Ethnic Studies Movie Reviews

hi there

dark city i liked it a lot to rent it again

the lawnmower man is another great movie to wach

try the sequal to the lawnmower man 2

lost in space is another great movie

i hope they make sequals to lost in space and

dark city

I found this film's execution to be uninspired and unexceptional, although there were some aspects to the film that make it stand out from your average sci-fi tale.

First off, the movie's pluses. The supporting cast, including Law, Arkin, and Borgnine was strong, and both Hawke and Thurman were good (too understated though, seemingly by design). The movie also had style. In addition to style, it had some good messages, including anti-discrimination, and threats posed to individual liberty by technological 'advancement'. The most important message was that the human spirit, if strong enough can accomplish virtually anything.

These are certainly admirable themes. The movie just failed to deliver them in a mature and convincing way. Below I outline some of the problems, as I see them (beware of spoilers).

While realism is generally not the goal of science fiction, much of the science and several plot developments here were totally implausible. In terms of the science, the film gives too little allowance to the role of environment in human development; while this approach adds drama, it makes the film patronizingly simplistic. The weak hearts of the two protagonists also had no science fiction basis-it was just a plot device. Some other plot implausibilities: 1) the idea that one could (almost) hide their genetic signature, and 2) that people would no longer pay attention to facial appearances, something evolution has steered us towards recognizing for millennia.

The movie also felt flat; this was clearly the tone the film was going for, but I felt it took it too far. We needed to at minimum feel Vincent's passion for flight, and the couple's romantic passion. While there's no denying there was chemistry between Hawke and Thurman, the performances were too muted. We should have felt Vincent's excitement about his final achievement, but we don't, partly because we have no sense of what he will be doing in space.

Other characters and relationships were too simplistic as well. I know men can be boys, but the paring down of the brothers' relationship to little more than a game of chicken seems too extreme; where was the subtlety and nuance in their-or any of the other- relationship?

Many viewers criticize Gattaca for its implausibility. When the film was released, I recall reading a movie review entitled "You're too smart for Gattaca," which cited the improbability of the hero's success in a society where he is constantly subjected to testing to confirm his genetic "purity" and where the slightest trace of bodily detritus can expose him as an imposter.

I would respectfully submit that such critics have hit upon the central theme of the film without fully realizing it; the sheer implausibility of the hero's success under these conditions is precisely the point, and is what makes the story so powerful and poignant. The story is, after all, intended in part to be a cautionary tale.

In spite of the film's persistent "realistic" emphasis on the physical implausibility of the hero's success, however, it also bears emphasis that the ending, with Vincent rocketing to the heavens, is a genuinely Romantic assertion of faith that innate human intelligence and spirit can overcome bodily defects and limitations.

The ending also has mythological overtones of apotheosis (deification). In this respect, Vincent has heroic antecedents in Hercules and gnostic Christianity. Hercules' divine spirit was taken by the gods into Olympus after the self-inflicted destruction of his body by fire, and after the accomplishment of feats even more implausible than those confronted by Vincent. Similarly, Chirst ascended into heaven after his physical body was destroyed on the cross. Like both, Vincent endures great bodily suffering, but like both he ultimately transcends the physical limitations of the body.

As such, the story by its very design calls upon viewers at once to realize the physical impossibility of the hero's predicament, while at the same time suspending their disbelief in order to have faith in his ability to succeed against the odds. In this way, the story can be viewed as a contemporary and highly stylized variation on age old mythological and religious themes.

The world of Gattaca is one where people are stratified in society by their genetic composition. Racism and classism are things of the past. Those who are bred to be genetically superior are dominant in society compared to those conceived naturally and tethered with the possibilities of a plethora of medical problems.

In this world, Vincent (Hawke) is a person trying to overcome his own DNA by impersonating a genetic superior. In this reality, impersonation isn't just looks... The movie takes great pains to show how appearance has become secondary in identification.

This movie is not the best execution. It has an excellent cast, and the supporting cast tends to run away with the film. Hawke and Thurman give somewhat cold performances, along the lines of the film itself. I think this film's strongest points are an excellent premise (one that is very relevant today with health care becoming increasingly oriented towards risk stratification)and a wealth of supporting cast talent (especially Jude Law, whose performance is stellar, and it's always nice to see Ernest Borgnine in a movie).

This movie is true science fiction, not aliens and space ships and the like. It's sci-fi like Bradbury is sci-fi. It's thinking sci-fi.

As a note, the title Gattaca is derived from the letters GTAC, which stand for the letters used to represent the nucleic acids which make up DNA (Guanine, Thymine, Adenine, and Cytosine).

I found this film's execution to be uninspired and unexceptional, although there were some aspects to the film that make it stand out from your average sci-fi tale.

First off, the movie's pluses. The supporting cast, including Law, Arkin, and Borgnine was strong, and both Hawke and Thurman were good (too understated though, seemingly by design). The movie also had style. In addition to style, it had some good messages, including anti-discrimination, and threats posed to individual liberty by technological 'advancement'. The most important message was that the human spirit, if strong enough can accomplish virtually anything.

These are certainly admirable themes. The movie just failed to deliver them in a mature and convincing way. Below I outline some of the problems, as I see them (beware of spoilers).

While realism is generally not the goal of science fiction, much of the science and several plot developments here were totally implausible. In terms of the science, the film gives too little allowance to the role of environment in human development; while this approach adds drama, it makes the film patronizingly simplistic. The weak hearts of the two protagonists also had no science fiction basis-it was just a plot device. Some other plot implausibilities: 1) the idea that one could (almost) hide their genetic signature, and 2) that people would no longer pay attention to facial appearances, something evolution has steered us towards recognizing for millennia.

The movie also felt flat; this was clearly the tone the film was going for, but I felt it took it too far. We needed to at minimum feel Vincent's passion for flight, and the couple's romantic passion. While there's no denying there was chemistry between Hawke and Thurman, the performances were too muted. We should have felt Vincent's excitement about his final achievement, but we don't, partly because we have no sense of what he will be doing in space.

Other characters and relationships were too simplistic as well. I know men can be boys, but the paring down of the brothers' relationship to little more than a game of chicken seems too extreme; where was the subtlety and nuance in their-or any of the other- relationship?

Many viewers criticize Gattaca for its implausibility. When the film was released, I recall reading a movie review entitled "You're too smart for Gattaca," which cited the improbability of the hero's success in a society where he is constantly subjected to testing to confirm his genetic "purity" and where the slightest trace of bodily detritus can expose him as an imposter.

I would respectfully submit that such critics have hit upon the central theme of the film without fully realizing it; the sheer implausibility of the hero's success under these conditions is precisely the point, and is what makes the story so powerful and poignant. The story is, after all, intended in part to be a cautionary tale.

In spite of the film's persistent "realistic" emphasis on the physical implausibility of the hero's success, however, it also bears emphasis that the ending, with Vincent rocketing to the heavens, is a genuinely Romantic assertion of faith that innate human intelligence and spirit can overcome bodily defects and limitations.

The ending also has mythological overtones of apotheosis (deification). In this respect, Vincent has heroic antecedents in Hercules and gnostic Christianity. Hercules' divine spirit was taken by the gods into Olympus after the self-inflicted destruction of his body by fire, and after the accomplishment of feats even more implausible than those confronted by Vincent. Similarly, Chirst ascended into heaven after his physical body was destroyed on the cross. Like both, Vincent endures great bodily suffering, but like both he ultimately transcends the physical limitations of the body.

As such, the story by its very design calls upon viewers at once to realize the physical impossibility of the hero's predicament, while at the same time suspending their disbelief in order to have faith in his ability to succeed against the odds. In this way, the story can be viewed as a contemporary and highly stylized variation on age old mythological and religious themes.

The world of Gattaca is one where people are stratified in society by their genetic composition. Racism and classism are things of the past. Those who are bred to be genetically superior are dominant in society compared to those conceived naturally and tethered with the possibilities of a plethora of medical problems.

In this world, Vincent (Hawke) is a person trying to overcome his own DNA by impersonating a genetic superior. In this reality, impersonation isn't just looks... The movie takes great pains to show how appearance has become secondary in identification.

This movie is not the best execution. It has an excellent cast, and the supporting cast tends to run away with the film. Hawke and Thurman give somewhat cold performances, along the lines of the film itself. I think this film's strongest points are an excellent premise (one that is very relevant today with health care becoming increasingly oriented towards risk stratification)and a wealth of supporting cast talent (especially Jude Law, whose performance is stellar, and it's always nice to see Ernest Borgnine in a movie).

This movie is true science fiction, not aliens and space ships and the like. It's sci-fi like Bradbury is sci-fi. It's thinking sci-fi.

As a note, the title Gattaca is derived from the letters GTAC, which stand for the letters used to represent the nucleic acids which make up DNA (Guanine, Thymine, Adenine, and Cytosine).

It's not unusual for fathers and sons to have trouble communicating. But no gap has ever been wider than the one bridged in Frequency (PG-13) when a meteorological anomaly reunites a troubled New York cop with his deceased dad by letting them converse via ham radio 30 years apart. This intelligently written thrill ride (part Back to the Future, part Field of Dreams) tugs heartstrings as it races to a wild climax.

In 1969, fireman Frank Sullivan died in the line of duty, leaving behind his loving wife and 6-year-old son, John. But the past is about to change. In 1999, John uses the mysterious radio and clarity of hindsight to save his dad's life-a noble act that creates a devastating wrinkle in the fabric of time-that father and son must iron out together.

Frequency employs intense violence as the Sullivan boys try to thwart a serial killer. Persistent alcohol use and about 30 profanities also get in the way of this film's many positive messages.

The pluses? Seemingly insignificant actions alter lives forever (a reminder that behavior has consequences). Frank and John feel responsible for the ripple effect they have created and risk their lives to help others. Scenes model affection in marriage and issue a wake-up call to workaholics. With a soft spot for second chances, the film recognizes the value of healthy two-parent homes and makes a powerful anti-smoking statement.

Male bonding over electronic gizmos and baseball minutiae (specifically the '69 World Series) won't attract hoards of teens to the local cinema. Rather, they'll want to see Frequency for its mind-bending premise and sheer velocity.

Frank Sullivan ( Dennis Quade) is a firefighter that dies tragically in the line of duty. Thirty years later, his son John ( Jim Caevizel) is now a cop whose life is a mess. The film opens on the eve of the 30 year anniversary of his father's death. John's childhood best friend Gordo( Noah Emmerich) comes over to cheer him up, and they drag out Frank's old ham radio. Due to a phenmenon called an "aurora borealis" John soon realizes that he is able to speak to his father Frank thiry years in the past where the same phenomenon is occuring. Since the death of his father has not yet happened, he is able to warn Frank about the accident. However, saving Frank's life also alters the course of a serial killer which effects John's entire family. John's current investigation is the same unsolved case from 30 years before. Now John and Frank work together over the radio to solve the case and avoid the tragedy that happened to their family.

Frequency remains one of my all time favorite movies. The acting is phenomenal!! Jim Caevizel gives the best performance in the movie as John Sullivan. The love for his dad that he shows as well as the determination to solve the case is amazing. Dennis Quade continues to amaze me with his versatile and brilliant roles. Frank Sullivan is no exception. I love the way that he shows love for his son, and how he must become like a cop even though he is a firefighter. Noah Emmerich adds a nice touch to the story with Gordo. A suprising performance was given by Elizabeth Mitchell who plays John's mom Julia. Andre Braugher always does a good job and continues to with Satch. The villan of the story is played by Shawn Doyle. He gives a very impressive performance that will shock you! The story itself is brilliant. It involves many elements. The love between father and son, a murder mystery, and the scientific phenomenon of the aurora borealis. Some timetravel movies suffer with due to lack of explanation. But as the movie goes on, memories of both lives ( the one with Frank dying, and the one with him alive) are shown. You get to see John's life on both timelines, as if they both merged to create the present. This lets us see where the chages were coming from and why they were done.

With amazing performances, an incredible script, and an action packed story, Frequency is a treat to watch. It puts an interesting spin on the time travel genre! The DVD is a must own because you not only get the movie, but great special features. You get to see featurettes, deleted scenes, and much much more

This is one of my favorite movies. The acting was very good and the story line was excellent. It is about a son who is able to talk to his dad on his ham radio even though his dad has been dead for thirty years. He is able to warn him about a fire he was going to where he would die. This changes the course of the future and some interesting things happen. This is a very good film.

It's is hard to imagine that someone has NOT seen this movie, so I won't write much about the movie itself, but the purpose of this Special Edition DVD. I don't know much about the technology behind digital remastering of the audio, but it just seemed to me that the sound effects of the movie were just recorded over the original sound. Anyone who's seen this film over a dozen times or less would immediately notice gunshots, crash scenes, and voices (screams) were replaced. They did a pretty good job with the new sound effects, but there are a few glitches where the main characters' voices got muffled a bit (because they get mixed in with the new sound effects) and the sound of bullet impacts did not match what was seen on screen. As we all know, movie audio is just as important as the video, but the worst part is, the sound effects weren't even that great...just the average KABOOM's and POW's of any regular film...I mean there is no improvement, just replacement.
Being a die hard fan of The Terminator, it just bothered me a little that some sound effects were changed. It just didn't sit right for me or give me that same feeling it did almost 20 years ago. Luckily, it had the original Mono audio option that put the old sound effects in, so I was able to experience the original movie as it should be. Unfortunately, it didn't work through the 5.1 surround sound, of course.
The "Terminated Scenes" really got my hyped. I don't know if they presented these scenes in any other version of Terminator, but I could not believe they left such crucial scenes out of the original movie! Well, I won't spoil it, but there are a few scenes that would have made Terminator 2 a complete, accurate sequel to this movie. And it would have REALLY made the movie have a complete ironic twist.
My overall opinion is: If sound does not matter much, one must get this DVD for it awesome 5.1 feature. The deleted scenes included are great, if one has never seen them before.

On my Region 2 SE DVD, purchased in Holland as IMPORT (so I expect it a UK version) sone scenes are definitely cut:

1)When Terminator has just got the clothes, the rain starts, and it runs upon his face, but he does not blink

2)Just before getting into the GUNS store, Terminator passes a row of TV-sets, which get distorted, as he passes them.

Probably the scene of murder of the second "wrong Sarah" is also omitted.

THis really makes me think soon we shall get something like Ultimate version with these two scenes.

If someone has a comment on this, you can send me a note to lebedev_anton@mail.ru

1984's "The Terminator" is by far the bleakest (and the best!!) of the triligy. In it Arnold Schwarzenegger is a cyborg sent back from the future to the 1980s to kill Sarah Connor, a waitress who will soon give birth to the leader of man kind during the War Aginst the Machines. The good guys manage to send a lone warrior, Reese to protect her. The action is fast, continous, and brutal. This is the bloodiest of the batch with the coldly efficent Terminator. Also it is grim with the fact that the end of the human race is enevidable; you can not stop it, only prepare. Linda Hamilton dose a good job of being a vulnerable ditzy blond at the beginning and makes a credible transformation to a hero in her own right by the end. Michael Beihn's Reese is the heart of the movie, who is the passionate warrior fighting for all the right reasons, preservation of the human race and for the love of the woman. This is obviously Arnold's brake-out roll, he has nothing to emote, has less lines than the bum on the corner, but he is the most imposing figure in the film. There is also the message of over reliance on michines, even more relevent now in the 21st Centery than in '84. The DVD Special Edition has several documentries, and most of them are pretty good. I like the interview with Arnold and James Cameron. Hearing about it's troubled production is funny and interseting in retrospect (they tried out Lance Hindrickson and O.J. Simpson to play Terminator). This is the best of a great series, but of course you probably already knew that.

The first Back to the Furtre is a classic 80s movie. One of my alltime favorites. Unfortunatley, the two sequels aren't anywhere near as good. I don't want to blow forty bucks to get just the first one on DVD. Sell them separately for crying out loud. This is just a marketing scheme to force everyone to buy all three.

The time-traveling misadventures of Michael J. Fox has finally made its way to DVD with "Back to the Future" 4-Disc box set. "Back to the Future" was one of the most popular films of the 1980s and a surprising boxoffice hit in 1985. Director Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump & Cast Away) and co-writer Bob Gale successfully combine elements of humor and science fiction into an inventive and entertaining movie experience. The two sequels lack some of the energy and spirit of the original but are certainly quite enjoyable.

Universal's "Back to the Future" 4-Disc box set will satisfy fans who have awaited this release. Each film is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen format. The DVD contains a fine video transfer with bright colors but there are some minor flaws in its presentation. The 5.1 digital sound is surprisingly clear but a DTS audio track should have been included. This 4-Disc box set features over 10 hours of supplements including audio commentaries, deleted scenes, outtakes, music videos and Making the Trilogy featurettes. With its many supplements, the "Back to the Future" Trilogy earns a solid "B+".

Its been a long while since I've seen the Back to the Future movies, so I decided to rent all of them on VHS. Soonafter, I found out that all three films were on DVD(and in WIDESCREEN), I HAD to buy the box set. Luckily for me, I wasn't disappointed. The video quality was MUCH better that the VHS versions, and there were so much special features(Making of's, commentaries, etc.) that you could spend hours just watching them. Of course, there are a few problems with the discs, like the infamous widescreen 'glitch' on Part II and Part III. And the Q & A sessions end early on the last two movies for some reason. Either than that, there are no other problems I could find. Since most everybody else explained the plot of the three BttF films, I'll spare you the same ol' same ol'.

Personally, my favorite of the three films is Part III, and I'm really glad that they didn't leave the ending too open. The whole trilogy feels complete, and even though Zemeckis and Gale didn't originally plan to make a sequel to Back to the Future, it was great of them to create the last two movies in a way that they would seem like they were intentionally tied to the first film from the beginning. It's also a good thing that the quality of the sequels aren't so bad that they're unwatchable, like so many other movie sequels.

The first Back to the Furtre is a classic 80s movie. One of my alltime favorites. Unfortunatley, the two sequels aren't anywhere near as good. I don't want to blow forty bucks to get just the first one on DVD. Sell them separately for crying out loud. This is just a marketing scheme to force everyone to buy all three.

The time-traveling misadventures of Michael J. Fox has finally made its way to DVD with "Back to the Future" 4-Disc box set. "Back to the Future" was one of the most popular films of the 1980s and a surprising boxoffice hit in 1985. Director Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump & Cast Away) and co-writer Bob Gale successfully combine elements of humor and science fiction into an inventive and entertaining movie experience. The two sequels lack some of the energy and spirit of the original but are certainly quite enjoyable.

Universal's "Back to the Future" 4-Disc box set will satisfy fans who have awaited this release. Each film is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen format. The DVD contains a fine video transfer with bright colors but there are some minor flaws in its presentation. The 5.1 digital sound is surprisingly clear but a DTS audio track should have been included. This 4-Disc box set features over 10 hours of supplements including audio commentaries, deleted scenes, outtakes, music videos and Making the Trilogy featurettes. With its many supplements, the "Back to the Future" Trilogy earns a solid "B+".

Its been a long while since I've seen the Back to the Future movies, so I decided to rent all of them on VHS. Soonafter, I found out that all three films were on DVD(and in WIDESCREEN), I HAD to buy the box set. Luckily for me, I wasn't disappointed. The video quality was MUCH better that the VHS versions, and there were so much special features(Making of's, commentaries, etc.) that you could spend hours just watching them. Of course, there are a few problems with the discs, like the infamous widescreen 'glitch' on Part II and Part III. And the Q & A sessions end early on the last two movies for some reason. Either than that, there are no other problems I could find. Since most everybody else explained the plot of the three BttF films, I'll spare you the same ol' same ol'.

Personally, my favorite of the three films is Part III, and I'm really glad that they didn't leave the ending too open. The whole trilogy feels complete, and even though Zemeckis and Gale didn't originally plan to make a sequel to Back to the Future, it was great of them to create the last two movies in a way that they would seem like they were intentionally tied to the first film from the beginning. It's also a good thing that the quality of the sequels aren't so bad that they're unwatchable, like so many other movie sequels.

A clockwork orange, these simple words conger up images of a brilliant story, supurb acting, and stunning music. This by far my favorite movie ever since i rented it from wegmans years ago. I have since bought the dvd and it was one of the smartest decisions i've ever made. When i first looked at the movie i had no idea what it was about, but that didn't stop me from watching it and it shouldn't stop you. Buy this dvd, you WON'T be disappointed.

The story is set in a near future society that has unthinkable methods of crime and punishment. Alex ( Malcolm McDowell)is a man that loves to fight, rob, rape, and kill. However, his luck finally runs out and he is captured. While imprisoned, he undergoes treatment to render him " safe" to the world around him, which is refered to as a " Clockwork Orange". While Alex is made to look perfectly normal on the outside, he is crippled by reflex mechanisms beyond his control on the inside. This prevents him from committing any acts of violence whatsoever. After Alex's release, things go from bad to worse however, when his "cure" leaves him defenseless to the revenge of his victims.

"A Clockwork Orange" is Stanley Kubrick's best film, and one of my favorite films overall. It is one of those movies that you can watch over and over again, and still be amazed everytime. I have never been as shocked as I was when I saw this film. The first 20 minutes involves two brutal beatings and an extremely graphic rape scene. It only gets more shocking from there on out. The story also offers a hilarious sense of irony. Alex is supposedly cured of all his afflictions, but is thrust back into a world of violence when forced to deal with his victims. The camera work used in this film is amazing, and the music is wonderful. All of the actors do an outstanding job in this film, but Malcom McDowell gives one of the most memorable performances ever as Alex. I have never experienced such a use of my emotions before when dealing with a fictional character. He will make you hate him and shock you with how he acts before he is captured. But then Alex makes you feel almost sorry for him with what he has to go through afterwards.

Stanley Kubrick has made some great movies with "2001: A Space Oddesey", "Full Metal Jacket", "Barry Lyndon", "Paths of Glory", and "Dr. Strangelove...." In my opinion however, " A Clockwork Orange" is his best film. The overall story, acting, music, camera work, and truly shocking scenes set it apart from the rest. It is definately a must own, because it only gets better with repeated viewings. The DVD however, is very mediocre. The quality of the film itself is just above average, and there are no extras at all.

Stanley Kubrick's Clockwork Orange, a stylish, disturbing masterpiece that shocks and delivers. A film that has no boundaries with its creative artistry and science fiction themes. One of a kind.

A clockwork orange, these simple words conger up images of a brilliant story, supurb acting, and stunning music. This by far my favorite movie ever since i rented it from wegmans years ago. I have since bought the dvd and it was one of the smartest decisions i've ever made. When i first looked at the movie i had no idea what it was about, but that didn't stop me from watching it and it shouldn't stop you. Buy this dvd, you WON'T be disappointed.

The story is set in a near future society that has unthinkable methods of crime and punishment. Alex ( Malcolm McDowell)is a man that loves to fight, rob, rape, and kill. However, his luck finally runs out and he is captured. While imprisoned, he undergoes treatment to render him " safe" to the world around him, which is refered to as a " Clockwork Orange". While Alex is made to look perfectly normal on the outside, he is crippled by reflex mechanisms beyond his control on the inside. This prevents him from committing any acts of violence whatsoever. After Alex's release, things go from bad to worse however, when his "cure" leaves him defenseless to the revenge of his victims.

"A Clockwork Orange" is Stanley Kubrick's best film, and one of my favorite films overall. It is one of those movies that you can watch over and over again, and still be amazed everytime. I have never been as shocked as I was when I saw this film. The first 20 minutes involves two brutal beatings and an extremely graphic rape scene. It only gets more shocking from there on out. The story also offers a hilarious sense of irony. Alex is supposedly cured of all his afflictions, but is thrust back into a world of violence when forced to deal with his victims. The camera work used in this film is amazing, and the music is wonderful. All of the actors do an outstanding job in this film, but Malcom McDowell gives one of the most memorable performances ever as Alex. I have never experienced such a use of my emotions before when dealing with a fictional character. He will make you hate him and shock you with how he acts before he is captured. But then Alex makes you feel almost sorry for him with what he has to go through afterwards.

Stanley Kubrick has made some great movies with "2001: A Space Oddesey", "Full Metal Jacket", "Barry Lyndon", "Paths of Glory", and "Dr. Strangelove...." In my opinion however, " A Clockwork Orange" is his best film. The overall story, acting, music, camera work, and truly shocking scenes set it apart from the rest. It is definately a must own, because it only gets better with repeated viewings. The DVD however, is very mediocre. The quality of the film itself is just above average, and there are no extras at all.

Stanley Kubrick's Clockwork Orange, a stylish, disturbing masterpiece that shocks and delivers. A film that has no boundaries with its creative artistry and science fiction themes. One of a kind.

Dark City is the best example I've ever seen of bringing a "comic book" sensibility to the big screen. I saw it first at the Pusan International FIlm Festival years ago and was captiviated.

The look of the film is tremendous. It's a highly stylized, art-deco world not unlike the first Batman movie, but a little darker, a tad more claustrophobic. And the effects are well-handled without exception. Add in a murder mystery, and you've got yourself an alternate reality worthy of exploration.

The performances are uniformly good, if a little mannered. The standout is Richard O'Brien (the butler from "Rocky Horror") as the lead "bounty hunter," Mr. Hand. He's creepy and belongs completely to the world of the film. Rufus Sewell, Jennifer Connoly, and William Hurt are more than passable, and Kiefer Sutherland's perfomance as a Lorre-esque psychologist must be seen to be believed.

If you surrender to the conceit of the film, you'll enjoy this immensely. If you are grounded in "reality," you might have some problems. I think this is a wonderful, stunning movie.

John Murdock(Rufuss Sewel)is in trouble. He just woke up in a motel room, and has no memory of how he got there. To make matters worse, there is a dead woman next to him, and he soon discovers that he is the prime suspect in a murder investigation involving prostitutes. He is being chased on both sides of the law. Inspector Frank Bumstead ( William Hurt) is a skilled cop that never gives up. He only believes in what he sees, and in his eyes, John is a murderer. But things are about to get a lot worse when John discovers his other pursuers. "The Strangers" are a mysterious group of beings that possess the ability to stop time and alter reality. John is now determined to solve the riddle of why the city is always different day after day, why it's always dark, and why they are after him. The only problem, is that the truth could be fatal...

"Dark City" is one of the best Sci-Fi films that you will ever see. The story is in a gotham like city set in the 1940's. All of the costume and building designs are outstanding. Next, the story is extremely original. The idea of being able to alter reality, and keep it from an entire city is actually interesting. Alex Proyas did a great job with how he worked the characters into the story. All the main characters play an important part, and help to further develop the plot. Rufuss Sewel was outstanding as John Murdock. His determination to find out why he's so special is unreal, and when you find out why the "Strangers" are targeting him, you will be very surprised. Jennifer Connelly is great as John's wife. The emotion that she shows is very realistic. Nice chemistry between her and Sewell. Kiefer Sutherland gave my favorite performance. He is the wild scientist that helps "The Strangers" with their mission. It was definately a different role for Sutherland, but still great. William Hurt was great as Frank Brumstead. Plays the typical cop who only believes in rational explanations. "The Strangers" themselves were excellent and actually frightening.

"Dark City" is one of my favorite films. The settings, acting, and extremely original story make it a masterpiece in the Sci-Fi genre. The DVD does not have much in the way of extras, but it still the best choice because of the quality and the fact that it is extremely affordable. Definaley a must own!

it begins good and ends satisfying. its about this men who stop time and rearrange the city like people playing with dolls and one man finds this out as he goes and trys to find the truth and that is that hes in space in a made up place. the men are like the little girls and then the people are like ken and barbie, playing with them, moving them around, doing experiments on them. Alex Proyas makes another great science fiction movie alongside his 1994 classic "The Crow". the end where Sewell gets all the superpowers is great. Sutherland is wacky as the doc and Connelley has never been so gorgeous.