According to the bits:

The Complete Matrix Trilogy (oddly enough just $20 less at SRP $99.99) is a 3-disc set that includes the movies and ONLY the Side One contents of the movie discs (the film, the commentaries and some extras) from the Ultimate box set.

Have you seen the animated shorts on the Adventures of Robin Hood HD DVD? They are amazing. SD animation is usually riddled with mosquito noise. HD is much cleaner, and the richness of the color palette in the backgrounds is self-evident.

Check out Brave Story on HD-DVD.

I'm getting the single-sided set then. I have the Ultimate dvd set for extras.

Not me. I figure I can get more than the $20 difference on eBay for the UC and would rather not have 70 matrix discs.

Ditto.

Hell... I just bought the UC for the first disc only. Still haven't attempted to watch the extras.

As much of an "HD High" I was on when this was announced, I'm now in an "HD Lull" when I learned that the Animatrix is NOT in HD.

That, IMHO, is a GROSS miscalculation. I really don't see why it can't be mastered in HD. It sounds like they are regulating it to "extra" status.

That really pisses me off. Can you IMAGINE how good that would look in HD?

DAMN!

For SD video, it would be true. An entire season of say, Three's Company which was shot on video would likely fit on a single HD DVD or BD. It is HiDef video that takes up space. Also as has been noted, multiple discs is a marketing tool now that the perception amongst the public is that more discs=better.

I thought that too...looks like its not selling so high on ebay....$20 or so would be good for a used set. I thought the same thing.

DVDplanet is buying it back for $16.

Ditto - I'll hang on to my current set for the extras. I hate double-sided discs.

1080p extras would have swayed me.

If they used BD50s they could probably fit most or all of the HD DVD content on five discs... assuming that they don't use PCM audio or something. (Does Warner use PCM on BDs? I haven't been paying attention.)

Just once...for The Departed.

Twice. The Departed and The Sopranos.

I bet they wont use less discs...I bet they will use the same setup as for the hd-dvd. Everything will just be ported over.

We finally get the the most important release for HD ever and now it's "Oh no..the Animatrix is not HD what do I do now?". Not once before the announcment have I heard anyone saying anything about how they want the Animatrix in HD. Now it's a deal breaker?

I would have gladly paid 100 bucks just for the 3 movies and no extras.

Agreed.

I agree but at the same time I have to disagree. It's the most important release so far and it should be done right. I've already bought the Ultimate Collection and for me to go out and buy the HD version of it, would require
Animatrix in HD and at least some of the extras in HD if possible.
If it wasn't shot in HD fine, but if it was and they still release it in SD then we have a problem. They can't skimp on a release like this granted we will probably see another release later down the line, but if not at least pull out all the stops.
I would love to buy this but I've already spent a good hundred bucks total on all the Matrix DVDs I've bought so far.

I'll buy the films in HD regardless, but the features and Animatrix in HD will convince me to re-buy my ultimate collection in HD.

Exactly.

Also in reference to:

I don't believe there is a precedent for double-sided Blu-Ray discs. That doesn't mean it can't happen..

the first matrix movie was huge on dvd because it was a new blockbuster with awesome special effects. it's been imitated and ridiculed so often by now, and so many people own the dvd sets, that i wonder if it will have anywhere near the same impact in highdef.

Worth considering, but I think it's a pretty safe bet this will sell mucho units. It's possible that a lot of the audience has changed or moved on, but I'm sure there are still plenty of people who will buy it every time it's released. As for using it to sell the technology, it's like you said: it WAS a blockbuster (rather, THEY were blockbusters -- I've gotta remember there were three of them! ). People loved it. Still do. It's also completely tailor-made for showing off a High Def system. So it's been imitated and ridiculed; movies that really strike a chord with people can handle that sort of thing.

I think people also should remember that this could have been on of the "early" HD DVD releases so that not "everything" was done in HD as it might have if it was a recent release. If they have been holding this disc back and its been ready since last summer then this can explain a lot. I for one am happy the the MOVIES are in HD if the Animatrix was it would ahve been a bonus, but it is far from a deal breaker. But was with almost any big release no matter what there are always going to be those people who complain becasue it is missing this or should be that...

Didn't expect the extras to be HD (trailers would be nice), but I pretty much assumed Animatrix was filmed in HD and would be presented as such for it's eventual HD release... It won't effect my decision to purchase the set, but certainly dampens my enthusiasm.

It really is amazing what people think.

So I guess Star Wars and Lord of the Rings wont be a big deal either huh?