Dark City (DVD, 1998, Platinum Series)

So, did you take the Red pill, or the Blue one? Have you found yourself to be a fan of The Matrix? Then be sure to sample 1998's Dark City! Directed by Alex Proyas, who brought us The Crow and starring Rufus Sewell (A Knight's Tale), Kiefer Sutherland (Young Guns), Jennifer Connelly (The Hulk) and William Hurt (Lost in Space). Siskel and Ebert gave this film "2 Thumbs Up", drawing comparisons to the German Sci-Fi classic, Fritz Lang's Metropolis. Like The Matrix, this film brings you along on our hero's bizarre journey of discovery in a world that he has trouble understanding. As the mystery begins to unfold, other questions begin to be raised: What is the nature of the human soul? Is our reality a product of our own thoughts and memories, or are those "memories" not our own but simply provided for us? Strong visuals, excellent special effects and a tight storyline all pull together for a complete Sci-Fi experience. An eye-opening Sci-Fi film easily 1yr. before The Matrix hit the scene. I found this film to be groundbreaking in it's own right. If The Matrix is a "5", then this one is definately a "4+". This DVD has many notable bonuses: Trailers and Biographies are the norm, but the 2 Commentary Tracks and an interesting in-DVD game, "Find Shell Beach" are quite worthwhile. I'm pleased to have this one as part of my personal film collection and hope you might consider it too. Thanks for taking the time to read my review, I hope it was helpful - please rate it accordingly. Be fair and take care out there...

Extraterrestrial, John Murdoch becomes conscience inside a bathtub with a dead body. Lost identity & murder, Dr. Schreber (Kiefer Sutherland), detective Frank Bumstead (William Hurt) Emma John’s wife.

City of gothic dark and mystic, basic sci-fi plot, the aliens, haunted senses and undersleep world manipulation. Giant clocks, medium follow dialogue, characters are skeptic, don’t think one way but keep a close eye on the film.

DV D CAST ----- Rufus Sewell as John Murdoch ----- William Hurt as Inspector Frank Bumstead----- Kiefer Sutherland as Dr. Daniel P. Schreber ----- Jennifer Connelly as Emma Murdoch ----- Richard O'Brien as Mr. Hand ----- Ian Richardson as Mr. Book ----- Bruce Spence as Mr. Wall ----- Colin Friels as Det. Eddie Walenski ----- John Bluthal as Karl Harris ----- Mitchell Butel as Officer Husselbeck ----- Melissa George as May ----- Frank Gallacher as Chief Insp. Stromboli ----- Ritchie Singer as Hotel Manager ----- Justin Monjo as Mr. Rain

DVD has Region 1, Widescreen - 2.35, Pan & Scan, CC (Closed Caption), R (rated), 100 minutes.

Erie ambience film, I recommend 16 years + (adult supervision). 3 *** rate (my own opinion).

Dark City is a great addition to any Sci-Fi line up for those looking for something new and not over produced. Rufus Sewell plays his character, John Murdoch, smartly and exact as a confused man lost in the darkness of the city that changes every 'night' at midnight. And his co-stars each add to the tangled web, he tries to uncover, especially Kiefer Sutherland as the limping asthmatic doctor that holds the only answers to the past and future of the city.
The theme of Dark City has been compared to The Matrix, as how we are not actually in control of our lives, but some experiment. This theme has been used in several other movies, such as The Thirteenth Floor, but Dark City's take is unique by way of who has this control and power. You can see the influences of director Alex Proyas, The Crow, with the visual pleasure you take in from the set work, modeled after the 1940s or 1950s.
Overall this is a very good movie that moves at a fair pace, and keeps you entertained. The acting is excellent, and the plot is original. I give it four stars.

After all these years, I can't really think of any other movie that had so much impact on me. The Matrix was very deep, and so was Ridley Scott's Bladerunner.

To think that the Director and all the Cast had made such a fantastic film is much akin to a miracle in Hollywood. Too bad this movie was such a sleeper. If it hadn't have been, maybe Rufus Sewell and Jennifer Connelly would have been 10 times bigger stars than they already are. Alex Proyas, the director of this movie and The Crow, is a true genius.

Without giving away the story, I'd have to say that the R rating was certainly necessary to carry the story.

Don't miss out on seeing this movie.

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Wow. Why on earth is this not popular!! Dark City is my new favorite science fiction movie. It's alot like a mixture of "Brazil", "The Matrix" and (possible spoiler) "The Truman Show"! The story is genius. Everything else (the acting, art style, dialogue, etc) was perfect! My only, ONLY small complaint was with the speed of the film. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a huge fan of slow movies. It's just that sometimes It felt like the scenes were flying by a little too fast. It in no way ruined anything for me though. (I like to think that they didn't have a choice as no one wants to sit through a 4 hour movie). All in all I say that you can't call yourself a movie buff until you give this film a chance.