Just to show both sides of the fence, here is a negative review of DARK CITY... there are some spoilers, but this spinning dancing torch singing Walrus just had to belch out his response to the Mighty Joe... And boy does he disagree. So read on, but just remember that just as Hallenbeck is an individual so is the Walrus and you may or may not agree... I do know this person saw an earlier test screening, and ALOT of work has been put in between his showing and Hallenbeck's. It's just a few weeks away... then we'll know for sure!!! Personally I'm there because the trailer kicks soooo much ass, but maybe it will suck... Who knows that's a personal decision.... I want to see it now. How come they are having the press junket up in New York and not here in Austin where I could see it? Dag dum sis a fras a fris a fras....
Just finished reading (and amazingly not gagging) Joe Hallenbeck's review of Dark City. So how much is Alex Proyas paying you guys to continually plug this movie like its the Sci-Fi Citizen Kane? If I read one more comparison to Blade Runner I may become violently ill. But let's not get bogged down with all sorts of hyperbole. Let's look at the facts.
The acting is hardly noteworthy. Looking beautiful on the screen is hardly a sign of good acting ability. I suppose that would make Carmen Electra the world's greatest actress. Control your testosterone. Penthouse is half the price of a movie ticket. William Hurt is nowhere near his rapidly fading career. You want to tell me this compares to the Accidental Tourist, Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Broadcast News, etc. I am assuming you have seen those movies. His flat deadpan approach is just that; flat and deadpan. Emphasis on dead. Sewell, who I did like in Cold Comfort Farm, is not very gripping as the lead. Perhaps he is as confused as the rest of us by the script. And let us not even talk about Kiefer Sutherland. I still insist he was imitating the scientist in the Bugs Bunny cartoon (nighty-night rabbit). He has none of his Dad's unusually wierd charm or charisma for little characters like this. Go back to rednecks Kiefer.
Nice imagery and effects do not a movie make. While the Crow suffered from this it was held up by the amazing presence of its star. Dark City has no such luck. Blade Runner was held up in the same way (who can top Harrison Ford after all?) but more importanly it had a story. A real story about human beings and near human beings that has been used before (see umpteen Star Trek episodes), but not always so well.
Also, I now like the backtracking, covering your butt approach of predicitng this movie will bomb, but only of course because the audience is too dumb for it. Thanks for the insult. The audience I was with was laughing at it, walking out on it and I would say, based on their reaction, that they were too smart to be taken in by such nonsensical drivel as what they saw on the screen. The acting is boring, the script muddled, the direction confusing. So yes, this movie will bomb, but not for any of the reasons Joe suggests. It will bomb simply because it sucks.
