DVD : Metropolis
Price: $9.39 Prices subject to change.
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Binding: DVD
EAN: 9786305013570
ISBN: 6305013578
Picture Format: Academy Ratio
Sales Rank: 42381
Theatrical Release Date: March 13, 1927
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Editorial Review:
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
Average Rating: 
Rating:  -
I have never seen Metropolis before but this genre of old classic films really intrigue me especially the silent films. I saw all the reviews of Metropolis and figured it might be worth a see. This company Kino always deliveries quality in their movies and as I watched this one I was happy to see a nice picture without a bunch of distortion or fuzz. The audio is 5.1 surround sound and it sounds great. The music is very good and it really captures the mood of whats going on.
I don't know what the original was like but I am very happy with what I saw and heard. Like I said this is my 1st time seeing this so I don't know whats missing or what versions are available or whatever. Most movies from the silent era never really grab me as much as this film did. What is going on onscreen really captivated me and I was amazed at the time it came out and what it had accomplished. For being such an old movie it was still enjoyable for me to watch today so I know it will be a classic favorite in my collection. The subtitles when active give a somewhat glimpse of whats trying to be conveyed and some stuff I would never of thought of like seeing doors shut behind people as a relevance to something. The subtitles are very helpful if you have no idea of what you are watching or even if you do the insights are still a very nice extra.
Though the special features are a little light it does give a little insight into the restoring process. There is also a documentary ... Read More
Rating: -
Let me say unequivocally, if you're looking to add "Metropolis" to your DVD library, Kino's Metropolis (Restored Authorized Edition) is the one you want. Hands down. This restoration rendered the print so clean, and the movement so smooth, it looked as if it were made yesterday. It's as restored to its original construction as well as it can be accomplished, with intertitles to explain the missing elements that were never recovered. This is a finely produced disc, satisfying on at least two levels. First it satisfies the wish to see the film it its pristine condition, as it must have appeared in the theater when it was new. Second, the extra features tell you everything you could possibly want to know about it, with two very well produced documentaries, which include interviews with lots of film historians and technicians and people upon whom the film has had an influence. The first documentary is about the movie itself, how it was made, the people involved, how it ended up in such neglect, and so forth. The second one focuses on the restoration process, and it's very informative, giving you the inside track of the technology utilized. It was very interesting stuff, and I'm very glad that there are people in the world who possess such dedication. The new print is the product of an amazing attention to minute details, and it's a process I wish they'd apply to more films. For what you get out of this disc, it's worth every last penny. It's an education in a cultural achievement. ... Read More
Rating: -
The commentaries accompanying films can range from awful (WALKABOUT) to very good (SHOOT THE PIANO PLAYER) to "gotta own it" (METROPOLIS). The critic who did this commentary obviously knows Lang's work like the back of his hand and does a marvelous job of pointing out the significance of Lang's cinematic choices. I suggest you see it, then watch the commentary version, after which you may want to see it yet again. It's that good!
Indidentally, it annoys me that neither Amazon nor Criterion always mentions when a DVD has a commentary and who does it, to me one of the most important reasons for buying a DVD.
Rating:  -
Who would have guessed that a silent film from nearly a hundred years ago would still be one of the most poignant science fiction films ever created? Proving that story is more important than CGI, Metropolis delivers a stirring film that explores what it means to be human, and sets the stage for every robot/android/clone movie to follow (which happens to be all of them, this movie is so old!).
Newer films hopped up on CGI explosions, gross out violence (I'm talking about you, Starship Troopers) but suffering inane writing should take some lessons from this classic. A movie doesn't need a 100 million dollar budget to be a success (or a massive failure, like Waterworld). What a movie needs is compelling characters who the viewer relates to, and a story that drives them forward. Metropolis has both.
Rating: -
Magnificent restoration, and a tremendously atmospheric score - couldn't recommend it any more than I do
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