Shop Ireland

Dark City [DVD] [1998] starring: Rufus Sewell, Kiefer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly, William Hurt, Richard O'Brien

Click to tell a friend about this item...

More Product Details...

Review Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Next »

Click here to add a review!

Average rating -

Rating: - A review of the Director's Cut

Dark City has been one of my favourite films for many years, it's a criminally underrated sci-fi film that, like one of it's influences, Blade Runner, was a flop when it was released and is only now starting to recieve some of the praise it deserves. Also, like Blade Runner, a decade after it's release it now sees the film given the 'director's cut' treatment. Unfortunately, unlike Blade Runner, this new cut does not improve/radically transform the film the way Ridley Scott's did. The main alteration is the removal of the opening narration which basically gave away the whole twist to the film, so that now the beginning of the film seems much more mysterious and is all the better for it. The rest of the changes just consist of slightly extended scenes that don't really add a great deal to the film. The dubbing of Jennifer Connolly's singing has been removed so that you can now actually hear the actress' own voice however there was a reason for why she was dubbed - she's just not a very good singer and I feel it let's those scenes down. Another gripe is that the excellent musical score has been significantly toned down to the extent that it's often barely noticeable which is a shame as I felt it really added to the atmosphere of the film. And some of the special effects actually seem to have been made less 'special' which I also think is a mistake. Where this DVD scores over the previous release, however, is in terms of it's extras which boast 3 commentaries, and a very informative 'making of' documentary. But in terms of the film itself, I feel that the original theatrical cut is actually the one I prefer, just turn the volume down for the first 2 minutes so you don't hear the opening 'spoiler' narration and you have a much more satisfying movie.

Rating: - Wow, an offbeat sci-fi treat for sure!

I bought this DVD despite the usual negative reviews on Amazon and was very glad I did. I watched it last night and was well impressed by this forerunner to the Matrix movies. This strange film is fast-paced and gripping - sci-fi movie-making at its best.
If you enjoy offbeat movies with lashings of sc-fi sauce and a dash of toungue-in-cheek detective melodrama then buy this classic movie and ignore the calls of 'boring' from the Hollywood fan club.

Rating: - Better start, but not the revelation expected

I confess to be one of the few who watched and loved this film on its cinematic release, but the one snag I found was the opening voice-over, which gave away the 'twist' and it struck me as a probable studio panic. Evidently my suspicions were correct, and the film should benefit (for new viewers) from its removal. However, director Alex Proyas has taken the liberty of making a number of changes to the film, mostly in the form restored footage to scenes. Some nice touches (finger prints, slightly more flesh on characters) add something, but some other additions merely slacken the pace, and worse, Proyas has (perhaps as a consequence of not fitting the scene, or maybe because he felt it too intrusive) lessened the role of Trevor Jones's brooding/vicious/achingly beautiful score. The result on balance actually feels less assured, which is a shame but not a disaster. I recommend either version for first-timers as there's plenty to offer, but I won't be ditching my old DVD as I expected to.

Rating: - That's better!

This is definitely the definitive version of Dark City that everyone should see. After watching it for the first time I was amazed at how heavily edited the original version was especially in the beginning half of the movie. In this version the added pieces of narrative help flesh out the characters and keep the movie's pace consistent, without making it too long. I also noticed it's easier to hear the dialogue as the soundtrack has been toned down from the less dramatic scenes, and it seems that Jennifer Connelly is actually singing in this version, either that or they've improved the overdub. Overall this still remains (even more so now) one of my favourite movies of all time!

Rating: - unconvincing

I have mixed thoughts about this film after wathcing it twice through. I was really looking forward to it - the idea of a film noir sci-fi set in a mysterious dark futuristic world appealed to me. Yet after watching it i feel somewhat unsatisfied.

it is definately more style than substance - the characters were lame, some of the lines really cheesy and the acting wooden. I wasnt sure wether to applaud or laugh out loud at sutherlands attempt at the mad professor.

i think this film has very high ambitions but the lofty heights it is after far outstrips the sum of its parts. As a whole it just doesnt feel succinct. I wouldnt be suprised if it was the case that different producers had been been working on different parts of the film without anyone overseeing it all.

A great idea and set is let down by a poor script and the direction of the film is too pacy - too much goes on within the first 20 mins - often a case with sci - fi films with a point to prove. There was no chance to set the scene, meet the characters, hence they appear a bit lifeless and wooden. Had this been a comic book adaptation I wouldn't have minded so much as that is what i would have expected, but as it sets out to be an intelligent thought provoking sci-fi thriller - I feel it should have either been one or the other. It seems to be stuck somewhere in the middle of flash in the pan blockbuster without attention to detail and characterisation and throught provoking indie thriller.

it certainly can't the budget that let it down - mr sutherland, miss connoly, richard o'brien and william hurt are all famous hollywood actors - i'm sure they cost a few million - but then you get really bad cheesy effects of the Strangers flying in the air alongside good effects of buildings rising from the ground and morphing in front of you.

it just seems like it deosnt all quite fit together - part comic book film noir - part intelligent sci fi - part low budget 60's b movie yet at least 4 hollywood actors in it - which could have easily been replaced with unkowns as there was no exceptional performances to note....

overall it's worth watching - but be wary of the reviews calling it a sci fi masterpiece - there are some bits of direction and production here that are fit of the types of movies you find on the Sky channel "Zone Horror" - which doesnt fit in with the script, the idea and the cast...?

and finally yes there are similarities with the Matrix - but there are also lots of derivitive elements from other films in Dark city - it is by no means original itself. Its in the same category as films like Cube and 13th Floor - good ideas let down by certian elements, be it script, production values or limitation of budget.

Persoanlly i preferred the matrix to this - yes its in a different league, but the Matrix succeeds in what it sets out to do much better than Dark City does - a lot goes on in a short space of time and the action scenes in Dark City are laughable and should have been edited - whereas the matrix - well the action scenes in that have been hugely influential (although again there are elements of martial arts movies in there too)and copied in good and bad ways dozens of times in countless movies.

Yet again i see dark city as a good idea that has been poorly executed - worth 2 viewings possibly - but i wont be watching it again soon.

Review Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Next »