Movie of the Month - Dark City (July 2017)

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I had a good time talking about this film, probably a more philosophical chat than I've ever had with someone about it. Listening to it I'm sitting here thinking "I should have said this, or I should have said that" but as a whole I thought it was a success!!!!
Same! You did a great job. And hey, anything you didn't get a chance to say, feel free to post in here!



That elusive hide-and-seek cow is at it again
The only things (from memory at least) that stand out as negatives were 1) the hand-holding narrative at the start and I think again near the end with Sutherland's coaching, and 2) Connelly's awkward club scene introduction covering "Sway with Me." Beautiful song, and perfect for the mood, but felt weird to me watching her sing it. Minor gripes though, for one of my favorite movies.

I'm excited to listen the links later.
@Yoda
Was your reference in the conspiracy thread about the Mandela Effect any way related to ideas in this movie?



The only things (from memory at least) that stand out as negatives were 1) the hand-holding narrative at the start and I think again near the end with Sutherland's coaching, and 2) Connelly's awkward club scene introduction covering "Sway with Me." Beautiful song, and perfect for the mood, but felt weird to me watching her sing it. Minor gripes though, for one of my favorite movies.
Yeah, agree about the song. For the first thing, though (and we talk about this in the podcast): that's the theatrical cut. The director's cut omits it, and is much better for it, though as you say there's a bit of an info dump later.

@Yoda
Was your reference in the conspiracy thread about the Mandela Effect any way related to ideas in this movie?
Yep, I think I said in the other thread that we'd discussed it in the podcast, which was recorded over a week ago.



That elusive hide-and-seek cow is at it again
Ok that makes sense. I wasn't sure if you were referring to another, unrelated podcast!

Thanks for the update and I'm definitely going to listen to this one.



You can't win an argument just by being right!
Just starting but want to ask before I forget - are you saying they used the matrix set pieces? Shouldnt that be the other way around? I thought Matrix was shot after DC? Not important. Just grabbed my ear.

And who chose the intro music and quotes for the podcasts?

OK back to my cuppa.



Just starting but want to ask before I forget - are you saying they used the matrix set pieces? Shouldnt that be the other way around? I thought Matrix was shot after DC? Not important. Just grabbed my ear.
I thought that's what we said, but it might have been phrased ambiguously.

And who chose the intro music and quotes for the podcasts?
I put the opening together something like eight years ago, when I was just fiddling around with podcast stuff. It came out way better than I thought it would, given my total lack of expertise.



28 days...6 hours...42 minutes...12 seconds
I meant to ask @Slappydavis in regards to the memory implants climax sequence. You mentioned you like the idea behind it, but the scene just didn't sit right with you. Do you think it's due to the execution of how they show us the memories in the first place? The awkward sound and blurred fragmented boarders around the frame? I felt like they could have made that bit a little more engaging, but it was really fast and frenzied.
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28 days...6 hours...42 minutes...12 seconds
Just starting but want to ask before I forget - are you saying they used the matrix set pieces? Shouldnt that be the other way around? I thought Matrix was shot after DC? Not important. Just grabbed my ear.

And who chose the intro music and quotes for the podcasts?

OK back to my cuppa.
A number of pieces of the set, including those used for the rooftop chase, were sold to the production of The Matrix (1999) at the end of shooting.
-IMDB.

I might have said they used the same sets as The Matrix, awkwardly phrased to imply they used it after. My bad. I knew they were the same sets though.



I meant to ask @Slappydavis in regards to the memory implants climax sequence. You mentioned you like the idea behind it, but the scene just didn't sit right with you. Do you think it's due to the execution of how they show us the memories in the first place? The awkward sound and blurred fragmented boarders around the frame? I felt like they could have made that bit a little more engaging, but it was really fast and frenzied.
I say a version of this on the podcast, but I think the "oomph" it was missing was that they mention the "he would need several lifetimes" thing once, off-handedly. If that'd been built up a little more, I think that reveal would've landed a lot better.



You can't win an argument just by being right!
Probably just my caffeine free brain hearing it wrong. Thanks for clarifying. I didnt even notice to be honest, but love the green hue.

The intro is great, Yods. Gets my toes tapping just like music in a porn (just kiddin. Havent watched a porn in years, but loving it anyway).

Bugger. Hit pause to go make a coffee and it took me back to the beginning. Wont let me FF but I'm pretty sure the last podcast did let me FF. Oh well, More toe tapping coming up.



Bugger. Hit pause to go make a coffee and it took me back to the beginning. Wont let me FF but I'm pretty sure the last podcast did let me FF. Oh well, More toe tapping coming up.
Embedded player? If so, yeah, it can be wonky if the browser's open awhile, I think, depending on your system and setup. The lowest-friction version is hitting the download link above it and playing on whatever your computer's native player is.

Maybe I should finally get off my butt and start uploading these to YouTube, too.



You can't win an argument just by being right!
Interesting comment not many people seem to talk about it. I;m always surprised when people, especially Australians, say they've seen it. I dont recall any promotion here for it. I think we just found it by accident in the video store.Tragic - I'd love to see this on the big screen.

And I can pick TUS but very very slight hardly there Canuck accent. Nice dynamic between you three.



You can't win an argument just by being right!
urghhh. Never mind about my previous questions. I think my computer is having a hissy fit because she just stalled it and took me back to the beginning again. I think I'll give her a freaking coffee!

Interesting commentary on the 'toy city' look. That really worked for me which was a surprise. Gave it an otherworldly atmosphere in my mind. And I had no idea Gattica was low budget - looks pretty schmick.

Will continue after I bitch slap this 'puta



I'm still surprised that both of you came in with high ratings despite seeming unimpressed with a lot of it.
I liked it from the beginning, especially since it established itself as a high concept film pretty early (sometimes I have trouble with initial viewings of films that rely on a thoughtful high concept mindset but don't relay that idea to me properly until later). But that same mindset created a few seemingly irreconcilable problems such as
WARNING: "Dark City plot spoilers" spoilers below
that the Strangers lacked individual identity, but had different positions of power, and different points of view
but talking through the movie with you two gave me some insight that let me get rid of those issues.

I also think that very problem is why I kinda like giving it a score at the end, because sometimes it can seem like a movie struck any of us as terrible or great based on content of the podcast, but actually we were just inspired to find faults in a great movie, or silver linings in a terrible movie.

I meant to ask @Slappydavis in regards to the memory implants climax sequence. You mentioned you like the idea behind it, but the scene just didn't sit right with you. Do you think it's due to the execution of how they show us the memories in the first place? The awkward sound and blurred fragmented boarders around the frame? I felt like they could have made that bit a little more engaging, but it was really fast and frenzied.
Yeah, main problem was the production.
WARNING: "Plot Dark City" spoilers below
For as interesting a moment the visuals didn't really do it justice (same problem later with the staring contest). I don't necessarily blame the movie because it had to do the best it could with limited funds, but it still seemed like a shame.

I also wish there was more time given to it, to be honest. I'm pretty tired of "dumb" solutions to problems, like if he had been able to beat them with his abilities because he had HEART dammit! But actually getting to "train" him with an already established device (not one that was introduced solely to train him) was pretty satisfying, and probably my favorite moment. I guess I wanted to savor it, but it kinda flew by.



You can't win an argument just by being right!

Maybe I should finally get off my butt and start uploading these to YouTube, too.
I'll send you some vegemite if you do. Silly thing still wont let me FF and I was enjoying the buzz of energy in that.



The Bib-iest of Nickels
I actually bought Dark City on Blu Ray a couple months ago. I watched the film because I'd heard praise from a lot of people on this forum. I watched it, and while I thought it was creative and definitely inspired from a visual perspective, I thought the film floundered from a narrative perspective.



Movie Forums Squirrel Jumper
I love Dark City. One of the most underrated sci-fi movies of all time in my opinion. I only saw the director's cut it turns out, so I can't compare, but I love it.



I love the noirishness of Dark City although feel that Rufus Sewell was miscast. I’m a big fan of his but felt that an American would be better and that he wasn’t engaging enough as a lead. For me, its high concept would work better as a TV show.
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