Metropolis: Brigitte Helm, Alfred Abel, Gustav Fr�hlich, Rudolf Klein-Rogge, Fritz Rasp, Theodor Loos, Erwin Biswanger, Heinrich George, Gisele Eve Schittenhelm, Fritz Alberti, Grete Berger, Olly Boeheim, G�nther Rittau, Karl Freund, Walter Ruttmann, Fritz Lang, Erich Pommer, Giorgio Moroder, Thea von Harbou: Amazon.ca: Video

Product Description

Amazon.com Essential Video

Fritz Lang's Expressionistic masterwork continues to exert its influence today, from Chaplin's Modern Times to Dr. Strangelove, and into the late 1990s with Dark City. In the stratified society of the future (Y2K no less), the son of a capitalist discovers the atrocious conditions of the factory slaves, falling in love with the charismatic Maria in the bargain, who preaches nonviolence to the workers. But even the benevolent leadership of Maria is a challenge to the privileged class, so they have the mad-scientist Rotwang concoct a robot double to take her place and incite the workers to riot. The story is melodrama, but it's the powerful imagery that is so memorable. One of the most arresting images has legions of cowed workers filing listlessly into the great maw of the all-consuming machine-god Moloch. Unfortunately, the print used for this DVD is unfocused, scratchy, and five minutes short, altogether unworthy of a visionary masterpiece. It may be too much to hope for the complete film to be restored (only two hours of the original three-hour film are extant), but a clean transfer from a fine-grain negative ought to be possible. And why, when there are other possible future Metropolises to be had, should we downtrodden masses accept this junk? If anyone wonders what became of Moloch, now they can stop guessing; he's alive and well and making debased DVD versions such as this one. --Jim Gay

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Customer Reviews

217 Reviews

5 star:		(90)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(24)
1 star:		(74)

Average Customer Review

3.1 out of 5 stars (217 customer reviews)

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54 of 55 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars all reviews etc here are BS, Oct 12 2010

By

Rondini (Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Metropolis (DVD)

All comments and reviews on this film are about other versions of the movie. this includes the write-ups for the previous Kino Video release of this film, which is also for other crappy versions of this film. Epic fail, Amazon! The Kino versions are the only ones worth owning. As proof that the reviews on this particular item are crap, it has not even been released yet, as of this writing. This version include approx 20 minutes of recently recovered footage that was found in Argentina. Combined with the original orchestration of the movie, it is the must have version for TRUE fans of cinematic masterpieces, silent or otherwise. Check out company website for correct info. [...].

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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Most complete/coherent version, but I miss the 'YES' music, Feb 24 2005

By

Heather (Barrie, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Metropolis (DVD)

As other reviewers have noted, this KINO release is the most complete and restored version of the movie that exists. The storylines make a lot more sense, and the video quality is excellent. I have to confess that I miss the wailing rock soundtrack from the earlier, less complete version of the film. Overall though, the musical score fit the film quite well, and like everything else in this film, it was reconstructed to be as close as possible to the original.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Wait for the Kino DVD, Sep 22 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Metropolis (Full Screen) (DVD)

If you're reading this, you doubtlessly know already that Metropolis is a magnificent classic of the silent era. No definitive version is available yet, they're all incomplete, but this DVD is especially atrocious. The picture quality is an insult to DVD technology. I just saw the theatrical release of Kino International's new restoration, and it's a beautiful, pristine print. The film has been restored to be as close to the original theatrical release as possible, with title cards inserted to describe the missing scenes. This version will be out on DVD in early 2003, and it should be worth the wait.

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Most recent customer reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Made it in time
The movie showed up a bit later then was planned but it made it before I needed it and it was it great condition.

Published on Dec 28 2009 by Robyn J. Gilliat

5.0 out of 5 stars A picture of Hel
In the back ground we see a picture of the Metropolis in 2026 that is watched over by Johhan 'Joh' Fredersen (Alfred Abel). He stole the heart of Hel from C.A. Read more

Published on July 30 2006 by bernie