Matrix - Region 2 DVD

In the Box Set: That this Collector's Edition should appear less than a year after The Matrix's first DVD release indicates the degree to which the film has become an instant classic and set the initial benchmark for DVD quality and extra features. The chunky black box (about the size of the yellow pages) houses a slide-out tray containing the DVD, eight original lobby cards, an original one-sheet movie poster, six black and white photographs and a movie image card with the corresponding 35mm film frame attached. As with all such sets the whole is rapidly diminished by removing its parts, presenting the dilemma of whether to mount the poster and pictures, or leave them pristine but unseen in their original state.

The DVD included is the same version available individually, including extensive behind-the-scenes features on the film's special effects. Contrary to the advertised contents, however, the disc does not contain the audio commentaries by Carrie-Anne Moss, editor Zach Staenberg and visual effects supervisor John Gaeta, or the music-only audio track with commentary by composer Don Davis (all of which are currently only available on the American version). --Steve Napleton