Viewed in
1999, 2000, 2001 (2), 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 (2) [Director's Cut], 2013
Formats
DVD, Blu-Ray (Director's Cut), DVD (Director's Cut)
Premise
A man wakes up in a hotel room without any memories, but with clues of being a serial killer.
Loved
The gorgeous noir style, the degree of difficulty, the score.
Liked
The interesting ideas presented in plot and dialogue.
Thoughts
Since seeing it the first or second time, this has been my favorite film of all time.
What stood out the most was director Alex Proyas' mastery in creating a visually eye-popping universe, full of noir and surreal landscapes, on a very small budget. The style was memorable and haunting, giving the city a character of its own. Assisting in creating this mood was Trevor Jones' oppressive score and the cinematographer's wonderful use of shades and shadows.
I liked how the writing took its time to reveal the truth about the city, while moving the story briskly. At the same time, it explored themes about the dehumanizing nature of big city life, our memories, and soul.
The cast was excellent, from solid Rufus Sewell, to the vulnerable Jennifer Connelly, to the stuttering Keifer Sutherland. William Hurt put in fantastic work as the driven detective thrown into the madness.
I would be a liar if I claimed Dark City was perfect. The computer graphics definitely look outdated, no matter how much leniency you give due to budget. There were some physics-related issues that one could question afterward. Some of my friends have fallen asleep because the cinematography was so dark to the point of monotony. Most glaring was the unintentional comedy during the climactic battle, especially if you have seen enough anime. For me, the greatness of the entire film made these moments forgivable.
The biggest difference between the Theatrical Release and the Director's Cut was that some subplot scenes were added for a villain, and the opening narration was remove. I really liked the Director's Cut opening, because it added to the shroud mystery. The additional scenes brought little to the table, and ruined my favorite aspect of the score, in which it played non-stop, enhancing the claustrophobic character of the city.
If I had my way, I would replace the Theatrical opening with the Director's Cut opening, and let the rest be.
