This VFX Shot Was Ahead Of Its Time

Find out how The Matrix changed the game with its mind-blowing "bullet time" effect! Using a custom camera rig, CGI, and laser tech, Manex VFX brought action scenes to life in ways never seen before. Plus, see how this epic effect inspired movies like Watchmen and X-Men, and even games like Max Payne.

#vfx #bullettimeeffect #matrix #filmmaking #manexvfx

[allhdggg]

Just a little correction: The in-between frames were not made using 3d CGI; instead, they used an interpolation method called Optical Flow. This approach was invented when they were doing the VFXs for the movie What Dreams May Come (1998), which was a research that happened in parallel with the effects for The Matrix, by the vfx team at Mass Illussions.

[jooei]

The Matrix was a defining moment in cinema for all the right reasons.

[jmalmsten]

If you go back far enough, you get the Edward Muybridge motion studies. Where the most famous one was of a galloping horse to check if there's a point are airborne (no hooves on the ground). He shot those with a bunch of stills cameras set up in a line by the racetrack and had them triggered by a series of trip wires across the track that the horse would trip during its gallop.

The resulting studies... in 1878... were a big part in the development of motion picture film. But when we look at them.. they are basically bullet cam rigs before we had full real motion picture cameras.

[espacemaxim]

Using multiple cameras to freeze time was around long before the Matrix. They perfected it but even the name is lifted from someone else.

[KisekiFan]

Another thing to note is that the fight scenes had good choreography where the actors learned to fight somewhat, its why you see so less cuts in fight scenes in the matrix compared to alot of other movies nowadays.

[jackmorrison]

The 5.1 digital audio of this scene, and the whole movie DTS was also ahead of its time.

[DevilMaster]

Why is nobody talking about the bullet time sequence we saw in 1998, in the Lost in Space movie, in the scene where the Jupiter 2 jumps into hyperspace? John Robinson calls Will, jumps towards him, and in that moment, time freezes and the camera flies smoothly among the time-frozen characters.

[antonnym]

That was an epic effect in the movie. Those vfx artists should have got an academy award.

[Lumibear.]

That was freakishly well explained and professionally done, have a sub.

[mkka]

I wonder if they were aware of it, what a masterpiece they were creating.

[regys]

this was so cool, keep it coming please

[axlm.]

Also, they used argentic SLR, not digital (they existed at the time but were way too expensive)
Meaning that after each shot, they had to send 120 film rolls to been processed, then scan the films for the digital compositing
So, if there was any fail with one roll during the chemical processing, the whole shot was wasted

[TheHouseBugDJ]

This was done 25+ years ago - let THAT sink in - and it still looks better than just about everything vfx today (2024)

[nerdsarts]

This is high quality visuals in this video keep it up 🎉 first here

[PauldeVries]

They had two giant Logitech Z207 speakers on the set? (in the back at 0:22)

[saxmanphd]

I wonder what this shot would look like in the volume ie today's technology.

[davideghirelli]

amazing cinematography, time to watch matrix again

[TroyQwert]

First, you need to decide what exactly you want to achive. Then comes how. During "how" process new ideas come about "what". That's the way! Nothing is ahead of the time for those who decided "what", if the goal was achieved.
Having a defined objective allows you to navigate the complexities of the journey effectively. Embrace the process, and let new ideas guide you toward achieving your aspirations!

[angosalvo]

In the 80s there was a documentary about animals where they used this technique to capture pigeons taking off . I was stunned that time to see that. Then i've never heard of it used later on and thought i was just hulicinating .When i saw rhe matrix movie i jumped out of my place saying that's rhe same !

[purefoldnz]

and this little movie stole all of the Phantom Menace's thunder.