Metropolis (1927) Review

Metropolis, the first feature length science fiction ever made, and it influences can still be seen today other sci-fi films such as Blade Runner, Terminator, and even The Hunger Games.

Metropolis takes place in the future in an urban dystopia where the rich live in the prosperous city of Metropolis, whereas the poor slave away in their underground city to provide power for Metropolis. The story revolves around Freder, son of the wealthy ruler of Metropolis, after he meets Maria, an almost saint to the lower class. Freder tries to act as a mediator between the upper and lower classes to prevent an unnecessary uprising, in a story that features robots and political corruption.

Does this plot summary sound strangely familiar? Almost a hundred years ago in 1927, nothing like it had ever been put to film, until Fritz Lang decided to bring his story to life in his film, Metropolis. Being that the film is nearly a century old; parts of the original film have unfortunately been lost and degraded over time. The most recent 2010 restoration, which is the version that I watched, is the closest to the original of the version currently available. Some scenes are vividly restored to high definition quality, while others literally have hard lines through the film. For the most part however, the visual restoration holds up well. Even though the missing parts of the film can make following the plot a little more difficult than necessary, the added text cards explains what happens during those scene.

Directed by: Fritz Lang

Genre: Sci-Fi, Silent, Drama,

Release Date: 10 January 1927

Running Time: 153 minutes (1927 premiere, lost), 148 minutes (2010 restoration), 118 minutes (2002 restoration)

MMPA rating: PG-13

The Good: Excellent set design, Impressive scale, Great soundtrack, Brigitte Helm's strong performance, Intriguing concepts and themes, Unique camera work and editing, Interesting use of metaphors and symbolism,

The Bad: Unnaturally quick character change, Unexplained character motivations,

Plot: 8.4/10- Metropolis' plot is full of metaphors and commentary, which many modern day films continue to convey. Sure, more recent films have executed the same idea more effectively, but for the first sci-fi film, this is quite an achievement. The plot itself is rather straightforward with a few twists and turns along the way. There are allusions to Biblical elements, although the use of said elements is somewhat odd at times. On the negative side, the story can be a tad confusing since not enough text of what the characters are saying is displayed. Also, the translation from German to English on the text cards is awkward at points.

Characterization: 6.0/10- Freder, the main protagonist, is not clearly defined in the film. Within the first 15 minutes, he changes from the rich son living the highlife to a lovestruck sympathizer of the poor. 

Granted, Metropolis is an old silent, so I can cut it some slack. Maria and her robot double are the most interesting aspects of the film. Robots in general were a somewhat new concept at the time, and Metropolis is one of the films that popularized the concept, so Maria, to my knowledge, is the first true humanoid robot put to film. Rotwang, the inventor of the robot, does not have clearly defined motivations for the majority of the film, or I missed something. Towards the later part of the movie, I began to understand, but his relationship to Freder's dead mother, Hel, was not defined.

Acting: 7.0/10- Metropolis' acting is very much a product of the silent era. 

Without the use of sound, all of the acting is extremely over exaggerated, over-the-top, and over dramatic to a laughable degree, particularly the extras. Brigitte Helm is easily the best actress of the film, playing both Maria and her evil robot double. As Maria, she gives off an effective saintly and kind aura in her movements and expressions, whereas the robot double is very suggestive and seductive in her expressions and movements, making both performances by Helm one of the strongest aspects of the film.

Special effects: 10/10- Wow! Just wow! For the era, the special effects, set design, scale, and editing are impressive. 

Without the use of CGI or even old green screen, director, Fritz Lang, crafts giant sets and mini models to bring the city of Metropolis to life. At times, there are hundreds of extras in wide long shots running through the massive sets with various moving machinery and other effects. In a way, Fritz Lang created one of the first steampunk aesthetic with Metropolis. Lang's camera work and layered editing of clips on other clips is not something that I have seen in films from around the era.

Soundtrack: 8.6/10- With a film where the only sound the audience hears is the music, the score better be good, and Gottfried Huppertz's original score, performed by the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra in the 2010 restoration, is certainly excellent. While many older scores sound the same and overly dramatic, Huppertz's music fits the film excellently.

Humor: N/A-

Entertainment Value: 7.3/10- Despite dragging in a few places, Metropolis' story and visuals was able to hold my attention for the majority of the film.

Overall: 8.1/10- Despite its age, Metropolis holds up so surprisingly well today. Sure, other films later might have executed the concepts and ideas better, yet the first car ever built is not the best one and the original should always be appreciated. 

Closing comments: If you watch only one silent film, Metropolis is probably your best bet, and if you are a cinema fan or a fan of classic sci-fi, this is a definite must watch for its legacy alone.

Recommended for: Sci-Fi fans, Silent film fans, Classic film fans,

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Top 25 Sci-Fi Movies: Part 1

Science fiction is a genre where the possibilities are virtually limitless. You can create worlds set far in the future about what life could be like or adventures through space and time. Sci-Fi has had an incredible influence on me personally. Thanks to films like Star Wars, Terminator, and others, the genre has partially inspired me to pursue a career in IT and computers. Along with comic book and fantasy, science fiction is one of my favorite genres of any media.

One my goals in creating this list is to broaden your scope of sci-fi films with ones that fall into various subcategories of sci-fi like horror, drama, thriller, and even a few animated films, as well as films from various eras and countries. Of course, I have not seen every acclaimed sci-fi film, and there are many films to include on the honorable mentions part after the list concludes. My only qualification is that the film not be based on a comic book, which means movies like Ghost in the Shell, Snowpiercer, and Guardians of the Galaxy will make it on the Top 25 Comic Book films list. Now, without further ado, let's get started. 

25: Metropolis

Fritz Lang's Metropolis is the first feature-length science fiction to ever grace the silverscreen. Almost 100 years later, Metropolis' scope and scale can dazzle today's audiences. The film's influences can still be seen today other sci-fi films such as Blade Runner, Terminator, and even The Hunger Games. The plot is full of metaphors and commentary, which many modern day films continue to convey. Despite its age, Metropolis holds up surprisingly well today. Sure, other films later might have executed the concepts and ideas better, but the first car ever built is not the best one and the original should never be forgotten.

24: Ex Machina

The most recent entry on the list, Ex Machina is an intriguing watch. If you are the type of person that knows what "The Turing Test" refers to, then Ex Machina is probably the film for you. The Turing Test is a test designed to determine whether "a machine's ability to exhibit intelligent behavior equivalent to, or indistinguishable from, that of a human." For an IT guy like myself, who enjoys the discussion about the possibility of artificial intelligence, Ex Machina is a superbly cerebral piece of entertainment. The addition of an witty script and realistic leads made the film all the more worthy of a spot on the list. With that said, the film is far from flawless and being so new, I am hesitant to rank the film any higher on the list as of now. Also, a massive warning because there is mature content in the film that even detracted from my experience due to how unnecessary it was. If you liked Ex Machina, I highly recommend Time of Eve, a film that covers similar topics from a different angle and in a more PG-13 manner.

23: Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Unlike many of the other entries on this list, it has been quite a few years since I have seen Close Encounters of the Third Kind. While I do remember enjoying the film as a young teen, thinking back on it now, Steven Spielberg's sci-fi classic is the type of film that left a lasting impression to me to the point where John William's score and many of the iconic scenes are easily memorable. Upon a second viewing, Close Encounters could easily rank higher or lower on the list, but for some reason, I have a feeling that the film deserves a place on the list. Regardless, every sci-fi and Spielberg fans owe it to themselves to check the film out.

Fun fact: In 1977 George Lucas and Steven Spielberg were talking on set of Close Encounters of the Third Kind when an argument broke out between the two about whose movie would be more successful. Lucas argued that Close Encounters would make more money, while Spielberg said that Star Wars would be more successful. So a bet was made; Lucas bet 2.5% of his stake in Star Wars on Close Encounters while Spielberg bet 2.5% of his stake in Close Encounters on Star Wars. Close Encounters made an impressive $303 million, but Star Wars raked in $775 million worldwide. This friendly bet has proved quiet profitable for Spielberg earning him approximately $40 million. 

22: Redline

Yes, Redline is an anime. Before completely disregarding it, hear me out. The few anime sci-fi films that you will see on this list are ones that I believe can appeal to many science fiction fans, and ones that are considered not too "weird" by the standards of my readership. With that out of the way, let's talk about Redline.

Taking more than 7 years to animate and over 100,000 hand-made drawings, Redline is an insane ride through the galaxy. Essentially, the story follows tough racer, JP, in the galaxy's biggest death race through many different planets, insane environments, and no rules. The story is incredibly simple, but you watch it for the visuals, action, and pure awesomeness. Of the anime included on the list, Redline is the one that might be the hardest to get into due to the art style, but then again, the art is not particularly "anime" in style. You can actually watch the film on Manga Entertainment's YouTube channel for free (click here). However, the film is rated R for a reason, and you have to be 18 or older to watch it on YouTube. On a side note, the dub is a little corny at times, but good for the most part.

What do you think of my so far? What are some of your favorites? Do you plan to try any of the ones on the list? Please comment below and let me know, and check back next week for the continuation of the list!

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.