Over a year ago I read a script for a cool as hell movie by the name of DARK CITY. It was simply an amazing story. I knew that Alex Proyas was the director of choice, and I have been dying to see the film. Originally the film was forecasted to arrive some time in August of 1997. Then after hearing rumours that the effects shots were too 'dark' to be seen, well then I heard a rumor that all the miniatures were being reshot. Now this early test screening went well, the reviews were real strong. The film was delayed till late October I believe. I don't know why it was moved from that window, probably in fear of Starship Troopers and Alien Resurrection and I Know What You Did Last Summer. Anyway it was moved to late January. At each move I cursed, because I know the secret of the film, and I want to see that story played out. Then I heard that it was moved again, this time to February 27th I believe. Two more months, and a journey that began near a year ago for me will come to a close. I've had sources I trust tell me that this is a tremendous film. But I have to wait, as do you. But now because of the Buffy worshipping Xander from the land of Gotham, we have a look at the latest print of the film. And once again the word is good. Of course it is, it was all there in the script months and months and months ago. I'm dying to see this. You've seen the trailers, tell me that hasn't whetted yor appetite. I didn't think you would. Here we go...
Here is XANDER's review:
I saw right before Christmas. Once again, refer to me as Xander, that Buffy-obsessed nerd I identify with so...
Anyway, despite a slow start, DARK CITY really kicks ass. It starts off seeming like a movie that was made as an excuse for a tie-in computer game, but turns into something truly original and intense. It's a really clever amalgam of about a jillion different genres. It starts off as a film noir mystery type deal, set in a nameless city that resembles a cross between CITY OF LOST CHILDREN and the version of New York created by the Coens for THE HUDSUCKER PROXY, with Rufus Sewell as an amnesiac who may or may not be carving up prostitutes all over town. Jennifer Connelly (hubba hubba!) is his wife, Kiefer Sutherland (the only actor in the movie who blows) a mysterious psychiatrist, and William Hurt (who's truly excellent) a cop investigating the goings-on. The really creepy bad guys are led by Richard O'Brien (ROCKY HORROR's Riff-Raff!). I don't want to spoil anything, but suffice it to say that the film's setting seems to be an abstract fantasy world at first, but the background actually makes sense via some twists that take the plot into science fiction territory. It's much better than Alex Proyas' THE CROW, and proves that he really will be someone to watch in the future. The script was co-written by Lem Dobbs, who wrote Steven Soderbergh's unjustly maligned KAFKA, and it resembles that film in more than a few ways. It's a tight, satisfying thriller with truly awesome visuals that's almost undoubtedly heading for major cult movie status. New Line were going to dump it on January 9, in the middle of the post-Christmas doldrums, but the fact that they moved it to Feb. 27 suggests they might believe in it and put some muscle behind it. It's not gonna be an easy film for them to market, but geeks like us will take to it like ducks to water. It's probably the best studio genre film like this since 12 MONKEYS.
I know I'm dying to see it at long last. I've had nohing but good reports on this flick, and if all holds true to form, it should be something to be excited about.
