Dark City (DVD)

Advantages: visually exciting
Disadvantages: can get a bit silly

...Bermuda Triangle', she settled on Dark City, a video Ian picked up cheap somewhere, and which I didn't even realise we had. Why I hadn't already seen this film, I have no idea. It's written by the writer of 'The Crow', which despite having a slightly dated soundtrack, is still a superb film. It's also full of English actors, and I usually try and support the British film industry in some small way (oh alright, one of the English actors happens to ...
...Last, but not least, my husband and a good friend had been telling me for years to watch it because, 'It's good'; why this fantastic recommendation didn't make me rush and watch it straightaway, I can't think. The film starts with John Murdoch (Sewell) waking up in cold bath. He can't remember anything, but does find a dead girl in the bedroom next door - never a good way to wake up, I think you'll agree. The film follows him searching for his identity. ... Read review

Advantages: good gothic style film with originality
Disadvantages: falters at end

Dark City was the follow up film to The Crow for director Alex Proyas. It's a very original and atmosphiric sci-fi noir. The story involves a man who wakes up not knowing his past. Through his searching he finds that there is a mysterious group who every night revolves the lives of the city's residents so every day they are someone different. If you haven't seen it then I suggest you rent it now. There are two ways you can get this on dvd. The first ...
...good. All the blacks and dark noir tones are excellently presented. Flip the disk and you've got a pan and scan version of the film as well if you're that way inclined. The film has a dolby digital 5.1 soundtrack in either french or english. It does a good job of creating the atmosphere of the city and really kicks in toward the end of the film. Now the extras are the meat everyone is interested in. There are two audio commentaries. The first features ... Read review

Advantages: Originality, Acting, Plot,
Disadvantages: Special effects not too impressive

...of The Crow (1994) comes Dark City (1998), and you can see Alex Proyas' gothic imagery that was present in The Crow. Again this film is quite dark and sinister, but also imaginative and clever as this film comes straight from the mind of Proyas whereas The Crow is based on a popular series of graphic novels. The film opens in the dark with Kiefer Sutherland (Character: Dr. Schreber) on the voice over, explaining "first there was darkness... then ...
...explains the situation of this dark city and shows indeed the dark, dingy, dirty surroundings that make up this city. The powerful music adds to this opening sequence making it even more eerie. Next comes one of my favourite scenes as it is fantasically filmed; combining a variety different film shots into a small scene. This is the first time we are introduced to the lead character John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell), who awakens naked in a bath tub with ... Read review

Advantages: great all rounder
Disadvantages: dreaded extra features or lack of

...for proof of the pudding) dark city is a surprising exception to the rule. That's not to say that the special effects are not at hand, there are employed here, but for once take a hand in hand role to compliment the story rather than to exagerrate. The story is about a man who wakes up without memory to find a woman dead in his flat. He strugles to understand what is happening around him, and confused he runs rather than try to wait around to discover ...
...string of murders. His journey then becomes one of the most inventive and surprisingly entertaining films in years. the city itself is controlled by a race of creatures intent on finding the sourse of the human soul, who have the power to transform objects at will by a process called tuning. John finds that he too has this tuning ability, although he doesn't understand how he has it, or how dangerous he will become. All the time he is still struggling ... Read review

Advantages: Good Story Line
Disadvantages: Very Very Very Poor DVD

...First I will mention that Dark City is not the best of films. It is OK but not worth running out to buy. The film is based around the lead character John Murdoch who finds himself in a strange hotel only to find that he has lost his memory and is wanted for several murders. While trying to remember what happened, he finds an underworld controlled by a group of "things" known as The Strangers who have the ability to change the city and its inhabitants ...
...takes a few lines to mention, 5 minute featurette, a trailer and only in stereo. No Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, no anamorphic picture and a useless list of extras. Now it is worth mentioning that the American (R1) version of this DVD has a full 5.1 soundtrack an anamorphic 2.35:1 and a 4:3 presentation and list of extras that a director would be happy with. This is an average film placed on a very very poor DVD. If you are considering buying it ... Read review

Advantages: The film creates a fantastic vision that makes you want to explore its depths
Disadvantages: It's dark and foreboding which is its power yet its downfall

...shouldn't put people off of the film, however, because this creates the gloom of the city which is so important in realising why all of the characters seem so sad and glum and why the Strangers must be defeated. In the realm of special effects, they are very good, even though some parts you know could be done better with today's computers. What is not to be missed, however, is the feeling of what is just that comes at the end of the film - here the effects work very well and expand the mystical creation that is Dark City. DVD: R1 - If you have an American DVD player or a multi region, go for the R1 - a few more special features including a comparison with Fritz Lang's 'Metropolis'. £12.99 at www.playusa.com R2 - Has a trailer and a short making of but nothing out-of-this world for special features. £8.99 at www.play.com... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Videos from plenty of bands, cheap
Disadvantages: Not all to my taste, low budget videos, no extras

...included here, Nickelback stick out like sore thumbs - I doubt anyone who likes the rest of the bands cares much for Nickelback and vice versa. I suppose this explains why surely one of the biggest selling bands are so far down the tracklisting. Usually, however, Nickelback's videos are somewhat justified by their larger budget. Here, I'd have to say neither were particularly interesting. (The latter I suppose is an ok video, featuring fire-fighters and helicopters, but let down by a soppy ballad of a song). 28. Wednesday 13 - Bad Things (6/10) A black and white live performance. 29. Sevendust - Ugly (6/10) I think Sevendust lost their way somewhere after their first two albums; but this video showing Lajon walking dark city streets alone isn't so bad. So, that's the videos themselves covered. As for the DVD itself, it's a pretty... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful