Customer Reviews

The Art of the Matrix

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is definitely a must-have for any matrix fan. This book goes in depth about each scene in the 1999 Blockbuster hit movie.

It includes mostly black and white illustrations and some colored ones of each and every scene. It's as if you're watching the movie in a book. Along with the illustrations are many commentaries to let you know what the Wachowski brothers were trying to accomplish. If this isn't enough, even the Wachowski brothers have commentaries in this book.

There are also illustrations in this book that are NOT in the movie. Commentaries will tell you why these scenes were omitted.

This book is pulling out all the stops to the movie, so why not add more? If illustrations and commentaries aren't enough for you, there's the ENTIRE script of the movie. It includes omitted dialogue.

Still not enough for you? Well then I'll go on. There's the full credit listing for this awesome movie. There's also a page for the Academy nominations and awards this movie has received...including the acceptance speeches. Okay okay, so these things aren't such a big deal, but I can only show you the door...you have to walk through it (Read on).

So you've decided to read more? Well, besides the illustrations, commentaries, unedited script, script commentaries, full cast and credits, awards page, there's 27 FULL PAGES of COLOR photos taken directly from the movie. There's the movie cover taking up a full page to start off with. Trinity, Neo, Morpheus and the Agents all have pages too. Let's not forget the Morpheus and Agent Smith fight scene, Tank, Cypher, Dozer, Apoc and Switch...they're in here too. There's the shootout scene, the rooftop scene and more all in this book. These are beautiful, high quality color photos taken from the movie and put into this book for your enjoyment. To see these pictures, go to the official site and go to the photo gallery. MORE THAN HALF all of those pictures are here.

And the last page is a note about the upcoming matrix sequels. There is nothing more left to tell you. I have told you what this book contains. True matrix fans will adore this book. It makes a great gift to any matrix devotee out there. So go ahead and get plugged into the Matrix and buy this book!

Undoubtedly this is the most lavish publication of a screenplay in the brief history of published screenplays, and it's hard to imagine it being topped any time soon. The title makes the book's priorities clear, this is a book about the art behind the film, and how it was used to bring the Wachowski Brothers' vision to life. In reading the book, it's made abundantly clear that The Matrix was a film with a vision first, and then a script. And, like it or not, the storyboards did more to tell and sell the vision to the money men and get the movie made, than the script could ever have hoped to. This is a lesson that those in the screenwriting community would do well to file away in the back of their brains. Sometimes (albeit very, very rarely) the story in your head simply can't be fully communicated in screenplay form to those who count, you might have to look to simple storyboarding to tell/sell the whole story. It should be noted that in the case of The Matrix, these were high-end storyboards by professional comic book artists. From the Wachowski Brothers's stick figures, to 700 scene-by-scene storyboards, to conceptual art, it's all in here, including scenes that were never filmed for safety or budgetary reasons, as well as the shooting script and ten pages of script notes and deleted scenes from the script. The one major flaw is the absence of any commentary from the Wachowskis themselves. And naturally, there is a bit of filler near the end, but on the whole, the book's deisgn reflects the attention to detail and high quality of the film-and repeatedly reminds you that there are two more Matrixes to come. Thankfully, unlike "Making of" film books, the emphasis is on the storyboards and script, and thus the story, rather than the technical effects wizardry that makes it all happen onscreen. This makes it much more appealing to a general audience, rather than simply to those entranced by effects. Sadly, the book is quite expensive and there is no paperback edition in sight, so you might want to wait for next Christmas.

The Art of the Matrix is exactly that, an ART book. The storyboards are incredibly detailed and look fantastic. The majority of the drawings are done in black and white but there are some in color and color picture stills from the movie as well. The artist comments are fun to read and provide some insight as to what they and the directors were thinking. The only thing this book lacked was an interview or essay done with the Wachowski's themselves. Other than that I'm completely happy with this book. If you're looking for more info on the production and visual effects check out the following magazines, Cinefex #79, and American Cinematographer April 1999.

This book is really nice if you are a fan of the Matrix. But, it is especially nice if you are a comic book fan like the Wachowski Brothers seem to be. The preproduction work basically detailed through the art work is very interesting. It's also interesting to see what was conceptualized and then what was used and what wasn't when the movie was finally produced. This is because it's not just the artwork. There are comments on how each piece was (or was not) utilized in the final production. I am not a big comic fan, but I found this part of the art work very interesting. Having the shooting script is interesting for the same reason.

I was hoping the book would deal with the filming and post-production aspects of the movie, but they're apparently saving that for a later book (that will only be written if this one sells!). This one is almost exclusively pre-production, but even that is well worth seeing. The Wachowskis went all-out on the script, including scene after scene that they had no idea how to film at the time. The storyboards had to brilliantly showcase the action, mood, and intensity of the story just to get the go-ahead from Warner Bros to commit such a large budget.

It's depressing how most Oscar-winning movies are just a bunch of talking heads when you can page through this book and see such hard work and ingenuity in scene after scene. At least they got rich off it!

This book gave me the feeling I had when I saw *the matrix* for the very first time. Overwhelmed, in a good way.

It must have been a major undertaking to make this visual *history* of the movie. The art, altho most isnt full color, is spectacular. It was a great visual journey that speaks of the movies graphic novel beginnings.

I actually bought this book as a special birthday gift for my 12 year old son who loves both this movie and comic art (well, art in general) It is quite expensive. The cover price is $60 altho I got it for $50 at a local store. Still expensive and I had my second thoughts about buying it, especially for my son. I just felt that the book was very sturdy. Nice heavy hardcover, large format and thick, glossy pages. It seemed like a book that would hold up. An in truth I have spent more on video games for him that he was *finished* with in a few days. I think this will be a book he enjoys, reads,is inspired by and learns to draw from for a very long time.

In a way this book reminds me of the the *art from star wars* series. Possibly, those books were a *bit* slicker with their many color pictures, perhaps for more mass appeal. But looking back, I dont see them to be as dynamic as this one.

Honestly, I cant wait for my sons birthday so I can un-hide this book and lose myself in ...well....the matrix.

I have read some of the glowing reviews so I felt I had to write. If you don't own the ultimate matrix movie set and you haven't seen the glorious full color illustrations and sketches that brought these amazing movies to light, then you might love this book. It felt more like the story board or comic book Matrix but NOT the art. Many of the production illustrations, certainly the costume illustrations are left out of this book. Rarely have I seen a movie or movies have so much artwork created so I am baffled by this oversight. When I watched the making of disc dedicated to the illustrators and artists, I was shocked that the Brothers Wachowski would slight so much of their immensely talented team. And as much as I appreciated the script in the book, I would have traded it without hestitation for all the beautiful illustrations and sketches that were missing.

I ordered this book over a year ago. Delay after delay, and I still was surprised when the book came out. This book is massive. Picture upon picture from the storyboards to conceptual drawings plus the shooting script. You'll be amazed by the amount of information they threw into it. If you are as big a fan of the film as I am, you'll have to have this book. With a word or two from the artists, and a page from William Gibson. Who could ask for more? Just get it, you won't be disappointed.

Most "art of" movie books like star wars, lord of the rings, superman, ...the list goes on and on, have a lot of eye candy, great concept sketches, art, etc. You just don't get that here. The sketches have a lot of black and white comic book panels. Now, Wachowski bros are very into comics and saw this movie in that sense first and that made a great movie. It just doesn't make a great art of the matrix book.

It's interesting to note that no art of the matrix reloaded or revolutions has come out.

I went looking for this large, fat volume mostly for the shooting script (I enjoy reading screenplays), but there's also a great deal of conceptual art and storyboard work included. In fact, the storyboards for this film were far more elaborate than is usually the case, but the Wachowski brothers started in comic books, and that's how they visualize things. If you've seen the film (is there anyone who hasn't?), you may be interested in the changes that were made when the setting shifted from Chicago to Sidney. There's also a lot of marginal commentary by the three main artists (and several minor ones) on what they were thinking, how they were trying to achieve certain effects, and what the brothers' concepts were before the preproduction even started. Fans of the film, and of graphics arts generally, should enjoy this. It ain't cheap -- but that's why libraries are for.)