... But with Dark City, although you know the mystery behind it, a reviewing of the film looses nothing of its initial quality. So, why is it so good?
Well, the cast speaks volumes: Rufus Sewell, Kiefer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly, Richard O'Brien, Ian Richardson and William Hurt. Rufus ... Read review
If you're a fan of brooding comic-book anti-heroes, got a nihilistic jolt fromThe ... more
Crow(1994) and share director Alex Proyas's highly developed preoccupation for style over substance, you might be tempted to callDark Cityan instant classic of visual ima...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell) awakens alone in a strange hotel to find he is wanted for a ... more
series of brutal murders. His memories have vanished and even his beautiful wife, Emma (Jennifer Connelly) has become estranged from him. So begins a quest to unrav...
If you're a fan of brooding comic-book anti-heroes, got a nihilistic jolt fromThe ... more
Crow(1994) and share director Alex Proyas's highly developed preoccupation for style over substance, you might be tempted to callDark Cityan instant classic of visual ima...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
The critically-acclaimed triumph from visionary director Alex Proyas (I, Robot, The Crow) ... more
is back with a brand new director's cut featuring enhanced picture and sound, never-before-seen footage and three commentary tracks that take you deeper than ever before into the world of one of sci-fis most exciting and revered tales. When John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell) wakes with no memory at the scene of a grisly murder, he soon finds himself hunted by the police, a woman claiming to be his wife and a mysterious group of pale men who seem to control everything and everyone in the city.
The critically-acclaimed triumph from visionary director Alex Proyas (I, Robot, The Crow) ... more
is back with a brand new director's cut featuring enhanced picture and sound, never-before-seen footage and three commentary tracks that take you deeper than ever before into the world of one of sci-fis most exciting and revered tales. When John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell) wakes with no memory at the scene of a grisly murder, he soon finds himself hunted by the police, a woman claiming to be his wife and a mysterious group of pale men who seem to control everything and everyone in the city.
Thriller - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Timothy West, Neil Morrissey, Tara Fitzgerald, Annette Crosbie, Pauline Quirke, Rob Brydon, Denise Van Outen, John Thomson, Kevin Whately, David Suchet
Production Year: 2002 - Thriller - Director: Bharat Nalluri, Rob Bailey, Andy Wilson - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Matthew MacFadyen, Keeley Hawes, David Oyelowo, Peter Firth, Jenny Agutter, Lisa Faulkner
Advantages: Mysterious, dark, full of suspense; great performances Disadvantages: Lack of Bonus features
...on me. But with Dark City, although you know the mystery behind it, a reviewing of the film looses nothing of its initial quality. So, why is it so good?
Well, the cast speaks volumes: Rufus Sewell, Kiefer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly, Richard O'Brien, Ian Richardson and William Hurt. Rufus Sewell's performance as John Murdoch is convincing and compelling. He is an actor who is becoming more well known and deservedly so. I saw his ... ...more of her. In Dark City, as John's estranged wife, she is strong and has presence. And Kiefer's role as the Doctor becomes him very well! Most of the characters are well explored, detailed and rich and they alone hold up the film more than the jazzy special effects and science fiction undertones.
But, there is also the story line. I wouldn't give away too much of the plot as it is interesting to watch the film unfold without too ... more
I recently bought this DVD in a well known supermarket for £5.99. I was surprised to see it there. I remembered watching this film a few years ago on Sky and regretting that this was one of those wonderful films which sadly escaped the level of fame it deserved. I wonder if the film has experienced a revival due to the rising popularity of Keifer Sutherland since his involvement in the fantastic and innovative '24'. .....
Anyway, I brought it home, full with the anticipation of rewatching a film that had marked my memory so well. Was I disappointed? Well, no. In fact, the opposite. It was still full of richness, suspense and depth. It could be classed as one of those films where once the end is known, a reviewing of it just isn't the same. The 'Sixth Sense' had that kind of effect on me. But with Dark City, although you know the mystery behind it, a reviewing of the film looses nothing of its initial quality. So, why is it so good?
Well, the cast speaks volumes: Rufus Sewell, Kiefer Sutherland, Jennifer Connelly, Richard O'Brien, Ian Richardson and William Hurt. Rufus Sewell's performance as John Murdoch is convincing and compelling. He is an actor who is becoming more well known and deservedly so. I saw his recent performance in 'Helen of Troy'; he should be an 'A' grade actor. Jennifer Connelly has come along way since her childhood role in 'Labyrinth' and it is a shame we don't see much more of her. In Dark City, as John's estranged wife, she is strong and has presence. And Kiefer's role as the Doctor becomes him very well! Most of the characters are well explored, detailed and rich and they alone hold up the film more than the jazzy special effects and science fiction undertones.
But, there is also the story line. I wouldn't give away too much of the plot as it is interesting to watch the film unfold without too much prior knowledge the first time you watch it. You could be put off the film at first if you are not an avid fan of science fiction, but it is not just about that and should appeal to a wider audience. It is about truth, humanity, hope, identity and the fact that love can conquer all despite the barriers that can be thrust in the way. Many people don't like the ending of the film, but in my mind if it wasn't there it would not show the hope, light, love and release that the 2 main characters finally find. The whole film is so dark that the end is a release.
The film opens dramatically. John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell) awakens in a bath with no memory of who he is and what he is doing there. All he does know is that there is a murdered woman in the hotel room with him. He then goes on the run, discovers he has a beautiful wife (Jennifer Connelly) but that he is estranged from her. There are mysterious, dark strangers who want to kill him, a weird doctor (Keifer Sutherland) who wants to help him, and a police detective (William Hurt) who wants to arrest him. He also discovers that he has the ability to make things move. John goes on an adventure of discovery hoping to find the answers to the questions he seeks. That is basically the plot - any more information would lead you to knowing more than John does at the beginning of the film!!
The film is fast, confusing, slowly revealing, mysterious and clever. It is a film made by Alex Proyas (the crow) so you can expect darkness and special effects One review written on the DVD describes the film as' Blade Runner meets the Crow' which is an apt description.
The film lasts 97 minutes. If you are a lover of Extra features, don't hold your breath. There is a 5 minute featurette which is not worth clicking onto, and a trailer and that's your lot. But, to be honest, for £5.99, this DVD is worth buying despite its lack of extra. The film makes up for it!
Finally, if you like a good thriller and a crime one at that, forget all the above and simply enjoy!
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. ...
pesky33 13.05.2005
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Dark City (DVD)
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 ...
utero 26.05.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Dark City (DVD)
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 ...
prettylittleroswellian 11.07.2006
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Dark City (DVD)
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 ...
mcpoeman 15.10.2001 (16.10.2001)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Dark City (DVD)
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 ...
millec199 17.04.2001 (04.04.2001)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Dark City (DVD)
Did you enjoy it?
Story
Characters / Performances
Special Effects
How does it compare to ...
Similar reviews »
Reviews which might be of interest for "Dark City (DVD)"
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 DarkCity.
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 ...
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 darkcity streets alone isn't so bad.
So, that's the videos themselves covered. As for the DVD itself, it's a pretty ...
"...Relentlessly trippy in a fun-house sort of way....A visually arresting ride that offers many unsettling surprises..." (New York Times, p.E8, 27/02/1998)
"...Director Alex Proyas (THE CROW) treats and photographs Sewell like a film noir figure..." (USA Today, p.9D, 27/02/2998)
DVD Description
Upon awakening with a start in an icy bathtub in a strange room--with a woman's dead body inconveniently nearby--John Murdoch can't remember how he got there. With a police detective hot on his trail and a psychiatrist skulking around, Murdoch discovers that the key to his mystery is the presence of strange extraterrestrial creatures, the Strangers, who are experimenting with the memories of the humans in his city--from which there may be no escape. Ambitious sci-fi noir, with rich production design and a dense, Kafkaesque concept.
Compare Dark City (DVD) to other similar Thriller & Mystery »
![Dark City [DVD] [1998]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78548028.jpg)
![Dark City [Director's Cut]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/99161440.jpg "Dark City [Director's Cut]")
![Dark City [Director's Cut]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/100422161.jpg "Dark City [Director's Cut]")
