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Summary: IS THIS REAL?
Review: GOOD MOVIE--- SUSPENSEFUL
MAKES YOU THINKSIMILAR TO RECENT KEANU STORY KIEFER IS THE BEST.
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Summary: There *IS* No Shell Beach!
Review: This movie is one of the best science fiction movies ever made. IT is about a man who wakes up with amnesia and finds out he is wanted by the police for a string of murders. He eventually discovers this strange group called "The Strangers" are after him as well. They possess a power call "Tuning" which mean they can stop time, alter reality, and make some sleep on command. Humans were brought to this "Dark City" as an experiment. The strangers wanted to see what made humans *human* so that they could be like them. For their race was dying. There are many similarites to The Matrix. Such as the humans being prisoner, another world, strange beings, and "The One" who has the power of the beings. Funny thing is, this movie came out before the matrix, and is much more satisfying in my opinion. If you want a great acted and detailed science fiction movie to watch, pick up Dark City. You won't be dissapointed.
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Summary: Dank and dull
Review: A shameless sci-fi ripoff of noir, gothic, fascist, and dystopian(mainly Orwellian totalitarian)imagery, this film is overcast under heavyhanded use of style and humorless execution. A bunch of extraterrestial cousins of Nosferatu with jellyfish brains and whiplashed necks manipulate the memories of humans to figure out the essence of the soul in order to save their race from extinction(couldn't they have bought a Pscyh 101 textbook instead?). There's a cute nasty little kid among these vampire-like critters but why only one? For effect, of course, but then this movie has nothing beyond effects, special, stylistic, or otherwise. The concept is, by now, a staple of sci-fi, with political as well as metaphysical implications . But, this movie, like the Japanese anime Akira, is too stupid to develop these themes and instead degenerates into a series of chases, fight sequences, and a final battle on the level of yoda and dooku tossing ever bigger objects at one another. This telepathic power is called 'tuning' and too bad one can't tune off this awful mess but there is the remote control... And, yet the movies isn't entirely without virtue. First, there is the obvious ambition, which in our summer blockbuster saturated culture, counts for something. There's also the commitment from actors; William Hurt is particularly good though Kiefer Sutherland is unconvincing as geek doctor and hollow cheeked Jude Law is shallow and lackluster as the Chosen One. Jennifer Connelly, though hardly a talent, has grace and beauty and knows how to use them. The CGI effects, though not overwhelming and even murky, stretch into something resembling boldness though never originality. And, it's generally well-paced and suspenseful enough if you want to tune your mind off. A sci-fi in the Terry Gilliam mode, excessive and inflated but hollow. Finally, I think it would have been more interesting not to have vilified the vampire folk and their agenda, for after all, they are only seeking survival. Their means may be evil but their impulse surely isn't.
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Summary: Insanly awesome
Review: This movie is truly a master piece. It has such a dark and errie feel to it. The dark atmosphere makes it in a way scary and unpredictable. Jennifer Connely did a great job in acting in this movie. I love aliens and this movie has them in it. It was exciting to, a great thriller.
Rating: 
Summary: A Review Haiku by Todd Marrone
Review: A macabre Matrix
with a strong cast and good script,
great art house sci-fi!
Rating:
Summary: A life-changing film
Review: You pretty much know the story from all the other reviews here, so I'll skip the film intro. I was lucky enough to see this film in theaters; I was completely blown away by it. Unfortunately, since almost no one saw this film in theaters, Proyas' career tanked. This is no hyperbole: this is the greatest film I have ever seen, on top of being my favourite. It is true that my opinion might be slanted since I like dark atmosphere, great production design, attention to detail, shifty characters, which many have noted; however, the film is much, much more than that. These elements are merely instruments used to deliver the film's message, which unfortunately too many have missed, even though the film spells it out. It is my conclusion that had these people understood -- or cared -- about the point of the film, their opinions would be radically different. So what is the point? I am loathe to reveal key film points, so I'll just say this: it's about what makes us human, it's about what is the human soul, it's about purpose and meaning in life. This means that if you're not willing to think during this film, and just want to be entertained, this film might not be for you, although many superficial reviewers found the visuals and production sufficient for that purpose. It might be seen as a difficult watch, while I found it profoundly engaging, finally a film that doesn't take its viewers for complete idiots (contrary to your average Jerry Bruckheimer blockbuster). It is capable of awakening many fundamental questions about Humanity, without being arrogantly presumptuous in attempting to answer it all; it's up to you to decide what you believe in. For instance, are we born evil? Does evil exist? Are we more than the sum of our memories and experiences? Do we have a soul? What makes each individual unique? So many questions, so many possible answers, makes for each new viewing of this film unique in its own way, although I've now seen this film around 30 times. Is the acting flat? The characters paper-thin? The plot almost non-existent? Yes and no. Yes on the surface, but a *resounding* No when taken into context with what the film is trying to say. The characters *seem* paper-thin, only because that's what artificial characters created in a laboratory are supposed to be like. The plot may seem non-existent, only because the plot is part of the delivery device for a much greater story for which you must think; the ending is not a battle of good versus evil, but a man's struggle to make life his own. This is important, because instead of making it the usual Good/Evil formula finale, the film makes it into the single most moving scene since the "Battle of the Anthems" in Casablanca. The sunrise at the end of Matrix Revolutions is clearly an hommage to that scene in Dark City. Which brings me to my final point. This film prefers to tell its story with visuals, instead of being unnecessarily talky. Today's films are lazy in the sense that they use dialogue to move the story forward, and only use special effects to awe the entertained audience. Not so in Dark City. Everything is said visually, using dialogue to underline, or to accompany the visuals. Most striking is a scene where John is in jail, and gets visited by his "wife"; the screenwriters could have just used dialogue to repeat ten, fifteen times that they love eachother (Ã la Neo & Trinity), but instead makes it much more meaningful and convincing by their kiss across a pane of glass that shatters as they get closer. Too many people compare Matrix with Dark City though. Yes, they are very similar in terms of the basic plot, and the dark, bleak atmosphere. But the comparisons end here. Dark City, for one, is not an action film. Also, Matrix always stayed rather superficial by comparison, which is not a bad thing, since it made for a more accessible film, but makes them incomparable. Dark City used all the elements described previously for the explicit purpose of exploring many unanswered fundamental questions on Humanity, while Matrix was essentially a thrilling ride, which on a side plate talked about the self-determination versus destiny dichotomy. Matrix was about fake reality, while Dark City merely used fake reality for a much greater purpose. Matrix is enjoyable as pop-corn entertainment (Ã la Commando, First Blood), while Dark City clearly is not. In other words, a life-changing film, but only if you're open to interpretation. I'm glad Roger Ebert also got it, and contributes the single best commentary track on any DVD; incidentally, Ebert also rated it the top film of 1998.
Rating:
Summary: One of my top 5 of all time
Review: As essential as The Matrix. Film Noir-Sci Fi that questions reality and existence, and it's got Kieffer. This movie is as influential as the Matrix, and will stand the test of time (The Matrix may not). Great acting, beautiful set design, and "a splinter in your mind" theme runs throughout. Dark City asks "Who am I?", and the answer is profound, if slightly disturbing.
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Summary: Memorable and Influential Sci-Fi
Review: I would agree with almost anyone who says that "Dark City" is one of the most visually arresting cinematic efforts made in the last few years. Alex Proyas's film employs shifting set pieces, hallucinatory effects, downright bleak atmosphere, and bizarre characters to create a science fiction tour de force of epic proportions. I have never seen a movie quite like "Dark City," and I do not expect to see something like this again for some time to come, if ever. The movie seems to divide viewers; either you will like this one or absolutely detest it. Either side can make strong cases for their opinions. Fans can point to the devilishly clever plot, the casting of well-known actors such as Jennifer Connolly, Kiefer Sutherland, and William Hurt in key roles, and the nifty special effects work. Detractors are correct when they spotlight the movie's tendency to embrace style over substance, the paper-thin characters, and an occasionally convoluted plot. I am going to take the middle ground with this picture because I feel that "Dark City" is a wonderful idea in terms of special effects and plot but too often fails to realize the human aspects of its story. John Murdoch awakens in a bathtub with a raging case of amnesia the likes of which few people have ever seen. He simply has no memory of how he got into the bathtub, why the lamp above his head is swinging as though someone just bumped into it, or why there is a body in the other room. Over the course of the next few minutes, Murdoch realizes he has a wife and that the police think he is a serial killer of some sort. To make matters exponentially worse, a group of flying humanoids who look a lot like Uncle Fester on a diet occasionally turn up and attempt to do Murdoch some serious harm. Our forgetful hero must find out who he is, track down his wife, and figure out why a place called Shell Beach is so important before the Fester-like creeps hunt him down. Throw in a strange doctor who appears from time to time and spouts rather cryptic statements about the city, an alien conspiracy that would make even the most levelheaded soul paranoid, a truly mind blasting conclusion, and you have all the makings of a film that will stay with you for quite some time. To reveal more could very well spoil the whole movie, as "Dark City" utilizes each and every one of its scenes to build to a shattering conclusion. This movie reminds me of "Memento" in the way that you need to pay close attention to what is going on in order to arrive at the ending fully informed. The special effects are the best aspect of "Dark City." Proyas and gang constructed a truly frightening, grim backdrop for their characters to explore. The city never sees the light of day, and at midnight all life in the city comes to a screeching halt. The urban landscape itself is like a gigantic jigsaw puzzle, capable of assuming new forms on a daily basis. The film reeks of noir stylings, as characters amble around in circa 1940s clothing, drive outdated automobiles from the 1950s to the 1960s, and occasionally banter using dialogue right out of a Raymond Chandler novel. The floating Festers who appear from time to time and talk in a strange lisping accent work as well, especially when we discover exactly what these creatures are and what their relation is to the humans in the city. What is this place and what does it all mean? A good question, and one that very few of the people in the city think about let alone can answer. Regrettably, I thought the characters in the film often took second fiddle to the special effects and eerie plot. Kiefer Sutherland does an effective turn as the nervous Dr. Schreber, a guy who knows everything about this city and the shenanigans taking place within its parameters but who has no idea how it all started. William Hurt turns up as the meticulous detective Frank Bumstead, a man who notices minute details within the conscious world but has no understanding of the reality of the city. Jennifer Connolly is completely, utterly wasted as Emma, Murdoch's barely remembered wife. Any Connolly fan that watches "Dark City" is sure to experience disappointment about how little she does here. Rufus Sewell, an actor I am unfamiliar with and whom I thought was miscast here, plays the amnesia addled John Murdoch. I never felt much sympathy with Sewell's character and I kept thinking of other actors who should have played the part. Ian Richardson turns up as one of the creepy Fester creatures. "Dark City," while failing to fire on all cylinders, is still an enormously entertaining science fiction film. As others have mentioned, it is easy to see this film's influence on later blockbuster sagas like "The Matrix." The extras on the DVD, including a couple of commentaries, cast biographies, and an interactive game, spare no effort to convince you that the film is nothing less than visionary. In fact, the producers of "Dark City" even draw comparisons between their effort and Fritz Lang's monumental epic "Metropolis." I wouldn't go that far, but Proyas's film is amazing on many levels and certainly makes for a couple of hours of great amusement.
Rating:
Summary: Top Notch Sci-Fi Thriller
Review: John Murdock(Rufuss Sewel)is in trouble. He just woke up in a motel room, and has no memory of how he got there. To make matters worse, there is a dead woman next to him, and he soon discovers that he is the prime suspect in a murder investigation involving prostitutes. He is being chased on both sides of the law. Inspector Frank Bumstead ( William Hurt) is a skilled cop that never gives up. He only believes in what he sees, and in his eyes, John is a murderer. But things are about to get a lot worse when John discovers his other pursuers. "The Strangers" are a mysterious group of beings that possess the ability to stop time and alter reality. John is now determined to solve the riddle of why the city is always different day after day, why it's always dark, and why they are after him. The only problem, is that the truth could be fatal... "Dark City" is one of the best Sci-Fi films that you will ever see. The story is in a gotham like city set in the 1940's. All of the costume and building designs are outstanding. Next, the story is extremely original. The idea of being able to alter reality, and keep it from an entire city is actually interesting. Alex Proyas did a great job with how he worked the characters into the story. All the main characters play an important part, and help to further develop the plot. Rufuss Sewel was outstanding as John Murdock. His determination to find out why he's so special is unreal, and when you find out why the "Strangers" are targeting him, you will be very surprised. Jennifer Connelly is great as John's wife. The emotion that she shows is very realistic. Nice chemistry between her and Sewell. Kiefer Sutherland gave my favorite performance. He is the wild scientist that helps "The Strangers" with their mission. It was definately a different role for Sutherland, but still great. William Hurt was great as Frank Brumstead. Plays the typical cop who only believes in rational explanations. "The Strangers" themselves were excellent and actually frightening. "Dark City" is one of my favorite films. The settings, acting, and extremely original story make it a masterpiece in the Sci-Fi genre. The DVD does not have much in the way of extras, but it still the best choice because of the quality and the fact that it is extremely affordable. Definaley a must own!
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful to look at
Review: Dark City is the best example I've ever seen of bringing a "comic book" sensibility to the big screen. I saw it first at the Pusan International FIlm Festival years ago and was captiviated. The look of the film is tremendous. It's a highly stylized, art-deco world not unlike the first Batman movie, but a little darker, a tad more claustrophobic. And the effects are well-handled without exception. Add in a murder mystery, and you've got yourself an alternate reality worthy of exploration. The performances are uniformly good, if a little mannered. The standout is Richard O'Brien (the butler from "Rocky Horror") as the lead "bounty hunter," Mr. Hand. He's creepy and belongs completely to the world of the film. Rufus Sewell, Jennifer Connoly, and William Hurt are more than passable, and Kiefer Sutherland's perfomance as a Lorre-esque psychologist must be seen to be believed. If you surrender to the conceit of the film, you'll enjoy this immensely. If you are grounded in "reality," you might have some problems. I think this is a wonderful, stunning movie.
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