The Ultimate Matrix Collection

Starring: Akio tsuka, Clayton Watson Director: Kji Morimoto, Mahiro Maeda, Shinichir Watanabe, Takeshi Koike, Yoshiaki Kawajiri Original UK Premiere: 2003 Dvd Release: 6th December, 2004 Number Of Discs: 10 Format: Box set, PAL, Region 2 Encoding

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The Ultimate Matrix Collection is a DVD release featuring all the titles in the Matrix Series, as well as several hours of special features, spread over 10 discs. It was released by Warner Home Video on December 6, 2004. The aim of the collection was to compile all three movies in the trilogy in one release, as well as The Animatrix, the feature length documentary The Matrix Revisited & many other extras that were not available on the three previous, separate releases. A Limited Edition of the Ultimate Matrix Collection was also released, packaged in a transparent case & including an exclusive resin bust of Neo & 80-page booklet. one by the critics Todd McCarthy, John Powers & David Thomson ; & one by the philosophers Ken Wilber & Cornel West. The set also features The Matrix Reloaded Revisited & The Matrix Revolutions Revisited, two new making of documentaries on the sequels, divided into segments on larger sequences or aspects of production, which may in turn be viewed as short segments.

If you like extras on DVDs or always thing that there are never enough then this boxset is for you. Only 4 discs contains the films & the rest are packed full with extras. A quick note about the design of the box set - its great & is a wonderful set to have on your shelf to show off your love of the Matrix. I also consider it a bargain price - where else do you get 10 DVDs for under £30? And this is the Matrix!!!

The films discs hardley need reviewing - everyone knows how amazing The Matrix is, & the Matrix Reloaded is almost as good I believe. The Matrix Revolutoins has some major faults that many other have discussed, which was partly resposible for the loss of a star rating. All the films have some commentary options which I enjoyed listening to once. The Animatrix mini films are excellent & any Matrix fan who hasnt seen them should do so right away.

Now to the other 6 discs. There are documentaries about the making of the films. I found these varied a bit in quality but overall were good & very interesting. There are also 2 interesting discs which cover aspects behind the Matrix including religion & philosophy.

So my only complaint really is that the documentaries are occassioanlly a bit simple & could have delved a bit deeper. Oh, & the disappointment of the 3rd film. But a very worthwhile purchase if you think youre interested in the stuff discussed here - youll spend hours watching it & I expect youll be very satisfied.

Mahiro Maeda is one of the preeminent Japanese anime creators working today, having worked as director, character designer & animator for many of Japans top series. He has been one of the top contributors at GONZO Digimation for many years, having directed Blue Submarine No. Unlimited & Gankutsuou. His design work ranges from the Angels in Neon Genesis Evangelion to production & mechanical design for such series as Last Exile & The Vision of Escaflowne. His earlier years were spent mostly at the famed Gainax animation studio, where he helped animate classics such as Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Castle in the Sky & Porco Rosso. Maeda is one of the few Japanese directors to actively collaborate with non-Japanese on various projects. He provided key animation for the animation sequence in Quentin Tarantino s Kill Bill Vol. 1. He was also one of the few selected to direct a portion of The Animatrix - The Second Renaissance Parts I & II, respectively. He has also visited the American Anime Expo convention in 2000 & 2003. Posters Of The Animatrix

Editors Choice: The Animatrix, The Ultimate Matrix Collection, Final Fantasy Unlimited, Vol 4, View DVDology

Yoshiaki Kawajiri is a critically acclaimed writer / director of Japanese animation. Bloodlust & is considered one of the more revolutionary directors in Anime history. Kawajiri was born in 1950 & grew up in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. After he graduated from Yokohama High School in 1968 he began working for a few years as an animator at Mushi Production Animation until it closed in 1972. He then joined Madhouse Studio & in the 1970s was promoted to animation director & finally debuted as a film director in 1984 s SF Shinseiki Lensman, jointly with the more experienced Kazuyuki Hirokawa. Gaining an interest in darker animation, he began directing The Running Man then after that was completed he was instructed to make a 35 minute short based on Hideyuki Kikuchi s novels, which was released as Yoju Toshi. However after completing it, his producers were so impressed he was asked to make it feature length. Kawajiri enjoyed the dark tone so much he agreed & managed to complete the entire film in under a year. Posters Of The Animatrix

Editors Choice: The Animatrix, The Ultimate Matrix Collection, Ninja Scroll, Cyber City Oedo 808, Demon City Shinjuku, View DVDology

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