'Matrix Reloaded' trailer available exclusively in QT


Warner Bros has posted a "teaser trailer" (640 x 288, largest size) for Matrix Reloaded, which is scheduled for release in 2003.

Given that the third installment of the triology by Larry and Andy Wachowski, Matrix Revolutions, is being film concurrently with Reloaded and that both films are scheduled for release next year, it's possible that some of the scenes in the trailer are from both pictures - not likely, but possible.

Also, being a fan (i.e. hungry for more of the story) led me to discover the excellent comics available on Warner Bros' well-done Matrix fan site (accessible via the link above). Stories and illustrations by movers and legends such as Paul Chadwick, David Lapham, Greg Ruth, Troy Nixey and Dave Gibbons offer serious as well as lighter takes on the mythos growing up around the film and the world it brought to life.

Other great QT programming

And now for something completely different -- a WBGH (PBS) program entitled Commanding Heights, which documents how the economic system evolved to become what it is today. As with many tales, the beauty lies in the telling and the present case is a textbook example of the power of QuickTime.

It's a fascinating tale on the merits of the streamed video alone, but the interactive links included in its presentation are sauce for the goose. They add substance and background to a complex story that lives in the details.

I've watched several streamed WBGH documentaries and I feel their use of QT is among best and most thorough-going anywhere. Great quality video and a full use of the interactive elements that make QuickTime one of the best ways to get lost in the Web.

Spam you'll enjoy

As with many of the excellent QT-streamed programs -- commercial and public -- that I've enjoyed over the years, I learned about Commanding Heights via Apple's weekly QuickTime News spamletter. You can subscribe here