Dark City

This movie is some weird mix between a sci-fi and a film noir. The sci-fi element is contributed by the presence of the aliens and weird powers and the film noir by the extremely low lighting, which makes it feel like a black and white film, and the dark urban setting.
The scene with the ring showed the relationship between the couple. When the officer asks Emma if the ring is bothering her, she replies without a real answer, simply stating that she never takes it off. The ring is reflective of their relationship, which is painful in some ways, but will not cease to exist because their love is too strong.
A key motif in the movie is the maze. It seems as if the whole situation is a maze in which Murdoch is stuck. (By the way, Murdoch seems like a German name, which would agree with what Mr. Bennett said about this being a German expressionist film) It seems that the only way out is through Shell Beach, which may not even exist, except in his memories. We see this when he is told to go on the express and then when he asks why the train doesn't stop, the man says because its the express. The idea that the city can be manipulated, that its always dark, and that the people have an extremely limited memory suggests that the whole world is a maze that the aliens, or whatever the hell they are, have created and have continued control over. Even the people are controlled, which makes them more of an object than a human. Take the conversation between the alien leader and Emma, in which they talk about how an existence in which one had no memories to call their own would be tormenting. He gives the innuendo that such is her existence and everyone around her. In a sense, the aliens are like Gods except that now a human is presenting a dilemma. So, they might be better described as demi-gods.
One question I have is why they arr doing all of this. Are they studying the human brain or the psychology of human beings? That's what it looks like.

Asphalt Jungle

This movie creates characters, each with his own vice. Their vices all share a common root in the material world, whether it is money, alcohol, or sex. I started to pick up on the fact that this may also be an existentialist movie, with the existentialist being Doc Riedenschnieder. When the taxi insists they stop somewhere nearby, he says "lets wait till we get out of town." The taxi driver says, "I see your man who likes pleasures." Doc responds by saying, "What else is there in life?" Doc understands the simplicity in life. The manner he approaches every situation is so calm, it is almost confusing to the viewer. When he is being caught by the police, he shows little emotion. He understands the consequences that follow his actions, but at the same time he is not apprehensive to live and enjoy his life. This movie, much like many of the past few movies, uses criminals or morally ambiguous characters as the protagonists, and through the efforts of the creators, the viewer grows to sympathize with the characters, regardless of the inevitable fate of the characters. For example, Dix Handley is a criminal who seems excessively violent and perhaps abusive of his girlfriend. However, after he is shot, the reader hopes that he finally reaches his home. We know, however, that this won't happen. The asphalt jungle serves as a metaphor for the existence of crime in every urban city or setting. Crime almost seems synonymous with large cities.