 I always try to watch a movie with my heart on my sleeve first, then with my mind. My silly movie reviews talk more from a mind perspective, but I try to pump my heart into them too. "Dark City" was magnificently made, outstanding special effects that were appropriate for the story, great acting, fantastic surround sound. And it left me cold. It's a dark, noir-possessed, sci-fi movie and it should be, but…hmmm. I don't know. I almost didn't do a review on this. I think the biggest problem was that we didn't get to know the main character before he was "birthed" into the movie. This was fair because it left us on his somewhat amnesiac level, but also started us off not knowing this guy who didn't know himself. Interesting premise, not often used, but it just left me colder than a witch's tit in a brass bra. I need to back off the gripes, because this movie was very well made. The efforts must have been astounding to producers, but I admire their passion for the look and symbolism. It's a futuristic, somewhat existential movie, with nightmarish images about an experiment on humans by other- worldly aliens. The movie's architecture is oddly reminiscent of Fritz Lang's cool, 1926 "Metropolis," (which I happen to like both the original and 1985 newer soundtrack versions). That's about all I'll say about the…plot. The characters were lucky if they rose above being 2 dimensional, among the carefully constructed camera angles, 
lighting and pristinely dark backdrops. Though Jennifer Connely
seemed a bit too young, she was about the best cast,
to me (she sure looks like Laura Branigan with lips). She
held a kind of quiet fear that was odd and unsettling.
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Keifer Sutherland was great, but I have "Lost Boys" still stuck in my mind (is that stupid of me, or what?!). He just plays a fantastic bully with a dark side. He also seemed a bit too young. The lead, Rufus Sewell, was great, but I was frustrated that we didn't get to know him a little more before....though...I know, I know.... It just felt too ambiguous. John Hurt was ok. He just couldn't do to much with his stoic character. Image Lots of blacks and shadows. A transfer nightmare, I suppose to another medium. Yet this DVD is terrific. Blacks were rich, deep and crisp. Not much reds or yellows or blues or…happy colors. It's a dark movie, and should be. Face shots were razor-sharp, skin tones flushed naturally. The computer effects were generous, show stopping and breathtaking. This is a big movie and really shouldn't be seen on anything than the big screen in the theater. Even on DVD I'm sure the size watered down the drama. I wished I would've seen it in the theater. Audio Full, warm, cathartic, but sounds lacked in longer dialogue sessions which was perfectly fine. Dialogue was recorded very well. Nice panning of effects and activities in the fronts. The ending had wild, wild surrounds with the climax. Lots of bass action. I noticed good surround split utilization. The sound was quite fun. The DVD is loaded with extras (which I didn't explore fully) . 2 commentaries, one of which by Roger Ebert (!), who adores the film. Cast bios, a nice trailer, and some PC ROM game interaction. Amazing. After watching the film, I listened to one of the audio commentary. Actually Roger Ebert's. Ebert has a nice sounding voice, seems to wear his heart on his sleeve more than other critics, and consistently seems to be a fair reviewer compared to other reviewers that butcher films and damn them to hell without giving them the slightest chance. However, when Ebert talked near the beginning, I felt myself almost getting sick, but it reinforced something. In the beginning of the movie our protagonist, John, is naked in a bathtub. He wakes up disassociated and goes to look at himself in the mirror, slipping on the vibrant green tile floor (I think the only time this green was used in the whole film). He later gets dressed and leaves. Then he leaves and we notice that the apartment door is 614. Well, Ebert begins by saying that the director begins this guy's opening shot to show that he's birthed to us, and literally coming from water (ie the mother's womb). The director uses lots of chopping scene to scenes which is fine to me. Ebert loves it. Ebert looks up John 6:14 in the Bible and finds that it is the introduction of John the Prophet from the New Testament. John in "Dark City" is special to the aliens, but somewhat foils their cryptic experiment with his own revelations and actions …as the plot goes. I find that mildly interesting, relevant and even artistic. But a film intensely focusing on symbolism and film making craft with little character development, left me cold on that green tile floor. The director, Alex Proyas, is a great visionary, I think. He also brought us "The Crow," which I greatly liked. With credits all over the place in this movie (director/ producer/ writer) you can tell it was his baby, and I think that is admirable, & wish other directors had that luxury. I definitely look forward to his future films. But maybe I'm a shallow, unappreciative, insubordinate idiot. Again, the film was extremely well made, had terrific sound, and delivered good acting in this dark film noir with a touch of 1940s flair. Amazing cinematography. Yet it just didn't take my heart and run. Oh well, I still liked it and found it interesting. `Not really a movie for me. I'm sure many find it brilliant all the way around. Let me end by saying, I think I would've enjoyed this film about 80% more if I had seen it on the big screen. This film is a big film. Though DVD is a terrific medium - there is still NOTHING like seeing a movie on the big screen at the theater. Nothing. (....well except decent home-theater, audio systems often sound better than > 7 year-old theaters, IMO.) A New Line Home Video Release 1998 / 100 min. / Color / Rated R Dual-Layer Disc: Original 2.35:1 widescreen presentation (enhanced for 16x9) / Pan And Scan 4:3 presentation English 5.1 Dolby Digital / French 2.0 Matrixed Surround / Isolated Music Score in 2.0 Stereo English and French Subtitles Special Features: Interactive Menus / Scene Access / Audio commentary with director Alex Proyas, writers Lem Dobbs and David Goyer, director of photgraphy Patrick Tatopoulos / Audio commentary with Roger Ebert / Comparisons to Fritz Lang's "Metropolis," including the original H.G. Wells review / "Find Shell Beach" interactive game / Photo gallery / Set designs / Production Notes / Cast & Crew Biographies Snapper case List Price: $24.95 Back to DVD Reviews or The coolest actor on the planet: Stephen Geoffreys!!! 
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