Your Top Films Of 2003(and worst picks)

[FoxFord]

Seeing as how I can't resist a Matrix thread, I'll toss in my two cents into the ring.  I thought that the original Matrix was excellent.  When I heard they were making not just one sequel, but two, I asked myself, "What's the point?"  Rewatch the first one, and you'll notice that the ending doesn't really leave it open to one sequel, let alone two.  Even the very plot doesn't exactly leave it open to expansion.  Now, I've heard people defending the second and third by saying "Well, if you've watched the Animatrix, and if you read these comics, if you played the video game, you'd understand and like it more."  I'll briefly point out the "if you'd bought into the entire Matrix money-gulping marketing franchise with matching lunch box, you'd understand and be down a doshload of money."  Going back to my main point, isn't that basically saying that the movie isn't self-sufficient?  That in order to actually follow the movie, you have to have outside information that isn't readily available?  Why should a movie not tell us about something integral about it?  Any other movie, it would be known as a "plot hole".  Why is it treated differently?

The second Matrix, I felt, lacked plot.  If you took out the entire movie, leaving only the first and third, what would you have missed?  In my opinion, there would be no major points missing.  Where the first movie sets the idea of thinking involving a movie, to revert the following sequel to the standard "shoot 'em up action film" is an insult to the original fans, and to all movie viewers.

The third one, well, I failed to understand it.  It was not due to lack of effort, or cranial capacity, as the people I've asked didn't understand it either.  Primary questions that come to mind were what exactly the point of the little girl was, how Neo could see the machine world with his eyes closed, how the powers moved into real life and how he could access the other machines (I suggested he had a 802.11 wireless card inserted up his rear).  At the end, there were no actual people left, does that mean that everyone that was in the Matrix dead?  I also have to admit that the religious underties were a bit overpowering.  It's amazing how small the role of Morpheus became, as well.

EDIT:  Just to make a clarification, I mean how he knew how the machines were there, and stopped them in the real world, also making the exploding things at the end blow up that are trying to shoot them down.

[icabod540]

Hey Foxford what do you mean by accessing the other machines?

[Aingeal]

I'd toss in my opinion of the whole Matrix good/bad saga but hell, i'd only end up accidently impaling my self on a sword.

Instead I'd like to add this:

Tomb Raider 2: Crade of Life - Seriously, what-the-fuck? Worse movie ever. Although as far as comedic product placement goes, much kudos due.

[coffeemonkey]

If you need to have some ecclesiastical deity walk up and knock on your door, saying "Hi, I'm God.  Behold, while I do some godlike things," then I think you've missed a hell of a lot.

I've read a few of the books you mentioned... and while demi godish in powers... they werent totally omnipotent and the storyline alotted gave explanations to his powers.  

Because whenever in "Stranger" his powers were used... it was in reaction to something realistic and plausable happening to him or one of his friends.

Whenever in "Dune" he found out about his powers... they were already present with the start of the book (Bene Gesserit testing).  He wasnt regarded as godlike until his adolescence when he went into hiding with the tribes of Arrakis.  Again, those events that occured were always in response to things happening to him or his people... and his powers were plausable within the storyline.  At no point during these two books was my suspension of disbelief broken. And none of the action occured without plausable plot development and reason.  No one spontaneously started spouting to these people they were more what they were like in the Matrix movies.

I cry grief with the whole thing that Neo had to be convinced that he was the One, and in the sequels he proffers doubt/yet showed his power gratuitously and needlessly.  No no... not Neo... the Brothers did.  It was unneccessary, redundant, and to say again, pointless the many minutes of filmstock wasted on it.

   I totally agree with you, Nadreck. The allegorical references to Jesus/God in the Matrix is a very weighty argument.  Nothing wrong with this.  Until you come out with sequels with very little point.

[Jaycee]

going back a little way... (sorry, but i wasn't here to respond!)

i think it was Hostile that said something like...

The first [Matrix] was brilliant! so why stop there?

i didn't know there would be follow up films until the hype started for reloaded (tv advertising etc.). i was quite satisfied with the first film as it was. it really impressed me. it could easilly have finished there (maybe minus the "superman thing" ending, but still, a great film.

you ask: why stop there? i reply: why spoil a good thing?

personally i'm getting bored of all the cloned films recently. since the Matrix, every action film seems to be slow motion, bullets flying, leather outfits etc. so they add a slightly different storyline, big deal.

a joke is only funny once. in the same way, special effects are only impressive the first time.

but i've digressed. my main point was that most sequals suck. yes, there are those that do not. the LOTR trilogy shows that, as does the first (release dates - Not! the story sequence) Star Wars trilogy.

but IMO in general i don't want to see repeats, i want to see something original. reloaded and revolutions added nothing new, they just exhausted the ideas from the original film. there is no need. the second two only brought down the first film by association.

i've rambled enough...

[Aingeal]

I wouldn't really call the LOTR: TTT & ROTK 'sequels'. LOTR it's self isa single story that the publishers said would be too big as one book and thus it was divided into 3.
So all the LOTR movies are just parts of one BIG movie. Also they were all filmed at once and released in sections. So although it was released as three movies I don't think you can really use it as an example to show how movie sequels CAN be as good if not better than the first.

Hell I'm just nitt-picking, don't mind me.

[Jaycee]

no worries. i just figured people would throw it back in my face if i didn't give it a mention. turns out they do whichever  

but being released as three seperate 'episodes', i would still personally refere to them as a trilogy, even if i would not the book. it being just one book. for the sake of my simple mind.

[Aingeal]

I call the movies a triology myself, I'm just a nitt-picking arguementative bastard.

...perhaps I'm part french  :shock:

[Fenrir]

they could be reffered to either way. as you said, its really one story that just continues, and doesn't make much if any sense when the previous books or movies haven't been read or watched. so in that sense, they're one thing, just so friggin big that ts like having chapters broken up into sections. while at the same time, all the movies where released at seperate times, and all relate to the same over all story, so they make up what would be a trilogy.

really it doesn't matter which way you put it, its just they're commonly reffered to as a trilogy

[Aingeal]

well look at you, being all nit-picky!  :roll:

[Fenrir]

heh, always have been, i tend to be way to technical, and a smart ass at the same time, gets me in alot of trouble

[stargazer]

You two, consider this a warning. You've dragged... three? four maybe? threads off-topic tonight. If you want to converse, please take it to PM or an IM program; don't do it on the boards.

[BlackKnight]

Bad(will add more later)
Matrix reloaded and revolutions
tomb raider cradle of life

Good(willadd more later)
Kill Bill
ROTK

[Bones]

The last matrix film has to be one of the worst films in history. The best film was easily ROTK

[NRGU]

end statement : matrix : CRAP!
                        LOTR  : GOOD
  pirates of the carribean: GOOD
           finding nemo   :  GOOD