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The Matrix HD DVD
March 21, 2007

Here's the one we've been waiting for, or at least one of the ones.

Circle May 22 on your calendar. The Matrix is coming to HD DVD.

Do I need to say more. :) Well, you probably want details, so, after you've stopped jumping up and down with joy, here's the details:

Warner is bring out The Ultimate Matrix Collection ($119.99), including all three movies -- yeah that's right, the two crappy, ok, less than good, ones along with the spectacular, awesome, incredible, we love it! first one -- plus more than 35 hours of bonus material (so says the press materials), including Animatrix, in five double-sided discs, and The Complete Matrix Trilogy ($99.99), containing the three films and the Revisited features in three discs.

Warner does support both high-def formats, so it says it will be releasing these on Blu-ray too but not til later in the year. Prebook for HD DVD is April 17.

The bonus list for Ultimate looks like its the same as the DVD Ultimate edition: commentaries from the Wachowski brothers, philosophers, critics, cast and crew, composer; multiple upon multiple featurettes; the Revisited features; 23 scenes from the Enter the Matrix videogame (would be cool if they're playable); music videos; and disc five has the Burly Man Chronicles documentary and The Zion Archive of storyboards and concept art.

Now, remember folks, The Matrix -- and I'm talking about the first movie here -- was credited with kick-starting DVD's adoption behind early adopters. The film's older now, and mass market fans might not want the puffed out sequels, but The Matrix is still much loved. It will be interesting to see if this has an affect on high-def sales.

But one memo to Warner, if you really want to push HD DVD adoption, release a version with just the first film and extras.

Posted by Samantha Clark on March 21, 2007 | Comments (0)