Matrix before the Matrix

[jekimball]

during one of the movie reviews Dan referenced a movie and called it "the matrix before the matrix" i want to add it to my netflix, however i can't remember the name of the movie. thanks in advance for the help!

[tokenuser]

It wasn't "The Thirteenth Floor" was it? It was released about the same time as The Matrix, but was an infinitely better movie. "Dark City" had similar themes and was released the year before The Matrix.

[krypt]

Thought it was existenz or something like that

[gonzooo]

It wasn't "The Thirteenth Floor" was it? It was released about the same time as The Matrix, but was an infinitely better movie.
They really are different kinds of movies, though... They explore some of the same ideas, but in very different ways. Also, it seems to me Matrix-series explored much more philosophy, and went way deeper into the possibilities of the concept than "The Thirteenth Floor" did.

I liked both movies, though; and I'd like to add I didn't enjoy the two last movies of the Matrix trilogy, but I think pretty much all of the philosophy they try to bring up is interesting and very fun to think about.

[tokenuser]

Thought it was existenz or something like thatThats yet a third movie that came out in the late 90's that explored similar themes as The Matrix, and was overshadowed. To be honest, I did not enjoy it anywhere never as much as The Matrix or The Thirteenth Floor.

[wideawakewesley]

Thought it was existenz or something like that

It couldn't possibly be that movie because it was one of the biggest abortions I've ever seen!

[dannyt]

It was probably either Dark City or Existenz but I can't actually remember. I've never seen Existenz but that is what most people tell me, that it had the same themes of the Matrix-- that being said, The Matrix is basically The Allegory of the Cave which was socrates or plato or something so...

[bcool]

Avalon?

[mltvcocktail]

It was probably either Dark City or Existenz but I can't actually remember.

Dark City is awesome, especially Keifer Sutherland who is creepy as hell as the Stranger's assistant. Plus it's a great noirish mystery that happens to have crazy sci-fi elements.

[puddlefish]

I really liked Existenz, and LOVED Avalon. Bud didn't Avalon come out after the Matrix?

[tsmith15]

ExistenZ was one of the weirdest movies I ever saw, and it had a "oh fuck that shit" reaction at one point (if you've seen it, you probably know what I'm talking about).

I really liked Dark City, even though I hardly understood any of it. I think it was much more heady than The Matrix but wasn't made as an easily accessible blockbuster what-so-ever.

[decepticon]

I really liked Dark City as well...added both Existenz and Thirteenth Floor to my queues...I think the film in question by the OP was Thirteenth Floor, though. I could be wrong, but...

[tsmith15]

I have Thirteenth Floor on my list of movies to see but I couldn't find a working torrent for it; so I'll have to actuall go out and rent it from blockbuster.

[krypt]

Alright, so after a search in the forums noticed existenz was mentioned with Cronenburg. Checked the Dandar/Eastern Promises/Cronenburg/episode 23 and dan mentions that he hadn't seen it (existenz) but that it was the matrix before the matrix around 6 minutes in

[lrsk]

It couldn't possibly be that movie because it was one of the biggest abortions I've ever seen!

I whole heartedly agree! I was actually mad after seeing that movie. It robbed me of precious hours of my youth... It tries to be so clever, but it fails epically.

[nlatimer]

I don't think the guys have mentioned it yet, but you should definitely see Dark City.

[puddlefish]

ExistenZ was one of the weirdest movies I ever saw, and it had a "oh fuck that shit" reaction at one point (if you've seen it, you probably know what I'm talking about).

I really liked Dark City, even though I hardly understood any of it. I think it was much more heady than The Matrix but wasn't made as an easily accessible blockbuster what-so-ever.

Dark City's actually a pretty straightforward movie. I'd suggest you rewatch it, nothing heady about it.

[stubadub]

I really liked Dark City, even though I hardly understood any of it. I think it was much more heady than The Matrix but wasn't made as an easily accessible blockbuster what-so-ever.

I don't see how Dark City is any less accessible than The Matrix. We are meant to feel the main character's confusion as he awakes in an unfamiliar world with amnesia, and we go on a quest to find out the truth about his reality. The pieces come together later in the film the way they would during a mystery, but they are explicitly explained to the audience. That explanation just occurs earlier in the Matrix when Morpheus sits down with Neo.

[gonzooo]

Damn you all for describing "Dark City" in such an appealing way; now I'll have to get it... :)

[dougleach]

Dark City, like most cult classics, is not actually a good movie. There was the potential for a good movie there, but it just missed it on several levels. I like the plot, but they gave away WAY to much info in the opening monolog. Basically there is only one big reveal left, and it's not that big of a reveal. The acting isn't very good (William Hurt was so bad). The dialog isn't very good. The ending was awful (the fight, not the scene on the pier). The cinematography is great though. I don't do armchair directing much, but this movie just got to me. It could have been sooooo good.

[jekimball]

thanks for all the feedback..... i added dark city, the thirteenth floor, and existenz to my netflix.

[stubadub]

Damn you all for describing "Dark City" in such an appealing way; now I'll have to get it... :)

Don't listen to dougleach, this movie is a classic because it's a quality genre picture. This one definitely should be added to your list and is worthy of belonging in your collection.

He is right about one thing. William Hurt was prett bad. Kiefer was probably a little on the bad side too, but his performance was very appealing.