The Matrix - regraded, v2.0

[deleted user]

Stamper do you have the 1.0 of the Matrix 35mm?

[Doctor M]

I'm confused. Don't get me wrong, if they put out a 1080p BD with those colors, I'll be upgrading.
What I don't understand is that Wachowski & Wachowski regraded the first Matrix to match the two sequels.

But it seems we are getting an official new release that throws out their regrade.
What is their plan for when Matrix 2 & 3 gets new transfers (not that I care much)?

[CSchmidlapp]

I was thinking this.
How accurate are the colors an the Sequels BD to the theatrical prints?

I personally like the sequels, but I admit there not quite what I wanted.

[Beber]

Third batch:




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[Beber]

Fourth batch:




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[PDB]

I was thinking this.
How accurate are the colors an the Sequels BD to the theatrical prints?

I personally like the sequels, but I admit there not quite what I wanted.

If the 35mm trailers are to be believed, the sequel BDs are generally faithful or at least close enough it doesn't matter (minus some green, de-saturated, etc)



As for the original Matrix 35mm print vs the old BD/new BD. I'll get the new BD since it looks great but for the more theatrical accurate colors, i'll stick with the 35mm.

Speaking of trailers being similar

[zoidberg]

I assumed the sequels were digitally graded but it turns out they were photochemically timed, with the exception of the freeway chase from Reloaded (quote from American Cinematographer):

 "By digitally grading the sequence, Pope was able to resolve matching problems and refine the Matrix "look." He explains, "It's a very complicated scene on many levels, with every shot a visual-effects construct of some sort. There's the virtual city that is visible beyond the walls of the freeway, as well as [visual-effects supervisor] John Gaeta's destruction effects with the cars, trucks and so on. Also, in the Matrix the sun is created by a computer; it's sickly and not quite convincing, so I needed to find a way to nullify the sun's natural warmth. The only way I could do all of this and still stay on schedule was to scan the whole sequence." (The rest of Reloaded was color-timed photochemically at Technicolor in Los Angeles.)"

It's most likely though that the DI's were created later and used as the basis for the Blu rays. So most likely the film prints will indeed have the green but not at the expense of other colours (ie 'digital' green).

The impression I get so far from what I've seen of the remastered blu is that they have aimed for the original colour timing, 'and then some'.

[PDB]

Good to know. Thanks Zoidberg. I updated my post.

[Beber]

As for the original Matrix 35mm print vs the old BD/new BD. I'll get the new BD since it looks great but for the more theatrical accurate colors, i'll stick with the 35mm.

Yeah... about that. Here's the thing: the 35mm that was made available to us actually fails in the accuracy department. The lobby scene is in the ballpark, sure. Neo's boss' office, inside and outisde, also check. The truck versus payphone in the beginning, that looks fine, too. But the rest... not so much. The brand new Blu-ray looks way more accurate on top of being a lot better defined and cleaner. There's no contest, in both looking better and accuracy.

[bronan]

Thanks for all the comparisons Beber! I think I can safely retire my 35mm disc.