Dark City - Where to Watch?

[joshaube]

I heard something about a spoiler in a certain version. Where Kiefer looks at his watch? This happens at 1:27 in my version, so do I have the version with the spoiler, or not? I don't want to listen to see if there is the voice over explanation or not, since it would ruin it for me then, and this would be pointless.

Also, what SHOULD I watch, and what SHOULDN'T I?

[crabapple]

How can there be a "spoiler" inside the movie itself?

[joshaube]

Simple. In the intro, a voice-ver may explain something too in-depth, or accidentially, that ruins a twist or turn later on.

I heard this was the case in one version, here. Where the introductory voice-over gives off a major clue that lessens the experience.

PS... we have the same post count.

[zwoti]

maybe you're getting confused with the commentary

[The Mothman]

Originally posted by joshaube

PS... we have the same post count.
*gasp* cool.

[crabapple]

Yeah but, if you follow me here, a voice-over doesn't "give something away" accidentally. If it's there, it's there for you to pick it up, to one degree or another.

I thought a spoiler was when you're reading about the film somewhere else, and major plot points are revealed by someone who doesn't understand that part of the enjoyment of the film is not knowing what's going to happen.

[joshaube]

EDIT:
Your description of the term fits it perfectly, but doesn't nessacarily have to be read. In this case, it's voiced. And apparently it ruins the who-dunnit or big realization at the end. Mostly when something is mentioned, it's meant to be picked up, but I guess this was a mistake on the whole movie's part. The director even admits it.

////////////////////////////

Uh, alright. Do I have the wrong movie or something? Can't be. Since I remember the comment about Keifer's watch. So it seems none of you know? When I find out, I'll post it here so you guys don't think I'm completely retarded.

Okay.

"I have just obtained this film on DVD and want to watch it a.s.a.p. but before I do, I need one of you to answer this question:

I have heard that the narration at the beginning gives away (unecessarily?) some of the (surprising?) plot elements that are revealed later on in the film and, furthermore, some fans turn the volume off/down until the narration is over.

If this is true, can anyone tell me long it lasts?

Thanks"

---

"1min 30 seconds

or unMUTE as soon as you see the doctor look at his watch.

its VERy spoilerific. i didnt fully "get" the spoil till i watched it but yes, definately mute it if you want to see it without realising the ending before the movie begins."

AND

"Yes, that is true, Im a fan of the movie. you could check my other posts after watching lol, im just being like narcisitic.But yes you should skip until Keifer looks at his watch,It's kind of a standard to tell people that who have never seen the film.It is amazing.And truthfully i wish u would look at my other comments on the film after seeing it and what u think about it.".

---

"Just a hint to anyone who hasn't seen this movie before...
This is an amazing movie IF you skip past the voice-over intro. Fast forward until you see the opening credits. Otherwise the mystery of the movie is ruined. I don't know why the makers of this film decided to let out all the secrets and explain everything before you see the movie for itself, it's like skipping to the end of the book to find out whodunnit---perhaps they had no faith in the intelligence of movie goers... I don't know- but I promise that if you don't listen to the explanation at the beginning of the movie, you won't be disapointed!"

So, uh, yeah.

[The_Return]

You pretty much have the whole story there. There's a voice over at the first that lasts roughly until we see Keifer Sutherland check out his watch. It has some info that could be left unknown, but it isnt nessecary to mute it. I watched it for the first time without muting it, and I highly enjoyed it just the same.

[crabapple]

Oh, well, this is just the opening monologue you're talking about.

According to the director commentary, the studio wanted it added (at the last minute, basically) because they felt the film would be too confusing without a basic explanation at the beginning to frame the action.

In a sense, it does ruin the totality of the story's mystery; but a good truckload of stuff isn't revealed that you still get to discover as the story unfolds. Personally, I liked the monologue and found it rather creepy.

[joshaube]

I opted to skip it, just finished the film then went back and listened to it. Yeah, you're right, it doesn't ruin as much as I had thought.

I did enjoy being clueless for a while, though. Can't say I'd prefer this over actually hearing it beforehand... because, well, I'll never get the chance too now.

I'm happy either way. And I agree, the intro was rather creepy and mysterious on it's own.

[crabapple]

Yeah, "Dark City" is an overwhelming, profound, dream-state kind of fun. Or maybe fun is too light a word for what it is. I haven't seen it in a while and wanted to buy the disc.

I saw "The Matrix" for the first time a while after seeing "Dark City" and thought the two films complemented each other nicely. They're really similar thematically.

[Elvis_Christ]

Originally posted by The Mothman
*gasp* cool.

:D

Both this and the Crow have their weak points but they were infintaley cooler than the Matrix. I bet William Gibson is fucked off with the Ted Theodore Logan style his work was stolen from (Matrix - perhaps bastardised would be a better term in this case) and tainted with (Johnny Mnemonic).

http://www.searchengines.ru/blog/images/neo_matrix.jpg
"Whoa..." :rolleyes: it was all part of the post Starship Troopers insulting sci-fi experience.

I guess the same could be said about the intro of High Tension in regard to the spoiler deal you were talking about... still doesn't take away any enjoyment from the first viewing at least.

Dark City is a great flick especially for Melissa George (she has scream queen potential stamped all over her) and Frank Gallacher's roles prooving they had cred outside of shitty soaps and made for TV flicks. One of the better recent Tech-Noir vehicles (I tried to find a pic of the night club in the O.G Terminator but couldn't hahaha :) ) and is quite possibly the last sci-fi flick in awhile that had a impact on me. Seems like that genre has crashed and burned latley which is a shame really.
But whatever the best is yet to come..... we'll just have to boldly sit thru Matrix clones for a bit.

[crabapple]

Yes, there are a few people out there who didn't like The Matrix too much.

Whoa! No way. NO, WAY.

[urgeok]

i really enjoyed (the 1st) Matrix ..

I never liked Dark City too much because it felt too much like an extended twilight zone episode with some Hellraiser style thrown in.


i should watch it again because i saw it at the theatre and was dissapointed. without some (perhapse unfair) comparrisons and expectations out of the way i might enjoy it more.

... one other thing .. i found the lead totally without watchability (charisma) and i couldnt buy Kiefer (who still looks 18 years old) as a mad scientist type.

i guess the casting got in my way ...

[Kemal]

[i]Originally posted by crabapple I saw "The Matrix" for the first time a while after seeing "Dark City" and thought the two films complemented each other nicely. They're really similar thematically.

If I'm not mistaken, some of the same sets were used in the filming of both movies.

[joshaube]

IMDb agrees!
"# Sets from this film, including rooftops, buildings and others exteriors, were reused when filming The Matrix (1999)."

[crabapple]

Whoa! So THAT may be why, supposedly, the Brothers Wachowski got disturbed when someone suggested their film was similar to "Dark City"...not only are the themes very similar, but you see the same sets as well! That's very funny, sort of. But seriously, I enjoyed their movie quite a bit.

[The STE]

I like the non-monologue version. I mean, imagine Usual Suspects with a Kevin Spacey opening monologue: "Hi, I'm Keyser Soze, although I'm posing as Verbal Kent. Watch me lie right to this cop's face, he he."

[crabapple]

You know why I like the monologue version, right? It's because--and this is no joke! I'm totally serious!--it's because I'm one of those lazy, easily-confused filmgoers that NEEDS to have complicated stories spelled out, otherwise I'll have no chance of understanding them. And even WITH the monologue, it was still kind of a brain-squeezer for me!