)
Be warned that this is not an animation for your average 6 - 11 year old audience . There's alot of gunshots , some rather disturbing scenes in which Tima loses her human skin coverage , and Rock just goes wild with the gun . A generous number of people loses their lives as well . . .
The art is amazing , but the music . . . I'm not a big fan of jazz and blues , but the I Can't Stop Loving You song when Ziggarut crumbles down is totally ironic , and it's actually amazing on how it adds to the moods . And I'm pretty sure you DON'T want to hear the sounds of a building crashing , crumbling , and exploding for about two minutes , do you ?
One last thing . . . get the one with the subtitles . Dubbs for anime and Asian movies are never good when it's in a western language . Keep in mind that the way Asian people talk and the way western people do are VERY different , and it could ruin the feel of the movie .
Buy it , and you won't be dissapointed . But if you hate anime then . . . you'll like the story : )
112 4 If you like a happy-go-lucky Walt Disney style of animation , then don't even think about watching this . But since I hate any happy-go-lucky flicks , I totally fell in love with Metropolis . Original , different , and wowza . Osamu Tezuka's a genious - his art takes some time to get used to , but after awhile , you really do appreciate the originality in his characters . And you really get attatched to the characters after awhile . . . Rock may be your average pretty-boy villian at first glance , but you realize his love for his father and Metropolis after about half an hour of watching the scenes . Tima , the cyborg , is a frail creature that doesn't know how to act around humans much less how to survive , and she's mentally attatched to Kenichi , the first human for her to encounter after Rock decides to blast down the lab she was created in . And the ending - * sob * It's a typical Asian movie ending - the kind that makes you think but want to punch the screen at the same time : )
Be warned that this is not an animation for your average 6 - 11 year old audience . There's alot of gunshots , some rather disturbing scenes in which Tima loses her human skin coverage , and Rock just goes wild with the gun . A generous number of people loses their lives as well . . .
The art is amazing , but the music . . . I'm not a big fan of jazz and blues , but the I Can't Stop Loving You song when Ziggarut crumbles down is totally ironic , and it's actually amazing on how it adds to the moods . And I'm pretty sure you DON'T want to hear the sounds of a building crashing , crumbling , and exploding for about two minutes , do you ?
One last thing . . . get the one with the subtitles . Dubbs for anime and Asian movies are never good when it's in a western language . Keep in mind that the way Asian people talk and the way western people do are VERY different , and it could ruin the feel of the movie .
Buy it , and you won't be dissapointed . But if you hate anime then . . . you'll like the story : )
1 . This film is nothing like Fritz Lang's 1926 film of the same name !
No , no it's not . And it wasn't meant to be , it gets its name from a 1940 ' s manga , not from the b & w silent classic . There are similarities though ( homages if you like it , theft if you don't ) with the city being divided into levels in the film in contrast to the single-level sprawl of the comics , and the design of the ' throne ' prior to its transformation .
2 . The characters don't look like standard anime characters ! / They're too cartoony , I don't like non-realstic characters !
No , no they don't . But , if you did some checking , rather than spending [ money ] on a DVD you know nothing about , you'd find out that it's based on ( I prefer to say inspired by ) a comic by Osamu Tezuka , the same man who created Astro Boy , so you should know what to expect . Big eyes , short legs , round bodies , and exagerrated facial features ( Duke Red's nose being the most noticable ) If you don't think you can deal with this , then this film isn't for you . If you can , you may like it .
3 . What's with the music , especially using a soulful , melancholy piece over a violent section of the film ?
Ahhh . . . that's a homage to yet another old b & W classic , Dr . Strangelove . Which brings us into the bad points about this film :
Bad Points :
1 . It's not that original . The plot borrows heavily from everywhere . Robots who aren't allowed on one section and people who kill them if they're found ( Blade Runner ) , the Dr . Strangelove inspired sequence , and of course the obvious bits from the Fritz Lang film of the same name . While some of this unoriginality may be placed on the fact that bits of it come from the 1940 ' s , where it was more than likely original , it just doesn't seem that fresh today .
2 . The plot seems kind of incomplete . Questions are never answered that we'd like to have answered ( they aren't crucial to the plot , but they still would be nice to know )
Good Points :
Those however , are the major bad points , and if you'll notice , they all deal with the plot . That's because for this film , the visuals are stunning .
The traditional cell animation characters over the CG backgrounds works well for the most part , and results in an amazing feast for the eyes . If you enjoy it , you'll want to watch it over and over again to catch the little bits you missed . In fact , that's the main reason to watch this , even just once . The plot's not that bad ( it's actually quite enjoyable for the most part , just not wholly original ) and if you manage to ignore the non-traditional character designs ( something any anime fan should learn to do in my not-so-humble opinion , we don't expect all movie stars to look like one particular actor , we shouldn't expect all cartoon characters to look the same either ) then your eyes will be in for an enjoyable experience . ( And if you like the plot , all the better )
Since this is a DVD review , may as well mention the extras , which are all included on the second disc . There's some characer sketches , biographies on Rintaro ( the director ) and Osamu Tezuka ( nothing too special really ) , interviews with the filmmakers , all of these are nice , but are nothing special . ( There's also some multi-angle animation comparisons which I haven't watched , so I can't say what they're like . ) What's really nice though is the 30 - min special , which includes interviews , discussions of the animation techniques , and a few pictures of the original manga , allowing you to see the main differences in the two .
As for the audio , you get Japanese 5.1 in DTS and Dolby Digital , English in Dolby Digital , and French and you get a whole slew of subtitles , including two seperate English sets ( the original translation and the theatrical release ones . )
Overall , the film's got a plot that's not too annoying , really enjoyable visuals , and the DVD's got enough extras to satisfy the fans of the film , if I could , I'd give it a 3.75 , which is good , seeing as few films ever hit a 4 on my scale , and even fewer hit the magical 5 . Take a chance , you'll probably enjoy it .
031 4 Ok , the plot may not be original . We've all seen the robot wants to be human bit . And we all know the Technology Vs . Humanity questions that arise , but this is still one great movie .
Based on the manga by the same name , Metropolis tells the story of a monopolizing empire building buisness man who's daughter was killed long ago . In an attempt to recreate her , he hires a nutty mad scientist to build a robot version of her as the headpiece to the new Ziggeraut building . An accident occurs and the robot ( named tima ) falls into the hands of a detectiv's son Kenichi . Now a love jealous activist named rock is out to kill them both , and Kenichi and tima must find out what is going on before it's too late .
the animation is much smoother than you might expect from an anime . In some places it's downright amazing . But the thing which the film is lacking is it's blend of CGI and hand drawn animation . Unlike Disney or Dreamworks who have a history of merging the two seamlessly , the people on Metropolis seem like they've just discovered the technology and are using it every time they get a chance to .
The DVD comes loaded with features , along with a rather interesting MINI dvd . The Dub is fairly well done too , for those of you who don't like to read subtitles . ( and good news if you don't know english or japanese , it's got subtitles in nearly every language )
IF you want to watch something that might give your brain a whirl , i strongly suggest this movie .
059 4 The technical blending of 2D and 3D CG animation is some of the best-to-date . The characters are interesting and the plot is fine if you haven't seen many Anime before , but for serious sci-fi or Anime fans , you won't find anything new - the typical apocalyptic Japanese endings , man vs machine , father vs son themes . . .
. . . what's more interesting was the parallels between Metropolis and something like Bladerunner - policing robots or genetically altered beings , etc , but the amazing thing is , the ideas for Metropolis were created 50 years ago ! ! !
The style and music that goes with the film makes me think that there was definitely an influence from Cowboy Bebop - that was a series that I wasn't crazy about viewing the first time around , but after seeing Metropolis , I'm beginning to appreciate how much more original Cowboy Bebop is - will have to revisit that series .
Bottom Line : if you haven't seen much Anime or SciFi , this one may be worth adding to your collection - otherwise , see if you can rent it first .
062 4 Ok , here we go . First I'd like to address the various complaints people have had about this film , so as to help others who are thinking of getting this :
1 . This film is nothing like Fritz Lang's 1926 film of the same name !
No , no it's not . And it wasn't meant to be , it gets its name from a 1940 ' s manga , not from the b & w silent classic . There are similarities though ( homages if you like it , theft if you don't ) with the city being divided into levels in the film in contrast to the single-level sprawl of the comics , and the design of the ' throne ' prior to its transformation .
2 . The characters don't look like standard anime characters ! / They're too cartoony , I don't like non-realstic characters !
No , no they don't . But , if you did some checking , rather than spending [ money ] on a DVD you know nothing about , you'd find out that it's based on ( I prefer to say inspired by ) a comic by Osamu Tezuka , the same man who created Astro Boy , so you should know what to expect . Big eyes , short legs , round bodies , and exagerrated facial features ( Duke Red's nose being the most noticable ) If you don't think you can deal with this , then this film isn't for you . If you can , you may like it .
3 . What's with the music , especially using a soulful , melancholy piece over a violent section of the film ?
Ahhh . . . that's a homage to yet another old b & W classic , Dr . Strangelove . Which brings us into the bad points about this film :
Bad Points :
1 . It's not that original . The plot borrows heavily from everywhere . Robots who aren't allowed on one section and people who kill them if they're found ( Blade Runner ) , the Dr . Strangelove inspired sequence , and of course the obvious bits from the Fritz Lang film of the same name . While some of this unoriginality may be placed on the fact that bits of it come from the 1940 ' s , where it was more than likely original , it just doesn't seem that fresh today .
2 . The plot seems kind of incomplete . Questions are never answered that we'd like to have answered ( they aren't crucial to the plot , but they still would be nice to know )
Good Points :
Those however , are the major bad points , and if you'll notice , they all deal with the plot . That's because for this film , the visuals are stunning .
The traditional cell animation characters over the CG backgrounds works well for the most part , and results in an amazing feast for the eyes . If you enjoy it , you'll want to watch it over and over again to catch the little bits you missed . In fact , that's the main reason to watch this , even just once . The plot's not that bad ( it's actually quite enjoyable for the most part , just not wholly original ) and if you manage to ignore the non-traditional character designs ( something any anime fan should learn to do in my not-so-humble opinion , we don't expect all movie stars to look like one particular actor , we shouldn't expect all cartoon characters to look the same either ) then your eyes will be in for an enjoyable experience . ( And if you like the plot , all the better )
Since this is a DVD review , may as well mention the extras , which are all included on the second disc . There's some characer sketches , biographies on Rintaro ( the director ) and Osamu Tezuka ( nothing too special really ) , interviews with the filmmakers , all of these are nice , but are nothing special . ( There's also some multi-angle animation comparisons which I haven't watched , so I can't say what they're like . ) What's really nice though is the 30 - min special , which includes interviews , discussions of the animation techniques , and a few pictures of the original manga , allowing you to see the main differences in the two .
As for the audio , you get Japanese 5.1 in DTS and Dolby Digital , English in Dolby Digital , and French and you get a whole slew of subtitles , including two seperate English sets ( the original translation and the theatrical release ones . )
Overall , the film's got a plot that's not too annoying , really enjoyable visuals , and the DVD's got enough extras to satisfy the fans of the film , if I could , I'd give it a 3.75 , which is good , seeing as few films ever hit a 4 on my scale , and even fewer hit the magical 5 . Take a chance , you'll probably enjoy it .
083 4 I'd like to concentrate on the ouvre of Osamu Tezuka , the writer / illustrator of the original comics version of this film . Back in the 1980s , before anime was widely known in the US , I chanced upon a book from Japan at a comics con . It was entitled Osamu Tezuka : 40 years of cartoons and though it was a modest volume ( both in size and page count ) it was packed with dazziling color illustrations by Osamu Tezuka , the most important pioneer of Japanese comics . The price tag was several times what a comparable domestic volume would have cost , but I couldn't put the book down . This was a purchase I have never regretted . Over the last 15 + years I have marvelled at the beauty of the artwork and the creative vision behind it . I still find the book hypnotic .
Returning to the present ; in 2002 I saw the film version of Tezuka's Metropolis , and it beautifully captured so much of the visual splendor which captivated me back in 1986 . It is a remarkable snapshot of Tezuka's world , a dazzling future universe , where 50s automobiles co-exist with super science , where robots fight oppression and discrimination , where androids have souls , all executed with brilliant color and stylistically simple presentation , reminiscent of 1930s animated cartoons . It is as captiviating an introduction to the works of Tezuka as ' Blade Runner ' was to the universe of Philip K Dick . Hopefully the release of this film , and several other projects in print and film will gain Tezuka the recognition in the US which he so richly deserves .
106 4 I saw this anime while looking for a new release in Blockbuster . I saw the cover and went Hm this looks interesting so I rented it .
This movie combined beautiful 3 - D CGI backgrounds with 2 - D anime characters seamlessly . The visuals are enough to make you want this .
The storyline is easy to follow for beginners and the characters are likeable , even Rock . You end up caring about the characters , which may be hard for some people ( with anime ) .
This movie will wow you with the look of it , and move you with the plot and end .
This 2 - disc set is full of subtitled interviews and behind-the-scenes information about the director and creator . Watch the movie in Japanese with many subtitles for all nations or English .
I recommend this movie to all anime fans .
124 4 Excuse my poor English
I watched Metropolis in a movie festival here in Brazil last year . After the credits they show a scene - a picture of the characters after the end of the anime . It explained what was left untold in the end .
I bought the dvd and there is no such scene after the credits . Looks like when they cut the japanese credits and put the english ones , they didn't notice that the last image was gone .
125 4 Excuse my poor English .
I watched Metropolis in a movie festival here in Brazil last year . After the credits they show a scene - a picture of the characters after the end of the anime . It explained what was left untold in the end .
I bought the dvd and there is no such scene after the credits . Looks like when they cut the japanese credits and put the english ones , they didn't notice that the last image was gone .
135 4 An exquisitely designed , well written fantasy . The animation is beautifully done , and the combination of CGI and conventional animation is most effective .
The backgrounds and general design are fascinatingly brought to life . The story is interesting . But I simply could not take the film terribly seriously . Quite simply , the film suffers from a devastating overdose of HelloKittyitis . It's as if someone had remade Blade Runner and cast it entirely with characters from Pokemon .
003 4 I have seen several anime films in the last ten years or so ( anyone does who has friends who draw , I think ) and most of it has either left me disgusted or , even if impressed by the animation , bored and wondering why I didn't just watch Bugs Bunny instead .
Up until now the best one I had seen was Princess Mononoke , and it was tedious for a good twenty minutes right in the middle of the film .
Metropolis , however , transcends Japanimation .
I thought , watching it , that if someone made a live-action version of this , shot for shot , it would undoubtedly be the highest grossing film in history , and probably take home the Best Picture Oscar . Not that there is anything in it that can really be called acting , and the story , though very deep ( especially for anime ) and thought-provoking , is not one of the most thrilling ever told .
However , a combination of tightly direction action ( and repose ) , a script universal and yet human enough to make you genuinely care about these 2 - D characters - - and some of the most amazing visuals ever juxtaposed on screen - - make Metropolis a high quality SF FILM and the fact that is it animated and tied to a dubious genre is almost negligible .
Except , of course , that you will marvel that something so epic and detailed can go from an idea in a man's head , to a drawing , to the setting for a world that will make your seen your own in a new way . . .
035 4 this caught me off guard . The premise easily could have screamed insane Anime violence or Nudity . However it provides none of the above . Instead we have this very deep and very powerful Pinnochio style story set in the deep future . With two of Japans top Anime makers at the helm it was no wonder this turned out as good as it is .
The story revolves around a young android who wakesup in the sewers . She soon befriends a young boy completely unaware that she is being pursued by her creator but hsi son who wants her dead . Eventually we are lead to climatic end sequence when she finds out her purpose in this world .
I must admit I had little faith in the story , but that was because of past Anime that had promise and didn't deliver ( Angel Sanctuary ) . However this one delivers 10x fold . With Animation style I haven't seen since the first American Tale this movie is very dark , yet very memoriable . Highly recomended for all viewers .
053 4 Upon first watching , Metropolis can be a little baffleing . Despite the somewhat confusing to the casual viewer plotline , you get sucked into the images that are created on the screen . And eventually , everything starts to fall into place , thus creating a rich , beautifully animated story . After a second watching , you find yourself drawn into tima's search for herself , and you catch yourself asking the same questions .
A wonderful film that is fit for nearly all ages .
142 4 The artwork is brillant and awe-inspiring , the music is whimsical and vibrant , and the question posed by the film is one that humanity genuinely faces .
Overall the movie is a marvelous experience , but you need to detach yourself from certain expectations . For example , the design of the characters does not match the gravity of their setting , likewise you might find the music a bit anachronistic .
007 4 I'm not very good at wording things but I would like to comment on Metropolis .
I'll let the other reviews speak for the storyline and plot . I did like it and will watch it again . What I would like to do is comment on the negative views of the character animation .
The characters do have a somewhat Astro-Boy appearance but the smoothness of movement far surpasses that of Astro Boy . It is certainly leagues beyond the likes of Yu-GI-Oh , Digimon , Pokemon , or any American Saturday morning cartoon or cheap 80 ' s drawing .
What you do have is a very old style of character design with excellent motion and color which I think is beautiful especially because of it's old look . I think it works well with the computer animation . For some reason the 1939 animated film Gulliver's Travel comes to mind . The movement is not perfect but it is very well done .
The film is NOT for you if you think anything less than Skrek or Toy Story is archaic or behind the times and not worth watching . This film is NOT for you if you hold opinions like the characters look like they were from a freakin Rodger Rabbit or a dull and boring character design that went out with the 30 ' s .
This film IS for you if you do appreciate the dying art form of great cell animation like Gulliver's Travels , Disney's Snow White , old Popeye or the old Warner Bros . cartoons .
I think it is sad that hand drawn animation is a dying art form . Disney has decided not to do anything from now on unless it is completely computerized and it seems we will be stuck with either really bad stuff like Yu-Gi-Oh and Pokemon or completely hands off computer animation . It is sad that there will be no more great hand drawn stuff like Disney's Pinnochio .
052 4 well , looking at the differing reviews one doesn't know what to think . . .
unless you go out and get the movie , in which case you'll be blown away .
let me adress some of the main problem issues :
1 - the popeye style art of the characters is a little off puting at the begining , but likle all other things in this great anime-one gets used to it .
2 - the vague plut is nowhere near vague . people who thought so were probably expecting something more obvious-without the subtle intricacies ( misspelled , i know ) there is a great plot here if you bother looking for it .
3 - so , e people bash the music-which I think is realy one of the highlights of the movie - just listen to the part where Duke Red is going to the lab to see his daughter in the making .
now onto the greatness of this anime . . .
1 the backgrounds : I was blown away . unlike normal movies , anime puts effort into the backgrounds it creates leaving you with a picture of a real world .
2 charactres : a set of well developed characters like this bunch , makes the movie 10 times better than it would normaly be . you can tell what kind of decition the character is going to makeby the middle of the end - well alomst every character .
3 unlike normal anime , this one isn't charged with unecessary violence . . .
060 4 My four year old daughter picked this DVD off the shelf and demanded that it be bought . The only other anime I have watched is Princess Mononoke , Akira , and Grave of the Fireflies . This one really blew me away .
The cinematography and characeterization is unique and is mildly antagonist in a unique and delightful sense . Art deco buildings and unique perspective really are icing to the visual feast .
The story line is really complex and intense . There is jealousy , lust for power , revoltion , destruction , and love . It is like a blend of the Bible , Blade Runner A.I . , and Akira . Most of the Walt Disney flicks have a space just after the opening scenes where the background of the story is given to the viewer . This is distinctly missing from this movie . It allows you to figure out / dream up the background . It keeps the viewer locked in to the film using all of the senses . The plot is definitely not Disneyesque . Though the end may leave you with a small sense of hope and faith in love .
The sound track is really wonderful and adds greatly to story line . Much has been made of the song near the end . This really adds dimension to the plots focus on love .
This film is not animation like Walt Disney . If you like watching unique flicks that let you fill in the blanks you will love Metropolis . This is one of the few flicks that my four year old daughter has pulled off the shelf that I don't mind watching over and over again .
091 4 I reccently watched this movie on tv I was blown away.When you see the charaters on paper , they dont seem to have much depth character wise , but when you sit down watch it , your whole opinion changes.The graphics are stunning the characters have alot more depth than you think.The beginning reminds you of a futuristic turn on the old 1940s detective movies , but towards the end , it sorta reminded ME ( this probley won't apply and / or make sense to anyone else ) of the beginning of the 1st episode of Silent Mobius.All and all , the movie is great worth your time.My only problem is that they didnt provide alot of backstory on the characters or Metropolis .
118 4 I do not care for the giant robot / mecha / whatever anime overall so we rented this one before buying it . My almost 12 - yr-old daughter kept saying We're going to buy it until we got to the end , then she was crying so hard she didn't want to buy it , but I said we could get it never watch the end again , so we did . ( We stop at the tower before Tima hooks up to the chair ) .
It's pretty , but after viewing the extras where one learns some of the characters are taken from other works , I'll have to check out the manga to see the changes . Of course I'm already behind on Clover , Dragon Ball Z Skull Man , so it'll be awhile before I even think of reading Metropolis .
133 4 This movie has changed my whole look on anime . This movie is a compelling drama that leaves you breathless . The animation is fabulous , even though the characters looked a bit tacky . The ending is so freaky , but amazing on how a small Japanease film can change anime . Much better than any anime you will ever see !
My Grade :
A
008 4 I came to this film with very high expectations ; the jacket has a plug from no less than James Cameron himself that reads , Metropolis is a new milestone in Anime . It has beauty , power , mystery , and above all . . . heart . Images from this movie will stay with you forever .
The movie pays tribute and homage to another of my favorite movies , Fritz Lang's Metropolis of 1927 , and possibly some other movies like Bladerunner , and it's a fascinating experience to see those kinds of images transformed into a very different but equally dramatic form using anime .
Despite my high expectations , I wasn't disappointed . This is probably the greatest anime flick ever , but I would be curious to know how people who have seen both Metropolis and the recent Final Fantasy movie recently would compare them . Although the story in Metropolis is much better - - the mystical Gaia theme in Final Fantasy is a little silly - - but the level of detail and the realism of the sets and backgrounds in Final Fantasy exceeded , to my mind , what was done in Metropolis . So I'd be interested in hearing what other animation fans thought about this .
That having been said , I still think Metropolis is a very visually appealing and even stunning animated movie and well worth seeing , even if you're not into anime or animation in general .
143 4 I originally rented this movie as an I just want to see an Anime movie rental . I must say that I was quite surprised at how this movie turned out to be . The backgrounds used in this movie are spectacular ( to me , they looked almost like the CG movies found in the Final Fantasy VIII and IX games ) . The plot was very interesting as well ; it made you wonder what was going to happen next . All in all , the merging of animation and computer-rendered backgrounds in this movie look great ( they don't look cheesy at all ) . I really don't excessively buy DVDs , but I may just get this one . Also , if you like this movie , or are a fan of Anime , I suggest renting / buying Princess Mononoke ( a very good movie as well ) .
145 4 First of all , let me say that Katsuhiro Otomo is a genius . If you're a fan of anime this movie is necessary for a worthy collection ; ( as is anything else Katsuhiro Otomo has done . ) This movie is amazing - the colors are stunning , the sound ( 5.1 ) is UNBELIEVABLE , and the computer animation blends smoothly with the cell ( hand-drawn ) animation . Rintaro did an awesome job directing this film ; ( remember Galaxy Express ? ) And the most important thing of all , the story ! The plot is gripping and dramatic , while at the same time exciting and dishing out plenty of action . You'll find no spoilers in this review because this movie is too good for words . You have to see it for yourself . Like so many others are beginning to belive , Metropolis may actually exceed Akira and take its place as the new classic in anime . If you're a hardcore anime fan and you don't already own Metropolis : shame on you .
021 4 Don't let the Disney-looking characters fool you ; this is an anime movie ! And that means don't expect a happily-ever-after ending , characters to break out in song , or regurgitated material to sell videos to kids . Not that I dislike Disney , but at any rate , let's talk about Metropolis !
5 stars is bold , so I'll give a reason for each star .
1 LOOK . Eye Candy alone - beautiful ART , COLOR , and CGI work
2 STYLE ; many compare this film to Blade Runner and I can understand why ; there are moments where you just sit back and . . . WATCH . . . Beautiful , breath-taking scenes .
3 STORY . Though not completely original or ground-breaking , it holds its own and has the basic elements of a mystery / romance / adventure film . It even contains an underlying biblical message .
4 MUSIC . This is where Metropolis really shines ; what an incredible score to the colorful canvas . The Dixieland Jazz reminds me of the Cowboy Bebop flavor ; hip , different , and stylish . No wonder James Cameron endorsed this picture .
5 DRAMA . I'm a sucker for the innocently powerful heroine-type anime films ( Serial Experiments Lain ) and Metropolis certainly delivers . However young , there is a great chemistry between her & Kenichi that plays softly yet strenghtens as the film progresses .
Is this a ' must-see ' anime ? You bet . To me special effects are always secondary to a film , and while this movie certainly has more obvious weight in the effects department , it uses them tastefully with style and grace . Don't pass this one up because the characters look ' cutesy ' or plain . They come to life and the story does the rest .
030 4 SPOILERS MAY BE AHEAD . YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED .
A few months ago I saw Metropolis in New York City . I was blown away by the visuals and the music but the story just wasn't competent enough . As soon as it came out , I bought the DVD and watched the movie twice .
Although last time I reviewed I gave it a B + this time I would give it an A - . The story is actually much more competent if you watch it two or three times . The only plot point that isn't fully understandable is the one about the sunspots and radiation .
The ending is excellent . A city being destroyed to Ray Charles ' I Can't Stop Loving You is one of the most amazing sequences ever put onto film .
The main movie itself is also very good with a Jazz score and great action sequences with great sets and animation .
Anime fans will be very satisfied with this film .
DON'T WATCH THE DUBBED VERSION WHATEVER YOU DO !
Rated PG - 13 for animated violence , blood , images of destruction , and brief profanity . Suggested for ages 12 and up .
127 4 Every now and then , you will stumble upon a movie that takes your mind and imagination to the absolute limits . . . then pushes it even further . Akira was one of these movies , and untill now , I have yet to see many that rate better than the classic Akira . Now , Metropolis - what I may call the best anime ever created - has been released and it is oh so good ! I received my order just yesterday , and allready I have watched it 3 times ! It is so complex , that every time I see it , I find new things ! The animation is classic of the 1950s Japan era , and the music follows the same time line with big band and jazz music . The integration of the two gives an absolutely astounding effect . THIS MOVIE IS AN ABSOLUTELY MUST SEE ! ! ! ! ! YOU MUST SEE THIS MOVIE ! IT IS GOOD ! SEE IT ! Your mind will truely benifit : )
036 4 ( Gives away a few parts - 2 )
This movie was more than just a movie . When I first saw it , I was like , oh my god , this is incredible I watched it over 6 times , once in Japanese , and I didn't even have to know what they were saying to truely take it in . Metropolis seems so real , and the fact that this probably won't happen , and that it's just a movie-I can't except that . It's too realistic and nonrealistic at the same time for it not really to exist . It brought tears to my eyes , and not just little tears on my eyelashes . I mean , my face would be soaked because of all of the emotion . I understand that most kids my age ( 11,12 ) would say thatt this movie was just stupid , and if someone said it to my face , i would hit them so hard ! Who I really love most in the movie is Kenichi . It's unbelievable and so sad that he risks his life to save Tima when there's nothing good left in her . When he finds out that she's a robot , i feel so hurt inside to know that the person that he loves isn't human . This anime is more than a movie . The characters are more than cartoons . I think about this movie all the time , and ALWAYS try to improve on drawing at least Kenichi ( i gotta admit , he IS really cute ! ! ) It's so hard to see a kid go through this kind of thing . I've had a VERY early experience with death , ( kindergarten - bff ) and i think i really understand how Kenichi feels . having someone taken away from you that you fall in love with is horrible .
The movie is just so deep and has so much more to it , that you CAN'T see it only once . I really give my respect to Yuka Imoto , Kei Kobayashi , and the rest of the cast / crew that i can't get the names of right now . You guys may speak Japanese , but i understand EVERYTHING that you're saying , and I don't even speak the language .
- Valerie , age 11
011 4 This review is from :
Metropolis ( DVD )
The majority of METROPOLIS is visually stimulating , with rich backgrounds ( for the most part ) on the level of Geoff Darrow's HARD BOILED . Computer generated imagery appears with hit and miss success , as some scenes seem terribly rushed and out of place . Some 2D / 3D combos , particularly during the climax , are poorly designed . But for every clumsy scene , there's another which is highly inspired . The screen graphics during Tima's cyber search through the phone lines are riddled with interesting goodies . Very cool .
The story is familiar dystopian human versus technology , and reminded me a lot of MISTER X ( and TERMINAL CITY ) . But I generally like that sort of thing . Without ruining anything , I found the climax to be the slowest , most boring part of the film ( I kept looking at the clock , wondering when something was going to happen ) , but when it does . . . the final conflict and the use of Ray is truly superb . Unfortunately , this is quickly followed by a weak resolution , but I'll take my gems where I can find them .
At it's best , METROPOLIS is a beautiful feast for the eyes , beaming with high design and style . At it's worst , it bears clumsy imagery and animation reminiscent of Bakshi , of all monsters .
Definitely worth renting .
012 4 The majority of METROPOLIS is visually stimulating , with rich backgrounds ( for the most part ) on the level of Geoff Darrow's HARD BOILED . Computer generated imagery appears with hit and miss success , as some scenes seem terribly rushed and out of place . Some 2D / 3D combos , particularly during the climax , are poorly designed . But for every clumsy scene , there's another which is highly inspired . The screen graphics during Tima's cyber search through the phone lines are riddled with interesting goodies . Very cool .
The story is familiar dystopian human versus technology , and reminded me a lot of MISTER X ( and TERMINAL CITY ) . But I generally like that sort of thing . Without ruining anything , I found the climax to be the slowest , most boring part of the film ( I kept looking at the clock , wondering when something was going to happen ) , but when it does . . . the final conflict and the use of Ray is truly superb . Unfortunately , this is quickly followed by a weak resolution , but I'll take my gems where I can find them .
At it's best , METROPOLIS is a beautiful feast for the eyes , beaming with high design and style . At it's worst , it bears clumsy imagery and animation reminiscent of Bakshi , of all monsters .
Definitely worth renting .
028 4 Personally , I don't know about the 1927 version made by Fritz Lang , but Ozamu Tezuka's adaptation of Metropolis seems to be quite outstanding .
You want breathtaking visuals ? Metropolis has ' em . While it's nothing that you've probably never seen , the CGI used in this film does its job well , and the animation itself is beautiful . Even the DVD cover art , featuring 3 poster designs . The other reviews argue against a confusing plot , but the storyline presented here-about a futuristic city where humans and robots share an uneasy coexistence-is well organized and stays on course without skipping a beat . The one flaw found here is that the characters could've been developed better . The only character that seems to develop is the robot girl Tima , as she learns the ways of the world and as she searches for her true identity .
Also , Tezuka's kiddy character designs take a little getting used to . Big eyes and short mouths are a staple of anime and some can surely handle the big noses of characters like Duke Red . But many of them have overgrown forearms and shins that make them look like Popeye or MegaMan rejects .
Near the movie's end , they play Ray Charles ' I Can't Stop Loving You just as the world of Metropolis comes crashing down ( quite literally ) . While this part seems kind of weird , it doesn't really spoil anything . On the contrary , the song is consistent with what the main character , Kenichi , feels for Tima in his futile attempt to rescue her from a horrible fate . Truly a classic tale re-imagined , Metropolis is an anime film that's worth its weight in gold ( or screws ) . The DVD itself could've gotten a perfect score , but I didn't get to view the extras .
073 4 . . . This movie will not be a crossover success . Western sensibilities will not be stroked to climax here . This is adult animation ( two strikes against in America ) intelligently expounded upon . If you are of the opinion that all animation / cartoons are for children , you will not be converted by this film . It's just going to look like crazy . . . , go back to watching Schwarzenegger . ( Not a cartoon star at all . )
But if you actually sit down and watch the film without cultural baggage you will be pleasantly surprised . There is a story here . Granted , it isn't presented in the best manner available . ( Who knows ? It's based off a comic that's been around Japan for over 50 years . ) But you're not going to be completely lost . That is unless you only have those western sensibilities .
There is symbolism in this movie . If that scares you , don't worry . Several of the characters in this movie spell that symbolism out explicitly . So even if you're the dimwitted sort you won't miss it .
Finally , you're going to hear a lot of comparison between the final scenes of this movie and DR . STRANGELOVE . Hey , they sound great , but they're only valuable on the most superficial of levels . Anybody who tries to sell you on a meaningful comparison between the two really knows nothing about film . Feel free to take them to task on their ignorance .
METROPOLIS . I like it . You make up your own mind .
110 4 We all know this cliche . Robots in the far future , evil scientist , a robot as the main character . But when you add in the ' Japanese ' touch , the wonderful ( but yes , SWING ) musical score , the fancy digital animation , and the 21st century angst we all love , I can't help but wonder . . . Why do things seem to work better with the Japanese ?
It's because of movies like these that I love anime .
From what I gathered , the reviews are a mixed batch , and many refer to Princess Mononoke . I don't quite think this movie should be compared to it at all because of the extreme difference in genres , but I would put this up with it as one of the best anime movies , or just movie in general , of all time .
But I will also say you should rent it before you buy . Not because it's a mediocre movie , but for some the violence might be at the point of being unsuitable . There is a lot of destruction , especially towards the robots ( I personally don't mind it , but i'm a bit biased . )
But as always , the ending is what catches you by surprise . Never have I been able to guess what will happen in a ( good ) anime movie , and this one is no different . Let's suffice to say , ' keep your mind open , ' and I STRONGLY suggest this movie to absolutely anyone , anime fan or hater .
038 4 Metropolis looks promising and exciting . I had the completely false notion before watching it that it was along the lines of Akira and Ghost in the Shell . It's considerably more cartoony than that , and yet it never seems to harbour any clear style , going from Astroboy cuteness to full-on anime . I don't think it's the masterpiece it has largely been hyped at , but it's far from a bad film either . It's definitely watchable and enjoyable , but it lacks a right-on identity . It tries to be a lot of things at once , and thus misses most of those marks .
The city is almost a character in itself ; there are so many places we see in it , it's clear a lot of vision was behind this movie . The plot is a little too loose , though . It involves a cruel despot - Duke Red of the Marduks - seizing power in the midst of a rebellion by the oppressed lower class , who don't appreciate robots taking their jobs . Japanese detective Shunshaku Ban and his nephew Kenichi stumble into this plot and before long , Kenichi is on the run with a power-mad and robot-hating Marduk , Rock , out to get him and the girl robot Tima , whom Kenichi and his uncle save from a mad scientist's burning lab . There is a lot of dialogue and slow pan scenes that make everything more drawn-out than it really has to .
I can't decide what to make of this movie's vision . I can't tell what kind of artistic direction it was trying to take , cutesy or realistic . It often fuses the two , and not always to a pleasing result , sadly . The dialogue is often very stiff , too , and explains way too much to the audience than necessary . Three times in the film , we are told that robots can't leave their zones . Admittedly , a lot of the bad dialogue can be traced to the dubbing . The Japanese dialogue and the English dub quite differentiate on more than one occasion ( this is evidenced by the English subtitles , even with the dub selected ) . Even if you're Russian , I would skip the Russian language track , as they didn't even bother to drown out the English dub before pasting it on top . Very sloppy work , as far as I'm concerned . But back to the film .
It has to be said that there are a lot of problems with the direction . The leader of the human rebellion talks about their poor living conditions . Then why not show it ? A coup happens , and instead of an epic animated scene , we are shown a lot of old World War photos with a lot of special effects to give the impression of something happening . Instead of showing us what it really means to live in Metropolis , we're told everything . The viewer is a tourist , not an inhabitant of the film , which makes it feel very vague . The story's well thought-out , but the audience aren't drawn into it as well as they could have been . It doesn't make sense how the characters keep running into each other in this supposedly huge city , either , and it doesn't seem to terribly matter when characters are shot at . Another grave plot error is that the movie doesn't take a stand with or against robots , as to whether they're supposed to have personality or not . There is a ' tragic ' death scene where a robot detective is shot , but because he has no personality , I can't tell if I'm supposed to feel sad or not .
Don't get me wrong , this movie has its good moments , but most of those occur in the last thirty minutes of the film , when Shunsaku Ban finally takes matters into his own hands , and stopping Duke Red becomes a matter of life and death . . . until Tima fulfils her true destiny . The resolve is as vague as the character approach , but hey , it wasn't an astounding movie to begin with . Metropolis isn't astounding . It's a good film , but far from wonderful . An interesting cinematic experiment , it still needed its plot tightened up , because it all feels unnecessarily long . Most of all , though , it needed a clear artistic direction .
001 4 Between 1947 and 1949 , Osamu Tezuka - who was to become the world's best-known anime producer - issued a small series of manga about a world of the future where industrialization , robots and humanity are all at odds . Sharp class differences also contribute to the tensions of a world largely in the hands of the power hungry . Now , 50 years later , Rintaro , another famous name in anime has decided to create an film from the original manga , sparing no effort or expense .
We find Metropolis in the throes of a celebration . Duke Red has completed the Ziggurat , an immensely tall building whose central tower conceals a solar weapon that will make the city the capital of the world , and Duke Red its ruler . The intricate politics of Metropolis are based on three tiers - the upper class , a vast and impoverished lower class , and beneath all else , the robots . There is great conflict over the role of the robots . Many fear them , and an anti-robot faction called the Marduks watch the streets , ready to destroy and automaton that acts out of line . Duke Red is the power behind the Marduks , but secretly he has hired Dr . Laughton , a criminal scientist , to build a super robot in the image of his daughter . This is Tima , whose destiny is to command the weapon hidden in the top of the Ziggurat .
Into this come Shinsaku Ban and his nephew Kenichi . Shinsaku is a detective , come from Japan to track down Dr . Laughton . As he is doing this , Duke Red's adopted son Rock , leader of the Marduks , is plotting to destroy Laughton's lab and Tima with it . The resulting conflagration catapults Kenichi and Tima into a wild race for life with Rock right behind them . On the way , we get to see much of Metropolis's underground , bringing home the social message .
The real thrust of the plot , as is often the case with anime involving robots and cyborgs is the question of what is human and what is not . Or whether that should even make a difference . Tima , who does not know she is not human , finds she is capable of wonder , love , and fear . Is she a soul in the making or a flawed machine ? If she had never met Kenichi this would have been a far bitterer film , and the white doves would never get to fly .
Not only is the artwork remarkable , but this is an exquisite piece of animation , smoothly combining CGI and two-dimensional animation . Sometimes the entire screen seems to be in motion . An agile eye will pick up new details on each watching . Toshiyuki Honda's music is equally satisfying . It is interesting that Tezuka refused to have this story made into a film during his life . Apparently , he thought of ' Metropolis ' as an early and not especially successful effort . However , Rintaro and writer Katsuhiro Otomo ( of ' Akira ' fame ) have much modified and expanded the story . This is a commonplace when a manga is converted to the screen , since many Japanese anime producers avoid slavish imitation if they have an opportunity to break new ground . I like to think that Tezuka would have been impressed with Rintaro's efforts even if ' Metropolis ' was no longer just his story .
002 4 Based on Manga by Osamu Tenzuka ( the Godfather of anime responsible for the familiar doe-eyed look ) and adapted to the screen by Katsuhiro Otomo ( Akira ) , Metropolis only bears passing resemblance to the Fritz Lang film that obviously inspired it . While the animation is breathtaking and the story good , it never fully delves into the possibilities of the various philosophical problems it raises : artificial intelligence , surrender of freedom for security , and responsibility of outsiders to do the right thing . As a result , Metropolis ends up coming off as a really , really nice piece of fluff - one that , unfortunately , cannot compete with other ` serious ' anime titles like Princess Mononoke , Akira , or Grave of the Fireflies .
The story alternates between Kenichi , the son of a Japanese private eye sent to the gigantic future-city of Metropolis to find a doctor who is accused of making illegal human-robot hybrids , and Rock , a slightly off-kilter policeman who is head of the fascist-leaning goon squads that kill robots and revolutionaries with equal gusto . When Rock discovers that his adoptive father , a powerful Duke who plans on taking over Metropolis , has ordered the creation of a robot that resembles his dead daughter , he attempts to kill her , but she falls into the city's seedy robot / worker underworld where she meets Kenichi . He forms a bond with her , but her innocence is soon replaced as she realizes she was created for one purpose : the completion of a mysterious ziggurat that sits at the center of Metropolis . As the story moves towards its inevitable , Akira-esque conclusion , the revolutionary workers in the city attempt to gain control , although it becomes clear they are merely pawns of a larger force .
As other reviewers have noted , it's difficult not to see the strains of other movies in this one : Akira most notably , but Ghost in the Shell as well , and probably quite a few others . It's not a problem , but it makes Metropolis seem a little soul-less - as if it were cobbled together from stolen parts . The good parts of Fritz Lang's classic are present , but incredibly watered-down - robots with souls , workers revolting , and arrogance in power . Again , these concepts are never fully explored , leaving the viewer wondering , ` great , well , what next ? ' It should be noted , however , that the soundtrack is a lively collection of old jazz , blues , and swing tunes , and adds a very unique side to Metropolis - probably its most outstanding feature .
While many of the backgrounds are rendered , the animation is far more fluid and traditional than other recent computer-assisted efforts , most notably the short and rocky Blood-The Last Vampire . While the viewer notices them , it's never a distraction . The characters are all animated with the traditional ` super-deformed ' large heads , hands , and feet , and of course eyes the size of dinner plates ( if you're a cute character , anyway ) . The DVD is the perfect exhibition ground for this movie , as its presented in stunning anamorphic widescreen that looks so good it hurts . The colors are lush and clear , and there are two DD 5.1 soundtracks ( one English , one Japanese ) and - an anime first - the original Japanese track in bass-blowing DTS . There are subtitles for the purists ( and hard of hearing ) , of course , but the dub is pretty darn good . The extras are all contained on a second small DVD similar to promotional CDs they used to hand out . It's more of a gimmick than anything , but it's your standard making-of fare and interviews . In other words , you'll watch it once and forget about it .
Metropolis should probably stay in the rent it before you buy it category , especially if you are used to more depth from your anime . It's one of those movies that grows on you , and you end up liking it despite its problems .
004 4 This review is from :
Metropolis ( DVD )
All I can say is wow . Metropolis is a great film , and and one of the best theatrical animations I have seen . There is a perfect blend of story , music , technical achievement and visual style .
Fundamentally , Metropolis is all about juxtaposition of style . The blend of Tezuka's heavily cartoonish characters and the highly detailed backgrounds creates a fully-realized mythical world . The Cel animation fits seemlessly with the CGI . This is the kind of quality we wish Disney would aspire too .
The music and visual style work together to create the Retro-future appeal of Fritz Lang and H.G . Wells . The sound track is largely 30 ' s American swing music which works nicely against the towering future cities and ubiquitous robots . Ray Charle's I Can't Stop Loving You is the perfect exclamation point at the end of a long sentence .
The story is traditional to Japan , and deals with the loss of identity and soul to automation and technology . Anyone familiar with Japanese art will know this theme . It appears in Ghost in the Shell and Testuo the Ironman as well as other films .
The innocence of Tima and Kenichi add a new element to this familiar story . The cynicisms of Major Kusunagi and Tetsuo are missing from our heroes . The addition of Tezuka's optimism is something special , and rarely seen in Japanese animation .
A great movie .
010 4 While this DVD set comes with all the standard bells and whistles , the real prize in this package is the film itself .
Metropolis , the film , is adapted from Osamu Tezuka's 1949 manga ( comic book ) of the same name .
Filmed after his death , and against his expressed wishes , this film is dazzling and beautiful beyond belief . Using both standard cell and CGI animation combined , the director , Rintaro , and his crew have put together one of the most stunning animated films ever released .
Metropolis the film is a marvel of beauty and imagination , unbelievable in it's scale and detail . Metropolis the world is a dystopian city of the future that is divided between the Haves and Have Nots ; and even among the underclass there is conflict and the oppression of segregation between the poor miserable human underclass and the robot workers that have taken their jobs .
The story of Metropolis revolves around a Japanese boy named Kenichi and a robot girl called Tima .
The film opens with a powerful and corrupt mogul by the name of Duke Red presiding over a massive celebration to mark the completion of his mammoth art deco-style skyscraper called the Ziggurat .
Unbeknownst by the celebrants , Duke Red has nefarious plans to rule the world from this foreboding sky-high tower ; and soon .
To this end , Duke Red has commissioned a wanted criminal / vivisectionist by the name of Dr . Laughton to build him a robot in the image of his deceased daughter . With this surrogate robotic daughter , Duke Red plans to control all of the machines on the planet from the safety of his towering citadel .
Hot on the trail of Dr . Laughton though is a Japanese detective named Shunsaku Ban and his nephew Kenichi . This unlikely pair have tracked Laughton to Metropolis from Japan and are intent on capturing their him .
Following a tip on the whereabouts of Dr . Laughton , Kenichi and his Uncle , along with a police robot that has been assigned to assist them in their search , track Laughton to the secret lab that Duke Red has provided for him to complete his work .
Unfortunately for them , they arrive just after Duke Red's malevolent adopted son Rock has murdered Dr . Laughton and set the lab on fire in an attempt to foil his father's plans .
Kenichi , spotting the trapped robot Tima through a window , rushes into the burning building to rescue her .
Kenichi becomes separated from his Uncle after he and Tima fall through the burning floorboards down into the sewers below Metropolis . This begins a series of encounters , and through these adversities he and Tima are drawn together and begin to fall in love .
There are a variety of stories going on here , and a multitude of positive & negative relationships between the various characters ( as well as the divergent classes ) , all of which lead this story to it's final climax .
While I'm sure many people will not find this film their cup of tea , anyone interested in either anime or science fiction will find many things to appreciate in director Rintaro's interpretation of Osamu Tezuka's creation .
Building on a script by Katsuhiro Otomo ( Akira ) and the technical skills of many traditional and computer animators , Rintaro has created a world that will be recognizable to anyone familiar with either the original Fritz Lang film ( 1927 ) or the world of Ridley Scott's Blade Runner ( 1982 ) , and yet still startling in it's level of detail and the verve of it's animation techniques .
While the characters are of the cartoony variety ( exaggerated , big eyes , etc . ) and the jazzy Dixieland musical soundtrack by Toshiyuki Honda is a bit unconventional and doesn't always feel organic to the film , these are small quibbles when stacked against the magnitude of the canvas this story is being told on .
014 4 I love this movie . There hasn't been a truly remarkable Anime movie since Akira . The 3D animated visuals are state of the art and the acting is good . The animation isn't as graphic as Akira , but the directing and the music makes it a visual treat . I knew when I heard Katsuhiro Otomo was writing the screenplay , that he wouldn't just write an epic love story , but an epic love story with a hard hitting , slap in the face message .
THE PLOT
The story is about a guy name Duke Red who is a powerful leader with plans to unveil a highly advanced robot named Tima . But Duke Red's violent son Rock distrusts robots , and intends to find and destroy Tima . Lost in the confusing labyrinth beneath Metropolis , Tima is beginning a friendship with the young nephew of a Japanese detective . But when Duke Red separates the two innocents , Tima's life - and the fate of the universe - is dangerously at stake .
The director Rintaro sticks more to the visuals than to the characters but he stays with the plot and it still turns out great . I would like to point out that the Message in Metropolis and A.I . is similar . The message being , don't create robots and don't misuse this kind of intelligence , or we could be killed . And above all this is a sacred story of love .
Metropolis is the new milestone in Anime . It has beauty , power , mystery , and above all . . . heart . Images from this film will stay with you forever . I recommend this film to anybody .
017 4 Metropolis is an astounding artistic achievement that exemplifies the incredible power of animation at its best . High atop the impossibly vast city of Metropolis - - with its towering columns , intricately woven golden pipes , and myriad staircases - - the beak-nosed tyrant , Duke Red , has constructed an awesome weapon known as the Ziggurat . Within this colossal skyscraper stands an empty throne ; a throne the maniacal Duke plans to fill with the android clone of his deceased daughter . He's hired genius robot designer , Dr . Laughton , to create the synthetic human masterpiece , Tima ( voiced by Rebecca Forstadt , Minmei from Robotech ) . Duke Red's unappreciated adoptive son , Rock ( head of a gang of robot-hunting vigilantes called the Marduk ) , vows to destroy the lovely curly-haired machine and prevent his father from giving control of the Ziggurat - - and therefore the entire world - - to a mechanical puppet . Amidst the ensuing mayhem of explosions and flames , Tima is lost . She is rescued by Detective Shunsaku Ban's Astro Boy look-alike nephew , Kenichi ( voiced by Brianne Siddall , Jim Hawking from Outlaw Star ) . Through the sprawling , neon-tinged streets of the many-zoned Metropolis , Kenichi and Tima flee the relentless gunfire of the insanely jealous Marduk leader , as countless innocent robots are slaughtered before their large , sparkling eyes . It all culminates in an unforgettable climax of emotion and chaos that ranks among the greatest scenes in cinematic history .
Osamu Tezuka's Metropolis comes to you in a lavishly illustrated folding cardboard case ( rather than the more convenient standard plastic keep case ) . Included along with the movie disc is a miniature DVD with special features , including a gallery of model sheets , animation comparisons , filmographies , interviews with Rintaro and Katsuhiro Otomo , and the ` Making of Metropolis ' Animax special . No DVD collection should be without this enthralling tour de force of animated brilliance !
018 4 I have to say that this probably one of the most unusual and haunting pieces of film-making I've seen , animated or otherwise . . . a film whose emotional impact is indelibile , a compelling , deeply disturbing film which is impossible to forget and from which it is impossible to look away .
The convoluted plot is difficult to follow and and even harder to describe . It takes place in a dystopian future , where a new Ziggurat has been completed as a symbol of human ingenuity and and scientific progress ( the Ziggurat is actually a complex metaphor for the ill-fated Tower of Babel ) .
As the film begins , a celebration is being held in honor of the Ziggurat's completion . In the midst of the celebration , however , a robot is killed by the adopted son of party leader Duke Red . Later it is revealed that Duke Red is using the assitance of a mad scientist named Laughton to create a robot girl who will compensate for his dead daughter and rule the world from a throne atop the Ziggurat .
Soon after , a detective comes to Metropolis from Japan , along with his son , to investigate the whereabouts of the shady doctor Laughton . Escorted by a robot guide , they travel below the city and discover the secrets behind Duke Red's sinister project .
Duke Red's malevolent son , however , is envious of the robot girl , and destroys the complex , which burns to the ground . The detective's son and the robot girl escape , which provides a few toughing scenes where they try to communicate . They are briefly separated , during which time the robot girl is doggedly by Duke Red's deranged son who wants to prevent her from assuming the throne . She , of course , knows nothing of this .
The movie culminates in a remarkable confrontation between all of the central characters in the story . . . when the robot girl Tima is finally connected to the throne , she connects to the supercomputer and becomes a malevolent weapon .
The detective's son Kenichi rescues her , though she is now partially destroyed and half-conscious . They tussle on the balustrades while Duke Red's son destroy's the Ziggurat by pressing the self-destruct button and Ray Charles Can't stop loving you plays in the background in a scene reminiscent of the ending of Dr . Strangelove . Kenichi tries to reconnect to the the robot girl , and their is a momentary flicker of recognition in her eyes as remembers their first encounter before he lets go of her sleeve and she falls to the ruins below .
The plot is compelling enough , but is the beauteous images in this movie which make it worth watching . Hovering somewhere between hallucinatory fantasy and reality , they compel us to keep watching and connect with our deepest emotions .
023 4 The Zigarut is an art deco tower that thrusts up in the middle of METROPOLIS . Inside , evil Duke Red plans to rule the world from it . And to do so , a new robot is being developed by Duke's main dude , Dr . Laughton . When completed , it will command all the machines in the world .
Stunningly detailed and literally breathtaking - - yes , you will actually gasp in awe - - visuals saturate METROPOLIS . Although based on Osamu Tezuka's 1949 graphic novel of the same name , the story in this opulent eye candy does not quite live up to its remarkable images .
The plot follows a detective who arrives in Metropolis in his hunt for Laughton . But when Rock , the duke's nutso adopted son attacks the secret robot lab , Kenichi the detective's nephew and the delicate android Tima escape into the city's underground regions and fall in love .
Director Rintaro lifts scenes , ideas and elements ( or is it an homage ? ) from Fritz Lang's 1926 Metropolis and Ridley Scott's Blade Runner . The sound track is unusual in its choices in much the same way Kubrick used songs to counterpoint in Dr . Strangelove . For instance , when the Zigarut crumbles , we hear Ray Charles ' I Can't Stop Loving You .
Even if the story is sometimes convoluted and hard to follow , the fabulous images make this something worth seeing . A second mini disc includes an animax special making of Metropolis , interviews , concept art and much more .
037 4 After watching this incredible movie I don't know where to start . Very similar in scope and story line to the classic movie Akira , except it deals with more with robots and their future , than with the evolution of humanity . To say there are no parallels between the movies would be laughable because the comparisons are easily seen and made . However , do not let that turn you off of this movie because Metropolis is close to being the best anime ever to reach the American coast . Its brillant color and mixture of retro - kiddy character designs and CGI graphics make it an undeniable work of art . The visuals are , to say the least , intense for the eyes .
The movie starts at a large banquet in the city of Metropolis . And after seeing the death of a robot out of his zone the movie shows a little of its Blade Runner-like elements . Anyway numerous elements collide , and thought-provoking questions arise mainly about the existence of robots . Eventually the movie culminates in a near destruction of the world by a Tetsuo-like friend / enemy who is a perfectly designed android . The jazzy songs that accompany the movie are appropriate to help create the retro-feel of the movie . It ends on a number of question marks that are obviously ot make the viewer think about not only the future , but about elements of our international society , today . The bottomline is the plot does its job magnificently . And along with the numerous memorable characters the movie is sealed almost perfectly at the seams . Rock was my favorite character , his psychosis , hate of robots , love for his father , and unshakeable determination and sacrifice make him the most memorable of all the wonderful characters in Metropolis . The detective's nephew was another who had intense determination and love for another character even though he was almost killed by that person . Overall every character in their own way helped to strengthen and push the plot line along .
Now what else is there to say . The meanings and messages I received from this movie may not be the ones others received , but they were nonetheless poignant . To view this movie you must have an open and critical mind , if you do not then the action may not be enough for you to enjoy the movie . Anyway I would recommend this movie to anyone . ( Especially fans of Blade Runner and Akira ) Enjoy the eye-candy and I challenge you to try to answer some of the questions Metropolis raises .
044 4 In the near future , at a huge city called Metropolis humans work with robots . But then a mad dictator decides to have the robots have war on us , a Japanese detective and his nephew come to the city on a adventure to save humanity .
A unique , visual and spectacular anime movie despite it's confusing plot , the visuals are great , the animation is brilliant and the music score is great . It's a work of art from Osaku Tezuko ( Creator of Astro Boy ) , Rintaro ( Director of Galaxy Express 999 ) , and Katsuhiro Otomo ( creator of Akira ) have crafted an entertaining and gripping animated experience beyond your imagination .
Also recommended : Akira , Ghost in the Shell , Cowboy Bebop : The Movie , Fist of the North Star , Blade Runner , Dark City , The Fifth Element , The Matrix Trilogy , Aeon Flux , Heavy Metal , Rock Rule , Wizards , Robot Carnival , Vampire Hunter D , Vampire Hunter D : Bloodlust , Ninja Scroll , The Professional : Golgo 13 , Utena : The Movie , Total Recall , Batman , The Crow , Wicked City , Sailor Moon R : The Movie , Dragonball Z : The World's Strongest , Tenchi Muyo in Love , Armitage III , Princess Mononoke , Spirited Away , Spriggan .
047 4 I have noticed many reviwers compare Metropolis to anime greats such as Akira or Ghost In The Shell , and that's unfair footing for ANY anime . Akira and such shows are anime greats because few can compare , and to judge anime by that grading bar would mean the majority of anime would fail . We should judge anime by whether it entertained us or provoked an emotional reaction .
That said , I found Metropolis to be a wonderful film . The animation , as many have noted , is certainly different - bubbly anime characters look at first awkward against such fabulous backgrounds , but you get used to it . The music takes the form of great , jazzy mixes that empahisize life in the city .
Sadly , character development doesn't really exist - and that's one of the main flaws , aside from the plot ( which really isn't that original ) .
However , just because there wasn't much character development doesn't mean the characters were bad . In fact , the main reason I kept watching was to watch the romance unfold between Tima and Kenichi . The ending really packed a punch .
All in all , Metropolis is a good movie . Try it .
069 4 I was first attracted to buying this DVD while watching the Previews section added onto the last disc of the 2004 Astro Boy anime DVD series I bought from Amazon this year . When I saw the animation quality of Metropolis , I wanted to see more .
In a nutshell , here's how this film plays out , in parallel to Astro Boy , under Osamu Tezuka's direction :
The Duke loses his daughter , Tinma ; just like Dr . Tenma loses his son Tobio in Astro Boy . Both men have robots built to replace their lost children , except in Metropolis , Duke's adopted son , Rock , detains the Duke and his robot daughter from meeting each other ; whereas Astroboy meets his father from the moment he's born . Rock does this simply because Tinma , the Duke's robot daughter , is to rule on the throne of the earth as a robot , over humans and robots . Sounds allot like Astroboy to me whose job is to bring peace between humans and robots as a mighty peace ruler when you watch the 2004 anime series of Astroboy . Rock feels only a human should sit on the throne of the earth ; with that human being his adopted father , who Rock loves dearly we learn .
Rock first kills the doctor who created Tinma , as well as tries to kill Tinma before she awakens , via his attack on the robot factory , but Tinma survives and is aided by a boy who is working alongside a character that looks just like Daddy Mustache in the Astroboy series . This Daddy Mustache look alike is a detective sent from Tokyo to investigate the whole affair .
In the end , Osamua introduces a different twist from the Astroboy premise . Where with Astroboy , he shows the king of robots bridging the gap between humans and robots , in this film he shows what happens when that does not happen , with Tinma assuming the throne and the desire to destroy all humans . Rock , who you might think is bad in the beginning , is really one of the good guys ( if you call a robot who favors humans being a good guy ? ) and gives his life to save all of humanity . Lots of pathos in the end and a certain level of violence in this film in terms of some characters being killed along the way .
The story is very good and more or less asks the question ; what if robots or AI did take control of the world and tried to destroy mankind ? How would mankind survive ? We've seen this plot played out in films like Robo cop , The Terminator and as recent as I-Robot ; so the idea isn't new in filmaking . Well , mankind does survive , but I won't tell you how or I'll spoil the explosive ending for you if you want to purchase this film and watch it for your self .
The animation alone is well worth the price of admission and it still has a good story plot , though not new . It does come with a small DVD disc with lots of feature stuff behind the scene stuff , but its all in Japanese with no english translation . This was a let down , which is why I gave this four stars . The packaging is great . No problems with the discs . Delivery was timely . No complaints .
085 4 Metropolis is one of the more interesting animes I have seen , and I was very pleased that it was made .
I've gotten tired of all the self important and slow moving animes ( Jin Roh ) , or the female friendly , melodramatic animes ( take your pick ) that have seemed to dominate the scene in recent times .
Not to say that Metropolis is some kind of manly gorefest ( Ninja Scroll ) . However , despite it's childish looks ( the film is designed after Tezuka's art style ) , the film has a mature feel to it , and never dips into melodrama .
The animation is genuinely beautiful , with a mix of 2D and 3D . The 3D looks a little dated , but still looks nice overall . The style may throw some people off . It basically has an Astro Boy look to it .
The story is well done , with a screenplay by Akira's Katsuhiro Otomo . It's basically the man vs . robot theme we have seen many times before , but it's executed quite well here . The characters are interesting and relatable , and the world is quite beautiful and fleshed out .
It also has a moving ending , which was quite unique , due to the odd choice of music played throughout the climax ( you'll see ) .
Metropolis is one of the last animes that really impressed me , and I would recommend it to anyone who loves animation with a mature story , and not a bunch of melodrama and flash .
087 4 Metropolis is based off of Osamu Tezuka's manga of the same name , and the film is directed by long-time Mushi Productions staff member Rintaro . The script was written by Katsuhiro Otomo , who was the creator of Akira .
Metropolis blends traditional cel animation with 3D animation , and the filmmakers did a fantastic job at melding the two animation styles . This is a case where the combination of the two animation styles really helped to define the futuristic world that is portrayed in the film . Also , when I watched the film , I could tell that Fritz Lang's classic science fiction film Metropolis had an influence on this film .
The DVD pressing I watched of Metropolis came with a second 3 DVD that contained all the special features . The first special feature on the 3 DVD is a photo gallery , which includes model sheets , a 33 - minute special about the making of Metropolis , filmographies for Rintaro and Osamu Tezuka , a text-only history of Metropolis , animation comparisons , and an eight-minute interview with Rintaro and Katsuhiro Otomo .
Metropolis is a very well-done film , and you can tell that the animators went to great lengths to preserve Osamu Tezuka's original character designs . The soundtrack for the film ( which sounds a lot like New Orleans jazz ) really helps evoke a certain ambience to the film . While the city itself may look futuristic , the score and the character design evoke the Roaring Twenties . And I think this melding of the past with the future really adds a layer to this film .
The audience who would have the greatest appreciation for the film would be older teenagers and adults . This film should really be in the DVD library of almost any anime fan .
108 4 Osamu Tezuka's Metroplolis is a masterpiece , even if it is not the pace you like or not bloody enough for you it is still a grand piece of animation . The second mini-disc is proclaimed as the first ever but Gamecube games are on mini-DVDs so this is not entirely true , and as long as there is an inner-tray in your disc tray I think you should be fine to play it .
Video : The quality of the animation is spectacular and the computer and cell images blend together nicely . In most instances it is easy for the trained of eye to easily distinguish the different forms of animation and there is also a tiny bit of floating and some of the computer animation does look out of place , so there is a minor score loss there . 8 / 10
Sound : English and Japanese tracks are both pretty good borrowing english voice talents form such as Cowboy Bebop and Outlaw Star so it should not dissapoint . The audio is very crisp and I never found it off or crackling . 10 / 10 ( for 5.1 )
Bonus Disc : It is good if you enjoy interviews and history and things of that sort , there are no games or real extravagant features . The amusing features are multi-angle views of production and a tiny art gallery . 8 / 10
Cons and Gripes : The only reason I gave this movie 4 stars instead of 5 is the kid-based approach that was taken to this movie . I feel that in trying to make it acceptable to everyone they left out adult content that was needed . When people get shot ( it happens enough ) they don't really bleed and also the themes could have been explored more in depth if the movie was just a little meaner .
P.S . To me this movie seemed to have a lot of Katsuhiro Otomo throwbacks in it . There is the political betrayal , like Akira , a social uprising , also like Akira , and there is a chair used in symbolism and it is important near the end of the movie , hey Akira again ! I have never read the original Metropolis manga so I am not sure how much of this Otomo added in but if anyone else has a comment on this feel free to e-mail me .
129 4 A.I because tima is like david , she can also have sentiments , her facial morphology is based on a photo of a deceased child . ( in a.i david is the copy of his creator's child . in metropolis , it's duke red's daughter . )
5th element , . . . because of the architectural designs . . the city of metropolis is almost identical .
Gumn , because the conclusion of metropolis is very similar .
astroboy , because of the characters , the style , etc . . . everything is pretty much faithful to the original comic book written by OSAMU TEZUKA .
overall , metropolis is technicaly very impressive . the music composed by Toshiyuki honda is splendid . . . lots of metaphorical messages , and facinating adventures . . what else can i say ? the japonese are specialised , and disney should be ashamed of what they're presently doing .
my only problem with metropolis ? . . the last 10 or 15 mins . . but , as an ensemble , it is a brilliant animated movie .
SUGGESTIONS :
Aeon FLux , the Maxx , AVALon ( directed by mamoru oshii ) , Ghost in the shell , sprigan . .
136 4 Remember Osamu Tezuka for his work on Astro Boy and Kimba ? Well , even though he died of stomach cancer in 1989 doesn't mean his artwork is dead . With combined forces of Katsuhura Otomo ( who was also working on Spriggan at the time ) and Rintaro ( who oddly enough was denied to make a movie of Metropolis when Tezuka was alive ) combine on what has become the new AKIRA of the 21st Century .
Ironically enough , Metropolis ( when it was published in 1947 ) is set in the year 2000 . After the completed Ziggurat has been built in Metropolis , the most popular billionare in Metropolis , Duke Red , plans to use an android modeled after his dead daughter to rule the world . However , with deception a foot and political themes getting way out of hand turns Metropolis into a ticking time bomb . When Kenichi and his uncle San go to Metropolis to arrest Doctor Laughton for vivisection and organ dealing . However , when they finally find him , Duke Red's adopted son Rock has already set the lab on fire . Inside , Kenichi meets a girl that changes his life forever .
What I love the best about Metropolis is that it sticks extremely close to Osamu Tezuka's original designs while at the same time successfully combining it with CG and fluid animation . And since it has been five years in the making , you know it is going to look good . One of the main points about Metropolis is the heavy detail . Everything is highly detailed from people to blimbs to trains to cars are all successfully combined to make the cityscape easy to get use to .
Many are wondering what the English dub is like since Metropolis was released in theaters in it's original Japanese form . The script is fairy close to the original , but not dead on which is sometimes a good time . The dub actors aren't famous , but they are people who know how to do voice acting . Notice how Kenichi is played by the same guy who does the voice of Jim Hawking on Outlaw Star and that Tima's voice actress use to do the voice of Minmei on Robotech .
The DVD features on the mini-disc are pretty good if you really want to get down and dirty with Metropolis . Everything is here from production designs , animation comparisons , history of the comic , biographies , featurette and interviews . I should however mention there is a preview for the Cowboy Bebop movie coming out soon , but it's mostly old footage you've probably already seen for it .
Overall , Metropolis is a great film that can be enjoyed by all ages . Highly recommended for all audiances even if they don't have any knowledge of the comic at all .
042 4 Metropolis , based on the magna by Teszuki , is a very memborable and touching anime . Set in a big city with underground chambers , the graphics are very spectacular . The use of CG and cell brings upon a breath taking array of visuals . Watching this movie you can clearly see why it took 5 years to make . The story is about a metropolis civilization where man and robot coexist . The metropolis is an advanced civilization yet there is alot of turmoil within it . Robots and humans sometimes clash for jobs and there is alot of greed in the city . One of the leaders in the metropolis devizes a plan with to create a life like clone of his deceased daughter which he will place as the leader of metropolis . He teams up with a scientist who create the daughter but has his own greed and plans for the robot . The main theme in metropolis seems to be about the unwilligness people have of giving up on love . Also greed plays a big role in the plot of the movie . The music in the movie is absolutely spectacular . Comming with a 50 ' s New Orleans jazz feel , the score mixes in very well with the atmosphere and emotions of the movie . The use of the late Ray Charles I can't stop loving you in the final scenes of the movie is brilliant because it fits in with the themes of not being able to let go of love .
Extras in this dvd are vast and very informative . All in all metropolis is a excellent movie which will stay in your mind for a long time . The ending is absolutely heartbreaking also . A few criticisms that I have about the movie is that the ending wasnt build up well enough and that the relationship between kenichi ( main male charachter ) and tima ( main female charachter ) wasn't develeoped as well as it should have been . The movie seems really short for what it should have been and because of that the ending didn't capture the full scope of the theme .
I recommend this movie to any anime fan and anyone who is a big movie fan .
020 4 The film does an excellent job of presenting itself as a period piece with its selection of Jazzy music like St James Infirmiary , the art deco city scapes . . . even the characters are drawn to the style of the period . But it's an anachronistic period piece , and one that not only unfolds it's quick , but even-tempo plot with consistantly high production values , but manages to place most of its emphasis on a social and political message .
Though it owes most of the depth of its message to the original Metropolis , I would say it's next closest kin is Brazil rather than Blade Runner .
I would concede to previous criticisms posted here that there are flaws , but I would argue that they are small compared to the overall film . The characters are a little hollow , and the plot can be confusing , but it's not because the plot is bad or the characters are too archtypical , but because no time was given to the introduction of new characters . I think the characters were well developed ( even the trashcan robot who befriends the runaways shows feelings ) , but in every case that the viewer is dropped into a new scene or character with no context and forced to swim , he ends up getting swept downstream to the next scene .
And I wanted to add my two cents on the debate about the decision to score the destruction of the world to I Can't Stop Loving You . I think the Amazon [ . com ] reviewer mistook it for funny in the way that an English translation of a Japanese movie's title becomes funny when someone does a bad job . I don't think that's the case here at all . The pairing was deliberate , and it was shocking , and it worked brilliantly . This DVD deserves a soundtrack .
034 4 Knowing previous Osamu Tezuka works , and being a fan of Taro Rin , the director behind classics as Galaxy Express 999 , Adieu Galaxy Express 999 and X , I was both excited and afraid to watch this movie . Excited as both names are a guarantee of a minimum level of quality that will sure pay back my money . But I was also afraid on how the extremely detailed backgrounds ( and Taro Rin IS someone who just love detailed scenes ) , rendered on full CGs , would contrast with the classical Tezuka character design ( unlike the more recent Black Jack movie , released on the US by Manga Entertainement , where the character design where updated ) .
Thankfully , my fears proved to be wrong , and while there's a clear contrast between the characters and the backgrounds , they blend very well , every shadow or lighting effect applied on the backgrounds are also applied over characters , so nothing is out of place here .
For sound , this movie is excellent , sound effects and music are well chosen ( no matter what they say about the music on the last scene , it's got everything for the characters situation at that point ) . The plot , while not extraordinary , is nicely arranged and builds a large background to keep everything just on the right place . The focus is on the impossible relationship between a human and a robot , and the eternal question on how robots would end up taking place of humans , leaving a horde of job-less .
You may be impressed by the imagery , by the simple but yet attractive plot , or you will watch this simply for the chance of checking this classical Osamu Tezuka work . Either way , you are in for a treat .
054 4 It is typical of the storytelling in this film that the first three lines you hear tells all the basics of the what the story is about . Exposition at its worst .
It is also typical of the film that we hear these lines over the most beautiful computer-created cityscapes ever created . Stunning , magnificent , complex .
All I can say is that when films ( both Eastern and Western ) one day get stories that can compete with how good we can make the films look these days . . . well , it'll be a new world .
076 4 Just a quick note , before I get to the review : The packaging is a fold-out style case with a regular DVD ( left ; main features ) and a mini-DVD ( right ; special features ) . I'm not sure why the studio opted for the mini-DVD for special features , rather than a standard DVD . . . I was a bit surprised . I'm hoping it won't cause issues , as I've never used a mini-DVD before in any of my players ( including the DVD-changer ) . But generally all the packaging and discs are attractive and functional .
I'll include a review of the content ( audio / video / features ) once I get around to watching it in the next day or two . But I've heard very good things , so I'll give it a 5 - star rating .
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Addendum ( 5 - 6 - 07 ) :
Okay , finished watching it . The visuals were interesting , video quality and audio quality were good . The ending was typical of an anime , not entirely satisfying . I don't know if that's good / bad / other . Generally , if you like anime , and good visuals you'll like this movie . Granted , the plot was perhaps a bit slow in places , and not entirely satisfying ( ending ) . But still , it's a decent flick . Haven't watched the special features yet , but I assume they'll be decent and on par with other movie / anime special features . So , overall , I'd say it's worth purchasing . Ohh , and the Mini-DVD worked fine in my DVD player .
134 4 Well , okay , so it is true that the movie has a fairly simple plot . However , visually it is SO breathtaking that at times I found myself unable to pay attention to what was going on anyway - - like during the scene with the gigantic fish swimming around behind the Metropolis Police Superintendant in his office , for example . Now of course , the visually interesting parts of the film are all computer generated , but that doesn't really bother me . If you watch the extras on the bonus disc , you can see that a lot of time and effort went into the CG animation ; it wasn't something that they just whipped up because they were lazy or didn't spend time developing .
There IS the issue of the appearance of the characters . . . . They really do look quite bad in the spectacular CG backdrops that they've been plopped in . In short , they're way too Astro Boy - - unrealistic looking people with huge feet . The style of anime just isn't what you go in expecting it to be , because the style is Tezuma's style from his Metropolis manga , which he created in the 1940 ' s . So , therefore it would be bizarre for it to look like modern anime . . . but it still is a bit disappointing .
Lastly , the soundtrack to the film is interesting and different , and all of it works until the Ray Charles song used during the last scene . It really does detract from things . And , well , that's about it - - overall , it's a beautiful movie with a pretty good ( but not amazing ) plot , and some bizarre flaws .
138 4 I really , really enjoyed this . I wasn't sure I would , after hearing the about the lack of depth , and , of course , Ray Charles . But I did . I really did . The music , saxphone in the beginning , giving it an 1940 feel , fit perfectly . And when I Can't Stop Loving You played , well , the effect was strange , sure , but not at all bad .
I ordered this from another site , and just finished watching it . ( Delivered two days earlier then amazon , but no biggie , at least amazon is selling good anime ) The DVD picture , and the bonuses . . . well , they deserve 5 stars . Great behind the scenes look at the CGI .
056 4 Honestly . . . . when i first saw the movie . . . . . I hated it . It only had japenese dialogue and I hate subtitles . . . . . . . But that was quickly fixed when I realized that it had a american dialogue . . . . hehe . . . . . . . . The scenery is some of the most artistic that I've ever seen . The music gives it such a flare . . . . similar to that of Cowboy Beebop . The character animation was a bit of a throw at first . . . . . , but after studying Manga and drawing it . I came to love the way how all of the characters give such an original feel while still giving a retro one too . The movie has such a mastered look to it that makes it such a jewel . You have to be a real artist or enthusiest in order to appreciate the way in which you are bombarded with hidden messages , which is a positive effect in this case . By messages I mean that the way the scenes are constructed leave you with such a firm vision and vivid emotion that the story is trying to convey . The visions will leave you with something special . The film will always stick out in my mind as being beautiful , thought-provoking , and soulful . Get it
Now or youll always be missing out on one of the best Animes ever .
095 4 A beautifull show , briiliant and needs to be seen at least 5 times . A milestone in animation and awesome visual experience .
Bizarre and amazing all at once . Fascism and industrial opulence at thier worst in a fantastic dicotomy .
098 4 Although I'm not fond of animated films usually , I make an exception with anime , and this is likely one of the best I've ever seen .
The first thought I had when I saw the full view of the city was instantly : Final Fantasy 7 . A good portion of the beginning of FF7 and later on in it - - is dedicated to a city much like Metropolis , and it provides a very attractive appeal to the game , and likewise the movie , the idea of a huge sprawling city on different levels .
The animation was decent at best . The computer graphics and background artwork was very nice , and the character art was fairly nice ( nothing incredible , but nice ) . As well , the jazz in the movie was very good ( and the music in general , I suppose ) .
All in all , a great movie , although I think that $25 is a bit much even though it probably is worth it .
070 4 First there was the classic 1927 silent film called Metropolis , pitting the wealthy city dwellers against the poor people below . Next there was the famous comic created by Osamu Tezuka , the originator of anime . Finally in 2001 came Metropolis , directed by Rintaru .
From the opening sequence of golden fireworks shimmering over an art-deco cityscape , you know you're in for a graphic achievement . The movie is extremely clear about the difference between sharp-edged technology and architecutre and the soft , round , big-eyed humans .
This is a movie about contrasts in many ways , and the graphics are just the start . You have the human workers both cared for by and upset with the very-useful robots . In some ways the robots do all necessary chores , but on the other hand humans feel they've been put out of work .
Next , you have the rich vs the poor . The humans up above have the life of art deco , elegance and ease , with a great , jazz-tune-filled soundtrack . Down below , the seedy locations are full of grime , dirt and despair .
In the midst of all of this comes a very human tale of love and hate . Rock is the adopted son of Duke Red , head of the Marduk faction . Duke Red has built a Ziggarut , or massive skyscraper , to hold a large weapon and control the world . They even explicitly compare the Ziggarut to the Tower of Babylon , which the Gods destroyed .
All Rock wants is the Duke's love , and dutifully does his job of killing out-of-control robots . Duke doesn't want the love of this orphan boy . Instead , he pines for his long-dead daughter . He has a criminal doctor create a cyborg version of his young daughter . Furiously jealous , Rock destroys the factory and kills the doctor .
Luckily , a PI was hunting down the doctor . The PI , a classic 30s detective a la Philip Marlowe , brings along his nephew , Kenichi , to help out . Kenichi hooks up with the cyborg , Tema . And while Rock tries to kill them , the Revolutionaries help out the young duo , and class warfare begins .
The movie has vaulting ambitions and a lot of ground to cover . There are a lot of cliches floating around , like Pretty soon they won't need humans any more from the disgruntled lower class and No mechanical puppet is going to steal my father's heart from Rock . There are humans killing other humans without a second though , and robots sacrificing their lives nobly while humans cry out in sadness . Humans are inferior creatures , confused by love and morality . Tema gets shot in the heart , and looks sadly at the hole that should have held her soul and life .
It's an ambitious experiment , and on many levels it will serve as a model and inspiration for years to come . But the characters are extremely one-dimensional ; none have any depth . The plot and dialogue was cobbled together from many disparate ideas , and the seams show . It aimed to be a stellar work of art , and even with its flaws , it still will inspire artists for years to come .
025 4 Metropolis is a gorgeously rendered futuristic world where robots and humans mingle , usually not without friction . When a Japanese detective and his nephew Kenichi arrive in Metropolis to seek out an underworld figure , they find themselves confused by all that surrounds them . To assist them , they are loaned a robot guide dressed in a trench coat who has access to the underground zones carved out beneath the city . Almost at once , a fire at an abandoned factory in Zone 1 attracts their attention . Kenichi rescues a naive nymph-like girl from the blaze , only to plunge through the collapsing building with her into another zone . Unbeknownst to them both , Tima is a robot charged with human feelings , a super-being created by the despot Duke Red and the scientist Kenichi and his uncle are tracking . When the Duke's jealous and ruthless adopted son Rock discovers that Tima lives , he dedicates himself to her destruction . Add a conspiracy , political machinations , the breakdown of technology , and a populace fraught with prejudice - and you have the complex film that is Metropolis . As confusing as the plot can get , the film never falters toward its powerful conclusion .
Graphically , this world is almost too much to bear with its intense detail and color . The jazz soundtrack is a brilliantly stylish , lending a retro feel to the movie despite its futuristic setting and plot . Viewers will find themselves in a wholly imagined , distinctive realm that will astound them with its originality . With the possible exception of Tima , a frail , adorable creation dressed in oversize clothes , the characters are cartoonish . At first this bothered me , because their animation seems so out of place with the rest , but then I realized the contrast poignantly shows how out of place humans are in such a city .
Above all , Metropolis is an art film , with its vision more significant than its plot . Anime fans and art film lovers will find much to appreciate in this movie .
046 4 This is one of my favorite anime movies .
Plot structure : very well done . not perfect , though . I would have liked a bit more background on the Ziggurat and Metropolis , and perhaps on Duke Red . Without it , Metropolis lacks the connection with the outside world that it could have to make the movie more realistically understandable . The progression of the plot is decent . Nothing truly superb is set up to happen , but the way the story is set up , it leaves room for many unexpected plot twists .
Character development : The characters are a bit too bland for my taste , because they're not involved enough in the essence of the plot itself . It's fun to watch Ken-ichi and tima interact , but Ken-ichi doesn't have the get up and go to be a good hero . I liked the robot as a character , it seemed very effective to the plot and the outcome of it . Rock was a fairly well developed character . Duke Red wasn't at all a deep character , he was just concerned with power and Tima . The minor characters , like the revolution guy ; he was perhaps my favorite character , because he added color to the progress of the story , although he ultimately had very little effect on the outcome of it .
Overall : This movie was very well done in many aspects , but inconsistent in others . The setting , and physical / graphical design of Metropolis had a much more powerful effect than the characters . The one thing that this movie does NOT have is the incredibly trite anime role of reluctant chosen hero for any of the main characters . Unfortunately , though , the reluctant hero role provides for a much better potential of character development , which this movie lacks . Most of the characters are not very developed , interesting , memorable , or involved . Still , the setting in which these characters interact is a creative masterpiece of sorts , redeeming the fundamental value of the movie and plot .
048 4 The characters ' appearences didn't stop me from buying this movie . I just wanted to see a good movie . This is how Osamu Teuka's work looks . Too big of feet is stopping you ? To big of girly eyes for all the characters , including the boy ones ? Don't let anything on this movie stop you from buying it . And don't let the other reviews stop you . Every penny is worth it .
This movie is based on the comis book { manga } Astro Boy by Osamu Tezuka's . To all of you who want to know what the word based means , I highly doubt this is supposed to be a different version of a movie for Astro Boy , but I honestly don't know . but what I do think this movie is based on for Astro Boy that's not a far-fetched answer is the fact that Osamu Tezuka made his characters from Astro Boy look similar to the characters appearences { big feet , big eyes ] in this movie .
I also think there will be a sequel to this because this was released just over a year ago , and Ithink Kenichi might become a detective . I wonder if he'll still look like a girl , though .
But I can't believe I was afraid to buy this movie . It kinda looks like it has subtitles at the beggining , but i can assure little kids , it doesn't .
But parents before this movie sells out { I've noticed that a lot of things that I want to get is sold out } maybe you should buy it . Even you might like it also . Also , if you have a son / daughter or you think is too young to watch PG - 13 movies you should buy for them or yourself and let them watch it when you feel they are old enough .
Here is a summary of the movie :
Duke Red creates a robot named Tima , and thanks to his son , Rock , he thinks Tima is destroyed . But she's really befriending the nephew of a japanese detective . Buy the movie to see the ending .
075 4 Plotwise , there is nothing new or unexpected about _ Metropolis _ . If you've seen one movie about political mechanations in a pseudo-Utopian city where all the dirty work is done by robots , you'll have a pretty good idea what's going on here . And that's a good thing , because for all its stunning animation , this flick is really hard to follow .
The basic plot is this : The city of Metropolis is celebrating the completion of its Ziggurat , a huge tower that for no reaason that is ever made clear inspires the residents to displays of fireworks and parades . Into the midst of this come Kenichi and his uncle , a private invesitgator searching for a scientist accused of typically scientific crimes . This scientist , Laughton , is currently engaged in perfecting a super robot for Duke Red , the builder of the ziggurat . Just as the super robot is being completed , Duke Red's dubiously sane adopted son , Rock , kills the scientist and destroys the laboratory . Of course , Kenichi is on the scene due to his uncle's investigations , and he and the robot escape together . You should be able to take it from there .
_ Metropolis _ shares a failing with many animated features like _ Wizards _ and some of Bakshi's work : the backgrounds are gorgeous and detailed and the character animations are cartoony to the point of idiocy . I could not look at Duke Red without thinking , This guy looks like a cockatoo . And he was one of the better specimens . There was also almost too much detail for the eye to absorb . Do not watch this flick on a small sceen .
In places the plot was seriously ragged . Scenes and action skips around a great deal , leaving the viewer to fill in the blanks as to what must have happened in the interim . This makes it useful to have seen at least one other similarly plotted movie , so that you have some idea what's going on . The characters are entirely two dimensional in a way that reminded me of the old Speed Racer series . Both character and plot take a back seat to the necessity of showing off animation effects , some of which would have become unnecessary had either the characters or plot developed in a complex and realistic way .
On the other hand , a lot of the animations were completely stunning . The music was a beautiful blend of old jazz , blues , and a few soul numbers that made a moving contrast to the futuristic setting , and the synchronicity of the music and visuals was particularly well done . Because of this , _ Metropolis _ ended up reminding more of a plotless film on the lines of _ Koyanasqaatsi _ . Unfortunately , the lame dialog and action sequences detracted from the experience rather than enhanced it .
See this film if you're a fan of the genre , but don't expect too much .
080 4 I brought this , after being very surprised my little local Blockbuster actually had it in stock , to watch over at a friend's house . We watched it for a bit , but they didn't like the cartoony graphics and such . I enjoyed and brought it home to watch the next day .
I have pity on their poor souls .
This movie has an excellent story , a bit similar to Spielberg's underrated flick A.I . : Artificial Intelligence , great jazzy music , and suberb , fluid animation . The reviews on this tend to get a bit gabby about spoilers , so I'll keep it as unrevealing as possible .
Metropolis is a huge city , where robots and people live together , until a man named Duke Red builds a huge tower called the Ziggurat and forces the robots to live underground and serve the people . They do all kinds of things for humans , even save their lives , but everyone still hates them . The Ziggurat is even equipped with a ray that makes solar flares pop up so the robots malfunction , allowing humans to blow the circiuts out of em ' with shotguns . A scientist , Dr . Livingstone , I believe , creates a robot , Tima , who is so real , she thinks she's real . A boy befriends her and protects her from the unforgiving humans . This movie is flat-out excellent !
119 4 This movie is excellent . Period . . . Alright , here's the scoop : a twenties style city , with hover cars and robots walking freely among humans . However , certian robots do not belong on the surface , and must stay below the bustling metropolis in the core of the city , working to keep the city stable.also , people who can't afford to live in the city , must live in the slums beneath it . Anyway , duke red . . . a political figurehead , has completed construction on the Zigurrat , a giant ray gun thingy to make all robots malfunction in a chosen area . There are an over whelming population around the world , and if he choses that area to control he points the ray up at the moon , and when it bounces back , the robots go nuts , and there could be a vast onslaught ,
forcing the nation to give control to duke red , soon to make him the king o ' da ' world ! The people in the slums feel that the robots are better than them , and are seriosly pissed . duke red does have a soft side though . . . buy the movie . the ending is so sad , that I was actually crying . buy this now . . .
130 4 There are so many words that could describe what I think of this movie , and one of the so many is - Wow !
This Anime film is by-far the top I have seen this year . Over coming the famous Princess Mononoke , Metropolis is a brilliant animation that comes from the future of robots and destruction .
In the high-tech world of Metropolis , Duke Red is a powerful man with some plans to create a highly advanced robot by the name of : Tima . But Duke Red's brutal son Rock has a grudge against all robots and intends to get rid Tima , once and for all .
Now Tima is stuck between the violent world of pain and emotions . Luckily , she befriends a young detective's nephew , who is slowly falling for her . With both of the two not knowing the truth of Tima being a robot , things hit down hard when finally she finds out , causing the fate of the world - and Tima's life - to become dangerously caught at the edge .
072 4 First of all , I absolutely cannot stand the Far East animation treat that has entered our Western popular culture . That's right . I hate anime . There's something about twisted super-human cartoon characters , badly drawn , and moreover , badly dubbed dialogue that simply reviles me . That being said , only two anime feature films have truly dazzled me in recent days , Akira , and now Metropolis .
My inhibitions of anime aside , Metropolis is unlike the gloom and doom post-Appocalyptic visions of Akira , or the partially cohesive story line . Instead , Metropolis presents a maze of towering buldings and skyscrapers , seemingly reaching to the sky , amassed in tangled and twisted metal , in which robots and humans coexist , robots being in submissive subserviance to humans . Amid the busiling choas of this picture , we throw in characters for which we can actually sympathize for , particularly Tima , the radical super-robot humanoid , and Kenichi , the nephew of a detective sent to investigate the sinister Duke Red's plot to sieze absolute power in the world of robots and humans . Add the Duke's rebelious adopted son Rock , a sprinkle of peasant uprising against the robots , and Tima's ultimate destiny , and the story is set , conflict ensues , and everything wraps up in Metropolis nicely .
What Metropolis achieves is a very intricate story that works provided your comprehension is willing to work with it . Metropolis desires more than just knock us over with it's superb combination of 2D and computer generated imagery , but it aspires to integrate a story within that world . And it achieves both stunningly . The best part about the story of Metropolis is it actually has a semi-happy ending . Yes , the city is in ruins , but there's hope , and where there is hope , there's , at least , a happy ending .
Metropolis also sports an enjoyable , and interesting soundtrack , using American jazz , Dixieland , and Ray Charles ' I Can't Stop Loving You during the climactic sequence of the film , reminiscent of Stanley Kubrick's Dr . Strangelove ' s use of We'll Meet Again sequence . That should perk up our Western musical tastes .
Loosely drawn from Fritz Lang's 1925 silent film Metropolis , Metropolis is truly a stunning achievement in anime . I was wholly entertained , and satisfied that I let my critical disdain for anime fall so I could enjoy this truly remarkable animated feature .
093 4 While most parts of this animated movie are visually stunning in the extreme , the story and characters leave an awful lot to be desired . In spite of how nice the movie is to look at , much of the time I was saying to myself how hokey the dialog and plot was . I mean , we've got a robots vs . humans theme , a slightly mad / powerful genius bent on world domination ( and recreating a long lost daughter to run it instead of an envious and violent son ) , a detective straight out of a grade B 1950 ' s black-and-white movie - - well , you get the idea : the story is really dumb for the most part ( when you can actually figure out what's going on ) and the characters are about as deep as a rain puddle ; their motivations are either knee-jerk simple or inscrutable . The entire thing seemed like such a waste of extraordinary animation ability and artistic technique . I give it 2 1 / 2 to 3 stars , and say it's really only worth seeing for the visuals .
100 4 The story is not the same from the b w movie , it is not the same as the manga released in the 50 ' s . The anime style . . . classic . At some point it will remind you of felix the cat . It is both beautiful and compelling . Film noir , yet it is kept simple . The interviews are interesting , overall . . . a transported concept of a vision . The extra features are good . Buy it , you know you want to !
104 4 Well . . . it's kind of hard to describe . No doubt , countless other reviewers have discussed and critiqued the vague storyline , and all the strange and pronlonged turns it takes . When considering the movie aferwards , though , one is quite tempted to say they enjoyed it quite a bit .
It's just a strange piece of work , in both good , and questionable ways .
Yes , yes , me and my friend almost had a conniption from laughing at the end bit with that Ray Charles song . It's . . . it's hard to describe the utter levitated strangeness of that moment . . .
The animation is a bit out of place though with the characters at times , and Tima becomes just plain messed-up . . .
But if you watch this , it will certainly give you something to remember .
111 4 You must buy this , it's a GOT TO . The corner stones of anime were Akira , Ghost in the shell , and Ninja scroll . But now the list grows one more with Metropolis . These are just got to buy essentials that every anime fan should buy first .
121 4 Metropolis could have been one of the best animes of all time . The story is wonderful , and the artwork dazzling . But the music absolutely destroys it . The climax of the movie is accompanied by Ray Charles singing I Can't Stop Loving You ? What were they thinking ?
Still , it's well worth a view , just brace yourself for inappropriate music at inopportune moments .
079 4 The art Rocks ! The story Rocks ! ROCK Rocks ! ! ! ! When I first saw an ad for it in the paper , I thught it looked really dumb , but now it's my second favorite movie ! Rock is AWESOME ! ! ! And , he's the only villain ever with good aim .
043 4 The movie is marvelous and the music is wonderful . One of the best sci-fi movies I ever seen .
082 4 This is the best anime I have ever seen . A labor of love . Bravo !
084 4 Awesome movie , great visuals and color . Plot and dialogue aren't the best , but if you want the coolest looking anime ever , this is it . Totally worth the [ . . . ] bucks or whatever I paid for it .
092 4 This movie had the most incredible animation . The music was a little odd , but the older Jazz music sounds almost like they're indicating it's like the depression of the 1930s . Movies like this make you realize Dragon Ball Z is mindless and I'm a kid . I also enjoyed some of the bullet scenes where you see it pass by Tima's hair and when they show the bullet come right out of the gun in slow motion . This movie is just incredible . And the part where they have ' ' I Can't Stop Loving You ' ' is great . And I just love the first ever pocket DVD . Metropolis is the highpoint of Anime ! ! !
117 4 I rented this one from Blockbuster a few months back . After seeing it , i just had to own it . Its a feast for the eyes , and thankfully , there's a story to go with it . It looks like Astroboy , so that may be a good thing or a bad thing , depending on your tastes , plus , the soundtrack is very , very different , as it plays jazz music in very odd spots . But , this movie is truly worth a purchase , even if you're not into anime .
099 4 I saw this movie simply because I wanted to . I'm a big fan of anime , to the point of geekyness without being a geek , and i just wanted to check it out . I'd never seen any Tezuka before so i really didnt know how his stories went . Boy was I in for a surprise . Metropolis is def on the top of my list . While most people just like the movie for the visuals and hate the story , I actually liked the story as much as I enjoyed Vampire Hunter D . It's really insane how many refrences you see throughout the film . Many of the scenes and characters are directly influenced by Akira and X . The best refrence is def the statue of the original metropolis robot from the 20 ' s in the ziggurat . Who knows maybe Metropolis will slowly develop a cult following . Most people say , I've seen it before , but this particular version is def better than any other . Most of the reviews that I have read imply that the person hated the movie simply because they did not completely understand the plot . Even though at times it seems that it is a little crazy you always know its perfect for the moment . Maybe I like it because I'm goth . Maybe I like it because of my love for modern art . Whatever the reason , just give this movie a shot , maybe you might be the person that just happens to be deep enough to appreciate it for the greatness that it is .
061 4 This movie was fantastic ! I am so happy that I spent [ the money ] on it . The CG is amazing , which about % 90 of the movie was made with it . The endig is what really got me in the heart . That was probably the most climatic part in the whole movie . It is a superb work of art . It will carve itself into your mind forever
066 4 I keep seeing this movie getting slagged for its lack of plot , but you should know that around 30 minutes were cut from this film for the U.S . release . If you watch this film knowing that you can see the jumps in the plot . I hope we get the deffinitive realease in the vein of the recent release of Akira but I hope we don't have to wait ten years .
086 4 Metropolis does not go beyond the average sci fi movie , but it's enjoyable . And there's something about the style that I like . It's strange story and climax makes me want to see it again .
089 4 Metropolis is a film that is quite hard to understand . You have to see it at least twice to understand the geniousity of the film . Every time you watch Metropolis , you'll discover new ways to look at the story , characters , plots . . . This is a manga that you have to study carefully . Almost all of the movies these days are too obvious : you watch them and you know them . Every dumb * ss can make and understand such films . It just hasn't got the ' finesse ' that I appreciate so much in Metropolis . For all the people who are a bit interested in human nature related subjects , it would be a shame if you didn't watch this one . I can be short about the drawback of the film ; the special features on both dvds are not that special , but hey , it's the movie that counts .
114 4 This is a very intersting piece . Not the best art but it is anime ! The music doesn't match the theme in some scenes so I gave a 4 . So . . . Cool story , inapropriate music for the emotions .
146 4 I just got the dvd in today and watched it ! It is the best movie I have ever seen ! The animation was the awesome ! The art was not really anime style but more cartoonish however it goes great with it ! Some people might rate the movie one less a star because of its outdated graphics , but the graphics first of all wern't all that bad and they went good with the movie . This is one movie you will never forget ! One movie you will treasure forever ! A great flick ! The music might not be my taste but it went good with the film . I'm almost speachless on what ells to say ! This movie is worth it ! Better than Princes Mononoke and Akira !
107 4 This is the tale of a leader who desires to be God and create a perfect human to rule the world with him . Can that really happen ? What makes a perfect human ?
This is Carrie meets Genesis 11 done anime style . And what a show this is ! When a lab is destroyed where the building of a perfect human in the form of a small girl , a detective saves her and they go about trying to make it to familiar friends . They need to overcome adversaries such as rebels who kill robots , and the corrupt government who want to take the girl . This 1st half can be somewhat slow and not that amazing , but halfway through the film takes a turn to the interesting side . What will happen when the perfect human finds out she is a machine ? What is family worth ? And should humans really try to play God ? All I can say is there are severe consequences .
The animation is wonderful , and has cgi put in . In addition to a great story , this DVD is packed with extras . There is something that will interest most people . Okay if your an anime fan , im sure you've already seen this , or plan to , but if your not a fan of anime , you should still see this . It sends a message about family , prejudice , corruption , and tampering with human beings . This film has many layers , and I'm sure most people will enjoy it . 4 stars , instead of 5 only because the beginning is somewhat slow and I feel they could have made it slightly better , but still , I recommend this .
019 4 I thought this movie was awesome . It was beautiful to watch and had a cool plot . The DVD has lots have extras that will keep you coming back for more .
027 4 I think it was fantastic ! I've enjoyed watching it immensely . I noticed he used characters from porevious movies of tezuka , like ham-egg , who was in emperor leo and Dr . Walrus . The back-ground ( buildings , streets , etc . ) were really detailed .
057 4 All animation in this day and age should have the polished refinement this film has . As an animation major I was flat out floored by the visuals . The story may be confusing to follow and if you have no experience with the original Metropolis or any interest in the philosophical debates over free will and fate , the story will drag a little for you . The score is first rate however and the DVD 5.1 sounds amazing . This DVD also sports the most languages and subtitle options I have seen on a disc to date . The extras range from the mundane usuals ( trailers , picture galleries ) to the truly interesting ( I really enjoy the director comments and such . . . they happen to parallel my ideas about the film medium ) Overall , if you are into animation this is something you need to have for yourself .
065 4 I just saw Metropolis and I have never seen a movie like it.The colors and backround are so real and intreging . The story is so real . It's happy , sad , deperssing , lovly , wonderful , spectacular and I could go on forever . The ending is not going to tell . Maybe it's happy , sad , or in the middle . All I know is that I am going to watch this movie every chance I get . You should by this on DVD that way you can watch it in it's original Japanese form ( with subtitles ) and you will get the full experiance . Tima ( the robot ) and Ken-ichi are the most kindest and loving people in the world , I hope this review helps you make a decision on whether to watch it or not . All I can say if you don't see it you will be missing the best anime in the Milky Way Galaxy .
077 4 Para todos aquellos que hablan español , dejenme contarles un poco . Basicamente trata la historia de una ciudad llamada Metropolis , donde hay gente con deseos de conquistar al mundo . La historia se centra basicamente en 5 personajes : el detective Shunsaku Ban , su sobrino Kenichi , el ambicioso Duque Rojo ( Red Duke ) , su hijo adoptivo Rock y el personaje central que es la robot ( aunque ella no lo sepa ) Tima . La grafica es una mezcla curiosa . El diseño de los personajes es muy estilo anime mas clasico ( no como Dragon Ball ) mezclado en ocasiones con fondos 3D y pedazos de pelicula real , como un fondo donde se ve una pecera ( y es una pecera tal cual como la de un acuario de la vida real ) . Sin duda recomiendo este anime .
088 4 This is Rintaro's best work since Galaxy Express 999 . The imagery is accompanied by a great score and good CGI . This is loosely based on the Godfather Of Manga ( Osamu Tezuka ) ' s equally excellent ( although slightly diferent ) manga . The DVD is fine too . That teeny-tiny Pocket DVD is loaded with a great special about the making of this gem and more ! Oh , Metropolis , I can't stop lovin ' you !
096 4 Great movie . The animation in this film is different than the Japanese animation I am used to ( Tenchi Muyo , Urusei Yatsura , Ghost in the Shell ) . I loved the 3D effects . This movie is similar to Battle Angel .
131 4 First off , i am not an anime buff ; i'm not even sure what that means ; but I agree with the reviewers that recommend spending time with it as a rental before purchase . Just a few days ago , I sat down with my 8 year old son to watch this incredible film . The characters look weird he kept complaining during the first half hour ; and i was in agreement . There were scenes where the humans actually looked too toon-ish and even life-less . . . then before i knew it , the story ( which is first class ) drew me in as well as the city itself . I could see bits and pieces of blade runner here and there - specially in the underground . . . there is also a film noir type detective and a jazzy backdrop to the film . . . thus i found myself respecting the creators of the film in their choice of animation , and even more so when i understood the old comic book concept behind the whole story . . . my son and i were pulled in , and won over . . . although i must confess that many times over i wondered if a fisrt class story like this one would ever make it in a ' live action ' film . . . I found myself loving this film for the same exact reason i loved blade runner - it's attention to detail ; it's fidelity to it's own expression ; even if it may turn off many casual viewers . . . i think this film will become a classic in it's own right-it has many stark contrasts . . . it's both moody and uplifting , dark and innocent ; childish and mature-it lifts you up just as it throws you down , like a good piece of music that lilts in unexpected directions ; it seems so strange yet familar like a dream . . . There are few films that have me thinking long after the DVD has spun it's course : this is one of them .
113 4 Before I watched Metropolis , I had high hopes for an entertaining film . Maybe not one that would particularly be a favorite , but just worth the money . However , it turned out that my expectations weren't anywhere near how amazing the movie actually was .
After I had watched Metropolis for the first time , I had mixed feelings . The artwork and scenery were gorgeous , the story was multi-layered , ( something I find attractive in a movie ) , and it had a touching ending , but even through all of that , there were small bits of the movie that I had a hard time understanding . When my mother asked me , How was the movie ? all I could come up with was , It was really good .
A day or two later I decided to watch Metropolis again , to try to figure out the rest of the movie that I had missed the first time . This time , I caught on to the entire movie , and realized that it was absolutely fantastic . The storyline is very entertaining , with a variety of characters from different walks of life .
The movie starts out with a scene in which the people of the city of Metropolis have gathered to celebrate the finished construction of the Ziggurat , ordered to be built by Duke Red . Since the Ziggurat is complete , Duke Red has asked Dr . Laughton , a robot constructor to build him a robot that looks like his daughter Tima , who had passed away at a very young age . Tima was then to be placed on top of the Ziggurat to rule Metropolis , upon completion . However , his violent adopted son Rock whom he had found after a war felt that Tima would steal his father's attention . This resulted in Rock attempting to kill Tima throughout the movie . His first attempt was when she was almost finished , but still being worked on by Dr . Laughton . A huge fire began because of it , and also caused Duke Red to believe that Tima was gone forever . It turns out that Tima had survived , and was found by Kenichi , the nephew of Detective Shunsaku Ban . Kenichi and Tima , after finding out that the determined Rock is trying to kill them , had to try to escape from him . This leads them to meeting new people , including Atlas , a teenager plotting a revolution against robots . After all of their time together , they eventually fall in love . But when Tima is convinced that she is a robot , she decides to sit upon the throne of the Ziggurat . Shortly afterward , the Ziggurat self-destructs , and Tima's past memories are erased . The movie's ending is tragic , but teaches us that it's better to have loved and lost than to have not loved at all .
Metropolis ' wonderful combination of American-inspired Dixieland Jazz music , rich colors in both the CG and hand-drawn backgrounds , the classic Astro Boy look of the characters , and the original storyline , make a wonderfully sculpted Anime movie . I would highly reccomend this movie to anyone intersted in Anime , or someone just looking for a quality movie . It was definately worth the money .
032 4 When I first saw Metropolis I was skeptical of how good it really was . Unlike with most anime , I was pleasantly surprised rather than let down ; however , some aspects of the film just didn't do it for me .
The story and background of the movie is pretty commonplace and stable . Taking place in a huge futuristic city driven by underground politics and devious crimes , the plot follows the ancient myth of the Tower of Babel to provoke questions such as When does humanity's arrogance meet its actual power ? What do emotions have to do with this ? What kind of power would an emotionless human have ? In essense , if you were to create a robot exactly like a human with no emotions , what would happen ?
Visually it also takes the cake . Although the old-fashioned cartoon characters are hard to get used to at first , the stunning 3d scenery and visuals will make you forget about them totally . ( And its not just a couple of cut scenes - they are integrated into the movie seamlessly . ) The voice acting on both tracks was , to me , no problem at all .
Although intellectually and visually the movie was a masterpiece , it failed to have that little something extra that grips you and makes you want to see it again . Four stars , if you're into archetypal films or classic anime buy it , otherwise its worth a rent .
049 4 Tima is so cute .
The animation of this film is different . I wan't to say that it is strange , but what isn't strange ? It is just unusual and that is what makes it interesting . The characters look rounded like toys and even move a bit like toys . The storyline is very relevant to the times , yet the visuals suggest the future and the music is very old ( 20s or 30s ? ) I find that an interesting combination of present , past , and future in one animated film . Tima is sort of follows the blonde hair blue-eyed AI paradigm that Speilberg used .
090 4 At one point in my life I was an unabashed otaku ( huge fan of anime and manga ) and I loved this movie . After taking a break from anime , I came back to it and found . . . that I still loved it . This isn't just great anime , it's a great movie . While some people find the animation babyish I wholeheartedly disagree . While the characters aren't exactly what most people think when they think anime , they work perfectly . When the story gets incredibly dark , Kenichi is still a cute kid , which keeps you from losing all hope in humanity . Another element that's pure genius is the jazz / big band soundtrack . It's perfectly in synch with the movie , and never used gratuitously .
The dub is great . Good acting , the voices fit the characters , and the dialogue still works - - don't worry if you're not a big subtitle fan because the dub's fine . Over all , Metropolis is the perfect combination of apocalyptic story , great animation , and beautiful music . A must-see .
094 4 What is it to be a human ? Is it making contact and interaction with others ? Is it a soul , or the warmth of blood flowing inside us ? Perhaps it is merely being humane , or being kind to all the life around you ? What if this life that lives around you is artificial , lifeless and robotic ? Director Rintaro's Metropolis examines this question throughout the film , and makes it the central theme of the film , from beginning to end .
The cast of Metropolis is filled with imaginitive , diverse characters . There are both humans and machines in the story , ranging from the robot-destroying Rock , to the cute , helping robot Fifi . These characters become symbols in the story , showing man's aggresion toward his creations , and bringing back someone who is dead , as seen in Metropolis by Duke Red , who attemps to build a robotic replica of his dead daughter Tima .
Metropolis is a very complex piece of art , and it shows it . Characters have several agendas , and are multi-layered . The story of Metropolis is also filled with references to various ancient stories , most notably the Tower of Babel .
Metropolis has majestic , elegant animation . This is the first review I have written where I have mentioned the sheer beauty of the animation , and deservingly so . The animation is a mixture of both CGI and traditional cel animation , so it just pops off the screen , capturing our attention and imagination both at once .
In all , Metropolis is wonderful anime , and is one that I like to call a piece of art . It makes the viewer think , and very few films , animated or not , can do that . For this feat , I commend Rintaro and the staff on the film . I love Metropolis .
109 4 While watching this movie , I kept finding myself saying wow over and over . The visuals for this movie are top-notch , I don't think I've seen a movie that looks this good visually . I had to go back and watch it again just to keep up with the story because i spent so much of the first viewing drooling over the cg / animation blend .
The plot isn't the most original in the world , but it doesnt hurt the movie at all . The story follows a detective and his nephew as the become caught up with Tima , a robot designed to run a super computer .
The real pull of this movie is how attached the viewer becomes to the characters . Even Rock , with his malicious and blind sense of justice begs for some sympathy .
The relationship between Kenichi and Tima is a wonderful symbol of the naive view of the world children have , not always realizing what they do and what is going on around them .
In terms of anime , some people might find it a bit disappointing . No bodacious babes , no giant swords cleaving people in half , and no crackpot jokes that are barely funny .
In terms of a great movie , this one is a winner . It is an emotional piece that hits all the buttons other movies similar in idea ( A.I . for instance ) missed .
144 4 The animation in this film could be the best I have ever seen ; even better than Snow White . The characters and objects were very grounded within the settings unlike a like low budget , Saturday morning cartoon like Scoobydoo where the characters looked pasted on top of a background .
The lighting and shading , the color pallette , as well as the three point perspective was spectacular . Everything always looked very grounded . The best I have ever seen . I also liked the fact that the people in the backgrounds were not static drawings but rather they were animated as well . ( There's a million stories in Metropolis so to speak . )
Everything contained in Metropolis is profoundly well executed yet at times it falls short since some of the elements such as the music , character design , and back ground art don't always integrate together .
For Example : The character design is very anime , retro which I liked . It reminded me of the old Astro Boy , Gigantor , or the Rusty and Tin Tin cartoons . It was very stylized and fun . However when this art was integrated into the Metropolis background art ; ( Which I call techno , art deco which is quite breathtaking in its complexity , color and form ) , some of the characters seemed out of place . When you have a character with a gigantic nose , or a mustache that looks like a mop , it looks odd when placed in a back ground that looks like you or I could stroll through .
The editing was very old school as in 1920 ' s style . it was amusing at times with its main emphasis on the majestic scenery just like in a silent movie .
Music wise they used a rag time , New Orleans jazz vibe which didn't always work for me . When I think of a city I do think jazz but the jazz has a blues influence . Nonetheless , it was very well orchestrated and performed . I also didn't like the Ray Charles song overlay when a particular plot point was going KLA-BLOOIE
Story wise I loved it all the way till the third act . I didn't like the sudden change in a particular protagonist docile nature . I also wanted the character to survive .
So what you have is a movie that is breathtaking to look at . Sets new animation standards that even Disney should take seriously . Pays homage to 1960 ' s Japanese anime , but has a story line that may miss the mark for those like myself . However there is a lot to love and admire about Metropolis and it is well worth putting in your library if you appreciate fine art in animation .
Tony
It comes from a manga written by Osamu Tezuka , the founder of anime , and is loosely based on that . It borrows themes from the black and white movie Metropolis as well but when you watch it , its best just to let the movie unfold itself instead of you forcing it to fit any particular mold .
- The animation : There are a lot of different animation choices moving around here . you have the deco-style buildings which jut across the skyline of metropolis , the astro-boy style human beings with large eyes and exagerated features ( eyes , arms , noses ) , and then the cyberpunk innards of the city , as well as the much more real and dirty areas beneath the city . the humans are MEANT to stand out against the deco , everything isn't supposed to fit neatly together in a single style . in the movie this is shown in the plot ; the elite humans ( duke red , the president , etc ) , common people , the robots , and the city all are at odds with each other . Its not supposed to be hyper-realistic , the styles chosen are deliberate and invoke specific contrasts .
- Plot : At times things trip and fall , but I think part of the incongruity is on purpose . The chaos and sort of non-sequiter plot lines are actually just intended to encase the story of 1 ) humanity's fear of the ' other ' 2 ) Tima and Kenichi . Except for Tima , the other characters just kind of putter out ( aside from Luke , or Rock in the U.S . version ) but her story was fantastically strong when placed within the struggle of humanity ( with its own inner turmoil ) and the servants they created .
In conclusion , this movie is just saturated in AMAZING visuals and great jazzy music ( I couldn't think of a more appropriate use of I cant stop loving you by Ray Charles at the end ) , and it contains a story of a search for a ' self ' within the fantastical world of Metropolis . Characters broaden and shrink the scope of where they place themselves here , yet everyone lands in own unique niche . But for the staleness of character development / bogged plot I drop half a star .
4.5 / 5 - A must see , for movie fans with open eyes .
006 4 The first thing I'd like to do is just clear up a few things that negative reviews have been hooked on and maybe shed a bit of clarity on what is being shown in the movie .
- Origins : It comes from a manga written by Osamu Tezuka , the founder of anime , and is loosely based on that . It borrows themes from the black and white movie Metropolis as well but when you watch it , its best just to let the movie unfold itself instead of you forcing it to fit any particular mold .
- The animation : There are a lot of different animation choices moving around here . you have the deco-style buildings which jut across the skyline of metropolis , the astro-boy style human beings with large eyes and exagerated features ( eyes , arms , noses ) , and then the cyberpunk innards of the city , as well as the much more real and dirty areas beneath the city . the humans are MEANT to stand out against the deco , everything isn't supposed to fit neatly together in a single style . in the movie this is shown in the plot ; the elite humans ( duke red , the president , etc ) , common people , the robots , and the city all are at odds with each other . Its not supposed to be hyper-realistic , the styles chosen are deliberate and invoke specific contrasts .
- Plot : At times things trip and fall , but I think part of the incongruity is on purpose . The chaos and sort of non-sequiter plot lines are actually just intended to encase the story of 1 ) humanity's fear of the ' other ' 2 ) Tima and Kenichi . Except for Tima , the other characters just kind of putter out ( aside from Luke , or Rock in the U.S . version ) but her story was fantastically strong when placed within the struggle of humanity ( with its own inner turmoil ) and the servants they created .
In conclusion , this movie is just saturated in AMAZING visuals and great jazzy music ( I couldn't think of a more appropriate use of I cant stop loving you by Ray Charles at the end ) , and it contains a story of a search for a ' self ' within the fantastical world of Metropolis . Characters broaden and shrink the scope of where they place themselves here , yet everyone lands in own unique niche . But for the staleness of character development / bogged plot I drop half a star .
4.5 / 5 - A must see , for movie fans with open eyes .
013 4 THE MOST MOVING ANIMATED MOVIE I HAVE SEEN IN MY 30 YEARS .
BEAUTIFUL ! ! ! !
022 4 I waited for what seemed like years to see this movie but when I finally did see it , it lived up to all expectations . It's about a 20 ' s version of the future where robots are just as smart as humans but they are treated differently . The story goes much much deeper than that but i don't want to explain it .
ANIMATION : 10 / 10 : It's a mix between anime a fifties cartoon and computer graphics . I personally thought they blended very well . Although the CG wasn't superb it WAS passable and there was a whole lot of it .
SOUND : 9 / 10 : In the theatrical release there was no english dubbing , it was left in it's original japanese form with subtitles . However the DVD has the english language and the original japanese language . The dubbing is actually quite good . The music was EXCELLENT ! However if your not into jazz you should probably turn the sound off and just read the subtitles . At the end when they played i can't stop loving you it had a really weird effect on you but it was cool .
CHARACTERS : 9 / 10 : Metropolis has realistic lovable characters that wear cool clothes . ( Rock's boots are tight ! ! ! )
OVERALL : 10 / 10 . Metropolis is a must see and a must own . Buy the DVD .
050 4 Being a huge fan of Japanimation , Anime , whatever you wish to call it , an aunt of mine sent me this DVD as a birthday present . I am so glad she did .
Metropolis has a complex , yet simple , storyline , BRILLIENT animation , especially with the computerized backgrounds , wonderful , wonderful characters that you remember for hours ( Rock stood out in my mine , although Atlas left quite the impression ) , and a finale that is expected yet unexpected in the same way .
In summary : Rent this movie ! You will not forget it , and even the English dub is up to par with the Japanese version ! The last two scenes made me have to rewind , and then re watch , them again and again ( Call me sappy , but I still tear up a little when I Can't Stop Loving You starts to play ) . . . This is a truly spectacular movie , that deserves FAR more then then five stars .
116 4 The film Metropolis not only has the most breathtaking artwork but its story is complexe and entertaining . It follows the Manga almost page for page and is seamlessly mixed with traditional anime and CGI . A Must have for all anime fans . ( Or anybody acually ! ) ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT !
137 4 OK OK i dont want to burst people's bubbles , because i know everyone is saying that the animation of this movie is THE BEST EVER , but unfortunately i have to disagree . Probably 85% of this movie is done with computers , and to me , that is just too much . i will say though that the computer animation was VERY well done . also , the thing that probably bothered me the most , WAS THE ANIMATION OF THE PEOPLE . i realize that this was the comic-like style of the creator of this story , but to me it really really takes away from the movie and makes it seem like they spent tons and tons of money on the computer stuff and got careless with the regular animation . it doesnt seem like japanese anime style at all - most of the people have very small and undetailed eyes , they look totally misproportioned ( they have very thick lower legs that look bizarre ) , they are very short , and their coloring and over-all look is again NOT ANIME-LIKE .
THIS IS A GOOD MOVIE . however , after seeing the huge amount of computer animation and strangely done characters , i didnt want to categorize it as anime at all and it left me feeling slightly disappointed .
141 4 If your a die hard fan of all anime , ( Like me ) or are not as used to the deep , ambiguous storytelling and the fast , beautiful
and sometimes very graphic animation style of Toonami , everyone has to admit that this movie is not main steam ; and has a thought provoking tendency to it .
Personally I wouldn't recommend this movie as an introduction to anime , But rather as a month or to after follow up to the movies
Akira or perhaps even better Palmu no ki ( A tree of Palme ) .
This means you're prepared for the somewhat cartoonish ( even for anime ) animation , and the Astro boy playfulness to the characters .
But don't get me wrong . . . This is NOT scooby-doo .
Metropolis is set in what seems to be the future , in the city of Metropolis , at a time when the lower and middle class civillians have moved underground into a ( I don't used this word lightly ) slum , officially called Zone 1 . The movie starts off with an official announcement to the public of Metropolis that a giant machine , Dubbed by its creator , the Ziggurat has been completed , and that with the Ziggurat , Metropolis shall soon become the most powereful city on earth . The creator of the Ziggurat himself , going by the name Duke Red , holds more political power than it may first appear . Humans are using robots to do their dirty work , and the people of metropolis are always shrowded with suspicion . . . Whether the robots can be trusted . Duke Red initially appears to distrust and overall dispise the robots to ( you'd think so seeing he founded the organisation the Malduks , who regulary shoot robots that are neglecting their duties . )
Then you learn of Tima ; Duke Red's daughter who died as a child has been re-created by one of Red's mad scientists . As the story unfolds , and as you meet new characters ( Like Rock ! ! ! ! ) . . . You realise that every part of this story leads to a more greater scheme . In the end metropolis is a war torn world , and because of this , many people pay dearly.The only down-side to the movie is its soundtrack which rarely suits the background . It makes you feel uncomftable , but then you start to wonder if that's how it was supposed to be . My official audience rating is M , . . . I think that if you've had some experience in anime , regardless of your age , you'll get something out of this masterpiece of a movie . . . and at the end of the day , the exceedingly inspirational and mind boggling movie METROPOLIS , is infinity times better and sophisticated than any Pokemon episode .
( Please note : I have only seen the subtitle version of METROPOLIS , and blatantly refuse to see the dubbed version . some names and characters as written in this review , may be written and pronounced differently to the original Japanese version . I gave you fair warning . The DVD itself has some cool features , like most of MADMAN ENTERTAINMENT's stuff , and I recommend it greatly . ) . . .
Metropolis ( DVD )
I was first attracted to buying this DVD while watching the Previews section added onto the last disc of the 2004 Astro Boy anime DVD series I bought from Amazon this year . When I saw the animation quality of Metropolis , I wanted to see more .
In a nutshell , here's how this film plays out , in parallel to Astro Boy , under Osamu Tezuka's direction :
The Duke loses his daughter , Tinma ; just like Dr . Tenma loses his son Tobio in Astro Boy . Both men have robots built to replace their lost children , except in Metropolis , Duke's adopted son , Rock , detains the Duke and his robot daughter from meeting each other ; whereas Astroboy meets his father from the moment he's born . Rock does this simply because Tinma , the Duke's robot daughter , is to rule on the throne of the earth as a robot , over humans and robots . Sounds allot like Astroboy to me whose job is to bring peace between humans and robots as a mighty peace ruler when you watch the 2004 anime series of Astroboy . Rock feels only a human should sit on the throne of the earth ; with that human being his adopted father , who Rock loves dearly we learn .
Rock first kills the doctor who created Tinma , as well as tries to kill Tinma before she awakens , via his attack on the robot factory , but Tinma survives and is aided by a boy who is working alongside a character that looks just like Daddy Mustache in the Astroboy series . This Daddy Mustache look alike is a detective sent from Tokyo to investigate the whole affair .
In the end , Osamua introduces a different twist from the Astroboy premise . Where with Astroboy , he shows the king of robots bridging the gap between humans and robots , in this film he shows what happens when that does not happen , with Tinma assuming the throne and the desire to destroy all humans . Rock , who you might think is bad in the beginning , is really one of the good guys ( if you call a robot who favors humans being a good guy ? ) and gives his life to save all of humanity . Lots of pathos in the end and a certain level of violence in this film in terms of some characters being killed along the way .
The story is very good and more or less asks the question ; what if robots or AI did take control of the world and tried to destroy mankind ? How would mankind survive ? We've seen this plot played out in films like Robo cop , The Terminator and as recent as I-Robot ; so the idea isn't new in filmaking . Well , mankind does survive , but I won't tell you how or I'll spoil the explosive ending for you if you want to purchase this film and watch it for your self .
The animation alone is well worth the price of admission and it still has a good story plot , though not new . It does come with a small DVD disc with lots of feature stuff behind the scene stuff , but its all in Japanese with no english translation . This was a let down , which is why I gave this four stars . The packaging is great . No problems with the discs . Delivery was timely . No complaints .
039 4 This review is from :
Metropolis ( DVD )
In the winter of 1921 poet Hirato Renkicki , the first Japanese Futurist , distributed the first Japanese Futurist Manifesto to the people in Hibiya Park . To him the city had become a motor and the core of the city was dynamo-electric . The city was a system and the people were part of the system . This had become a very common idea , not only in Asia but also in Europe . This was not the first time Japan had been exposed to futurism but it was the first to take on a Japanese feel . It almost became anti-human , seeing flesh as weak and full of decay . This was before Fritz Lang's Metropolis and the ideas produced by it would fuel Japan's development and culture , from the war with the US to the Postwar era .
The manga Metropolis , and the movie based on it , is a protest against such thinking . The city is for the people , the people are not there for the city . The heart of the city should be the human heart , with all the flaws and merits that goes with it . This is NOT just a copy of another film , with the message of labor or the tragic romance , depending on which version you happened to have seen , but it does share some of the same ideas . But these ideas traveled a different pathway and should be judged and enjoyed without comparing them to others . In the Lang version the female robot is hated . In this version the female robot is not hated , not by everyone , and there is a chance that mankind and the robots and the machines may yet learn how to live in a society made for everybody and everything .
A must for any anime or sci-fi library .
040 4 In the winter of 1921 poet Hirato Renkicki , the first Japanese Futurist , distributed the first Japanese Futurist Manifesto to the people in Hibiya Park . To him the city had become a motor and the core of the city was dynamo-electric . The city was a system and the people were part of the system . This had become a very common idea , not only in Asia but also in Europe . This was not the first time Japan had been exposed to futurism but it was the first to take on a Japanese feel . It almost became anti-human , seeing flesh as weak and full of decay . This was before Fritz Lang's Metropolis and the ideas produced by it would fuel Japan's development and culture , from the war with the US to the Postwar era .
The manga Metropolis , and the movie based on it , is a protest against such thinking . The city is for the people , the people are not there for the city . The heart of the city should be the human heart , with all the flaws and merits that goes with it . This is NOT just a copy of another film , with the message of labor or the tragic romance , depending on which version you happened to have seen , but it does share some of the same ideas . But these ideas traveled a different pathway and should be judged and enjoyed without comparing them to others . In the Lang version the female robot is hated . In this version the female robot is not hated , not by everyone , and there is a chance that mankind and the robots and the machines may yet learn how to live in a society made for everybody and everything .
A must for any anime or sci-fi library .
045 4 Metropolis is a beautiful example of what Japanese animation can do when they are freed from the need to advertise toy products ( Yes , the ever-present pokemon and the new Yu-Gi-Oh brother . Its images both astound and fills the viewer with wonders of a city of tomorrow as depicted in the early and middle portions of the 20th century - - after all , it was partially inspired by Fritz Lang's classic Metropolis from 1927 .
This is especially true of the scenes with the Ziggurat which hauntingly reminds a viewer of the Master's building in the earlier silent film . The film also blends elements of another film - - Blade Runner - - showing a society going paranoid witht he fear of robots while still needing them to do the work that no human would want or could do .
The only problem with the film is its use of comic strip like characters - - which reminds one of the characters from Astro Boy - - but this is soon ended as the film begins to grab the viewer . One of the big plusses is a jazz / dixieland score which , while not really appropriate does leave the viewer humming the haunting Never Say Goodbye . This is a film very much worth viewing once and possibly owning .
068 4 This review is from :
Metropolis ( DVD )
I was first attracted to buying this DVD while watching the Previews section added onto the last disc of the 2004 Astro Boy anime DVD series I bought from Amazon this year . When I saw the animation quality of Metropolis , I wanted to see more .
In a nutshell , here's how this film plays out , in parallel to Astro Boy , under Osamu Tezuka's direction :
The Duke loses his daughter , Tinma ; just like Dr . Tenma loses his son Tobio in Astro Boy . Both men have robots built to replace their lost children , except in Metropolis , Duke's adopted son , Rock , detains the Duke and his robot daughter from meeting each other ; whereas Astroboy meets his father from the moment he's born . Rock does this simply because Tinma , the Duke's robot daughter , is to rule on the throne of the earth as a robot , over humans and robots . Sounds allot like Astroboy to me whose job is to bring peace between humans and robots as a mighty peace ruler when you watch the 2004 anime series of Astroboy . Rock feels only a human should sit on the throne of the earth ; with that human being his adopted father , who Rock loves dearly we learn .
Rock first kills the doctor who created Tinma , as well as tries to kill Tinma before she awakens , via his attack on the robot factory , but Tinma survives and is aided by a boy who is working alongside a character that looks just like Daddy Mustache in the Astroboy series . This Daddy Mustache look alike is a detective sent from Tokyo to investigate the whole affair .
In the end , Osamua introduces a different twist from the Astroboy premise . Where with Astroboy , he shows the king of robots bridging the gap between humans and robots , in this film he shows what happens when that does not happen , with Tinma assuming the throne and the desire to destroy all humans . Rock , who you might think is bad in the beginning , is really one of the good guys ( if you call a robot who favors humans being a good guy ? ) and gives his life to save all of humanity . Lots of pathos in the end and a certain level of violence in this film in terms of some characters being killed along the way .
The story is very good and more or less asks the question ; what if robots or AI did take control of the world and tried to destroy mankind ? How would mankind survive ? We've seen this plot played out in films like Robo cop , The Terminator and as recent as I-Robot ; so the idea isn't new in filmaking . Well , mankind does survive , but I won't tell you how or I'll spoil the explosive ending for you if you want to purchase this film and watch it for your self .
The animation alone is well worth the price of admission and it still has a good story plot , though not new . It does come with a small DVD disc with lots of feature stuff behind the scene stuff , but its all in Japanese with no english translation . This was a let down , which is why I gave this four stars . The packaging is great . No problems with the discs . Delivery was timely . No complaints .
071 4 Metropolis , the Fritz Lang film may have been one of most interesting and significant films of 1926 . He shaped reality and molded it beyond imagination . Sure Metropolis ( 2002 ) isn't the same movie as its predecessor but they use a similar skeleton . Roughly speaking , it's based on a 1949 comic / manga set in the 21st century .
Aside from the compulsorily analyzing , I've included a brief emphasis of Metropolis's plot and players .
It's a time of technological advances . Robot droids have replaced hard working humans in every possible employment vacancy . A bureaucracy of * gasp * greedy politicians run the enormous metropolitan . The very beginning of the film marks a celebration of the Ziggurat . The Ziggurat is a mammoth skyscraper that engulfs the celestial skies of Metropolis . Duke Red , The creator of the infamous building , plans to revive the Tower of Babel in favor of his dirty deeds . His intentions are pure sinister . He plans world domination through an android crafted after his only daughter that suffered an indescribable death . Ziggurat's primary purpose has been unknown to the fellow inhabitants of Metropolis . Once kept a well kept secret until two improbable detectives stumble into Metropolis .
Once the very production company anime logo flickers upon my TV set , I became somewhat envious about the visuals . It's probably been said millions of times about Metropolis , but this film is embellished tastefully . The character design was brought together anomalously with a Popeye / Felix the Cat brand of animation . Don't let the wacky character formation fool you into not watching Metropolis ; it all comes together as clever and priceless .
Shunsaku Ban and his nephew Kenichi are on a undercover , espionage case tracking down the mad scientist , Dr . Laughton . He specializes in illegal organ exporting and robot development . Which brings us to the enthralling , Pero . This robot detective seems to have a broad perspective on his objectives . Pero is assisting this brand of unlikely heroes , cracking Laughton's unconditional whereabouts . The Marduk , Duke Red's political party , plans to overthrow the government to accommodate their plan of action . His son , Rock , is quite jealous over the attention that Red's project is receiving . His discontent , and at most , his loyalty cause Rock to betray his father . Being his right-hand man , Rock is always in the shadows disarming renegade robot workers and providing split-second protection aid to Duke .
Instead of the usual orchestra soundtrack , Metopolis shimmers with a fiesta of hot jazz music . They did a marvelous job characterizing the golden years . It's the kind of music that would suggest fast pacing and hollering . But I was very surprised at the ending track Ray Charles - I can't stop loving you . Remarkably it fit the ending so well and will give you that warm and fuzzy feeling of nostalgia .
Take my word for it , Metropolis is an excellent , flawless film .
078 4 Yes , many of the themes have been done before , and I do not think that the feature's creators would deny that , if asked . What you have to remember , is that this is anime ' , and it is not designed to run in the same manner as a feature that has real actors . There is a certain atmosphere and mentality that runs when you are in the mood to see a good anime . This one runs with the best of them . I think the best anime's do show some character development , but they also explore real themes within the cartoon's elastic shell .
Metropolis asks us to decide when A.I . is as legitimate as human I .
This is something we will have to ask ourselves in the next 50 yrs when AI becomes a reality , and I do not think society is prepared for it at this time . Also , when looking at the soulless corporate monolith that has reduced humanity to a cog , the anime ' here asks the question-has AI become human , or has human become a mere machine to be abused by the power class . Perhaps both !
Mind blowing effects , a real treat for anime ' fans .
101 4 If you want to see how great animation can look , watch this movie , preferably on a Gundrig 82cm widescreen TV like I did .
WOW , the animation is so great sometimes you'll forget about the characters . The story is decent and a step up form most anime , but its the quality of the animation that is the star here .
The DVD looks better than any other I've ever seen , the extras are interesting but only worth one viewing , nothing too great there , but this is definately a disc you should think about getting if you want to show off your brand new widescreen tv , it just looks so great .
Oh and the movies not too bad either
Metropolis is wonderful .
To let you know where I'm coming from : I love Akira and Grave Of The Fireflies , and Ghost In The Shell and Ninja Scroll are pretty darn good too . But the likes of Jin-Roh , and Blood ( not to mention their weaker and even dumber anime competition ) just irritate me : all technology and no heart , and frequently no brains - movie-making ( literally ) by committee . I fully anticipated Metropolis would fall into the latter , but found myself so hypnotized by the images , so entranced by the characters , that I couldn't stop watching .
For starters it looks spectacular . Director Rintaro uses cityscapes and architecture , and describes scale like no one since Akira - not surprising with a script by Katsuhiro Otomo ( Akira's director ) . Every shot is beautifully multi-layered , perfectly designed , illuminated and composed , and rich with texture and detail . Apparently this was all done with 3D , resulting in lot's of spectacular shots and camera moves that simply couldn't be done in traditional Cel animation . Unfortunately this is a mixed blessing : there are plenty of times where the 3D backgrounds and 2D Cel-animated characters don't quite match : the two technologies competing for the eye's attention . Still , a more than worthy effort .
But while Metropolis is clearly a demonstration of Rintaro's respect for Akira , it is also a tour-de-force of his own talents as a director of characters ( his career dates back to Astroboy ! ) : the characters and their animation are irresistible . Plenty of elements could have backfired badly ( the cute robot syndrome is inevitable in a film like this ) , but Rintaro deftly handles the maximum-cute characters with an unsentimental delivery . The characters are straight out of the Astroboy design school ( the original Manga comic was by Osamu Tezuka , creator of Astroboy ) , all wide feet , round-eyed , round-faced . But Rintaro makes them into people . Most interesting is the non-verbal work - - the glances and smiles between characters . This is true artistry .
And it's the characters that will keep you watching .
The level of destruction is right up there with Akira , and anyone sensitive the sight of collapsing buildings ( post 9 - 11 etc . ) should definitely think twice about this one . Also the body count is quite high , but mainly among the mechanical robots ( probably dodging a censorship rating problem here ) - - the few humans that die expire at a safe and inoffensive distance . Rintaro has managed a movie that parents can watch with their kids and neither should feel cheated .
Oh yeah , the story ? Apprentice detective helps deity discover her true identity while on the run from extremist assassin . Ultimately there are many elements that are never fleshed out , particularly the political ideas , and the relationships between down-trodden humans , and the drones they take it out on . The whole story gets weak at the end , but I didn't mind .
The supporting material is a DVD Mini-Disk with has some animation process examples , and a couple of documentaries . Nothing special , but a must for aficionados .
I do have one beef , however .
Metropolis , if you didn't already guess , steals several major elements from the Fritz Lang classic - - not the least of which is the title ! A Ziggurat ( and the Babylonian references ) ; a suppressed working class living beneath the city ; a would-be robot savior ( designed by and Evil Scientist in the image of a dead relative ! Talk about a lift ! ) with the capacity for evil . Come on people , give credit where it's due ! Otomo and Rintaro talk at length of the late Tezuka's genius and vision , but not a single hint that he may have taken his inspiration ( and most of his story and character elements ! ) from a film he'd seen twenty-years earlier .
Now that is disappointing .
015 4 Before he was known as the God of Manga , before he created the now-legendary manga series Astroboy , Osamu Tezuka drew a manga called Metropolis , which was seen by many as his incomplete masterpiece . But even though some people wanted to make Metropolis into an anime movie , Tezuka refused all offers because , like all artists , he probably wasn't interested in reviving his earlier works . But with Tezuka's death came the opportunity , and that opportunity took several years to become the anime movie we have today . And , just like the manga , the movie is an incomplete masterpiece .
The story deals with Duke Red , who desires to control and rebuild the world by using the Ziggurat , an enormous tower with a powerful weapon of horrific capabilities . To tap into the Ziggurat's full potential , he uses the scientist Dr . Laughton , wanted by human rights ' organizations , to construct a purely synthetic android in the likeness of the duke's deceased daughter , Tima . But the duke's adopted son Red , who hates robots with a passion , wants to destroy Tima because he feels it is the duke who should rule the world from the Ziggurat , not a robot . Caught in the mix are Japanese detective Shinsaku and his nephew Kennichi , who have come to arrest Dr . Laughton for his crimes .
Whether the anime movie has anything to do with the classic black-and-white movie of the same name , I don't know , but the story is very different from anything else out there . It can get a little confusing sometimes , and occasionally there are places where the plot is either rushed or not developed enough . However , considering what the story deals with , it's easy to fill in the gaps . Metropolis isn't a movie that hands out everything to the viewer on a silver platter ; the movie forces people to think and consider why everything is happening . For example , the love story between Kennich and Tima is accused of being underdeveloped , but I feel it's just right , considering Tima's growth as a robot and her desire to figure out exactly who she is . If anything feels a little disjointed , it's because the movie was based upon an unfinished manga . The plot isn't without its shortcomings , but overall it's very entertaining if the viewed in the correct way .
Visually , you'll be hard pressed to find anything that looks better than Metropolis . The backgrounds of the entire movie were computer generated and then covered with traditional cell shading , and the end result is absolutely stunning . The movie even knows that it looks good , as several scenes are devoted entirely to showing off its breathtaking visuals . The characters are a little different in that they're completely hand drawn , but they look just as beautiful . The use of light and shadows in this movie is some of the best I've ever seen . Some people might be put off by the character designs , which resemble old-style artwork from 30s Japanese cartoons such as Kimba the White Lion and , of course , Astroboy , but I feel it suits the movie perfectly . The directors were trying to capture the original spirit of the manga , and by using Tezuka's art style they've succeeded tremendously . And the characters blend in perfectly with their CGI surroundings , making a movie a marvel to look at .
Sound wise , everything is on par with the fantastic visuals . The music is mostly jazz-inspired pieces that give the movie that old-style feeling , and the few pieces that aren't jazz-related still work marvelously . Even the only unoriginal song in the movie , Ray Charles ' I Can't Stop Loving You , works . Some people feel that using this song at the movie's climax is ridiculous or even laughable , but I disagree . If you think about what had happened , what is happening during the climax , what Kennichi and Tima have gone through , and the overall theme of the movie , you'll see why I Can't Stop Loving You is perfect . In regards to the dub , it's very well done and uses some of the best voiceovers I've ever heard . However , because of the somewhat erratic story , the dialogue can sound a tad bit odd , but anyone who can't stand to read anime subs won't be disappointed .
DVD-wise , the DVD is packed with some really good extras . There are a few trailers , including one for the Cowboy Bebop : Knockin ' on Heaven's Door movie ( although it's a little short to be too interesting ) , and a lot of subtitles , including two different English versions . The second disc , however , has the best of the bunch . There are character sketches , breakdowns of certain scenes visually , and even a wonderful documentary detailing the creation of the movie ( in Japanese only ) . DVD fanatics will be very pleased with this one .
All in all , Metropolis is a beautifully made movie , in more ways than one . While it's clearly not for everyone , it definitely has its appeal ; this movie enjoyed extended releases in many areas during its limited run in theaters . Whether or not it reaches the level of anime movies like Princess Mononoke or Akira is debatable ; whether or not you like it will be up to you .
024 4 This is a remarkably beautiful work of animation that pulls at your heart instead of going for your throat . The themes of coexistence between human and robot is a common one for science fiction , but noone in anime has explored that theme like the legendary Osamu Tezuka , reknowned in Japan as the Grandfather of anime . He explored it in the first anime ever , Tetsuwan Atom ( Astro Boy ) , but he wrote it in Metropolis first .
And no creators were more suited to bring the late Tezuka's work to the big screen than Rin Taro of Galaxy Express fame , and Katsuhiro Otomo , who gave us the breakthrough hit Akira .
The story takes place in the city of Metropolis , loosely modeled after the classic silent film from 1927 of the same name . The rich live in decadence above ground , while the poor starve and labor in the rank subterranean labyrinth beneath the sprawling city .
The city is run by Duke Red , who has secretly had a robot made in the likeness of his deceased daughter . But Duke Red's adopted son , Rock , destroys the laboratory before the robot is activated . She is found by a detective's young nephew , and the two wander the underbelly of the city , dodging Rock's attacks and bearing witness to an uprising by the proletariat .
I can't say much without spoiling the ending , but the film's climax is beautifully done , with Ray Charles singing I Can't Stop Loving You in the background .
The extras include interviews with Rin Taro and Katsuhiro Otomo themselves , as well as the voice cast , and the composer of the score , a history of the manga and anime Metropolis , design sketches from the anime , and segments on combining the cel animation with the CG backgrounds .
This is one film no self-respecting otaku should be without .
051 4 Osamu Tezuka's Metropolis ( English Dubbed Version )
Directed by : Rintaro
Written by : Marc Handler and Mary Elizabeth McGlynn
Based on the graphic comic book novel by : Osamu Tezuka
Inspired by the silent film Metropolis directed by : Fritz Lang ; written by : Fritz Lang and Thea von Harbou ; and based on the novel by : Thea von Harbou
Featuring the voice talents of : Jamieson Price , Rebecca Forstadt , Barbara Goodson , Dave Mallow , Mary Elizabeth McGlynn , Michael Reisz , Brianne Siddall and Scott Weinger .
Runtime : 106 mins .
MPAA Rating : PG - 13 for violence and images of destruction .
First off , don't start sending me hate mail because the dubbed version of the film did not credit any of the dubbing actors or crew . There . Now , for the story .
Duke Red ( Price ) and his team of scientists have finished contruction of the Ziggurat and a week-long celbration has begun .
Private detective Shunsaku Ban and his nephew , Kenichi ( Siddall ) , have just arrived in Metropolis in search of organ smuggler Dr . Laughton , and are enjoying the festivities . That is , until , Duke Red's violent adopted son and leader of the Marduke Party , Rock ( Reisz ) busts some caps in a robot antagonist who should have been in Zone - 1 . All the while , Duke Red has been having dealings with Laughton by asking him to build a robtic human named Tima ( Forstadt ) , who is designed after his own , but dead , birthdaughter . Rock , however , HATES robots , and kills Laughton and then blows up his laboratory in hopes of killing Tima . During the explosion , though , Tima is awakend in stead of destroyed , and finds herself trapped in the burning building . Ban and Kenichi arrive with their new robotic assistant Pero ( Mallow ) , and manage to get inside going different ways . Kenichi finds Tima and tries to get her out , but then fall through a loose girder and into the sewers of Zone - 3 . What happens next is events that I cannot tell you about if you ever hope to get through the movie without knowing every thing that's going to happen .
Animated by a studio known as Mad House , this a very visually stunning film . The cartoony character designs and the ultra-realistic background designs contrast with each other now and again , but if you enjoy the film enough , you won't even care .
Now the trailer for this film gives a very bad example of what it's supposed to be like . The trailer makes it look like an action film . It isn't . It's a sci-fi drama that is not presented in the way of Star Trek . This is not the film for adrenaline - pumping action movie junkies . But , although the story gets slow in some spots , it still stays engrossinging throughout . Now , before you go and plunk down 30 bucks , make sure you rent it first . This is a film that must be seen by everybody , but only pay the price for keeping it with you for eterinty if you've really enjoyed it . In short , don't do what I did . ( even though I am very happy that I have it with me forever now ! ) . Oh , and the music score stinks .
Grant E . McGee
058 4 To be honest I was expecting a real dog . The DVD packaging , the cover blurbs ( by James Cameron - - oh great ) , the picture ( Tima staring up into radiant light - - yawn ) , and of course the title ( Metropolis , a rip-off if ever there was one ) , all reek of how bad can this get syndrome . I was having flashbacks to that Lensman fiasco from the early nineties - - eeeeeergh . But it was a 2 - for - 1 Animation day at the video store , so what the heck .
Lucky break for me : Metropolis is wonderful .
To let you know where I'm coming from : I love Akira and Grave Of The Fireflies , and Ghost In The Shell and Ninja Scroll are pretty darn good too . But the likes of Jin-Roh , and Blood ( not to mention their weaker and even dumber anime competition ) just irritate me : all technology and no heart , and frequently no brains - movie-making ( literally ) by committee . I fully anticipated Metropolis would fall into the latter , but found myself so hypnotized by the images , so entranced by the characters , that I couldn't stop watching .
For starters it looks spectacular . Director Rintaro uses cityscapes and architecture , and describes scale like no one since Akira - not surprising with a script by Katsuhiro Otomo ( Akira's director ) . Every shot is beautifully multi-layered , perfectly designed , illuminated and composed , and rich with texture and detail . Apparently this was all done with 3D , resulting in lot's of spectacular shots and camera moves that simply couldn't be done in traditional Cel animation . Unfortunately this is a mixed blessing : there are plenty of times where the 3D backgrounds and 2D Cel-animated characters don't quite match : the two technologies competing for the eye's attention . Still , a more than worthy effort .
But while Metropolis is clearly a demonstration of Rintaro's respect for Akira , it is also a tour-de-force of his own talents as a director of characters ( his career dates back to Astroboy ! ) : the characters and their animation are irresistible . Plenty of elements could have backfired badly ( the cute robot syndrome is inevitable in a film like this ) , but Rintaro deftly handles the maximum-cute characters with an unsentimental delivery . The characters are straight out of the Astroboy design school ( the original Manga comic was by Osamu Tezuka , creator of Astroboy ) , all wide feet , round-eyed , round-faced . But Rintaro makes them into people . Most interesting is the non-verbal work - - the glances and smiles between characters . This is true artistry .
And it's the characters that will keep you watching .
The level of destruction is right up there with Akira , and anyone sensitive the sight of collapsing buildings ( post 9 - 11 etc . ) should definitely think twice about this one . Also the body count is quite high , but mainly among the mechanical robots ( probably dodging a censorship rating problem here ) - - the few humans that die expire at a safe and inoffensive distance . Rintaro has managed a movie that parents can watch with their kids and neither should feel cheated .
Oh yeah , the story ? Apprentice detective helps deity discover her true identity while on the run from extremist assassin . Ultimately there are many elements that are never fleshed out , particularly the political ideas , and the relationships between down-trodden humans , and the drones they take it out on . The whole story gets weak at the end , but I didn't mind .
The supporting material is a DVD Mini-Disk with has some animation process examples , and a couple of documentaries . Nothing special , but a must for aficionados .
I do have one beef , however .
Metropolis , if you didn't already guess , steals several major elements from the Fritz Lang classic - - not the least of which is the title ! A Ziggurat ( and the Babylonian references ) ; a suppressed working class living beneath the city ; a would-be robot savior ( designed by and Evil Scientist in the image of a dead relative ! Talk about a lift ! ) with the capacity for evil . Come on people , give credit where it's due ! Otomo and Rintaro talk at length of the late Tezuka's genius and vision , but not a single hint that he may have taken his inspiration ( and most of his story and character elements ! ) from a film he'd seen twenty-years earlier .
Now that is disappointing .
074 4 I just returned from seeing this movie in the theatre , and I must say it was breathtaking ! ! The visuals were remarkable . I thought the CGI was great !
But one thing that was really remarkable to me was the traditionally painted backgrounds ! ! They were the best i have ever seen , PERIOD ! I was wondering when the day would come that I would see better background paintings than in Akira , that day was today . The CGI in the backgrounds just enhanced it ! !
In regards to the character designs . . . . I LOVED THEM ! ! Of course they had an Astroboy feel . But even better they reminded me of some of the earlier Fliescher studios Popeye , and BettyBoop cartoons . Really Really great work , really refreshing to see unique hand drawn character animation when 3d CGI is so hot ! ! !
A great film ! This is the type of film that will non animation fans over to animation !
Wow I can't wait til I get the dvd , gonna have to go see it again on the big screen soon : )
139 4 This review is from :
Metropolis ( DVD )
There are two distinct sides to every anime : the art , and the plot .
As to the art , Metropolis does a great job . Everything is rendered in beautiful , vibrant color . The city has true depth and an immense variety of architectural styles ; it is a believable city of the future , as it is not simply made up of stainless-steel skyscrapers as far as the eye can see . An arguale demerit is that the artwork is based on some of the earliest Anime designs ever , so the characters appear to e extremely early-Disneyesque . Furthermore , the blending of some of the 3D computerized effects with the 2D drawings is , at times , poorly done . On the whole , however , the art is the best reason to see this movie .
The arguable reason to pass this one by is in fact the plot . It is not so much that it is weak ; it is rather that it draws heavily , and obviously , from such films as Akira ( BIG explosions , not to give too much away ) and Ghost in the Shell ( the central question of what it means to be human ) . The film is based on a very early manga , although I am not sure to what extent ; it is possible , therefore , that in fact these other Animes draw from Tezuka's Manga and not the other way around . However , given that the film is coming out after these others , it still has the APPEARANCE of coming second . ( It also draws from Dr . Strangelove , in the satiric use of music at the ending . This is something that some people who have reviewed this have confused as bad taste . If you have seen the other film , the intent in Metropolis is clear . )
Personally , I did not find the similarity to be much of a discouragement . Although I was jarred by the similarities , I was not put out overmuch by them ; this film has a hidden appeal that I cannot fully determine . It was , to me , both engrossing and INCREDIBLY well drawn . However , I can easily see how some might be turned off by it . Let me recommend , that , if you haven't seen it , make a point of visiting a friend who has a copy or renting one . This film should be tried before being bought .
140 4 There are two distinct sides to every anime : the art , and the plot .
As to the art , Metropolis does a great job . Everything is rendered in beautiful , vibrant color . The city has true depth and an immense variety of architectural styles ; it is a believable city of the future , as it is not simply made up of stainless-steel skyscrapers as far as the eye can see . An arguale demerit is that the artwork is based on some of the earliest Anime designs ever , so the characters appear to e extremely early-Disneyesque . Furthermore , the blending of some of the 3D computerized effects with the 2D drawings is , at times , poorly done . On the whole , however , the art is the best reason to see this movie .
The arguable reason to pass this one by is in fact the plot . It is not so much that it is weak ; it is rather that it draws heavily , and obviously , from such films as Akira ( BIG explosions , not to give too much away ) and Ghost in the Shell ( the central question of what it means to be human ) . The film is based on a very early manga , although I am not sure to what extent ; it is possible , therefore , that in fact these other Animes draw from Tezuka's Manga and not the other way around . However , given that the film is coming out after these others , it still has the APPEARANCE of coming second . ( It also draws from Dr . Strangelove , in the satiric use of music at the ending . This is something that some people who have reviewed this have confused as bad taste . If you have seen the other film , the intent in Metropolis is clear . )
Personally , I did not find the similarity to be much of a discouragement . Although I was jarred by the similarities , I was not put out overmuch by them ; this film has a hidden appeal that I cannot fully determine . It was , to me , both engrossing and INCREDIBLY well drawn . However , I can easily see how some might be turned off by it . Let me recommend , that , if you haven't seen it , make a point of visiting a friend who has a copy or renting one . This film should be tried before being bought .
