COMPETING FILM SHOWDOWN - Dark City vs The Matrix

Looking at film.  Sometimes two very similar films come out close together, see which one is better...

1998/1999: Virtual Reality Showdown

In 1998 & 1999 4 films were released with created unrealities, this is another 2 of them... [The Thirteenth Floor & eXistenZ previously compared]

Round 1 - TITLE

"The Matrix is everywhere. It is all around us. Even now, in this very room. You can see it when you look out your window or when you turn on your television." ~ Morpheus, The Matrix.

• Dark City - A generic but mysterious title.
• The Matrix - An overused but solid title.

TIE.

Round 2 - PLOT

"You can make things happen by will alone. They call it 'Tuning.' That is how they make the buildings change." ~ Dr. Schreber, Dark City.

• Dark City - A city created and constantly changed by a dying race aliens to discover the human soul accidentally creates a human with their powers..
• The Matrix - A VR world created by machines to enslave humans that accidentally creates a human with their powers.

WINNER:  DARK CITY.

Round 3 - CHARACTERS

"This city, everyone in it... is their experiment. They mix and match our memories as they see fit, trying to divine what makes us unique. One day, a man might be an inspector. The next, someone entirely different." ~ Dr. Schreber, Dark City.

• Dark City - The characters are all strange, disjointed and shallow, but that's created by the story.
• The Matrix - Hyper real caricatures, but once again created by the story.

TIE.

Round 4 - ACTORS

"You know how I was supposed to feel. That person isn't me... never was. You wanted to know what it was about us that made us human." ~ John Murdoch, Dark City.

• Dark City - Some big international names and lots of Australian actors as filler, including every bald Australian actor ever.  As always Jennifer Connelly looks great in a faux-40s or 50s style.  Rufus Sewell is an OK but bland leading man.
• The Matrix - A strong cast, again with Australian actors as filler, unfortunately it does have Keanu Reeves a the lead.

WINNER:  DARK CITY.

Round 5 - WORLDS

"Welcome to the real world." ~ Morpheus, The Matrix.

• Dark City - Has a single anachronistic changing world of unending night.  A bizarre creation with heavy dose of Last Thursdayism.
• The Matrix - Has two worlds, the simulation of the current world and a post-apocalyptic real world.  Standard stuff, but really wrll done.

WINNER:  DARK CITY.

Round 6

EFFECTS

• Dark City - Subtler, do the job, only getting really flashy at the end.
• The Matrix - The effects make the film and they were a game-changer for the industry.

WINNER:  THE MATRIX.

Round 7

COMPREHENSIBILITY

"No, I don't understand, what's going on?" ~ John Murdoch, Dark City.

• Dark City - Uses confusion and obfuscation to keep the audience interested.
• The Matrix - Pretty much explains everything the whole way through.

WINNER:  THE MATRIX.

Round 8

MIND BLOWING

• Dark City - Leads up to the big mind-blowing moment near the which is sold mostly in FX.
• The Matrix - The mind-blown moment is early with multiple aftershocks.

WINNER:  DARK CITY.

Round 9

ENDING

• Dark City - A big showdown with the hero winning and creating a perfect world.
• The Matrix - A big showdown with the hero winning and then set up for the sequels.

WINNER:  DARK CITY.

Round 10

TESTS

"The Oracle told me that I would fall in love and that that man... the man that I loved would be The One. So you see, you can't be dead. You can't be... because I love you. You hear me? I love you." ~ Trinity, The Matrix.

Bechdel Test:

• Dark City - There are a few female characters - pretty much wives, waitresses or prostitutes  An unnamed character does tell Emma about a phone call from Emma's husband's doctor.  Fail.
• The Matrix - Trinity and Switch have some brief words.  But it's about Neo or helping Neo.  Fail.    

Mako Mori Test:

• Dark City - Any plot that Emma has is in support of Murdoch's storyline. Fail.
• The Matrix - Trinity's storyline is literally said to be to fall in love with Neo. Fail.

TIE.

Round 11

BOX OFFICE

• Dark City - $27,200,316 (Worldwide).
• The Matrix - $463.517,383 (Worldwide).

WINNER:  THE MATRIX.

Round 12

RATINGS

IMDb

• Dark City -  7.8/10
• The Matrix - 8.7/10.

Metacritic

• Dark City -  66 & 8/7/10
• The Matrix - 73% & 8.8/10.

Rotten Tomatos

• Dark City -  74% & 85%
• The Matrix - 87% & 85%.

WINNER:  THE MATRIX.

Round 13

READER'S POLL

"This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill - the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill - you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes." ~ Morpheus, The Matrix.

Even if you haven't seen both films, do the survey.

RESULTS SO FAR

• Dark City - 6.5 (5 wins, 3 ties).
• eXistenZ - 5.5 (4 wins, 3 tie.)

Both great films, and while The Matrix is a bit slicker and better made, there's something more compelling about Dark City.

Upcoming Showdown

2012:  Law Enforcement Raid Showdown - The Raid vs Dredd.

~ DUG.

Remember to vote for future showdowns.

(Includes Virtual Reality Showdown Match 3)