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CNN Live Today

Interview With Mr. Moviefone

Aired November 05, 2003 - 10:50   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Here is the big question, can Neo breathe life into the last installment of "The Matrix" trilogy? These folks in line for today's debut in New York, believe apparently that can happen.
Dazzling visuals, sometimes, dizzying plot twists, this is the saga-ending sequel that "Matrix" fans have been awaiting. For more let's turn to the resident film guy, our film dude, Russ Leatherman, also known as Mr. Moviefone. Russ, good morning.

RUSS LEATHERMAN, "MR. MOVIEFONE": Happy "Matrix" Day.

KAGAN: Oh, thank you. I am so thrilled.

LEATHERMAN: Let's play the "Matrix" game for a second. Who am I? Mrs. Kagan. I'm Agent Smith! Who am I now? Whoa! I'm Neo!

KAGAN: You're assuming I have seen the "Matrix" films, the first two. You know I don't see moves like that. Any bad dream movie I do not see.

LEATHERMAN: How about this one?

KAGAN: Save it. Explain this to me. Why are they debuting a move on a Wednesday morning?

LEATHERMAN: They're doing it on a Wednesday morning to get a jump on the weekend. They're opening it worldwide in more theaters all over the globe than any other time in history. So they're looking to break a record there.

And it's really just to get a jump on the weekend to say that they made $130 million or whatever over the five days. So it's really sort of to get the movie jumpstarted.

KAGAN: All right, so a gimmick there. I might not see "The Matrix" movie but I can see reviews, and the once I've seen of this movie, tepid at best.

LEATHERMAN: I think that's right. People were disappointed with the second movie, "Reloaded." And with "Revolutions" I think they'll be a little more disappointed.

And the reason is -- the reason people loved the first "Matrix" movie so much is because it was man versus the machines. It was all very ethereal. You didn't know what the machines were, et cetera. This movie is very literal. It's man, the city of Zion, versus the machine. So they have to make the machines look like something. They have to be something. So there's nothing to the imagination.

The first half of the movie is just psychological psycho babble. A lot of talk, talk, talk for the first half. And as you see right there, the second half of the movie is "Robocop" meets "Star Wars" meets "Battle Star Galatica" on crack. Just heavy, heavy action.

I mean there are decent effects, but the loyalists, the people who really loved the first "Matrix" movie, well they are going to go. And in fact none of this makes any difference. The last movie made $730 million worldwide. This one's going to do great. May not do as well as the last one because I think the last one lost a few fans. But no worries, people, the "Matrix" will be OK.

KAGAN: OK, now let's talk about something that's a little bit more my speed as the glamorous, exciting girl that I am. The DVD for "Finding Nemo" is coming out.

LEATHERMAN: Let's just talk about the glamorous, exciting girl that you are.

KAGAN: No, let's talk about "Nemo."

LEATHERMAN: This is the biggest movie of the year. Maybe my favorite movie of the year so far coming out on DVD. They're hoping to break the all-time record with sales and rentals that will have to make over $100 million on the first day to beat "Spider-Man."

But you know what? This movie is fantastic. Kids love it, parent love it. It will make a great holiday gift for everyone. I love this move and I think you should buy it, rent it, send it to your friends.

KAGAN: I'm going to watch it with my little nephews over Thanksgiving. They explain the movies to me. It's a big help.

(LAUGHTER)

KAGAN: Russ, thank you so much. Always good to see you and happy "Matrix" Day to you as well.

LEATHERMAN: Happy "Matrix" Day to you.

KAGAN: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired November 5, 2003 - 10:50   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Here is the big question, can Neo breathe life into the last installment of "The Matrix" trilogy? These folks in line for today's debut in New York, believe apparently that can happen.
Dazzling visuals, sometimes, dizzying plot twists, this is the saga-ending sequel that "Matrix" fans have been awaiting. For more let's turn to the resident film guy, our film dude, Russ Leatherman, also known as Mr. Moviefone. Russ, good morning.

RUSS LEATHERMAN, "MR. MOVIEFONE": Happy "Matrix" Day.

KAGAN: Oh, thank you. I am so thrilled.

LEATHERMAN: Let's play the "Matrix" game for a second. Who am I? Mrs. Kagan. I'm Agent Smith! Who am I now? Whoa! I'm Neo!

KAGAN: You're assuming I have seen the "Matrix" films, the first two. You know I don't see moves like that. Any bad dream movie I do not see.

LEATHERMAN: How about this one?

KAGAN: Save it. Explain this to me. Why are they debuting a move on a Wednesday morning?

LEATHERMAN: They're doing it on a Wednesday morning to get a jump on the weekend. They're opening it worldwide in more theaters all over the globe than any other time in history. So they're looking to break a record there.

And it's really just to get a jump on the weekend to say that they made $130 million or whatever over the five days. So it's really sort of to get the movie jumpstarted.

KAGAN: All right, so a gimmick there. I might not see "The Matrix" movie but I can see reviews, and the once I've seen of this movie, tepid at best.

LEATHERMAN: I think that's right. People were disappointed with the second movie, "Reloaded." And with "Revolutions" I think they'll be a little more disappointed.

And the reason is -- the reason people loved the first "Matrix" movie so much is because it was man versus the machines. It was all very ethereal. You didn't know what the machines were, et cetera. This movie is very literal. It's man, the city of Zion, versus the machine. So they have to make the machines look like something. They have to be something. So there's nothing to the imagination.

The first half of the movie is just psychological psycho babble. A lot of talk, talk, talk for the first half. And as you see right there, the second half of the movie is "Robocop" meets "Star Wars" meets "Battle Star Galatica" on crack. Just heavy, heavy action.

I mean there are decent effects, but the loyalists, the people who really loved the first "Matrix" movie, well they are going to go. And in fact none of this makes any difference. The last movie made $730 million worldwide. This one's going to do great. May not do as well as the last one because I think the last one lost a few fans. But no worries, people, the "Matrix" will be OK.

KAGAN: OK, now let's talk about something that's a little bit more my speed as the glamorous, exciting girl that I am. The DVD for "Finding Nemo" is coming out.

LEATHERMAN: Let's just talk about the glamorous, exciting girl that you are.

KAGAN: No, let's talk about "Nemo."

LEATHERMAN: This is the biggest movie of the year. Maybe my favorite movie of the year so far coming out on DVD. They're hoping to break the all-time record with sales and rentals that will have to make over $100 million on the first day to beat "Spider-Man."

But you know what? This movie is fantastic. Kids love it, parent love it. It will make a great holiday gift for everyone. I love this move and I think you should buy it, rent it, send it to your friends.

KAGAN: I'm going to watch it with my little nephews over Thanksgiving. They explain the movies to me. It's a big help.

(LAUGHTER)

KAGAN: Russ, thank you so much. Always good to see you and happy "Matrix" Day to you as well.

LEATHERMAN: Happy "Matrix" Day to you.

KAGAN: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com