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Matrix Special Edition Cancelled

An anonymous reader writes "According to The Digital Bits, the recently announced Matrix Special Edition has been cancelled. Rumor is that it was cancelled by the Wachowski brothers in hopes of coming out with a Super Collectors Special Edition later."

28 of 227 comments (clear)

  1. No Official Reason? by TPIRman · · Score: 5, Insightful

    From the article: "There's no official reason given as to why this SE was cancelled."

    From the studio article in the same article: "Warner Home Video will not be releasing the previously announced The Matrix Special Edition double-disc DVD. In a shift in strategy to broaden The Matrix fan base prior to the May 15 theatrical release of the highly anticipated sequel The Matrix Reloaded, Warner Home Video will reprice The Matrix DVD to $19.99 SRP on April 29."

    There's your official reason right there, and it's reasonable. If Warner released an expensive special edition now, it would push the standard Matrix DVD farther back on the shelves. The special edition would sell well, undoubtedly, but only already-dedicated fans would be willing to pay a steep price. With Warner's new strategy, stores will promote the newly-discounted standard DVD, and newbies will be that much more encouraged to get into the film -- and subsequently more likely to head to theaters for the sequel. Makes good sense from a marketing point of view.

    Also, the article doesn't say that the SE has been killed forever -- indeed, it implies that a special edition of some kind will come out when Warner thinks the time is right.

    1. Re:No Official Reason? by Anonvmous+Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      "don't see how NOT releasing the special edition is a better option, because then you're just depriving the fans."

      "Milking the franchise via special edition DVD's" has been a hot topic lately. Lots of people feel burned when they buy a DVD, only to have a new DVD a few months later that contains bonus footage.

      It's possible that the Wachao..uh...however-you-spell-their-name Brothers has concerns about this release tainting a future and potentially more lucrative release.

    2. Re:No Official Reason? by someguy · · Score: 4, Insightful

      You seem to be missing the idea behind normal retail.

      Car dealerships don't have hundreds of models like places that sell movies have hundreds of movies.

      Coke is a firmly entrenched product. In many places it isn't even competing with more than one other company. The campus I attend school at is exlusively Coke. This isn't a situation they can pull with the Matrix DVDs.

      Your Warcraft example doesn't really hold up either. At most times there are no more than a few dozen titles that are being pushed by retail outlets. Again, many fewer titles to compete for marketshare than in the movie section.

      Or maybe you do see the Matrix as being that important as to be on the same level. What WB seems to be trying to accomplish here is ensuring greater sales for the super Matrix edition later by teasing people in with the entry level. Newbies who bought the Matrix normal edition and fell in love probably wouldn't be willing to go out the next day and get the super version. Give them a few months to dig on the normal version AND a new movie - you've not only sold a basic copy, but a super copy as well to the same person.

      --
      A planet where apes evolved from men? Long live the apes.
  2. What? No Matrix 1.5? by Astroboy! · · Score: 5, Funny

    How can they hope to keep up with the X-Men franchise?

    1. Re:What? No Matrix 1.5? by JPelorat · · Score: 4, Funny

      Matrix: Rehashed

      --
      Hokey statistics and ancient misconceptions are no match for a good thought in your head, kid!
  3. They had though of releasing both versions by plexxer · · Score: 5, Funny

    but George Lucas has that idea patented already.

    --
    The government's moral compass is controlled by GPS.
    In times of crises, they alter it to suit their needs.
    1. Re:They had though of releasing both versions by finkployd · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Not really, Lucas's patent specifically covers the concept of tricking people into thinking that each release will be the "last and greatest" one, only to tweak the film and make Greedo shoot first, and release it again.

      Peter Jackson was always up front about what is being released and when. Everyone know there would be two, a theatrical DVD and an extended DVD shortly after. They have also already claimed there would be a big honkin' box set when it is all finished.

      Finkployd

  4. Hmmm... by TopShelf · · Score: 4, Interesting

    If they indeed cancelled it because they'd rather do the whole thing later on, and do it better, then you have to give them credit. How pi$$ed would fans be if they came out with the SE, and then another version of the same stuff later on?

    --
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    1. Re:Hmmm... by tuffy · · Score: 4, Informative
      no shit. When the first LOTR movie came out on DVD, a friend of mine bought a copy (what was it, 2-disk? 3?). Pre-ordered, even. Boy, was he pissed when I told him I was waiting until November because of the 4-disc set.

      It was 2 discs, and none of the stuff on his disc of extras can be found anywhere on your 4 disc set. So, if one really wants the "ultimate" version of the film, with both cuts and all the extras, both sets are needed. But one has little cause for surprise or complaint, since New Line announced this strategy months before the DVD release and one could find all the versions listed at DVD retailers' web sites for a very long time.

      --

      Ita erat quando hic adveni.

    2. Re:Hmmm... by ckaminski · · Score: 4, Informative

      Actually, what pisses me off most about Army of Darkness, is that I cannot seem to get a version with *ALL* of the publicly released footage. For example, the TV version has some extra scenes in the windmall that are present on the Japanese subtitled import, but that video is missing a bunch of other scenes in the castle. And the 3, count em three different DVD versions are still missing the same scenes. It's fucking annoying. One of my favorite movies, and I can't seem to get one whole cohesive piece. ARRGGH!!!!

      Too bad I'll never be able to watch Bruce Campbell in any movie or TV show and not think: "Well maybe I didn't pronounce every exact syllable, but yeah, I said your damn words..." :-)

  5. Super Collectors Special Edition by MnO-Raphael · · Score: 4, Funny

    Will this one have all guns replaced by walkie-talkies? Or is that Super Extended Collectors Special Edition?

    1. Re:Super Collectors Special Edition by Maserati · · Score: 5, Funny

      "We need walkie-talkies, lots of walkie-talkies."

      --
      Veteran, Bermuda Triangle Expeditionary Force, 1992-1951
  6. You mean Unloaded, not Cancelled. by Limburgher · · Score: 4, Funny

    Dammit. Could have been so much cooler.

    --

    You are not the customer.

  7. Why bother? I'm waiting for the ... by burgburgburg · · Score: 4, Funny

    Super Mega Ultra Special Edition of the Matrix trilogy. That will include enough code to actually create your own Matrix, enslave, at the very least, members of your own family AND do wire work with the best of them (assuming the best of them can't do the kung fu moves without being attached to a wire rig). And it will be reasonably priced for the holiday season.

  8. Moved to archive: by DeadSea · · Score: 4, Informative

    The correct link for the article, since the article was moved off the home page into the archives.

  9. When asked for comment... by SlowMovingTarget · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...Matrix star Keanu Reeves replied: "Whoa."

  10. Not to mention... by JayBlalock · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The "Special Edition" DVD was going to be 90% recycled material from the original Matrix and Matrix Revisited DVDs, with only a bit more added. Perhaps someone realized that no one was going to buy it. (casual fans would just buy the movie, hardcore fans already have 'Revisited') Kudos to the Wachowskis for NOT trying to gouge their fans!

    --
    Bush: He's Liberal in all the wrong ways.
  11. Noooooo! by Jordy · · Score: 4, Funny

    Well I guess we can't have everything.

    At least we'll have the Platinum Edition, Superbit Edition, Limited Edition, Full Screen Edition, Widescreen Edition, Platinum Series Exteneded Edition, Collector's Edition, Boomstick Edition, Box Set, Unrated Edition, Criterion Edition, Ultimate Edition, 20th Anniversary Edition (in 20 years), Director's Cut, Deluxe Edition and of course this Super Collectors Special Edition to buy and enjoy!

    My god I'm stick of DVD editions.

    --
    The world is neither black nor white nor good nor evil, only many shades of CowboyNeal.
  12. The reason why... by Toasty16 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ...they cancelled it because the special edition was just the original Matrix DVD bundled with "Enter the Matrix", a making-of DVD that was previously only available as a separate purchase. That makes buying the "Special Edition" redundant because every geek worth his salt already has the Matrix DVD, so now they would have TWO identical DVDs and a making-of DVD. With that stupid project cancelled, the Wachowskis+WB can work on a TRUE special edition, possibly with more special features and commentary by cast members other than Carrie-Anne Moss. Of course, I can't wait to be fleeced of $70 for the ultra-mega-super-duper edition 6-disc trilogy set coming out after the release of the "The Matrix: Revolutions."

  13. Very Nice Move by Strange+Ranger · · Score: 5, Insightful

    > Rumor is that it was cancelled by the Wachowski brothers in hopes of coming out with a Super Collectors Special Edition later."

    rather than trying to milk us for both the Special Edition and then (surprise!) the Super Collectors Special Edition.
    The theater release schedule is terrific as well.

    The Wachowski brothers are going to have a huge and satisfied fan base simply by doing the opposite of whatever this guy has done.

    --

    Operator, give me the number for 911!
  14. Re:Fine with me! by nojomofo · · Score: 4, Interesting

    A lot of actors have realized that folks really like ... deleted scenes."

    On the "UHF" DVD, during the deleted scenes section, Al says several times that, basically, there's a reason that the scenes were deleted. In some instances, it might be interesting to know what was going through the director's mind (or at least getting hints about it), but I think in most cases, Al is right - watch the movie, the deleted scenes aren't in it for a reason.

  15. Ah, the Lucas gambit by sql*kitten · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Rumor is that it was cancelled by the Wachowski brothers in hopes of coming out with a Super Collectors Special Edition later

    This is how it works:
    1. Shoot a movie, but keep all the unused material from the cutting room floor
    2. Every few months, splice some of these back into the film, think of a new name for the film like "Special Edition", "Director's Cut", "Colllector's Edition" or any combination of the above, or reformat it to widescreen. Sell this new film at full price in the stores.
    3. PROFIT!!


    Who are the customers? Die hard fans, and relatives who have no idea what to get someone for xmas/birthday but remember that they liked the film when it was on at the cinema. Don't get me wrong, I thought The Matrix was a good film, but it was never a cultural revolution, it was always a franchise.
  16. DVD Crock ! by bushboy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Beware of what your buying into...

    You pay the price to see the movie big-screen and then they can fleece you later on with the same movie on DVD that has *EXTRA FEATURES*

    Later on, there's a super-extended *Directors Cut* version.

    The bad side of this digital-age is obvious - overpriced, over-sold, over exagerated, redundant.

    The good side is not so obvious and rarely seen these days - pure quality and value for money.

    This quality is out there, but my god, you have to wade through 90% of crap to find it.

    --
    A slashdotting - you get the stick first and then the carrot !
    1. Re:DVD Crock ! by stratjakt · · Score: 5, Insightful

      >> they can fleece you later on with the same movie on DVD that has *EXTRA FEATURES*

      How is that fleecing you? You don't need to buy the Special Edition, the Collectors Edition, and the Boxed Set when it's released.

      I don't get the whole "how dare they think of offering a product that I dont need" attitude.

      You dont want it? Dont buy it. What's the rub?

      --
      I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
    2. Re:DVD Crock ! by WankersRevenge · · Score: 5, Funny

      This quality is out there, but my god, you have to wade through 90% of crap to find it.

      And how is this any different from posting on Slashdot?

      ;)

  17. Obligatory PVP link for multiple DVD versions by Oliver+Wendell+Jones · · Score: 5, Funny


    Click here

    --
    A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing -- Emo Phillips
  18. Super Collectors Special Edition? by drblunt · · Score: 4, Funny
    Then, after the Super Collectors Special Edition, they will take all three movies, put them in a 8 DVD set, and release the Ultimate Super Happy Collectors Special Fun-Time Edition, followed by the Utlimate Super Happy Collectors Special Fun-Time Edition :Platnium Edition, now with The Super Special Ultimate Trading Cards of Doom.

    Man, I can't wait.

    Doc

    --
    We should take care not to make the intellect our god; it has, of course, powerful muscles, but no personality.
  19. You could, like, rent it.... by DG · · Score: 4, Funny

    You know, there are places where you can borrow movies for a limited time for a small fee.

    DG

    --
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