Film fans applaud ‘The Ultimate Matrix Collection’ on DVD
Both admirers and detractors of the futuristic franchise created by Larry and Andy Wachowski will find reasons to applaud “The Ultimate Matrix Collection” (Warner; $79.99, DVD only), which arrived in stores earlier this week. For fans of “The Matrix,” the 10-disc set contains more than 35 hours of extras and provides an incredible way to study all aspects of the series. The original has been carefully digitally remastered under the supervision of the Wachowski brothers for this edition, and the sequels “The Matrix Reloaded” and “The Matrix Revolutions,” starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss and Hugo Weaving, are presented with stunning anamorphic wide-screen images.
“The Animatrix,” a combination of computer-generated animation and Japanese anime images, offers nine shorts that provide background on “The Matrix” universe. Other discs explore all aspects of the first three films as well as topics such as “The Roots of the Matrix” (disc eight) and “The Zion Archive” (disc 10).
The Wachowskis declined to provide commentaries, but philosophers Dr. Cornel West and Ken Wilber offer insights into the films.
And even naysayers were invited to participate. Critics Todd McCarthy, John Powers and David Thomson offer commentaries detailing their problems with aspects of the series,
And for hard-core fans, “The Ultimate Matrix” also comes in a “Special Limited Edition Gift Set” ($119.99), which in addition to the 10 discs contains a book and a bust of Reeves as Neo.
A rousing ‘Rings’ edition
On Dec. 14, the wait finally ends for fans of J.R.R. Tolkien as “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Special Extended Edition” (New Line; $24.99, tape; $39.99, DVD) lands in stores.
Director Peter Jackson has added 50 minutes of new and extended scenes, including the never-seen confrontation between Saruman and Gandalf (played by Christopher Lee and Ian McKellen, respectively). Composer Howard Shore wrote new music for this PG-13 edition of the final installment in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy (which also includes “The Fellowship of the Ring” and “The Two Towers”).
Other extras include commentary by numerous cast members (including Elijah Wood, Liv Tyler, Sean Astin, Orlando Bloom and Andy Serkis, who play Frodo, Arwen, Sam, Legolas and Gollum, respectively) and multiple making-of documentaries.
A “Limited Edition Collector’s DVD Gift Set” ($79.99) will also be available and contain a special hand-painted sculpture of Minas Tirith – the seven-tiered City of Kings” – and a documentary (“Howard Shore: Creating The Lord of the Rings symphony – A Composers Journey Through Middle-earth”).
“The Return of the King” won 11 Academy Awards, including best picture, director and score.
A marvelous ‘Mary’
A children’s favorite receives an extreme makeover in “Mary Poppins: 40th Anniversary Edition DVD” (Disney; $29.99), which will arrive on Dec. 14.
Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke star in the vintage G-rated tale that combines live action, animation and music about a nanny who can fly and a chimney sweep with dancing feet. Andrews received an Oscar as best actress (1965) for her performance as Poppins, and the performer – along with Van Dyke and composer Richard Sherman – provide audio commentary.
The two-disc anniversary set is loaded with extras. Those include: a deleted song (“Chimpanzoo”), an animated short (“The Cat That Looked at a King,” from the book “Mary Poppins Opens the Door” by P.L. Travers), a “Poppins” trivia game, a documentary (“Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious: The Making of ‘Mary Poppins'”) and a featurette with vintage world-premiere footage.
A re-packaged ‘Blade’
“Blade: Trinity” opened in theaters earlier this week, making it the perfect time to discover the first two films starring Wesley Snipes as the Marvel Comics superhero who’s half-vampire/half-human and battles creatures of the night.
“Blade” and “Blade II” have been released to video stores in an R-rated two-pack (New Line Entertainment; $26.99) that also contains a bonus disc with footage from “Blade: Trinity.”
In the exciting original, the title character teams with a human, Whistler (Kris Kristofferson), and battles a dark lord (Stephen Dorff) who declares war on the human race. The follow-up finds Blade and Whistler challenging vampires with increased powers.
Coming Soon!
The following VHS and DVD titles either have been or soon will be released to video stores.
If your local outlet doesn’t stock them, the tape and disc offerings can be mail ordered by calling (800) 523-0823 or going to the Web sites www.amazon.com or www.moviesunlimited.com, unless otherwise noted.
Movies
– “Collateral” (Universal; $22.99, tape; $29.99, DVD; Dec. 14) with Tom Cruise (“Mission: Impossible”), Jamie Foxx (“Ray”) and Jada Pinkett-Smith (“The Matrix Reloaded”) in director Michael Mann’s stylish R-rated thriller about a cabbie who picks up a hit man.
– “Dark Justice” (Ardustry; $24.99, DVD only; Dec. 14) with William Bulmiller (“Species”) in an R-rated crime thriller about a street person who becomes a vigilante.
– “The Door in the Floor” (Universal; $22.99, tape; $29.99, DVD; Dec. 14) with Jeff Bridges (“The Big Lebowski”) and Kim Basinger (“Cellular”) in an R-rated drama about a couple going through a painful split after a family tragedy.
– “Godzilla DVD 3-Pack” with “Son of Godzilla,” “Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla” and “Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.” (Columbia TriStar; $72.99, DVD set; Dec. 14). The titles will also be available individually ($24.99 each, DVD only).
– “I, Robot” (Fox; $99.99, tape; $29.99, DVD; Dec. 14) with Will Smith (“Bad Boys II”) in a futuristic PG-13 thriller about deadly mechanical beings.
– “The Princess Diaries 2: The Royal Engagement” (Disney; $24.99, tape; $29.99, DVD; Dec. 14) with Anne Hathaway returning in a G-rated sequel about a royal-family member who discovers she must marry to keep her crown.
– “Unstoppable” (Columbia TriStar; $99.99, tape; $24.99, DVD; now available) with Wesley Snipes (“Blade: Trinity”) in an R-rated thriller about a government operative being pursued by ruthless adversaries due to a case of mistaken identity.
– “We Don’t Live Here Anymore” (Warner; $99.99, tape; $28.99, DVD; Dec. 14) with Naomi Watts (“The Ring”) in an R-rated drama about the emotional fallout caused by being unfaithful.
– Six titles – “Gunga Din” with Cary Grant and Victor McLaglen, “I Remember Mama” with Irene Dunne and Oskar Homolka, “Woman of the Year” with Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn, “Alice Adams” with Hepburn and Fred MacMurray, “George Stevens: D-Day to Berlin” and “George Stevens: A Filmmaker’s Journey” (Warner; $19.99 each, DVD only; now available) – in “The George Stevens Centennial Classics” collection. Stevens’ “Giant” (Warner; $26.99, DVD only), starring James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson,” is also available.
Comedy
– “Kathy Griffin: Allegedly” (Anchor Bay; $19.99, DVD only; now available) with the stand-up comic and former co-star of TV’s “Suddenly Susan” in an uncensored concert featuring her cutting views of Hollywood celebrities.
Television
– “Crusade: The Complete Series” (Warner; $59.99, DVD only; now available) with Gary Cole (“Office Space”) in a four-disc set with all 13 episodes of the sci-fi series about a biogenetic plague that will destroy the planet unless a cure is found.
Children
– “Gargoyles: The Compete First Season 2 Disc DVD Collection” (Buena Vista; $29.99; now available), a 10th anniversary set with episodes from the debut year of the animated series about ancient creatures protecting Manhattan from evil.
– “Fat Albert’s Greatest Hits: The Ultimate Collection” (Urban Works; $49.99, DVD only; Dec. 14) with Bill Cosby hosting a four-disc set containing 440 minutes worth of episodes of the Saturday morning animated show about young friends in a Philadelphia neighborhood. Also available will be “Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids” (Urban Works; $14.99, DVD only; Dec. 14), with five episodes of the show, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary.
– “Kim Possible: The Villain Files” (Buena Vista; $14.99, tape; $19.99, DVD; now available), a four-episode compilation of the animated series about a teenage girl trying to save the world.
– “That’s So Raven: Supernaturally Stylish” (Buena Vista; $14.99, tape; $19.99, DVD; now available) with Raven Simone in a collection from her Disney Channel series “That’s So Raven” about a teenage girl who gets glimpses of the future.
– Three titles – “The Mickey Mouse Club: Week One,” “Mickey Mouse in Black and White: Volume Two” and “The Complete Pluto: Volume One” (Disney; $32.99 each, DVD only; now available) – in the “Walt Disney Treasures: Wave Four” collection.
Each title is a two-disc set that’s packaged in a tin container and offers numerous extras, including introduction and liner notes by film scholar Leonard Maltin.