Dark City on DVD (1998)

Pre-Matrix revelations

B Cooke from London , 12/05/2004

The similarities between The Matrix and Dark City are strong. Both focus on brooding central characters somehow out of sync with the world around them and becoming aware of their own capabilities. In fact, The Matrix was filmed directly after Dark City at Fox Studios on Australia's Gold Coast. Parts of the rooftop sets were used for both films.

Rufus Sewell plays the main character, John Murdoch, as a man struggling to reach the truth of both the city and himself.

Kiefer Sutherland, complete with limp and weird accent, is John's tortured mentor. Jennifer Connelly plays his wife, the pseudo femme fatale, who needs rescuing herself. The city too is a character, menacing and alive.

Perhaps if this film had had a Matrix size budget it would have garnered more attention. Perhaps that's for the best as we're guaranteed no lesser sequels. As it stands, Proyas has created a little known gem with images and ideas which swirl in the mind for a long time after viewing.

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Real Science Fiction

Kruegerbait from UK , 13/02/2004

How I missed this film on it's release, I'll never Know. I don't want to give too much of the story away, so I'll just tell you that John Murdoch is special, he dosen't fall asleep when he should do. This allows him to see what the city and it's people are really all about, and this is the films true power. Instead of being an empty, action set piece movie, it has a storyline that will put many top sc-fi books to shame. The story, the acting and the special effects are all top notch. Highly recommended. The only reason why I didn't give it 5 stars is because it may be a little dark for some people.

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Dark but beautiful

TommyZ from Yorkshire , 26/02/2005

I remembered watching this film years ago and being quite impressed so I decided give it a rent. I'm really glad I did. The central concept is interesting but what really makes this film stands out is the way it looks. The world of the film has been beautifully designed. The grim, 40s-era sets combined with the sci-fi trappings create a world (or should that be city) that not only looks amazingly cool but also is central to the themes of the film.

This has more soul than the Matrix films and is also far more sophisticated (even though it pre-dates it by years.)

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Stunning...

WillDavies1 from Torfaen , 29/05/2004

...yes, it's that good. I'd heard various titbits from many a movie forum about how good this is, but now I've seen it I can now join those who devote at least part of their time to passing on the recommendations for this film.

Where to start? Firstly, stick with it. The first 30 mins are pretty disorientating, but as the film progresses you'll soon be rewarded. Director Alex Proyas takes the work he did on The Crow and steps it up a few notches - despite this film now being six years old, it's quite simply one of the most visually stunning films you could hope to see, up there with Blade Runner and 2001 at least.

Rumours are rife that this film was plundered by the Wachowskis for the Matrix Trilogy, and it's not hard to see why. Personally I believe that the similarities (and there are a vast amount) are coincidences, but one must wonder at times just why there wasn't a major fuss over some of the more blatant repetition of themes.

But, pah! Matrix Trilogy indeed! This by far surpasses Reloaded and Revolutions, and like the original Matrix is a sci-fi classic that deserves to remain as a one-off, unique piece of film making.

Brilliant.

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WOW!

Colin A from Torquay, Devon , 23/05/2005

This film is brilliant. Beautiful, almost.

In a kind of twisted future world nothing is quite what it seems. Some very good playing from an ensemble cast, excellent effects - a city re-building itself whilst the population sleep.... a lush score and a cracking story. What more could you ask.

Like Buffy The Vampire Slayer meets Brazil (the Terry Gilliam film , not the country) this film oozes class and a really dark charm. It has the feel of a deeply disturbed graphic novel by Alan Moore teamed with Phillip K. Dick.

Oh - and Richard O'Brien with no hair, for a change.

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A customer from LIVERPOOL , 28/06/2004

Atmospheric sci fi thriller. From the director of the Crow (i think) and it shows with the dark and rainy background. It also has some of the Matirx's more deep themes about what is reality. The villainous strangers are very creepy and sinister.

Very good sci fi, but its not one you can watch lightly, else you wont know what is going on

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