Matrix
"Reloaded" Conquers from Day One
By Harinda
Vidanage
Grossing $42.5 million in its first day of release the
futuristic sequel surpassed the $39.4-million opening day record
set by "Spider-Man" a year ago. The production studio
Warners said about $5 million in "The Matrix Reloaded"
tickets were sold at special previews Wednesday night. The sequel
is playing in a record 8,517 screens in more than 3,600 locations.
The one hundred
and fifty million dollar movie brings back the hero from the original
Matrix movie Neo (Keanu Reeves) more powerful but a little disillusioned
with his destined mission to save the humankind and triumph over
the artificial intelligence matrix dominated world.
In this light
Neo and Trinity (Carrie Anne- Moss) choose to return to the Matrix
with Morpheus and unleash their arsenal of extraordinary skills
and weaponry against the systematic forces of repression and exploitation.
This time the Wachowskis or the creators of the Matrix have attempted
to put more texture into "Reloaded," giving us an extended
glimpse into life in Zion and throwing in a candlelit love scene
between Neo and Trinity.
Only a matter
of hours exactly seventy two separates the last human enclave on
Earth from 250,000 Sentinels programmed to destroy mankind. But
the citizens of Zion (the human stronghold), emboldened by Morpheus's
( Lawrence Fishburne) conviction that the One will fulfill the Oracle's
Prophecy and end the war with the Machines, rest all manner of hope
and expectation on Neo, who finds himself stalled by disturbing
visions as he searches for a course of action.
This is increased when he consults the prophesizing Oracle and follow
her maddeningly murky directions while fending off attacks from
all kinds of inhuman individuals up to no good, including Agent
Smith (Hugo Weaving) who has returned with even greater powers plus
Persephone (Monica Bellucci), Merovingian (Lambert Wilson ) and
the Evil twins (Adrian and Neil Rayment )
The movie is
a special effect vortex as Larry and Andy Wachowski built their
very own six-lane freeway in Alameda at a cost of $2.5 million,
filmed on it for nearly three months and destroyed cars worth $2
million in explosions, jumping off track and riddling them with
bullets.
Some cite the
whole Matrix Trilogy as a Christian allegory Neo's mission, foretold
by prophets, is to reveal the truth that will set humankind free.
And if that's not messianic enough for one, he gives his life for
others and then rises from the dead more powerful than ever. But
the Wachowski brothers have taken ingredients from various spiritual
recipes in our melting-pot world, and made something of their own.
Several thousand
miles away from the original point of release at the Cannes Film
Festival, "The Matrix Reloaded" got its international
premiere with the kind of celebrity glitz the festival is famed
for. But the Matrix two has been criticized for the lack of depth
like its predecessor but it's purely for the fans to decide.
'BC
Stars 2003'
'BC Stars
2003,' the grand dinner dance organized by the past pupils Association
of Bishop's College will be held at the Ballroom at Colombo Hilton
on May 31 at 9.00 p.m. onwards.
The band Misty
and Pearl will be in attendance, while Adam will be the Master of
Ceremonies.
Selecting BC
Queen, Baila Champion, entrance and raffle tickets draw are few
of the events of the night.
There will
be much more games and competitions are on cards and 'BC Stars 2003'
will be one of the top events on the entertainment calendar of the
year said an organiser of this project.
Tickets are
priced at Rs. 2500/= per head with dinner. Air tickets for the draws
will be sponsored by Sri Lankan Airlines and Malaysian Airways.
English
Jim Reeves sings on SLBC
Listen
to this international singing sensation for the first time, Paul
Wheater from England, over the English Commercial Service of SLBC
on May 25 (Sunday) from 1.00 to 1.15 pm.
Though new
to our local music fans, Paul Wheater, a desc iple of the legendary
Jim Reeves and popularly known as Jim Reeves of England, has been
a professional singer for over 20 years having done nearly twenty
CDs to date. He has been performing at world famous places like
London Palladium, and all over Europe, Japan, Singapore and many
other countries.
When listen
to him the fans will realise he has a quality, refined voice that
comes very close to that "Voice from Beyond, the Voice of Jim
Reeves".
When Anne Robinson
interviewed him on 'Radio 2 program', it resulted in getting 17,000
letters to his home in three weeks. When YTV showed "Paul Plays
The Palladium" viewing figures increased from around a normal
600,000 to over a million for that particular time slot. When he
appeared on BBC I TV's First Light, the program received its biggest
ever postbag, and previous guests had included Cliff Richard and
Daniel O'Donnell.
In his latest
album titled 'The Album That Nearly Was" he sings some of the
songs written for Jim Reeves though Jim could not put them on disc
due to his untimely death. So, this is something really exciting
for all Jim Reeves fans.
Therefore don't
miss this special program on "Stars On Parade" over SLBC
this Sunday presented by that veteran broadcaster, Bevil Palihawadana
and the well-known Jim Reeves Fan Club of Sri Lanka. Paul has sent
five of his CDs to the Jim Reeves Fan Club and Jim Reeves fans will
be able to listen to them over SLBC in the days to come.
Swiss
Food & Music at Trans Asia
The Swiss
Food Promotion is now on at Trans Asia along with the sounds of
the Water Tower Band specially flown in from Switzerland till May
31
Each region
of Switzerland which has its specialties such as the "Fondue
& Raclette" from the French region, sausages, roasts and
rosti from the German part, sliced air dried meat from the granbunden
region and Italian specialties from Ticino will take you through
a authentic Swiss gastronomic experience.
With a different
menu served each day, accompanied by a choice of SWISS wines at
the Summerfield's Cafe for Lunch and Dinner where some of Switzerland's
best-kept secrets are well worth exploring.
Boating & Sailing on Bonsoir
This week's Bonsoir goes sailing to give its viewers the
fabulous pleasures of water and boating
This special
program is on Boating. For some people it is a passion and for some
others it is a way of living.
Bonsoir begins
programme with a relaxing boat ride along the Dordogne river where
you will get a chance to enjoy the scenic beauty of South Western
France. The Programme then features an elegant boat show in Paris,
Couliure boat races: a team sport with a lot of physical endurance,
boating as a sport - students of St. Joseph's College Rowing Club,
Fisher boats of Elakanda fishing community and some fascinating
house boats on the River Seine.
For all those
passionate boat lovers this will undoubtedly be a wonderful evening
of sweet sailing...
To feel the
cool pleasures of water join Dilini Jayamanne on Bonsoir on Monday
May 26 at 9.30 p.m. on Channel EYE.
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