Metropolis

Rating:
Summary: Osamu Tezuka's incomplete masterpiece brought to life!
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: An Amazing Anime
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Style extravaganza... but falls short of it's potential
Review: As an anime fan, I felt compelled to watch this movie. After all, it's a must see, according to everyone and their mothers. Sadly, this movie doesn't hold to the hype.

It's undeniable that it gets brownie points for style: The graphics are crisp and clear, and the jazzy music worked it's way into my soundtrack favorites list. However, I felt the use of 3D Computer Images was overdone, and contrasted too much with the normal 2D animation.

So far, so good. However, when it comes to the story, it falls flat. Metropolis sure gave it a shot: It attempts to be deep, it attempts to create a living, breathing environment, it attempts to use great characters... and that's it's problem: It attempts. but it never quite meshes out correctly. It never achieves the potential it holds to reach the state of greatness it was intended to.

Still, it's not something to keep it out of your collection. A reccomendable movie for most people, worth the money. Just don't expect a Grave of the Fireflies quality movie.

Rating:
Summary: The worst anime I've seen
Review: I truly do not understand how so many reviewers liked this film. The animation while technically brilliant, is simply asthetically distasteful because the author decided on a character style that went out in the 30's.

The characters are laughably shallow and the plot was tired back in the 80's when it was popular.

But I guess if you're the creator of Akira, you can polish up a turd and the masses will call it art.

Rating:
Summary: Very good!
Review: i have seen many anime movies an this is by far the best one. At first i did not understand what it was about and almost decided not to get it, i am glad i did. It has amazing animation and characters. The music was kinda odd, but i thought it fit the story very well.

Rating:
Summary: A classic archetypal anime
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Akira Meets Astroboy -- Relax, That¿s a Good Thing
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Great story, terrible soundtrack.
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Nice Pictures.
Review: That is the one and only truly compelling reason to see this movie. The backdrop animation for this movie is simply stunning. As a work of art this movie does wonderfully, creating a mechanized city that reminds me of the cities of Asimov, and Dark City. What I will remember from this movie is the skyscrapers and Zepplans flying in the background, and large expanses of machinery like looking in the back of an old clock. However what is in front of that backdrop really is a second rate anime story that I have seen at least five times already. The characters failed to truly entice me, and the plot doesn't really stand up to any real scrutiny. The three way political struggle doesn't really work very well, because the supporting cast that makes it work is not developed well, and two of the sides don't seem to have thought through what they are doing at all.

The movie plays out with a stlye that is some odd mix of a 1930's detective novel meets the Freach Revolution. While this wasn't a total failure it didn't add much to the story.

Rating:
Summary: Technically Brilliant, Plot OK
Review: 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.