METROPOLIS-review

Director: Fritz Lang
Producer: Erich Pommer
Cast: Alfred Abel, Brigitte Helm, Gustav Frochlich, Rudolph Klein-Rogge
year: 1927



Like the Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Metropolis is one of the landmarks of cinema at the begging of the 20th century. It was a film a lot further from its time and influenced most modern concept artists and science fiction movies. Apart from the exquisite visualisations the film explores the social crisis between workers and owners in Capitalism. In this huge futuristic city, with airplanes flying among the huge skyscrapers, the owners or 'bosses' live a luxurious life ignoring the fact that beneath them lives a huge number of workers who basically run the city's power and keep it alive. One of the workers is Maria who, I believe is the strongest and most distinctive character in the film and has the vision of workers bonding with the leaders of the city. She is the symbol of hope to the desperate workers who supports them and encourages them not to go against the planners of the city but create a pacific relationship between the two sharp divided classes.

She could even be described as Savior, a character that stemmed from the Bible, a modern Jesus. She was actually playing the same role as Him advising the less fortunate people and sustaining their faith for a better future. Even the way she was dressed showed a modest character, untouched but still a strong leader which reminded me of Holy Virgin Mary.

In terms of visual appearance the film was outstanding, a remarkable achievement. It didn't give me at all the impression it was made about 80 years ago and certainly gave me an exciting trip to the mysterious high-tech future. The special effects and architectural designs still impress audiences with their visual impact. I believe if the film was in colour and in better quality it would 
equally be as good as any other modern one- or maybe even better.


'Building on earlier science fiction and endlessly influential on later works, Lang’s film is a mammoth marvel, fusing modernism and expressionism, art deco and Biblical spectacle, Wagnerian bombast, sentimental Marxism and religiose millenarianism. Sit close to a big screen and submit to the machine.'

Brigitte Helm ( maria) as a robot really reminded me of robots in modern films like I robot or The Bicentennial Man where human features are dominant along with the facial features.
I was also amazed by the music of this movie as it was as breathtaking as the movie itself and matched perfectly with whatever was depicted.


'Once you adjust your mind to these elements you soon realise that ‘Metropolis’ is still very much a masterpiece. The film contains imagery which, even to a modern audience who eyeballs have been force fed on CGI, remains astonishing, iconic and timeless.'


SOURCES:
http://www.hackneyhive.co.uk/index/2010/09/film-review-metropolis/
http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/73119/metropolis.html