nealklein

The paranoia and desperation of the dog in this brilliant cartoon are summed up in his quote that is the title of this commentary. The humor is predictable, but it's the frantic quality of the pacing and the superb irony that give this cartoon real legs. A must see.

Sylvester and this kitten are both trying to get shelter from the freezing storm when they arrive, one at a time, at the doorstep of Elmer Fudd. It's predictable stuff at first. Elmer can't keep both cats, but he's very partial to the kitten. Sylvester does everything he can to make the kitten "lose points" with Elmer, but to no avail, until Sylvester is actually a thread away from getting bounced outside.

The element that makes this a gem is the frenetic ending. It builds mercilessly into a hysterical display of the cats trying to get one up upon the other with the radio blaring and synchronized to their actions. It's very well directed and totally memorable.

I am hardly a Matrix fan. I just enjoy a well told and directed story. I like a story that is presented in its medium to the best possible effect. I had no expectations of this other than it was a supplement to the Matrix story and had animated sequences.

What I saw was extraordinarily directed and crafted animation. The first segment, "The Last Flight of the Osiris", is, as someone brusquely put it, "eye candy". However, it was far better than the wooden garbage of "Final Fantasy" and vastly superior in conveying a chilling feeling of tension. Each segment is likewise a facet of the tale the Wachowski brothers are trying to flesh out. The stories are not spelled out for the audience, and you might have to , Heaven forbid, think about what you have just watched.

Where "The Matrix" explored the philosophical territory of reality and what defines it (and our relationship to it), "The Animatrix" advances that exploration into the vistas of civilization, hubris, human nature, and much more. It merits discussion, like "The Matrix" did. I hardly believe this is just for Matrix fans. It's clearly for people wanting a thought-provoking and originally told mature story. For those who look into the possibilities posed by the background story told in "The Animatrix", the topics are deeply disturbing, sometimes at a visceral level. For those just wanting to watch good animation, watch the styles used in each segment and see how appropriate it is for the tale being told.

Because you have nine short clips to watch, you will find favorites and ones you'd rather forget. Please watch with an open mind, and see why this more than animation. See the directing and the characterization. Think about the clever way this supplements "The Matrix" without being redundant. And if you want to see the details, watch it again. It's really brilliant.