More Dark City details
Filed under: Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, RumorMonger, Fandom
Yesterday we reported that Roger Ebert had publicly dropped the news
about a new cut of Dark City being prepared for DVD release. He offered no details, however, about how this version would differ from the theatrical release.Today, JoBlo posted an email report from a reader who saw a test screening of the film almost a year before its release, and was shocked at how much it had been changed when it finally came out. If Alex Proyas' new version is close to that original edit, the differences between it and the film we know will apparently be considerable. First, and most importantly, that original edit was voice-over free - which means that viewers are thrust into the movie's world with no idea whatsoever what's going on. That, to me, sounds incredible - and adding the VO sounds for all the world like something a studio would force on a young director because, you know, audiences are apparently too stupid to not have things laid out for them.
Among other changes the report mentions were to the editing style (it was sped up), the music, and the look of the Strangers - if the new version comes anywhere close to this early cut, it'll be fascinating to see.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-08-2005 @ 10:16AM
Krasimir [FilmDailies.com] said...
Dark City is a movie with a unique vision - any additional footage will be welcome.
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11-08-2005 @ 12:48PM
The Jeremy said...
I dunno if deleting the voiceover will make the film better. It reminds me of the differences between the so-called "Director's Cut" of *Blade Runner* versus the studio version. I may be in the minority of cinema snobs, but I have to side with Warner Bros. and state that I believe the studio version is better. The narration - even if Harrison Ford deliberately got drunk in an effort to sabotage the narration - makes the film a sci-fi noir piece versus a jarring art-house'ish flick. It really cheeses me off that they never released the studio version on DVD, not even as a Criterion Edition. Of course, its all relative since allegedly there's like 12 different cuts to the flick, not to mention Scott's still-tinkering-with-ultimate edition.
But since this is *Dark City* we're talking about, I'll keep an open mind on the differences. Funny, New Line Cinema - a division of Time Warner - is willing to release a "Director's Cut" of this flick yet sister company Warner Bros. Pictures won't release a "Director's Cut" of *Batman Forever*. I saw the test version of the flick half a year before its release and it was far superior than the studio cut. That's a title I would pony up some cash for a DVD or Blu-Ray release.
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11-08-2005 @ 12:48PM
Brian G said...
I don't understand the hatred of Voice Overs. Blade Runner without the VO just loses "Film Noir" something. Dark City is Film Noir, one might even say "Film blackest pitch", one of the conciets of Film Noir is the voiceover...
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11-08-2005 @ 12:52PM
The Jeremy said...
Continuing on this train of thought, I'd also say that I prefer the studio version ending of *The Butterfly Effect* over the director's cut, and the music choices in the studio version of *Donnie Darko* is better than the director's cut music....referencing the deletion of the Echo & the Bunnymen song in the opening of the director's cut...
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11-09-2005 @ 11:08AM
john said...
All good points. I also like the studio versions of "Blade Runner" and "Donnie Darko" better than the director's cuts. (Unicorns? I mean come on, how clueless does Ridley Scott think we are? And I really miss the VO.)
On the other hand, "Dark City" is a movie with lots of unfulfilled promise. It's been a long time since I saw it, but I remember a deeply flawed, emotionally vacant film with a disappointing third act.
I'll give the new version a viewing.
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11-09-2005 @ 11:09AM
Scott Weinberg said...
I wouldn't say that all voice-over intros or studio-inserted "helping points" are necessarily bad, but in the case of DC, it's just loony. It's like the voice-over from Fight Club saying "So yeah, I couldn't believe that Tyler and I shared the same body."
(oops Fight Club spoiler)
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