Guest JimCTU Report post Posted June 3, 2003 Last week, I bought Dark City on DVD from Play.com I had never heard anything about this movie, up until recently. My friend had bought it ages ago, and told me how good it was. I decided to buy it and see for myself... What I saw was, in my opinion, one of the best, most clever movies ever made. Dark City starts off with John Murdoch, awakening in a bathtub in some motel, covered in blood.....but its not his. He has no idea who he is, what he is doing there, or why the blood is there. His memory is gone. He gets out of the tub, and goes into the next room, to answer the ringing phone. He recieves a call from a mysterious man known as Dr. Schreber (played by Kiefer Sutherland), who tells him to get out of the motel as quickly as he can, because "they are coming for him". Murdoch quickly gets dressed and leaves. As he leaves, he notices the body of a young woman lying in the next room. Stunned, he leaves, and then notices what Dr. Schreber was talking about. They are coming for him... Murdoch sets out on a journey through this city, which seems to never seen daylight, and that there seems to be no way out of, to find out why he is wanted by not only these strange people, but by the police to, and to find out who he is, and how he got there. Little does he know, the Dark City has more to it than meets the eye, as he soon discovers when the clock reaches midnight. Thats all I really want to talk about, in terms of plot, for those who haven't seen it. There is so much more to the film, which I won't go into. My only advice is to SEE THIS MOVIE! The film deals with so many themes, some of which you many not notice until your second viewing or so, but one or two of the more obvious ones includes existentialism and human reality. I won't give anything away, but its one of these films that will make you sit back after viewing, and question a lot of things in life. I know it sounds like a bit much to expect from a movie, but trust me, Dark City is such a deep film, and one that you'll go back and watch again and again. Kiefer Sutherland, Rufus Sewell and Jennifer Connelly are all great in a very well directed, extremely underated film. One thing you will notice, is that how much The Matrix took from this film. There are quite a few similarities, which the Matrix quite blatantley took from Dark City, and at the same time, recieved all the credit for. Check out Dark City as soon as you can. There is so much to the film that I haven't talked about here. Without a doubt, the most underated film ever. A lost classic, which will no doubt be looked back on in a few years time, and hopefully given the credit that it should have gotten back in 1998. Anyone else seen the movie? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vyce Report post Posted June 3, 2003 Yes. I've championed this movie ever since it came out (in early 1998, I believe). It made nothing in the box office, and hasn't really entered into the mainstream consciousness after the fact, but it has something of a cult following because it is quite simply an excellent movie which, in the years to come, will be considered a true classic of science fiction. Unfortunately, outside of us geeks on the internet, the only person I know who really pimped this film was Roger Ebert, who placed it on his top 10 list in 98 and provides a really excellent commentary track on the DVD. If you haven't listened to the track yet, do so! It's fun and informative. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest NoCalMike Report post Posted June 3, 2003 This is truly the most underrated and rarely seen, among the general movie watching audience, besides of course Howard the Duck..... Seriously though, this is a great flick. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest JimCTU Report post Posted June 3, 2003 Roger Ebert, who placed it on his top 10 list in 98 and provides a really excellent commentary track on the DVD. If you haven't listened to the track yet, do so! It's fun and informative. Don't thats on the Region 2 DVD. Only extras that are on the disc are The Making of Documentary and The Trailer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Army Eye Report post Posted June 3, 2003 Unfortunately, outside of us geeks on the internet, the only person I know who really pimped this film was Roger Ebert, who placed it on his top 10 list in 98 and provides a really excellent commentary track on the DVD. If you haven't listened to the track yet, do so! It's fun and informative. I think he made it #1 that year even. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Ravenbomb Report post Posted June 3, 2003 yeah, Ebert gave this movie the #1 slot for '98 I totally agree, maybe not the BEST movie in 1998, I'd have to see what all else came out that year, but it's at least one of the best that year, and one of the best of all time, yo. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest IDrinkRatsMilk Report post Posted June 3, 2003 Roger Ebert, who placed it on his top 10 list in 98 and provides a really excellent commentary track on the DVD. If you haven't listened to the track yet, do so! It's fun and informative. Don't thats on the Region 2 DVD. Only extras that are on the disc are The Making of Documentary and The Trailer. I've got a region 1 with the Ebert commentary and a director commentary. I just bought it at the store, I don't know the story or anything, but it's region 1 and it's there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest godthedog Report post Posted June 3, 2003 in relation to mainstream exposure, definitely underrated and quite a good movie. in relation to how much it gets pimped on this board, it's pretty overrated. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Smell the ratings!!! Report post Posted June 3, 2003 yeah, we do have a monthly thread about this movie. That said, I maintain that this movie owns it. I'd have to put in my 10 favorites. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Riots bloodlust Report post Posted June 4, 2003 This movie was made with such a fine attention to detail that every time I have seen it, I have noticed something new that is significant. It deffinately deserves more credit and public awareness than it has gotton. Hopefully time will fix that to some extent. Anyway, gotta love Keifer Sutherland. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Crazy Dan Report post Posted June 4, 2003 I liked this movie too. Vey unique and original. The sets and art direction are amazing. One of the better "mood" movies to come out in the 90's. I think because it was so dark, that was the reason for it's lack of success. But, thanks to VHS and DVD, this will be a movie that more and more people will discover. I definately would call this one of the more Underated Films to come out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest teke184 Report post Posted June 4, 2003 Dark City, along with The Crow, is one of the movies that immediately came to mind when I first saw trailers for The Matrix. Unlike Donnie Darko, Being John Malkovich, or other such "original" films, I had some distinct visions in mind for what I expected from Dark City and, unfortunately, it's kept me from enjoying the film as much as I should have. I feel that the style and visuals of Dark City are incredible but didn't like the actual story that much. I think that I was expecting a different kind of performance from Kiefer Sutherland to begin with and that the huge left turn the plot makes when Spoiler (Highlight to Read): William Hurt's character is sucked out of the city into the vastness of space didn't sit well with me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Si82 Report post Posted June 5, 2003 I saw "Dark City" out of pure chance, I was just channel hopping at the time, and I thought it was a fantastic film. Nice and dark and different. I think that it's a very well constructed film that totally sucked me in. I can understand why more people haven't seen the film. It rocks! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest mach7 Report post Posted June 5, 2003 Great flick. One of the first DVD's I ever bought when I got my player a few years ago. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest gthureson Report post Posted June 5, 2003 A good, but not great, movie with a unique visual feel. A fascinating premise that wasn't followed through with as well as it could have been. I hadn't seen the movie til people started calling it a 'lost classic', so perhaps that raised the bar far too much for me on first viewing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
