The Like/Hate Thread

[Pinky]

Actually, the first Matrix film was done with the smallest budget of the three, and the special effects budget was substantially increased for the second film. "Bullet time" was a cheap way of using multiple still-frame photos linked with CGI instead of a full-blown and costly CGI sequence. The second movie was a harsh regression of using stereotypical movie magic to make 100 Smiths, and when it would slow down for the "bullet time" effect the ugly faux Smiths are that much easier to see. I remember that when it first came out I was ridiculed for "not getting it" if I complained, but I still stand by my belief that bullet time and CGI character models should not be mixed.