Matrix Revolutions: Reprogrammed, The

I watched jerick's The Matrix Revolutions Reprogrammed awhile back (and approved it) I wanted to write a more indepth review but need to refresh my memory about the details. So a few words of praise for this edit (SPOILERS AHEAD):

As I watched this edit I found myself agreeing/happy with a lot of his editing choices.

I enjoyed the integration of the Osrisis scenes in the beginning of the edit. The new transition to Neo waking from his dream was excellent. jerick did an excellent job of shortening the dance/rave/celebration crap. He got rid of the "I love you too damn much!" (one of the worst pieces of dialogue, right up there with Anakin's lines in AOTC).

The key narrative change IMO, that really made this edit effective was that Neo is not as "super-human" as he is in the theatrical version. He doesn't remove the bullet from Trinity's chest, his powers don't carry over into the real world etc. I thought these were excellent choices as I personally never liked the fact that in the sequels Neo could do crazy stuff in the real world.

jerick's initial submission was probably ready for approval (minus a few minor issues), I gave him quite a lot of feedback on places that could be smoothed out, (i was definitely a bit too picky!) but he was patient with me, worked on the edit some more and it turned out great. From the technical side of things this edit is well executed.

Just a quick note, I watched the 720p version that jerick uploaded to vimeo. I did watch a short sample of his BD release and everything looked in order.

Nice work jerick! I look forward to future edits from you.

Iam a big fan of the Matrix series and was really looking forward to this edit. It did not disappoint me in any way,Infact I now enjoy this version much more than the 2nd and 3rd movie. If this would of been the original outcome of the last 2 movies am sure it would of been more appreciated. Amazing work ! Seamless changes between the 2 to make one epic movie. This is a classic fan edit . Well done Jerick !

This fanedit was remarkably well done. Jerick cut out a lot of extraneous crap from the original sequels, tightened up the pacing, and pretty much seamlessly integrated the two movies. The latter movie especially benefited from this treatment: a lot of the unbearably dumb parts are gone, and in their place is an engaging grand finale. My sole complaint is that there were a few scenes where Morpheus is speaking a little too quietly. I would have bumped up his volume a few decibels and knocked the music down slightly during crescendos (but only slightly). I suspect this is more a matter of taste and of my use of headphones, but it's a quibble either way.

I loved the first MATRIX movie when I saw it in theatres back then. I don't know if anybody here is into German 70's movies, but I actually thought it was inspired by Rainer Werner Fassbinder's WELT AM DRAHT. (If you've never seen it, please, try and find it. It was based on the novel Simulacron-3, that was later adapted as The Thirtheenth Floor, just without ANY SFX, since it was a German TV movie. In the f*cking 70's!) The Matrix was also probably the last time I was truly blown away by SFX in movies.

Later I was really disappointed with RELOADED, so much in fact, that I didn't even see REVOLUTIONS in theatres. When I finally saw it, I was baffled. I thought it was stupid. Maybe I was stupid. I just didn't get it. I seriously had no idea what was going on and I thought the CGI looked horrible. "Horrible" meaning: way too ambitious for what was possible at the time.

Over the years I kept reading articles about the MATRIX or listened to podcast about it, but I never felt the need to revisit it. Jerick's fanedit was the first time, I actually did rewatch it.

I thought it was great. Finally I knew what was going on, what the character's/the machines wanted and what the idea/the philosophy behind it all was. I also loved the pacing. It didn't feel like anything was missing. I could have done with a shorter Burly Brawl (what does that even mean?!) and car chase sequence, but I didn't mind them in this version.

I think Jerick did a tremendous job and if I ever watch The Matrix sequels again, it will be this version. (I already gave it to a couple of friends, who are fans of the originals, but I haven't heard back from them yet.)

I guess, I enjoy these kinds of fanedits the most. Fanedits, that peel away all the unnecessary crap and reduce a movie to its basic story.

Having said that, and I'm sorry for bringing it up, I still think The Wachowskis are full of sh*t.

:-)

For some reason I can't shake the feeling, that they paid some intern to google "cool sounding names from whatever mythology", while they spent their time storyboarding how high up in the air Neo can punch Agent Smith. I don't know. I love the first movie, because it leaves all the right things up to your imagination, but I honestly think the sequels are only deep on a surface kind of level. If that makes any sense.

Finally got around to watching this edit. To call The Matrix Revolutions: Reprogrammed a drastic improvement would be doing this edit a disservice. I originally hated Reloaded, and, possibly due to lowered expectations, somewhat disliked Revolutions. I really enjoy this edit. I'll certainly watch it again.

It really feels like the way Jerick presents it is the way it always should have been - one complete movie, with the as much crap removed as possible. Even still, it tends to drag a little in the middle. In another review, siebener suggested further trims to the burly brawl and car chase scenes. I must agree, that would have helped, especially to get the movie to clock in under three hours. Further reducing The Merovingian's tedious dialogue could have sped things along too, but that may not have been possible without glaringly obvious cuts.

Those minor nitpicks aside, I would highly recommend any fan of the Matrix to watch this edit. It flows better, the story is easier to digest. If this had been shown in theaters, I believe the Matrix would be a much stronger franchise.