Dark City (Director's Cut) [Blu-ray]

I saw Dark City in the theater back in the 1990s and still love the film to this day. The director's cut removes the unnecessary intro voice over so you learn about the plot through the film. The theatrical cut voice over just explains everything from the beginning. Maybe the voice over is a little helpful for some people, but I like films that make me think and piece together what is happening.Everyone does an amazing job in the film. The set design is incredible. Set design also makes perfect sense when you realize the director's previous film was the 1994 film The Crow. If you like classic Tim Burton films, then this is probably right up your alley. Highly, highly recommend it.

What a great movie. Dark and dirty world with interesting question of what makes a person who they are.

A mesmerizing and mind-bending science fiction noir that leaves audiences spellbound from start to finish. Director Alex Proyas' vision is brilliantly showcased, elevating the film to new heights and making it an essential watch for fans of both sci-fi and film noir genres.Set in a surreal and mysterious urban landscape, "Dark City" follows the journey of John Murdoch, portrayed masterfully by Rufus Sewell, as he awakens with amnesia and finds himself entangled in a dark conspiracy involving memory manipulation and a race against time.The film's atmospheric visuals and art direction are captivating, seamlessly blending elements of classic noir with dystopian futurism. The city itself becomes a character, enveloping the viewer in its enigmatic and haunting atmosphere.One of the film's strongest assets lies in its thought-provoking themes. It explores questions of identity, free will, and the nature of reality, all wrapped in a gripping detective-style narrative. The revelations and twists throughout the plot are brilliantly executed, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats.The Director's Cut version provides a more cohesive and immersive experience than the theatrical release, allowing the story to unfold with greater depth and clarity. It adds extra layers to the characters and unveils new dimensions of the enthralling storyline.The performances by the cast, including Jennifer Connelly and Kiefer Sutherland, are top-notch, adding emotional depth to the complex characters they portray.While "Dark City" might not have received the recognition it deserved upon its initial release, the Director's Cut has rightfully solidified it as a cult classic and a true gem in the science fiction genre.In conclusion, "Dark City (Director's Cut)" is an intellectually stimulating and visually captivating cinematic triumph. Its seamless fusion of sci-fi and noir elements, combined with strong performances and an intriguing narrative, make it a must-watch for film enthusiasts seeking an immersive and thought-provoking experience. Prepare to be taken on an unforgettable journey into the depths of the human psyche.

I enjoyed this movie MUCH more than I thought I would.

I was lucky enough to see Dark City during its theatrical run in 1998 and have watched several times over the last ten years. I wouldn't call it one of my favorite films but I definitely think its a classic of its genre and was happy to see that it was not only recieving a new dvd just in time for its ten year anniversary, but more features to replace the old ones which were mostly audio commetaries and two essays from Neil Gaiman and H.G. Wells. So how does the directors cut compare to the original film?Watching it again for the first time in years there might not be anything noticeable in the changes. This isn't like the Kingdom of Heaven or Blade Runner cuts where whole sequences were taken out of the film creating disharmony in the flow of the story. As far as I could notice most of the cuts to the film were more inserts and extensions than anything else. The narration at the begining of the film is the most famous cut while the only added scene I could tell was showing Murdoch and Bumstead taking Schreber to Shell Beach at the finale. Other scenes included an extensions like a bit of dialogue between the husband and wife who go from middle class to wealthy during the tuning, a scene with Emma finding a little girl in the murdered prostitutes apartment, and a longer ending as Bumstead floats into outer space after discovering the truth about Dark City. I also noticed in some scenes that Trevor Jones score seemed to be dialed down and for the scenes where she sings Jennifer Connely's actual voice is heard. As whole how do all of the cuts add up. I don't think they change my opinion of the film. Its neither better or worse in my opinion. The film is still a good one and thankfully the additions weren't as bad as to hurt the film like Appocalypse Now Redux and its great seeing them reinserted into the film.So hows the dvd itself.Of course the film itself has recieved a newer transfer that is brighter and more colorful. You never really notice the added scenes like you do on some other films. I never really listen to commentaries but I heard that Roger Ebert recorded a new one for the dvd. I notice that theres three with Ebert and Proyas having their own tracks while Lem Dobbs and David Goyer share a track so for fans I'd assume they're newly recorded. Theres also a spattering of documentaries that taken together roll for over two hours. On the first it has the general making of where filmmakers and actors talk about the film itself. On the second its mainly film professors with Roger Ebert, Lem Dobbs, and Alex Proyas discussing meanings and ideas in the film.In the end this is a great disc for fans of the film. It might not pick up newer fans but with both cuts collected on the disc as well as the added bonus content I'd definitely recommend this as an easy purchase to those thinking about it.A little bit more. I recently picked up the Blu-Ray (one of the first movies I buy on DVD becomes one of the first movies I buy on Blu) which has the actual two cuts of the film as well as the other special features. It also has a feature I really liked in the fact track that provides a little window to explain the difference between the theatrical and directors cut as well as background information on inspirations. This was a neat feature especially for this fan of both cuts, and highlights a lot more scenes I missed on my first viewing. As its now 7.99 on Amazon fans of the film or just those who are generally interested have no reason not to pick the disc up.

Absolutely great underrated sci-fi film. Not going to go into all the plot because I'm sure if you're here looking at it you've either already looked it up or want to go into a blind which is the best way to do it. I can only say pick it up and enjoy the film

Yep, just like it, unfortunately this was a wee bit ahead of its time. The CG didn’t age gracefully, and the story plot points need a bit more brushing up.Still better than Matrix 2 & 3 (we don’t talk about 4 as there is no 🥄)

Great film , very fast shipping., Thank You