Dark City (Director's Cut) | 
| Actors: John Bluthal, Jennifer Connelly, Colin Friels, Frank Gallacher, William Hurt
Studio: New Line Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.98
Buy New: $3.75
You Save: $11.23 (75%)
New (56) Used (27) Collectible (1) from $3.00
Rating:  515 reviews
Sales Rank: 6152
Format: Color, Director's Cut, Dvd, Widescreen, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: Unrated
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 111 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: 1000040288
UPC: 794043122965
EAN: 0794043122965
ASIN: B0018O4YT0
Theatrical Release Date: 1998
Release Date: July 29, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Movie DVD
Amazon.com
If you're a fan of brooding comic-book antiheroes, got a nihilistic jolt from The Crow (1994), and share director Alex Proyas's highly developed preoccupation for style over substance, you might be tempted to call Dark City an instant classic of visual imagination. It's one of those films that exists in a world purely of its own making, setting its own rules and playing by them fairly, so that even its derivative elements (and there are quite a few) acquire their own specific uniqueness. Before long, however, the film becomes interesting only as a triumph of production design. And while that's certainly enough to grab your attention (Blade Runner is considered a classic, after all), it's painfully clear that Dark City has precious little heart and soul. One-dimensional characters are no match for the film's abundance of retro-futuristic style, so it's best to admire the latter on its own splendidly cinematic terms. Trivia buffs will be interested to know that the film's 50-plus sets (partially inspired by German expressionism) were built at the Fox Film Studios in Sydney, Australia, home base of director Alex Proyas and producer Andrew Mason. The underground world depicted in the film required the largest indoor set ever built in Australia. --Jeff Shannon
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| Customer Reviews: Read 510 more reviews...
 So weird yet awesome June 17, 2009
Kat Wang (Norway, Vestfold)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
It is hard to give this movie a star-grade yet we got to do it right? If you like some of the good older scifi movies this is definitely following that and I got to say this is as far as I know the newest movie that completely plays on the older ways of making a classic scifi!
Definitely worth watching for those who enjoy a good movie a dark night!
 Shame On You, Amazon.com: Anyone Who Thinks This Film is "Style Over Substance" Just Doesn't Get It June 10, 2009
Michael Paul Sebek (Georgia, USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
About Jeff Shannon's review of Dark City:
I've been a fan of this movie since I first saw it on cable in 1998. I purchased the DVD not long after, and this Director's Cut is a true "cut above." Its additional 11 minutes answers questions and fills gaps, and all-in-all provides a completely satisfying sci-fi-noir experience. This is a film best seen more than once - because once you do, you know that its characters have all the dimension they need. After all - the plot IS about humans who have no permanent character traits, since the strangers are constantly shifting their memories and character "dimensions" around.
Is Dark City "a triumph of production design?" Of course it is. Is it a "classic?" ABSOLUTELY. If you stop and think about it, no small part of what makes Blade Runner a "classic" is a terrific cast which includes Harrison Ford and Rutger Hauer. While Dark City doesn't boast that star power, Rufus Sewell, a young Jennifer Connelly, and William Hurt are "just right" in their roles.
Is it "painfully clear" that Dark City "has precious little heart and soul?" ABSOLUTELY NOT. What IS painfully clear is that Amazon.com allows people to write their reviews who have "precious little heart and soul" when it comes to recognizing an outstanding example of a genre and giving credit where credit is due.
Shame on you, Amazon.com, for allowing such a narrow mind to write a review under your by-line. Anyone who thinks this film is "style over substance" just doesn't get it.
Great flick for genre fans, so-so Blu-Ray June 3, 2009
Matthew T. Weflen (Chicago, IL)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The film:
Dark City is one of the standout science fiction movies of the 1990s, along with Gattaca, The Matrix, Total Recall, and Starship Troopers. It portrays a bizarre world in which humans live in an eternal night and are manipulated by a group of strange creatures known as the Strangers.
The sense of claustrophobia and dread are well developed, and the setting, which uses evocative period details, especially art deco and 50's modern styles, is eerie and cool. Definitely watch the Director's Cut - there is really no reason to watch the theatrical cut, which shortens a few scenes and adds a terrible voice over the spoils the mystery at the very beginning of the film. This is a film that rewards multiple viewings, and the DC is the way to go to get the most out of it.
I will say that I found one moment at the conclusion kind of annoying and pat. Basically, it was a line of dialogue in which Sewell's character avers that the essence of humanity is in some sort of soul, whilst pointing to his heart. Blargh. How cheesy. But overall, the momentum of the story, the creepiness, and the unsettling plays on identity and memory work very well.
The Blu-Ray:
Detail is middling for a Blu-Ray. Certainly, it is superior to the awful original DVD. But digital noise reduction has scrubbed away some detail, especially in faces. Rufus Sewell and Jennifer Connelly's faces in particular have a waxy look that is noticeable. There is no film grain whatsoever, which is a bad thing, since the computer programs that reduce grain tend to scrub away those fine details mentioned above. It's not the sort of transfer that's going to beat you over the head by "looking HD." Brightly lit scenes fare much better in terms of detail, which is part of the issue in a film called "Dark City." There are several scenes which are very strong, showing good detail in cloth, or textures of walls, streets, etc. If you let it work on you for 2 hours, there are pleasing things to be found, and to be sure, it's not awful. It's just not as good as it could have been.
Production documentaries total about 1 hour 20 minutes, and there are 3 commentaries on the Director's Cut, two commentaries on the theatrical. Overall, it's a nice selection of extras, especially for a "catalog" release of a not terribly successful film.
**********
For the price, any fan of science fiction with a Blu-Ray player should pick this up. It's a very strong science fiction plot with a lot of good creepiness and a few mind twisting themes. It's well acted, and the selection of extras, especially a superior Director's Cut, make this a fine purchase. It's too bad that the transfer was manhandled in such a overpowering way with DNR, but it's still superior to the DVD, and, while it is not among the best HD transfers on Blu-Ray, it's at least as good as very good cable TV HD.
An all-time classic! May 5, 2009
Jero Briggs
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I don't see why this film was considered to be terrible when "The Matrix" was a hit. Many people consider this movie hard to understand, but the plot is no more complex than "The Matrix". In fact, this film inspired "The Matrix". This film has great performances, great directing, great sets, great special effects, and a great plot. This is very much a sci-fi mystery with some great action scenes added into the mix. The plot is very thought provoking, and keeps you on the edge of your seat. This director's cut features some added scenes to let you get to know the charaters a bit more and deletes the annoying opening narration. These changes greatly add to the film. If you are a fan of "The Matrix", then I highly recommed this movie.
 Jennifer Connelly May 2, 2009
R. Stephan (Arlington Texas)
0 out of 6 found this review helpful
I bought this before watching it... it's a Jennifer Connelly thing. I would run away with her in a heartbeat.... but this is not one of her best movies. So I would would suggest renting it first. If you love it then buy it.
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