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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."
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.
How can they hope to keep up with the X-Men franchise?
but George Lucas has that idea patented already.
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In times of crises, they alter it to suit their needs.
...Matrix star Keanu Reeves replied: "Whoa."
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.
...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."
> 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!
This is how it works:
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.
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 !
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