A man struggles with memories of his past, including a wife he cannot remember, in a nightmarish world with no sun and run by beings with telekinetic powers who seek the souls of humans.
I saw the Director's Cut and now I think its a Brilliant film. Previously it was pretty good, but always wondered about the intro in particular that destroyed any mystery or anticipation.
Removing the intro and narration gave it more mystery and I wish I'd seen it that way first - I love people's expressions when they realise what the Dark City is in the DC. Now way? Yes way. Floating disc city and aliens!
I know this thread is old, but glad to see one for this excellent movie.
I liked it because it is the most unpredictable movie I've ever seen. From the opening scene of the lead character holding a bloody knife standing over a dead hooker to the final battle made possible by an injection of a lifetime of memories through a syringe, there are surprises at every turn. By the time it was over, I felt like I'd been on a rollercoaster ride.
__________________ Chicken Boo, what's the matter with you? You don't act like the other chickens do. You wear a disguise to look like human guys, but you're not a man you're a Chicken Boo.
I've always liked this movie, but I'm sort of afraid to go back and watch it again now (I haven't seen the Director's Cut yet) because Alex Proyas' more recent work (Knowing, Gods of Egypt) has been garbage. I'm afraid it will hurt my admiration for it. But alas, maybe I still will eventually..
I actually saw the Director's Cut for this cheap at Best Buy the other day. I may go back and get it, which would help motivate me to watch it again...
What's funny is that, even though this is one of my favorite films, I have it on DVD as a 3-movie special: Dark City, The Hidden, and The Island of Dr. Moreau (Brando, Thewlis, and Kilmer version)! Blu-ray Director's Cut needs to happen!
I watched The Director's Cut and Proyas' more recent work did not really ruin my enjoyment of it. This still holds up as a solidly well-made film. I had forgotten how good the sets and lighting and all were. The music also really stands out very well. It was funny watching a movie that I only remembered bits and pieces of considering the movie is very much about memory itself. heh.. So certain lines that I remembered as a kid kind of game me Deja Vu moments.. it's was odd. But anyway...
To me the floating skyline in space and 'machines' underneath are a little cheesy and keeps the film from truly being a masterpiece. I think a little thicker mythology on an actual planet would have been a bit more interesting and believable. But as a little stand-alone gem it's still a great piece of work.
I had forgotten that Roger Ebert was a huge admirer of the film. If I remember correctly I think he preferred it to The Matrix. It's has a nice little nostalgic old-timey detective feel to it that The Matrix doesn't have, but I still think The Matrix is far superior. But then again it took 3 films and multiple other stories to tell that story, while Dark City is just one film. So they are both good for what they are.
Oh, forgot to mention that I really couldn't tell what was added or subtracted for the Director's Cut. It felt like basically the same film to me, but it had easily been 12+ years since I saw it.
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Mar 16th, 2013 06:38 PM
