Dark City

Pros: Incredible imagery, interesting script and premise. William Hurt. Rufus Sewell.
Cons: Keifer Sutherland as the asthmatic shrink.

A few years ago, there was a head on collison between the 40's style film noir and science fiction. The result of that mating was the rather impressive Dark City. My first impression of it was from the theatrical trailer, which made...

Pros: most of the acting, intricate story, look of the film
Cons: Kiefer Sutherland, story not easy to grasp at times

Dark City is a film I have been trying to review for years, literally.  I've watched this movie numerous times, and still come away feeling like I didn't quite get it. Set is a dark and  dismal future, Rufus Sewell is John ...

Pros: thoughtful, visually stunning, with excellent performances
Cons: directed with a decentering blur, and scored with bombastic noise

The first time I tried to watch this film, I tore out of the theater swearing under my breath - and calling it "Dark 'n Sh!##y!" It wasn't until the film hit video that I finally sat down to rethink what all the fuss was about - and it was in that ...

Pros: Great effects, great story, great music
Cons: Didn't do well in the box office

You read it right, I liked this movie better than The Matrix. Not that I didn't absolutely love The Matrix, but Dark City is just better. The Matrix had better action sequences, a better cast, better music, and better special effects. However, it's...

Pros: Jennifer Connelly all too briefly…
Cons: Pretty much the whole rest of the movie.

Okay I will make an admission at the start of this review; the only reason I decided to watch Dark City (1998) again, is Jennifer Connelly, the earlier years, you know the ones before she decided to stop eating. The first time I attempted to ...

Pros: Art, Direction, pacing, plot, acting, tone, feel, music; every last flipping thing.
Cons: Kiefer Sutherland made me want to strap on an oxygen mask.  It was infectious.

Dark City (1998) Written and Directed by Alex ProyasJohn Murdoch: Here, let me ask you a question. You heard of a place called Shell Beach? Inspector Frank Bumstead: Sure. John Murdoch: Do you know how to get ...

Pros: Great acting, writing, and directing.
Cons: Very dark.

Prior
While watching this movie and reading this review, please remember that this movie came out before The Matrix and was an obvious source of inspiration to it. Yes, it is very similar to The Matrix, basically just replace...

Pros: Art.
Cons: Elements.

"Aw man, it's so sweet, man. Like, there's that awesome climax where they like fly up into the sky and throw little energy things and blow up everything and it's just awesome, man. It's so much better than T he ...

Pros: Haunting Film Noir meets Science-fiction
Cons: A better mystery if you miss the beginning!

I knew I couldn't resist writing about Dark City. It captured my imagination and ran away with it! It is an unforgettable film that left a haunting imprint somewhere in the back of my mind.

Where Is Mankind?

...

Pros: It's just an all-around excellent movie.
Cons: Keifer gets a little silly at times.

Visually overpowering, well-acted (and that's taking into account that Keifer Sutherland is in it), quite dark and creepy, Dark City is part film noir, part whodunit mystery, part sci-fi mindtrip and just a small part of nice romance. Hey, with Jennifer...

Pros: …
Cons: …

I had heard about this movie from someone somewhere and for some reason, I thought I’d rent it. The premise looked pretty good. A guy named Murdoch wakes up to find that he apparently committed murder, but has no memory of it. I figured that at ...

Pros: originality, script, plot, acting, scenery, setting, score
Cons: some people might feel dumbfounded when it's over

He wakes up. Head groggy; he‘s in a bathtub. The water is dirty; it is cold. How long has he been here? Where is he? More importantly, who is he? That is the question John Murdoch, (Rufus Sewell) must answer after waking up in a cheap motel room;...

Pros: Awesome visuals. Good script. Well acted.
Cons: Sutherland's character takes some getting used to. Double sided DVD format.

First there were the Strangers. They were an alien race who had achieved that ultimate Science Fiction wet dream, the ability to affect matter without instrumentality, mind mover matter, literally. A lot of good it did them, though, the prologue of ...

Pros: Images, special effects, an art form!
Cons: None, except you need to watch it more than once

Ever since I could talk (only the last year or so) I have had a dream...that I am in a dream. In the brief moment where the two worlds connect, I can't help but wonder which of these worlds are real. Why did I see this movie? The real question is, why...

Pros: Good acting, directing, story, and photography
Cons: Perhaps a few too many details

I have read almost all the reviews on Dark City, and was surprised at the mix. Great reviewers (in my opinion) such as MK2K, Erinys, Richard O'Brian and Artbyjude loved it. Other great reviewers (in my opinion) such as Scorsesian and Brian Koller...