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Pushing the Envelope For Matrix Reloaded SFX
BenTheDewpendent writes "I just read Steve Silberman's article on the Matrix Reloaded over at wired. I was only slightly anxious to see it previous to reading the article but what they are able to do technicaly now will put bullet time to shame."
So I'm totally pumped to see what they do now.
After watching all the gay movies that copied the Matrix, i'm ready to see em innovate some more.
Hell, just maybe it will be so cool and complex it won't be on the next GAP commercials before December.
I got nothin'.
They did the matrix it with so little cash flow compared to what they have this time around. So whose to say that it can't be great again, take another step and but another standard in cinematography. I loved Matrix, it was one fo the few films that kept me really intranced with the movie through all of it. I really hope that Reloaded will do the same, if not i'll be sad
I think it was probably an alpha version - the models seemed very "placeholderish" to me, and you have to take into consideration that the game is being developed to be fully playable on the lowest common denominator - the PS2. While a PS2- only game can be amazing, when the capabilities of all three consoles need to be combined, there can't be as much eyecandy since all three consoles have different hardware. Also, there didn't seem to be any antialiasing, which I'm sure will make it look better. Who cares about graphics anyway ;)
I am reminded of why I enjoyed the original Matrix so much, why I saw it three times in its opening week.
I am the only real programmer/computer-nerd/technophile in my circle of friends. The rest live primarily in the realms of literature, audio engineering/theory, and studio art. This fact is only important, because I remember them chiding me about the somewhat cliche plot and often hammy acting in the original Matrix. I couldn't exactly explain to them why I found the movie so thoroughly enjoyable. I didn't claim it to be a masterpiece, but I couldn't make them understand why I could and can still watch the movie so many times and still find it so entertaining.
If you read the article, you instantly feel the passion for innovation, Gaeta's and the Wachowskis' hunger to create new and beautiful cinematographic standards. And I think I can finally explain that to my snobby friends.
Sure, the story is a little trite. The acting, while strong in many places, has some definite flaws. But anyone who has a similar desire to understand complex systems and improve upon them, sees these hopes in the original Matrix. They are just a bunch of skilled and creative geeks trying to innovate new and beautiful tools. And as I'm sure many slashdotters understand, that fact makes me feel all warm and cozy inside.
so, by making movies about it, we are slowly bringing the possibility of something like the matrix closer to reality!
would anyone on /. object to "Matrix" prisons for criminals? what about for the severely physically disabled? just for research?
"You never want a serious crisis to go to waste." - Rahm Emanuel
It was a slow network day and I happend to be surfing with the graphics disabled. Loading up Slashdot, I saw the "Matrix" ALT tag and thought, "Neat, Slashdot's finally got a Matrix icon." What a disappointment when I clicked to view it. I mean, OK, the "red pill" is recognizable and familiar to anyone who's seen the movie, and the icon itself is well rendered, but I was really expecting something that better conveyed the dark, cold, futuristic mood of the "Matrix" world.
If there's ever a Slashdot poll on "Favorite design for new 'Matrix' logo", hopefully there will be an option for "Black screen with descending green characters."
apparently those weren't her boobies, everything apart from her face was CGI.
I trust the Washowski brothers to stay fidel to the kind of movie they delivered with The Matrix, just watch the extras on the DVD's and you will understand how passionate about it they are.
The original Matrix was very strong in the FX department but it didn't prevent it from having a good story, it added to it and I don't see why it should be any different for the sequels with the bro. at the helm.
And, more importantly
The Washowski tried to sell it as a trilogy to the studios from the beginning but Warner took a wait and see how well the first movie sell before doing the other ones.
Of course, given the huge success of the first they got the green light to do the sequels and the necessary funding and they probably have more pressure on their shoulder in many ways (although given that they have shown their directing talent both in Bound and The Matrix the studio probably was less nervous about working with them) and of course there is a possibility that they will bite more than they can chew and it will suck but all in all I am much more confident in that sequel than in about any other sequel to a great movie with the exception maybe of LOTR (whose sequel, TTT, I found inferior to FOTR).
"The obvious mathematical breakthrough would be development of an easy way to factor large prime numbers." Bill Gates,