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Published
January 8, 2001
The Columbia Chronicle
Published in both print and online editions.

January 9, 2001
The Alestle
Published in both print and online editions.


Excerpts
Excerpts of this review appears
on these websites:

'The Art of the Matrix': You have to see it for yourself

        Finally, a book has been released for “The Matrix” fan that is as obsessed with the movie as I am; a 488 page full color volume that covers everything—from the shooting script to production art as well as each and every storyboard.

        The Art of the Matrix is not one of those lame attempts to capitalize on a movie's hype (Can you say “Phantom Menace,” boys and girls?). Considering that this book came out almost two years after the movie's release, it is for diehard fans who want to know everything about the 1999 blockbuster film. And the book covers virtually everything.

        One of the coolest things about The Art of the Matrix is the storyboards. Unlike traditional storyboards which are merely crude drawings with lame arrows indicating action, the storyboards for “The Matrix” are drawn comic book style. Comic book artists Steve Skroce and Geoff Darrow draw each frame in great detail, and the book has over 200 pages of these black-and-white masterpieces. The book even reproduces storyboards of scenes that were cut from the film, such as a chase that was supposed to occur on top of a speeding el train (which was later changed to Trinity's rooftop chase scene).

        The book also reproduces all of the full color artwork for “The Matrix,” such as storyboards for shots with digital effects, and conceptual paintings of the Sentinels, the Neb, and the pods. The book even reprints several of the movie's posters—including unused ones—and stills of all the characters and all the best scenes.

        Also printed in the book is the complete shooting script. What makes this truly cool is that it contains dialogue that didn't make it to the final cut, such as Cypher informing Neo that there were five others before Neo, that Morpheus at one time or another proclaimed to be “The One,” and that that they all were killed by Agents. Later, Neo confronts Morpheus about this fact. Although these scenes didn't make the final cut, it is still cool to see what could have been. At the end of the script there are notes and excerpts of earlier drafts. These are also interesting to read because it shows how the idea of “The Matrix” progressed.

        While the price, which is around $60, may seem a little steep, the book is definitely worth every cent, because it comprehensively reproduces all the artwork as well as the script. It is a book made for Matrix fans, and it is great to see how the rich concepts and designs for “The Matrix” were developed. But my description of this book does it no justice because as Morpheus said, “You have to see it for yourself.”



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