Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Matrix Revolutions To Be Shown Simultaneously Around the World

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Posted by Aaron Mehocic (Member # 15) on 10-10-2003, 09:24 PM:

From the aoltimewarner websight:
http://media.aoltimewarner.com/media/press_view.cfm?release_num=55253424

Warner Bros. Entertainment
Sep. 29, 2003

Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures to Make Cinema History with Global Unveiling of The Matrix Revolutions on November 5, Making the Film Available to Fans Around the World at the Same Moment in Time

Through IMAX Digital Re-Mastering Technology, Highly Anticipated Film Will Also Debut in IMAX(r) Theatres in the U.S. on November 5, Marking the First Time a Major Live Action Movie is Released Concurrently in 35MM and IMAX's Format

BURBANK, CA- Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures will unveil The Matrix Revolutions, the final explosive chapter in the blockbuster Matrix trilogy, at the exact same moment in time in every major city around the world on November 5. This unprecedented distribution scenario will make the highly anticipated film available to fans simultaneously at 6 a.m. in Los Angeles, 9 a.m. in New York, 2 p.m. in London, 5 p.m. in Moscow, 11 p.m. in Tokyo and at corresponding times in over 50 additional countries worldwide. The announcement was made today by Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures, and Veronika Kwan-Rubinek, President of International Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures.

"Given the enormous popularity and success of the Matrixfilms throughout the international community, we're thrilled that we can bring the final chapter of this amazing trilogy to fans simultaneously around the world," Kwan-Rubinek said. "We thank our exhibitors for their unqualified support in staging this extraordinary event."

"The zero hour simultaneous opening of Revolutions once again positions the Matrix films as the cutting edge experience in motion pictures," Fellman added. "Audiences came out to see The Matrix Reloaded in record numbers, and we appreciate the enthusiasm, collaboration and support of our exhibitors in helping us bring The Matrix Revolutions to audiences on November 5."

"We received such an overwhelming response to Reloaded from audiences around the globe that the Wachowski Brothers wanted to give our fans the chance to experience the final piece of the Matrix puzzle at the same time in every major city worldwide," said Joel Silver, producer of the phenomenal Matrix trilogy. "It's an incredibly complex and exciting venture that furthers the Wachowskis' vision and underscores the trilogy's theme of integration."

To date, The Matrix Reloaded has earned over $734 million in worldwide box office, making it the highest-grossing film of 2003 and the highest-grossing R-rated film in history, both domestically and internationally. Additionally, Reloaded scored the record for the largest single week ever with $158.2 million and reached $150 million in a record-breaking six days domestically; internationally, it is the 10th highest grossing film of all-time, and is the first film in history to gross more than $100 million in a single weekend.

FANS TO EXPERIENCE THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS, DIGITALLY RE-MASTERED FOR THE WORLD'S LARGEST SCREENS, AT IMAX THEATRES DAY & DATE WITH FILM'S 35MM RELEASE

In conjunction with the Revolutions worldwide distribution event, The Matrix Revolutions: The IMAX Experience will debut at IMAX Theatres in the United States on November 5. This marks the first time a major Hollywood live-action event film is released concurrently in 35mm and IMAX's revolutionary 15/70 format.

Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures previously collaborated with IMAX on the hugely successful release of The Matrix Reloaded: The IMAX Experience, which debuted on 39 IMAX screens on June 6, launching three weeks after the 35mm theatrical release of The Matrix Reloaded on May 15. The Matrix Reloaded: The IMAX Experience later expanded to 54 IMAX screens throughout North America and 12 screens internationally, grossing $12.4 million worldwide to date.

"Following the unprecedented audience response and box office performance of The Matrix Reloaded: The IMAX Experience, we couldn't be happier to offer fans the chance to see The Matrix Revolutions: The IMAX Experienceon the same day as we open Revolutions in 35mm," Dan Fellman said.

Like The Matrix Reloaded: The IMAX Experience, The Matrix Revolutions: The IMAX Experience has been digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience(r) through revolutionary and proprietary IMAX(r) DMR(tm) (Digital Re-mastering) technology. IMAX Theatres offer unequalled clarity and intensity of image as audiences experience one of the biggest films of the year on screens up to eight stories tall and 120 feet wide, and surrounded by 12,000 watts of pure digital sound.

In The Matrix Revolutions, the final chapter in the Matrixtrilogy, the rebels' long quest for freedom culminates in an explosive battle. As the Machine Army wages devastation on Zion, its citizens mount an aggressive defense - but can they stave off the relentless swarm of Sentinels long enough for Neo to harness the full extent of his powers and end the war?

Written and directed by the Wachowski Brothers and produced by Joel Silver, The Matrix Revolutions stars Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving and Jada Pinkett Smith.

The Matrix Revolutions will be released worldwide on November 5 by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures.

Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 10-10-2003, 09:31 PM:

Not all Imax theaters will open Revolutions on November 5. It will roll out gradually with some theaters as late as mid-December.

Posted by Frank Angel (Member # 248) on 10-11-2003, 05:18 AM:

Hmmm, simultaniously around the WORLD? And do they really mean the WORLD....like in around the globe, say in Milasia or Thiland? Or is "the world" just Hollywood-speak for LA and New York? Warners had better hope it doesn't show up simultaniously on the internet. [Eek!]

But come on, 6am in LA? Why not 9am in LA and 12n in NY? Ah, what they won't do to get a little extra press coverage. And really, who cares what time they open it anywhere except at the theatre where I want to see it? Does anyone really care if some guy is watching it a 4am in Urbeckistan while they're watching it in NYC?

I wonder if they'll bandsaw all the prints at the exact same time after the run?

Frank

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 10-11-2003, 07:16 AM:

Do the IMAX prints have CAP code (or the new and un-improved version of same)? If not, what's to prevent film pirates from taping the IMAX version with wide-angle lenses on their video cameras?

Posted by Jim Leko (Member # 1287) on 10-11-2003, 11:08 AM:

Yeah, we are opening it at 6am, and I KNOW who is going to get stuck with that shift.

Posted by Aaron Mehocic (Member # 15) on 10-11-2003, 02:30 PM:

I think you're right Frank. If I wanted to see Revolutions it would have to be on my time, and I could give a damn less about somebody else seeing it simultaneously in Europe or Asia. We were joking last night about how Warner Brothers knows this film sucks, accepts the fact that it does suck, and is sucking everybody in to see it at the same time so as people all leave the theatre together saying "THAT SUCKED". [Big Grin]

Posted by Jesse August (Member # 1798) on 10-11-2003, 05:44 PM:

As far as I know there is no piracy prevention on IMAX prints.

Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 10-11-2003, 06:07 PM:

There is no CAP code or CRAP code on 1570 prints. The day a reel comes in with this shit on it will be the day that I refuse the print as defective.

Posted by Josh Jones (Member # 447) on 10-11-2003, 09:09 PM:

And the point of going to all this trouble is what???

how senseless....

JJ

Posted by Aaron Mehocic (Member # 15) on 10-11-2003, 09:19 PM:

Yes it is senseless, but isn't that Hollywood? This in essence is what global communication and the internet have given us. I don't have a problem showing American films around the world . . . I have a problem with dumb-shit Americans making suggestions like this.

Posted by David Favel (Member # 1125) on 10-11-2003, 10:23 PM:

Yea, 3.00a.m. Start time in New Zealand, going to roll Reloaded at midnight.

Posted by Dennis Benjamin (Member # 1137) on 10-11-2003, 10:47 PM:

Since this thread has talk about the cap codes:

I notice it in every damn 35 mm print now. How annoying!

Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 10-12-2003, 07:49 PM:

Would a CAP code dot on an IMAX print be about the size of a large beach ball?

Posted by William Hooper (Member # 71) on 10-12-2003, 11:45 PM:

That's an old exploitation gag. I can't think of the title, but it seems like it was done in the 1950s, at least as far as US premieres (as opposed to worldwide).