....Reloaded is not the first production to rely on over-the-top publicity, but it accelerates the trend where more and more of the major releases are based on comic books or old television shows or movies already made--whether sequels or remakes. In 1993, just one of the top ten grossing movies, The Fugitive, was based on an old television show. In 1998, there were two remakes among the top ten, Doctor Doolittle and Godzilla.
Last year, the top ten included five sequels and one comic book.
Hollywood, of course, has long been about giving the people what they want. If there wasn't a huge demand for The Matrix Reloaded, it wouldn't be in 8,500-plus screens. But even a short time ago, Hollywood was better at selling what was new. Now it is repackaging the old, and with no end in sight. The third Matrix is already slated for November. I'm not sure what Ackman is objecting to here: sequels and serials and material derived from other sources (that's what a book is, by the way) have been Hollywood staples since it was a one-horse town. And hype? Sure there's hype, but based upon the interest expressed here, there is a genuine groundswell of interest in the film, the new video game, the whole Matrix oeuvre.
As far as the film itself goes, I haven't seen it yet either, but we have as many positive as negative reviews, and that's about the best you should expect from the sequel to a film with a fanatical cult following. Methinks Mr. Ackman doth protest too much.
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