Akira meets The City Of The Lost Children meets Bladerunner

Rating: Null/10 (25 May 2001)

I would say combining those three movies, would make one hell of a great flick. But that's not the case here. This is actually really bad. Really, really bad. That's not what bugs me though - what bugs me is the fact there is so much potential, but it leads nowhere. As I see it, there are five major flaws:
1. Kiefer Sutherland. Awful and unconvincing actor. I don't know what it is, but each and every time I see him in a movie, I don't see the character he's trying so desperately to portray. All I see is Kiefer Sutherland reading lines directly off a page in the script. And that limp and the ridiculous way of speaking was just laughable and annoying. The fact that people say this is the best performance of his career, says a lot more about his previous work than his performance in this movie.
2. William Hurt. Awful and boring actor. He always seems to be bored with being in movies. His facial expressions tells us he would much rather just be at home, taking a hot bath. There's no power behind his words, no excitement in his movements. If you don't want to be there, William, then quit the business and get a new job. Why studios keep hiring this block of wood is beyond me.
3. Rufus Sewell. Uncharismatic actor. After watching the movie, I couldn't even remember what the man looked like. It was almost like he was wearing some kind of camoflage outfit which made him fade into the background. That's what an exciting person he was.
4. Alex Proyas. Awful director.
5. 'The Strangers'. Awful Pinhead rip-offs.
And there's a reason Jennifer Connelly hasn't become a great movie star, despite her nearly 20 years in the business - she looks great, but she's not much of an actress. Although I must admit she was good in Aronofsky's 'Requiem For A Dream' though.
But there are some good things about 'Dark City'. Alex Proyas does actually provide a very good and (somewhat) original script, but unfortunately his directing skills lacks. Maybe he should have let someone else direct, like Tim Burton, or maybe one of the three Davids; Cronenberg, Lynch or Fincher.
And also the art direction and cinematography are top notch, almost as good as your average Jean-Pierre Jeunet flick, whose movies were the obvious inspiration here.
Plus, stop saying 'The Matrix' ripped off this movie. 'The Matrix' had been in production for almost a year when this came out, and it was based on an old comic book. So let's just drop that right now.
So the only thing that made me watch the whole movie and not turn it off after 30 minutes, was all the great potential it had. I just sat in my chair for an hour and a half, imaging what an amazing movie this would have been with better actors and a director who knows what he's doing. Ah well, all I can do is hope for a remake.