tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post8828452970144604574..comments2024-02-10T01:22:29.316-08:00Comments on Hugo Stiglitz Makes Movies: Lazy Blogger Repost: Dark City (Alex Proyas)Kevin J. Olsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-17756857748084996102010-01-27T21:31:17.715-08:002010-01-27T21:31:17.715-08:00Tried to watch this tonight but had to turn it off...Tried to watch this tonight but had to turn it off. I really don't like how this movie is edited. It doesn't seem to give individual scenes any room to breathe. There also seems to be very few transitions. It jumps from scene to scene with almost not setup. The music is loud and obtrusive. Sutherland is annoying. No, I can't watch a film like this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-81372116940947971402009-05-15T17:46:00.000-07:002009-05-15T17:46:00.000-07:00Chelsea:
No worries. Like I said in my earlier c...Chelsea:<br /><br />No worries. Like I said in my earlier comment, this life would be quite boring if we all agreed on everything. I understand skipping over words when reading a blog post, I read so many a day that sometimes my mind finishes the sentence with words that aren't there. <br /><br />I personally don't think Sutherland's performance is that terrible. I think he's having fun hamming it up for the camera much like Lorre and those character actors of the Noir era did. Usually those were the characters that were most memorable, too.<br /><br />There are no doubt other films that people should acquaint themselves with before they view Dark City, but I stand by my assessment that it's one of the best films of the 90's.<br /><br />I certainly can understand someone, especially those who are immersed in the genre as you claim to be, being less than thrilled about the film; however, I can also see why people revere it so. There are rarely films that I see where I go "I just can't understand why they don't like it." <br /><br />Thanks for coming back and clarifying things. I certainly understand your points better, and I hope you stop by and comment again.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-63855102781432622882009-05-15T17:24:00.000-07:002009-05-15T17:24:00.000-07:00Kevin:
Because you were polite to me and my resp...Kevin: <br /><br />Because you were polite to me and my response was a little mean, I wanted to come back, apologize for the harshness of my words, and clarify some of the things I was trying to say. I felt a little like a troll when I came back and read what I'd posted. :) <br /><br />My assumption that you had little experience with film came as the result of your opening paragraph, in which you said: "The first 15 minutes of Dark City are unlike anything I've seen in Science Fiction." Because my reading comprehension skills are not always what they should be, the "in Science Fiction" qualification hadn't registered, and I assumed that film was not your main interest. Clearly I was in the wrong. Also, to put things into perspective, I was a film theory major and have made several shorts, and German Expressionism and noir are big areas of interest for me. The first time I saw <I>Dark City</I>, I didn't see anything in the film that other directors hadn't done in earlier features. <br /><br />What rubs me the wrong way about the film's adherents is that they seem very quick to describe the film as "a masterpiece", which is a big word to throw around. The film was badly promoted on its initial run and may have been mishandled and misunderstood by the studio. It does have two major flaws: the editing and the performances, particularly Kiefer Sutherland's. (I will concede that the fast editing style is appropriate for the film's first reel, as it reflects the mindset of the protagonist.) None of the film's fans seem to want to acknowledge either of these issues, and I have yet to read an admirer who can defend them. No work of art, no matter how ignored or underappreciated, is beyond reproach, and I could point out the flaws in many of the films that inspire me. (Yes, even <I>The Conformist</I>.) <br /><br />The last 'graph of my essay does come off as a little indignant. We all get frustrated that these things that mean a lot to us are swept under the rug. As an admirer of <I>The Conformist</I>, I do wish it had as prominent a patron as Roger Ebert and as devoted a viewership as Proyas has. It might have gotten restored and rereleased much more quickly. <br /><br />Thank you again for hearing me out.Chelseanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-5358875000574465702009-05-15T15:56:00.000-07:002009-05-15T15:56:00.000-07:00Sam:
Thanks, as always, for the undeserved kind w...Sam:<br /><br />Thanks, as always, for the undeserved kind words. I've never understood the need to assume things about people simply because they have a different opinion about a film. Oh well.<br /><br />As for Star Trek, no I am not a Trekkie, and I probably won't be seeing the new film until it hits Blu-Ray. I'm not much of an Abrams fan, either. The only bits of Star Trek I've ever seen where when I was a kid and the local TV station used to play Star Trek V and VI every Saturday afternoon. I remember thinking the sixth one was quite entertaining, but boy was I bored to tears by the fifth installment. It also didn't help that I was watching them on TV and without any prior knowledge of back story in regards to the characters. <br /><br />Anyway, maybe I would like it more now, I don't know. I read your review of the newest installment, and that will certainly get me to rent it on Blu-Ray.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-6477069999928776362009-05-15T14:43:00.000-07:002009-05-15T14:43:00.000-07:00I quite agree that 'difference of opinion' does no...I quite agree that 'difference of opinion' does not equate with 'lacking cinematic knowledge' especially in the case of the gifted and effervescent Kevin Olson, who is never less that gracious, gnerous and passionate both in his moviegoing and his management of this wonderful blogsite.<br /><br /> I like DARK CITY, and even if Kevin likes it more, it hardly matters. The review eloquently explains the reason behind the passion, and it rightly cites the intriguing blend of German expressionism, science-fiction and film noir, and the result is that the director Proyas creates a surreal place like none other seen before.<br /><br /> I remember the film also referenced some other films...like Murnau's NOSFERATU and Hitchcock's VERTIGO. There's even a nod to STAR TREK.<br /><br /> I am eager to know Kevin, if you are a Trekkie, and if you've seen the new STAR TREK movie yet?<br /><br />Outstanding revistitation here of a film that has many fans.Sam Julianonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-84331798582134524982009-05-15T12:32:00.000-07:002009-05-15T12:32:00.000-07:00Chelsea:
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your ...Chelsea:<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts on the film. I'm sorry we disagree on this movie, but hey, what fun is it when everyone agrees with each other.<br /><br />I think part of the reasoning behind the "puree" as you put it (which is a good line, but I don't think Proyas or his crew were that lazy) is the fact that that's all the Stranger's know how to do. The film is pastiche because they screenplay calls for it to be. <br /><br />I think the film is a masterpiece, and I mention Metropolis as the film's main influence in the essay. <br /><br />Where you and I differ is in this: just because you disagree with someone, doesn't mean they don't have a wealth of cinematic knowledge. There are always films I need to see and am excited to see, but I've seen a lot of movies, and I would hardly call myself an amateur when it comes to film knowledge.<br /><br />I read your review of Dark City, and I have to say, you claim it's overrated and give some good reasons as to why you think, but then you go off on Ebert at the end of the review sounding upset that he decided to do a commentary track for Dark City (a little seen Sci-Fi film) instead of The Conformist. <br /><br />Lastly, I don't see what's so bad about films that try to take elements from great films and compound on them. Almost every fill in existence visually apes something that's come before it; especially in the Sci-Fi/Neo-Noir genre. The real question is how does it use these familiar visuals to further its themes. Any noir post Touch of Evil in indebted to those film from the 40's/50's. <br /><br />Anywho, thanks for stopping by. Contrary opinions are always welcome here, as I love the discussion.Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-23686330575984602532009-05-15T07:41:00.000-07:002009-05-15T07:41:00.000-07:00Kevin, if you've never seen anything like Dark Cit...Kevin, if you've never seen anything like <I>Dark City</I> before, I feel badly for your lack of knowledge of cinema. The aesthetics and themes in <I>Dark City</I> have been done, and done better, in so many other features: off the top of my head, <I>Metropolis</I>, <I>Pandora's Box</I>, and <I>Blade Runner</I>. All Alex Proyas did was take those three films, and many others like them, put them in a blender, and hit "puree". Adding insult to injury, this is one of the most poorly-edited features to see commercial release, and Kiefer Sutherland's performance recalls Peter Lorre less than some frat boy on a bender.Chelseahttp://popshifter.com/2009-01-30/dark-city-is-overrated/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-32631718228973123512009-05-14T14:42:00.000-07:002009-05-14T14:42:00.000-07:00Brandon:
The Blu-Ray of this film is amazing, you...Brandon:<br /><br />The Blu-Ray of this film is amazing, you are right about that. I think it's quite the compliment to how good the film is that the theatrical cut is still extremely entertaining and suspenseful, in spite of the fact5 that they neutered the ambiguity in regards to the The Strangers, as you point out.<br /><br />I think the Director's Cut is obviously the way to go, here; but, the original version is the version I fell in love with, and it's still extremely hard to find flaws in it.<br /><br />Also, I’m sure the scene where Murdoch and Mr. Hand are fighting at the end, re-tuning the city as they battle, sounded amazing at your house. I wish I could have been there to watch it, because that scene is, from a post-production standpoint, flawless in its execution. I’m guessing the metamorphosis of the city, with all of its clinking and clanging, sounded amazing in the theater room...Kevin J. Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275402809912728035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8785859730868628316.post-46483784251030308632009-05-14T12:50:00.000-07:002009-05-14T12:50:00.000-07:00I watched Dark City for the first time a couple of...I watched Dark City for the first time a couple of months ago on Blu-Ray. The movie looked fantastic. I really enjoyed this film I am amazed I hadn't gotten around to seeing it until then. <br /><br />The blu ray was cool because after watching the directors cut I rewatched it with the popup videos showing the differences between the directors cut and the theatrical version. Man they butchered the theatrical version. The explaination of who the stragers were right at the begining of the story took out all the suspense, I don't know how that would have even been enjoyable to continue watching. <br /><br />Just another example of a studio forcing the director to dumb down a film for all of us, his slow audience.Broilrnoreply@blogger.com