Before the Matrix... there was Dark
City which challenged the science fiction genre and truly gave the
viewer an insightful movie experience with its dark overtones and
amazing cinematography.
The story of Dark City revolves around
a subtle hero called John Murdock who awakes one day only to
discover that something is wrong with his life and the world around
him. From this moment, the viewer is immediately thrown into the
puzzle as John attempts to unlock the secrets of the "city" that he
lives in, only to discover a nefarious alien race behind the
complexities.
Dark City is a classic science fiction
movie at its best that was masterfully directed by Alex Proyas and
although the movie failed at the box office, it has become a true
cult movie and ten years later, the Director's Cut of this
extraordinary movie has finally arrived.
This new edition of Dark City adds
another 11 minutes to the movie which gives you a more unique and
insightful epxerience into the characters and the motivations behind
them. As previously mentioned, another impressive feature of Dark
City was the cinematography with its dark undertones that almost has
elements of the horror genre in the film and could almost be
considered a science fiction noir title in this aspect.
With some great performances by lead
actor Rufus Sewell and Kiefer Sutherland as a creepy Doctor working
for this strange race of aliens or demons, the movie also contains a
plethora of Australian actors due to the movie being filmed here in
Australia, needless to say a first class performance by all
involved.
The video quality of Dark City is
phenomenal that boasts 16:9 widescreen and almost looks like it was
filmed yesterday with exceptional video quality. Match that Dolby
Digital 5.1 and you have a true cinematic experience from start to
finish.
Where the movie does shine is through
the extras which includes a great introduction by director Alex
Proyas and gives the viewer a true insight into the movie and how it
should have been released.
A variety of featurettes and some great
commentary by Proyas and writer David Goyer truly makes this DVD one
of the better ones available when it comes to special features. Even
though you may own the original DVD, this extended version is
definitely a must have and even with age, this is one of the best
science fiction movies ever made.
Special Features:
Intro by Alex Proyas
Memories of Shell Beach
Architecture of Dreams
Audio Commentaries by Alex Proyas, Roger Ebert, David Goyer and Lem
Dobbs
Production Gallery
Theatrical Trailer
