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Metropolis
 
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Metropolis

Starring: Brigitte Helm, Alfred Abel Director: Fritz Lang MPAA Rating: UNRATED
3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (217 customer reviews)

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Product Description

From Amazon.co.uk

Fritz Lang's Expressionistic masterwork continues to exert its influence today, from Chaplin's Modern Times (1936) to Dr Strangelove (1963), and into the late 1990s with Dark City (1998). 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? --Jim Gay

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 (2000, 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. Metropolis is a visionary masterpiece. --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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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Monumental movie but still *not* an original transfer., April 5 2003
Let me start by saying that a movie of this stature can't be praised highly enough. Having said that I beg to differ with all the five star rave reviews concerning the DVD transfer. I'm quite the Metropolis fan and my toes curled when I saw that the newest and latest official release has its intertitles translated into English up to the point of actually changing the original images as well.(The address card Freder shows Josaphas, the Hel memorial plaque, the tower of Babel sequence, a business card picked up by Freder, etc, are all English translations inserted by digital or other means into the film.) So, claiming that this version is original is dubious to say the least. Why not benefit from DVD's technology to leave it up to the viewer to choose between the (original) German or English intertitles? If it can be done with subtitles, I'm sure intertitles can't pose a problem. Imagine the frustration of the German movie buffs who have to watch one of their greatest movies of all time with English intertitles and German subtitles! What really made me frown is that in the scene selection section on the DVD you can make out the original German intertitles in some of the preview windows! The frustrating part about this is that even when using DVD's technological advantages to choose between intertitles, changes made onto the print by substituting English text over the images are permanent.

Furthermore I challenge any film technician or any of the members on the restauration team of the Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau Foundation to tell me that this version of Metropolis is transfered at the correct speed. And by that I mean the speed at which any normal human being walks, runs and can gesticulate without looking like an episode from Comedy Capers. Have a look at the final scene where Rotwang chases Maria up the Cathedral. It is actually comical and embarassing to see, taking into account the enormous effort the F.W.M. Foundation took in restoring this monument. Trust me, you don't have to be an animation student or an expert in locomotion to see that the actor's movements are sped up. Even the big clock's second hand in Frederson's office races by at exaggerated speed. When Joh Frederson stands opposite of Rotwang (Hal statue sequence), Rotwang waves his hands frenetically in Fredersen's face to gesticulate refusal. For a moment his hands elude me because of motional blur. Eureka's 1999 release of Metropolis had much better and natural movement of the actors. What very few people know is that Fritz Lang under-crancked the camera for some of the shots in his movie to add drama and weight to some scenes. These little moments of genius gave Metropolis some of its extraordinary atmosphere and appeal and are now completely lost with this release.

In 1927 the German production company UFA ordered the film to be cut for the US release. The American editor charged with this operation also exchanged the German intertitles and scenes with German texts for English substitutes. It's an irony that this release has been labeled "Restored Authorized Edition" for it perpetuates the act of defacing the original print as the editor did in 1927. The claim Kino makes this being a restored edition is at least misleading. Apart from footage that must be considered permanently lost, the claim holds no truth. The Merriam Webster dictionary defines "restore" as: "To put or bring back into a former or original state." Metropolis is a German movie. It used German text and titles. So let's get over the five star rave and try to be at least a little critical. I mean we're talking about one of the most influential and monumental movies of all time. Too bad its fantastic restauration is marred by such obvious flaws.

My first copy of Metropolis was Eureka's 1999 release which runs at 139 minutes on region 2 equipment. Although the image suffers from a very bad transfer and even more missing footage in comparison with this release, it is so much more the viewing experience you want and ultimately can't forget. Speeding up a film destroys the director's artistical vision together with the movies ambience and atmosphere. Needless to say I immediately returned my recently acquired Restored Authorized Edition for a refund.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Made it in time, Dec 28 2009
By Robyn J. Gilliat - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
The movie showed up a bit later then was planned but it made it before I needed it and it was it great condition.
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5.0 out of 5 stars A picture of Hel, July 30 2006
By bernie "xyzzy" (Arlington, Texas) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)   
Ce commentaire est de: Metropolis (DVD)
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. Rotwang, der Erfinder "The Inventor" (Rudolf Klien-Rogge) and married her. It was speculated that Hel fell for Joh's position of power more than love. Hel dies in child birth.

Rotwang being lonely invents a robot replacement for Hel. Rotwang loses a hand in the process. We see the machine person Hel on the poster the same way Joh saw it when he learned of its existence.

Meantime it looks like Jon's son Freder Frederson (Gustov Frhlich) has been smitten by a kindly girl Maria (Brigitte Helm) with a mission. This mission is stated in the beginning credits as the "Head" and the "Hands" will be brought together by the "Heart."

Joh must squelch the son's infatuation with Maria and put the workers in their place.

Looking at the sight of Rotwang's machine person, an evil plan forms in Joh's mind. Little does he know what plan is in Rotwang's mind.

But we do.

Hel is the name of the queen of Helheim, the Norse underworld.

This is a 1927 movie, made at the UFA studios. Learn more of UFA in the book "The UFA Story: A History of Germany's Greatest Film Company" by Klaus Kreimeier

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Most recent customer reviews

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. Lisez davantage
Published on Sep 4 2005 by bernie

5.0 out of 5 stars Most complete/coherent version, but I miss the 'YES' music
As other reviewers have noted, this KINO release is the most complete and restored version of the movie that exists. Lisez davantage
Published on Feb 24 2005 by Heather

5.0 out of 5 stars A benchmark in movie restoration!
All major studios the world over take note!! This is THE film by which all your restoration and release work should be measured by. Lisez davantage
Published on Aug 11 2004 by Robert Badgley

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent job
Of all silent films, maybe the only one still watched by a wide public today is Metropolis. Everyone who knows about science fiction knows about Metropolis. Lisez davantage
Published on July 2 2004 by H. Lim

5.0 out of 5 stars Silent Masterpiece
In today's cinematic world, silent movies are often a difficult category to approach. Silent movies are usually referred to almost like a separate genre, as if black and white... Lisez davantage
Published on Jun 8 2004 by M. J Jensen

5.0 out of 5 stars Best movie by a Jewish director ever!
Fritz Lang was indeed Jewish by his mother. I had seen many previous videotape and DVD versions of Metropolis but this longer version beats them all hands down. Lisez davantage
Published on Jun 2 2004 by P. Landry

5.0 out of 5 stars THE science fiction experience
It's tough to argue that Fritz Lang's 1926 classic "Metropolis" is anything but a cinematic masterpiece. Lisez davantage
Published on Jun 1 2004 by Jeffrey Leach

2.0 out of 5 stars The Barebones edition, only reason to buy is price.
I picked this DVD up at a local store, because I've been meaning to see the movie and it was quite cheap. Lisez davantage
Published on April 20 2004 by J. Blake

3.0 out of 5 stars Fritz Lang made better movies
It's really unfortunate that this film is so well known, because director Fritz Lang made better movies than this - and he knew it. (He thought this movie was stupid. Lisez davantage
Published on April 1 2004 by bruther

5.0 out of 5 stars The Most Influential and Enduring of the Silent Classics
Fritz Lang's 1927 cinematic masterpiece METROPOLIS is arguably one of the best and most influential films EVER made... Lisez davantage
Published on Mar 10 2004 by Michael R Gates

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