort of sound effect; guns, explosions, and the like are the most bombastic, but no smaller sound effect goes ignored. The film’s music is almost alive; from muted, quiet, and building in intensity to driving, intense, and pulsating with energy. Throughout it all, the dialogue never loses its identity, always staying just on top of the mix and blended in expertly.

Disc one includes just four Trailers, one Teaser each for The Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded, The Animatrix, and the theatrical trailer for The Matrix Revolutions. The rest of the extra features are housed on disc two.

• The Matrix Recalibrated – An 27-minute look at the making of the film, with lots of on-set, behind the scenes footage, plus interviews with Keanu Reeves, Lawrence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Harold Perrineau, Nona Gaye, and Joel Silver, as well as many of the film’s crew.
• CG Revolution –This 15-minute featurette focuses on the film’s incredible special effects.
• Super Burly Brawl – A multi-angle featurette looking at Neo’s massive fight with Agent Smith. It offers three angles: a combination of original on-set footage and animatics; storyboards; and the final product.
• Future Gamer: The Matrix Online (10:59) – A look at the development of the massively multiplayer online role-playing game The Matrix Online.
• Before The Revolution – An interactive Matrix timeline that covers the beginning of the machine revolution through the end of The Matrix Reloaded.
• 3-D Evolution – A collection of concept art, storyboards, and stills from the movie. It can be viewed individually or as a slideshow (5:36)
• Neo Realism (12:23) – An effects-based featurette that looks at the evolution of bullet time.
• Super Big Mini Models (8:47) – A piece focusing on the model work for the films visual effects.
• Double Agent Smith (7:11) – Another effects featurette, this one focusing on how the multiple Agent Smiths were created.
• Mind Over Matter (8:04) – A final effects featurette, showcasing the film’s wire work this time around.

The interface for the set is pretty sharp. An action-packed film clip montage set to sweeping score music comprises the main menu. The scene selection menu presents full motion chapter previews, and is easy to navigate. There are film-clip transitions between each and every menu screen, but while most menus feature video clips, some of the other submenus are static and silent. Still, the interface as a whole looks great and is easy to use.

The city of Zion prepares for the final battle against the machines, while Neo has to face Agent Smith for the last time.

The Matrix Revolutions stars Keanu Reeves, Lawrence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Harold Perrineau, Anthony Zerbe, and Nona Gaye. It was written and directed by Larry & Andy Wachowski, and produced by Joel Silver.

My disappointment with The Matrix Revolutions was pretty rampant the first time I saw the film in theaters. However, as is so often the case with movies where the hype outshines the film, I found that I enjoyed it much more upon revisiting it on DVD. I still think that the film gets a bit muddled and leaves a few things too open-ended, but at least I can say I enjoyed the film on second viewing. There are some things I noticed this time around that I liked less as well, so while I didn’t dislike it as much as I had previously, it’s still my least favorite entry in the series.

Good, bad, or indifferent – no matter you’re opinion of the film, there’s no denying that this is a spectacular DVD. The film looks and sounds fantastic, and the extra features really make this disc stand out. The numerous, in-depth featurettes are interesting, informative, fun, and fascinating, and they give a nice overview of not only the film itself, but some of the peripheral Matrix properties. As usual, the lack of any input from the Wachowski brothers is disappointing, but the fact that almost all of the cast and the rest of the crew are involved makes up for it in a big way. Since most Matrix fans are going to buy this DVD anyway, it’s nice that it’s such a superior package.

 

Matrix Revolutions (Widescreen Special Edition)
Lowest Price (Wal-Mart - 19.43) MSRP 29.95	19.43	19.46	19.47	20.97	20.97	23.63	26.99
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