leplatypus As usual, the best movies to expand a citizen point of views are not what they are : for years, Metropolis was branded for my eyes as a Scifi movie with the 1st robot ever, a female one whose surface would inspire the future C3PO and that's all ! Now that i have seen it, i realized that the robot element is not that essential (it would have been the same with genetic clone) while all the social struggle and workers revolt that is the main subject of the movie are kept quiet in medias.That subject is so protest, so dangerous for governments that the few movies about it are cautiously put away : So while this movie is nearly 1 century old, it's the 1st time that i see in a picture a social revolt in a modern state ! The scenes are powerful because they are oppressive and this Metropolis guesses what happens today : 2 classes : one that works in pitiful housing, one that has fun in luxury appartements. This divided city is totally accurate (for example, Paris has left for the rich and right for the poor, NYC is up for riches and down for poor)). It could be a Marxist movie but conformist reviews tackles it like a Nazi one (the argument used in France to eradicate all subversive thinking, whatever it's exactly) : Anyway, as a German movie, we find the usual praise for body health and the leader thematic. As a director, Lang is really talented and uses primitive tools to new horizons : the situations are so dangerous (especially, the night pursuit) or nightmarish that it's nearly an horror movie and in no way, you could guess it's so old. At the end, it's a sort of Brazil but without any fun and the gothic ending is really similar to Burton's Batman ! So it's a must-see movie !

Joel Kullberg Hi there!I consider myself to be a true admirer of movies, in general and I kind of stumbled over this one. If Mr Lang was in his flesh right now Id tell this to his face; - Id like to thank you Lang. How to do that? Im already rude just talking to you right now without proper introduction. Whatever: The movie is about workers and managers so to say, and no sound. The "soundthing" is kind of the point. That kind of movie... You don't have to be a stupid watcher or the kvasi-guy about it. Lets all stumble and be humbled. Hopefully Im kindly, Joel Kullberg

CinemaClown An ambitious, audacious & astounding example of science-fiction and one of the most influential & essential works of the silent era, Metropolis is widely recognised as a masterpiece of imagination, creativity & filmmaking art today and its vision of the future & the depicted relation between man & machine was far ahead of its time, and although its groundbreaking technical craftsmanship is still capable of dazzling everyone, its narrative isn't as compelling.A silent feature film with a runtime exceeding 150 minutes was never going to be a comfortable sit but given the film's reputation, it was a must-watch. And Metropolis does manage to transfix in its earlier moments with its dystopian setting & unsettling illustration of what a human is reduced to. The countless innovations in cinematography & practical effects do make you wonder how any of it was accomplished back then but after a while, its runtime is severely felt.Set in a dystopian future, the story of Metropolis takes place in the titular city which is home to an utopian society where a sharp divide lies between the working class & city planners, as the former works incessantly to keep the machines running to power the city while the latter enjoys a carefree life. The plot follows the son of the city's mastermind who falls in love with a working class prophet who has predicted the coming of a mediator who will solve all their differences.Co-written & directed by Fritz Lang (best known for M), Metropolis is jam-packed with pioneering effects & inventive camera-work and begins with a captivating sequence that firmly establishes the difference between the two classes that reside there. Lang's vision of the future is undoubtedly praiseworthy and he leaves no stone unturned to provide a sense of grandeur to it. The characters, however, aren't as richly defined and fail to leave a lasting mark unlike its futuristic cityscape.From the technical standpoint, Metropolis is nothing short of a marvel. Its meticulously detailed set pieces & elaborate miniatures play a key role in bringing the titular city to life. Cinematography is a major highlight, for it keeps experimenting with different techniques & lighting elements to give the whole picture a surreal touch & mechanical feel, and works in tandem with its revolutionary effects. Lastly, music is ever-present throughout its runtime and is synchronised with the unfolding events.But Metropolis isn't without its shortcomings, even though it isn't responsible for most of them. Its chaotic moments, often depicted in fast-forward mode, appears unintentionally funny at times and undermines the seriousness of the given moment. Editing is an issue, for its pace isn't streamlined and the film as a whole feels quite overlong in the end. It is often the case when you already know the direction it will take but the wait for those turns are often frustrating as few of its moments are overly stretched.Coming to the acting department, the cast consists of Alfred Abel, Gustav Fröhlich, Brigitte Helm & Rudolph Klein-Rogge, with only Helm managing to make a strong impression. Fröhlich is no show- stealer and often oversteps the line, Abel is in firm control of his character and plays his part really well, Klein-Rogge's performance only gets more lunatic as plot progresses, while Helm delivers an act that finds her emotions & expressions on both sides of the extreme but it's in accordance with her character's requirements.On an overall scale, Metropolis is a cleverly envisioned, smartly directed & expertly rendered sci-fi that was unlike anything at its time of release and can still surprise some newcomers despite being 90 years old. I've got nothing but admiration for the level of inventiveness that's present in virtually every frame of this picture but sitting through its overlong & soulless narrative wasn't as rewarding or memorable as I expected. Immortal for its contribution to cinema, pop culture & architecture yet nothing more than just another tick mark on my checklist, Metropolis is timeless, but only in bits n pieces.

Johnny H. Metropolis is almost 90 years old to this day. Fritz Lang gave what is arguably the most important film of the silent era with Metropolis. It was the first ever science-fiction feature film when it was made in 1927, and what's also notable is that the film remained partially lost for many years. Thanks to Kino International and film-archivists who discovered a 16mm print in Argentina, combining it with Australian and New Zealand prints of the movie (among other pre-existing positives from Germany, etc.), Metropolis was 95% restored to its original state.Now, Metropolis: The Restored Cut is a masterpiece of classic cinema that is bold, gorgeous, and very to-the-point with its man-in-the-machine subtext and premise. Its story of classicism is timeless and the set pieces, ranging from the city itself to the reveal of the maschinenmensch (machine-human) this film has many memorable moments. Its stylized landscape shows off the many beauties of German Expressionism in its purest form, and it complements the story being told.Without this film, there would be no Blade Runner, no 2001: A Space Odyssey, no Star Wars, and definitely no Terminator films. Metropolis is the genesis of modern science fiction cinema, plain and simple. It has been miraculously preserved through the ages since its release and will continue to influence future generations decades from now.Metropolis is a rich, memorable and honest science fiction film that expresses ideas of one's place in modern society perfectly; and that a little perspective is all it takes to make great changes happen.Please watch this film when you can. The science fiction genre's inheritance of this film's influence should be reason enough to give it a go.