Search - The Ultimate Matrix Collection [HD DVD] on HD DVD

K. K. (GAMER)
Reviewed on 12/27/2018...

ALERT - You are ordering an HD-DVD item. This format can be played only in HD-DVD players (the discs will NOT play in regular DVD or Blu-Ray players). If you do NOT have an HD-DVD player, you should not order this item.

'The Matrix' reborn: a high-definition stunner

Flipper Campbell | Miami Florida | 05/19/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

""The Matrix" in high-definition video fulfils the prophecy of the A/V geek elders: this is audio and video of a higher order, a plunge into the future of home theater.



The video has little in common with some of the jacked-up, overly hot presentations of older films we've seen in high-def formats. The colors, though muted by design, feel lush and true to the theatrical vision. The experience is that of watching moving images on film, not television or DVD. (The series was produced "with future technology execution in mind," Warner points out.)



High-def has rarely delivered the stunning audio we heard about when the formats first hit the market, but here it is. The rear soundstage doesn't sound subordinated: when the audio engineers send a jolt to a specific, discrete speaker, the result is powerful and distinct. The percussive sounds of gunfire are unlike anything I've heard on disc or in theaters. Some soft-spoken dialogue sounded indistinct or muffled from the center channel, but given the overall quality this is likely in the original elements.



Flesh tones are true, but only on close-ups do you get that film-like definition. All that computer-land metal looks astounding; sharp with three-dimensional pop. When primary colors break through the algae-green atmospherics, they radiate but without the annoying signs of artificial boost.



"The Matrix" was the first DVD title to sell more than a million copies back in the launch era. This set probably won't be a breakthrough for high-def, but it most certainly is a milestone in quality. The set is available only in HD DVD. Blu-ray Disc versions of both collections will be released later this year."

What it basically comes down to:

Terrence Aybar | New York City | 05/21/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Inside the case are five double sided discs; one disc for each of the films and the other two serving as a kind of data bank, with hours and hours of Matrix related info and behind the scenes footage and discussions.



Off the bat, the three movies look and sound absolutely fantastic in HD. The Matrix Trilogy is finally able to be seen as was intended. Special features on the film side of the discs are plentiful and easy to access. My personal favorite extra was the "In-Movie Experience", a nice little picture in picture supplement that plays over the length of the entire film and gives you just about everything you need to know in a nutshell concerning the making of the films.



The extras for the set are the exact same selection as the Ultimate Matrix Collection that was released on DVD a while back. All of these extras, including the Animatrix, are in standard 480p definition. If there is anything that keeps this set from being an instant purchase, it's this little detail. I really would've liked to have gotten the Animatrix shorts in HD as well but sometimes you have to take what they give you. Now, that's not to say that the Animatrix looks bad, it's just basically the exact same copy that was released before, even with the same menu screens.



If you are interested in the filmmaking process and want to know every little detail about what went into creating the Matrix films, then you might as well pick this set up because it has something like thirty-five hours of content that will keep even the most die hard Matrix enthusiast busy for days. It's the kind of package that most will not get to finish in it's entirety due to the sheer amount of content.



I'm a bit disappointed that the set isn't completely in HD (again, the choice to present the Animatrix in standard def is just mind boggling) but that's about the only complaint I have. I'm just glad that the Matrix Trilogy has made it to HD-DVD in pristine quality."

Great picture/sound quality

S. Kosloske | Milwaukee, WI USA | 05/30/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The reviews listed here so far are fairly confusing. A lot of people like it, but there are a handful of 1 star reviews, which, in my opinion, are wrong.



First of all, I can't see how ANYONE could compare the video quality of the first movie in HD to the original DVD release, no matter what resolution it's up-converted to. NO COMPARISON whatsoever. The original looks awful up-converted, the new HD version looks amazing. I've seen the movie a bunch of times, and I noticed a lot of things in the HD version I've never seen before.



As to the reviews where people are knocking it for being sold as a one-piece collection. You don't like it, don't buy it. The single release HD versions will be out later. I am giving it a 4 star instead of 5 star rating for pretty much the same reasons, but I can only see taking off 1 star because of the price/pack issue. The extras disk is well done, and of course the Animatrix wasn't re-released in HD. I doubt that half the original content was made in Hi-Def quality.



If you're a big, big fan of the original movie, and have a good HD setup, do yourself a favor and spend the money. They did a great job."