Matrix Box Ofice down 45% from Reloaded

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-11-12 12:44am

I wasn't referring to the storyline; I was referring to the new filmmaking styles Star Wars brought into the equation. The story was fairly derivative in many ways, to be fair. The visuals effects, however, were unlike anything ever seen before. It was, effectively, the first modern big-ticket, heavily visual blockbuster. Without Star Wars, there would be no Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, or Lord of the Rings. Or The Matrix, for that matter.

The Matrix brings nothing new into the world of filmmaking other than pretentious, audience-alienating pseudobabble.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-11-12 12:49am

Didn't they actually invent the robot camera for Star Wars?

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-11-12 12:51am

Darth Wong wrote:Didn't they actually invent the robot camera for Star Wars?

Wouldn't surprise me, the visual effects team for Star Wars has always been incredibly innovative.

Bug-Eyed Earl · Post by **Bug-Eyed Earl** » 2003-11-12 12:57am

Darth Wong wrote:
David wrote:
Durran Korr wrote:Original? You've bought into fanboy propaganda, hook, line, and sinker. Not even the Wachowskis claim that their movies are original.
Show me another popular movie and/or book that has the same theme.
"Total Recall" handled a very similar theme about reality, choice, and identity without all of the pedantic, pretentious pseudo-philosophical bullshit, and every Hong Kong action film existence overuses the slow-mo just like "The Matrix" did.

And Dark City.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-11-12 12:58am

Oh, yeah, how could I forget Dark City?

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-11-12 01:02am

Would there be any online video of the car commercial which debuted "bullet time"? I know such things aren't easy to find (hell, I can't find copies of most commercials online), but it would certainly be worth a look.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-11-12 01:11am

Darth Wong wrote:Would there be any online video of the car commercial which debuted "bullet time"? I know such things aren't easy to find (hell, I can't find copies of most commercials online), but it would certainly be worth a look.

I can't find it, unfortunately. But it was originally done in a Chevy Truck commercial. It's true that the Wachowskis were the first to bring it to film, but the point is that it wasn't their original idea.

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2003-11-12 01:35am

'Wow. You have freeze-frame with wrap around.' - Comment made during a showing of Lost In Space. Bullettime is merely building on that overused concept.

SpacedTeddyBear · Post by **SpacedTeddyBear** » 2003-11-12 01:42am

When I watched Revolutions on opening night, it started with the usual advertisements, and stuntpeople bitching about piracy ( a chorus of boos ensured). After a couple of movie previews, the one for ROTK came on, and everybody in the theatre just absolutely cheered. The only time I've ever seen something like that was for the previews for SW:TPM. Even then, it wasn't even close. I think people were more satisfied with the preview than the movie

Darth Servo · Post by **Darth Servo** » 2003-11-12 12:24pm

Darth Wong wrote:So was "Bad News Bears 3".

BNB 3? I didn't even know there was a BNB 2.

Zoink · Post by **Zoink** » 2003-11-12 01:53pm

SpacedTeddyBear wrote: After a couple of movie previews, the one for ROTK came on, and everybody in the theatre just absolutely cheered. The only time I've ever seen something like that was for the previews for SW:TPM. Even then, it wasn't even close. I think people were more satisfied with the preview than the movie

I watched a similar batch of previews. The ROTK one looked good (had seen similar preview before from DVD), but what really got me was the preview for "Troy".... I hadn't heard *anything* about this movie until that preview, and when they zoomed from the greek ship to show a sea full of ships my jaw dropped and I was like "TROJAN WAR!!!" .... sweet!

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2003-11-12 02:01pm

With the way that Revolutions is doing they might have it out on DVD before Christmas.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-11-12 02:06pm

neoolong wrote:With the way that Revolutions is doing they might have it out on DVD before Christmas.

Nah. February, I should think.

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2003-11-12 02:17pm

Durran Korr wrote:
neoolong wrote:With the way that Revolutions is doing they might have it out on DVD before Christmas.
Nah. February, I should think.

"Worried that the time to make money from the franchise may be running out faster than expected, representatives for Warner Home Video contacted some of the major video retailers and rental outlets on Monday to let them know that Revolutions may be coming home a lot sooner than expected. Early January was mentioned but if the box office continues to drop at its current pace, Matrix Revolutions could hit DVD before Christmas."

Source

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2003-11-12 02:18pm

I believe "bullet-time" was invented by the BBC and first used in a nature programme with David Attenborough, I forget which series it was as it was years ago. At the end of an episode it would always show one of the bullet-time shots, one amusing one was of a flock of geese in flight as the camera flew around them only for a MiG-29 to fly over at speed and disrupt the flock.

The Center Parcs adverts also used them in the UK (I think it's a US company given the spelling).

Stravo · Post by **Stravo** » 2003-11-12 02:23pm

neoolong wrote:
Durran Korr wrote:
neoolong wrote:With the way that Revolutions is doing they might have it out on DVD before Christmas.
Nah. February, I should think.
"Worried that the time to make money from the franchise may be running out faster than expected, representatives for Warner Home Video contacted some of the major video retailers and rental outlets on Monday to let them know that Revolutions may be coming home a lot sooner than expected. Early January was mentioned but if the box office continues to drop at its current pace, Matrix Revolutions could hit DVD before Christmas."

Source

YAY!! As much as I depsised this movie I wouldn't mind picking it up for 14.99 and wathing the Neo-Smith fight in the comfort of my own home.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-11-12 02:27pm

I stand corrected. Wow.

Stravo · Post by **Stravo** » 2003-11-12 02:45pm

The three movie box set idea SUCKS. If thats the only way I can get Revolutions I'll be pissed. I already own the three movies, why the hell would I want to buy them again. And if its being released so soon, I expect that the Extras will be mighty slim as there is little time to put a good package togteher (although I've always found Matrix extras rather on the flimsy side, does anyone remember the AWFUL AWFUL commentray track in the original Matrix where the people spent half the time just watching the movie?)

The 2nd weekend numbers should clinch it. If we see a drop off of Hulk like proportions (which I predict by anecdotal eveidence from seeing the audience number differences between Wednesday night and Sunday night)The release will be out by Christmas.

Is there a precedent for this?

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-11-12 02:54pm

I don't think so. Revolutions will probably do at least 100 million, and I don't think I've ever heard of a 100 million grossing movie because released on DVD less than two months after its theatrical release.

CmdrWilkens · Post by **CmdrWilkens** » 2003-11-12 04:55pm

I don't know, 100 mil is gonna be tough domestically. I mean sure it took in 50 mil last weekend but it will, most likely, drop off faster than Hulk (and even given the 84 million 5 day head start) it will be lucky to do 10% of what it did last weekend. I wouldn't be suprised if the film doesn't break 95 mil after next week even with that head start.

zombie84 · Post by **zombie84** » 2003-11-12 05:08pm

Not to beat a dead horse here...

Durran Korr wrote:I wasn't referring to the storyline;

You were too referring to it.

The visuals effects, however, were unlike anything ever seen before. The Matrix brings nothing new into the world of filmmaking other than pretentious, audience-alienating pseudobabble.

The Matrix brought an unseen visual style to filmmaking. A proto-BulletTime had been tested in commercials but the Matrix version took it to the next level, using 720 degree rotations during gunbattles. Aside from that, the design and visual style of the Matrix, from the cinematography to camera movement, was fairly innovative, even if elements of it had been seen before. Space dogfights had been seen before Star Wars, but it was the visceral presentation that made it unique--whereas Matrix fused the hyperkinetic styles of John Woo and James Cameron and threw in Bullet Time, Star Wars fused the space battles of Flash Gorden and WWII dogfight footage amongst eye-popping special effects.

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2003-11-12 06:48pm

Stravo wrote:The three movie box set idea SUCKS. If thats the only way I can get Revolutions I'll be pissed. I already own the three movies, why the hell would I want to buy them again. And if its being released so soon, I expect that the Extras will be mighty slim as there is little time to put a good package togteher (although I've always found Matrix extras rather on the flimsy side, does anyone remember the AWFUL AWFUL commentray track in the original Matrix where the people spent half the time just watching the movie?)

The Matrix Revisited was a decent idea. And keeps you from having to rebuy the movie.

Rumor has it that if they did rerelease them, they'd go for super special editions. Which bets the question of what the hell is there left that hasn't been covered. The only thing left is going Superbit-esque on them. I would still be pissed if they did that box set though.

The 2nd weekend numbers should clinch it. If we see a drop off of Hulk like proportions (which I predict by anecdotal eveidence from seeing the audience number differences between Wednesday night and Sunday night)The release will be out by Christmas.

I saw it on Veteran's Day, and there was less than 10 people in the theater. Make of that what you will.

Is there a precedent for this?

No. Theaters don't like having DVD releases so close to when it's in theaters because it cuts their audience if there is an option to buy the movie for only about twice as much as a regular ticket.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-11-12 06:59pm

So what are they going to call the new box set? The Matrix Re-Exploited? Matrix Fans Re-Duped? Matrix Regurgitated?

Stravo · Post by **Stravo** » 2003-11-12 07:07pm

Darth Wong wrote:So what are they going to call the new box set? The Matrix Re-Exploited? Matrix Fans Re-Duped? Matrix Regurgitated?

Matrix Unlubed. My ass still hurts.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2003-11-12 07:31pm

Blah, my bro wants the boxset so he doesn't fork out for the individual DVDs.

He bought the soundtrack to Revolutions the other day and from what I heard, it's great. At least Don Davis can make up for the lack of good execution in the sequels.