Dark City | | Cast : | Rufus Sewell, Kiefer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly | | Director : | Alex Proyas | | Studio : | New Line Home Entertainment | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen, Dolby | | Released Date : | February 27, 1998 | | DVD Released Date : | February 03, 2004 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), French (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), English (Original Language), French (Original Language), Spanish (Subtitled) | | Audience Rating : | R (Restricted) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | August 08, 2005 | | Summary | One of the best movies that I've ever seen! | Content
 | Beware for those of you wanting to watch an action/ sci-fi movie as this isn't like that. There isn't a lot of action whatsoever or not even that much suspense, but the movie is very interesting, exciting and unlike anything else that you've ever seen before.
This movie is visually stunning and has a very powerful score that goes along with everything that's happening in the movie.
This movie is definitely one of the best that I have ever seen.
The movie is about a man waking up with a body next to him and not remembering anything from his past (complete memory loss) From then on, he's wanted for murder and hunted down by mysterious beings called strangers who can stop/control time. The title of the movie is clearly illustrated throughout the movie as there is basically no sun.
I don't want to give away anything else about the movie so that you can discover this amazing movie on your own! Believe me, this is one movie that everyone should see. The plot and story of this movie is so remarquable and is probably the best and most interesting plot ever in a movie. This is a movie that you don't want to miss out on and is a treat to the audience thanks to its stunning visuals, remarquable plot, excellent music/score and great acting! |
| Rating | | | Date | July 29, 2005 | | Summary | The Sun doesn't shine on dark city | Content
| The real star of DARK CITY is the production design, a dense urban sprawl that cleverly builds a dark comic book world. Every dark alleyway leads you to a darker alleyway. The city's uncanny morphing warps and distorts the skyline every evening. The inhabitants of the city are no less part of the production design as their lives are transformed every evening as well. All of this happens because some 'Nosferatu' looking aliens have the ability to manipulate time and matter, controlling life as they would playing the computer game "Sim City".
Humanities only chance for redemption is a character who must beat a bum murder rap to show he is 'the one' to topple the invaders. Here the MATRIX similarities end as that film was an action film, this a more passive 'cerebral' film. Most of the performances are flat... William Hurt (A.I., CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD) is the police detective who believes in the hero, played by Rufus Sewell (HAMLET). Through alien intervention, Jennifer Connelly (LABYRINTH, A BEAUTIFUL MIND) is appointed his wife. (I could use that kind of intervention in my life!) Kiefer Sutherland goes way out on a limb as a vocally, physically and psychically challenged doctor. Unfortunately, he goes to far out and falls. His character is never 'true' leaving the viewer always aware of his 'performance'. Give him an "E" for effort.
The director does a good job of deriving several movie elements into one film. To fans of the cinema, you'll spend most of the film earmarking those films. DARK CITY has a very carefully selected audience. It is more of a graphic novel (high on concept and low on character) then great cinema. The DVD has marginal video transfer as the 'darks' show several imperfections. It also includes a couple commentaries and smaller features. |
| Rating | | | Date | May 13, 2005 | | Summary | Better "what is reality?" concept than The Matrix | Content
| I saw this movie in the box office and it blew me away. The noir look and feel of the movie. The sinister strangers that pop up. The fact that the plot unfolds in front of you gradually in this film. Alex Proyas made a winner in this movie.
This movie really plays with the whole concept of what you think is really actually isn't. It does so by allowing you to realize this as John Murdock, the main character, does. Pieces don't make sense at first and then fall into place later. In my opinion this is a superior form of telling that concept then how it was done on The Matrix, where the concept of reality not being reality is practically spoon fed to you (Don't get me wrong. I really like The Matrix. I just see this one aspect as limiting compared to Dark City). This is where Dark City shines.
The acting is superb all around. The special effects are very impressive for its time, especially with the budget they had to work with. The script is unique and very well laid out. All in all this is an excelling science fiction film that plays out like a mystery and holds onto you until the finish.
The DVD might not have nearly as many bonus features as the ones you see these days, but when I got this DVD back when it was released it seemed feature-rich. The big bonus feature back then was the director's commentary and it's still the sign of a good special edition. Alex and the production team go into some real fine detail on the movie which makes the commentary that much more special. You also get a commentary from Roger Ebert that feels more like an analysis, but is actually a good analysis.
Other features include actor profiles, a review comparison between Dark City and the silent movie Metropolis (Roger Ebert seems to find many parallels between the two), and a game called Return to Shell Beach (which I never really figured out or cared to as it meant disrupting the movie while playing it).
Considering the price tag on this DVD now it would be a crime NOT to get it. The movie is excellent. Believe me. If you're a sci-fi fan you don't want to miss this one. |
| Rating | | | Date | May 02, 2005 | | Summary | one of my favorites | Content
| I was surprised to read the editorial review at the top... The idea itself behind this movie is enough to make it interesting. Amazon's editorialist needs to have his memory switched out when they tune down the city. |
| Rating | | | Date | April 04, 2005 | | Summary | Very original....Good quality sci-fi flick | Content
| For such an original idea this movie didn't do that well in theaters which I am surprised at considering it had good performances by Kiefer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly, William Hurt, and Rufus Sewell. Anyways Dark City focuses on this man named John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell) who awakens in a strange motel and can't remember a thing. On top of that he is wanted a for a series of murders. Under the Dark city lurks, these creepy underground dwellers who have the power to stop time and alter reality. They switch people's memories and create new ones as well. John Murdoch struggles to unravel his twisted identity but realizes that unraveling the truth can be fatal. Overall a very different original Sci-fi movie, amazing special effects, good acting. As for the dvd two solid commentaries and some comparisons on Fritz lang's "Metropolis" which isn't all that bad, but I guess since this movie wasn't that popular it won't be getting a special edition anytime soon. If it does come out I will deff. be purchasing it, well worth the extra money. |
|
Picture 01 (20)
