Final Flight of the Osiris (2003)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Andy Jones

Writers:

Andy Wachowski (written by) &
Larry Wachowski (written by)

Release Date:

21 March 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Animation | Sci-Fi | Short

Plot:

After discovering a force of machines on their way to Zion, a crew of a the hovercraft Osiris attempt to warn the city using the Matrix.

Plot Keywords:

The Matrix | Chase | Martial Arts | CGI Film | Cell Phone

Cast

Kevin Michael Richardson	...	Thadeus (voice)
Pamela Adlon	...	Jue (voice)
John Di Maggio	...	Crew Man (voice) (as John DiMaggio)
Tom Kenny	...	Operator (voice)
Rick Gomez	...	Pilot (voice)
Tara Strong	...	Crew Woman (voice)
Bette Ford	...	Old Woman (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Miyoko Asô	...	(voice: Japanese version)
Akio Ôtsuka	...	(voice: Japanese version)
Mizuki Saito	...	(voice: Japanese version)
Haruo Satou	...	(voice: Japanese version)
Tomotake Shigematsu	...	(voice: Japanese version)
Makoto Yasumura	...	(voice: Japanese version)
Atsuko Yuya	...	(voice: Japanese version)

Also Known As:

Final Flight of the Osiris (USA) (alternative title)
The Animatrix: Final Flight of the Osiris (USA) (series title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sci-fi violence, sensuality and language.

Runtime:

9 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:PG | Canada:14A (Alberta/Manitoba) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (British Columbia/Nova Scotia) | Germany:12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:18 | Sweden:11 | UK:12A | USA:PG-13

Company:

Silver Pictures

Trivia:

If you freeze frame on the DVD you can briefly see the Name Plate on an Osiris bulkhead that says : Mark IV 16 : OSIRIS : Made in the USA 2097. Looking up the text in the bible it reads: "But when Herod heard this, he said, 'John, the man I beheaded, has been raised from the Dead!'"

Movie Connections:

Featured in Return to Source: Philosophy & 'The Matrix' (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

CONGA FURY

Fast paced and enjoyable despite short running time and suggestion of cynical marketing

While practising kung fu and flirting in the dojo training programme, the captain of the Osiris, Thadeus, is alerted to an attack by a group of sentinels. Fleeing into an uncharted tunnel system the craft reaches the surface of earth where they see an army of sentinels and a machine for burrowing. Realising that Zion is directly beneath that site the crew realise that the machines are preparing an attack on Zion. As the sentinels close in on the craft one of the crew enters the matrix to deliver the information to one of the drop off points and warn Zion – but is there enough time?

I was wanting to see this short so much that I almost went to see Dreamcatcher to get it! Happily it came onto TV a few days before the second Matrix film opened. The plot is quite simple and feeds into the sequels quite well. Being cynical you could say that this is yet another marketing tool for the Matrix and in a way it is. However I prefer to think that it performs a dual role as a trailer but also a short film in it's own right. Realistically – do you think the Matrix marketing machine NEEDS any help from this?

The film moves quickly and is quite dramatic despite the short running time. Conversely to the films the `real' world is actually more exciting than the brief entry into the matrix itself (although they do try to spice this up with fancy moves etc), the real drama is the frantic attempt by the Orsis to escape or at least deliver it's warning. It may be more style than real substance or back story but it works well for what it is.

The animation is very good. Looking at the characters faces reveal that it isn't quite as good as the real thing, but when it comes to machinery etc it does look very good indeed. I must admit to being a little sad and male by appreciating the striptease type sword fight – one example where animation can make things as good as real!! Maybe the animation is why the stuff in the matrix isn't as exciting – because we know `how they did that' – they drew it!

Overall I don't know if I'd pay to see this but it is worth a look as part of the Matrix films. It has pace and is exciting and, although the short itself has a simple plot it does fit in nicely to the wider world. Even if you view this as a cynical marketing ploy – it is still quite an entertaining marketing ploy.