Rating: 
Summary: BETTER THAN I EXPECTED.....
Review: I had only seen inferior prints of this classic up til now. I am more than pleased with this edition. It looks and sounds fantastic. I was finally able to fully comprehend the story. When anything is done that requires great effort, there are always those who are never satisfied---as evidenced by some of the reviews. But everyone has their personal preference. I am amazed at the care and painstaking detail with which "Metropolis" has been handled here. It's worth every penny to invest in it as the collectors' item it is. Some missing scenes have been replaced with title cards to bridge the gaps but this is a small issue compared with the whole of what is there. The unforgettable images and scenes of the underground machine workers as well as the creation of the robot "Maria" are just beautiful and pristine in quality. The erotic dance scene with the robot Maria is nothing short of eye-popping---considering this was 1927. But it's the timeless message of the film that lingers also..."the mediator between the head and the hands must be the heart". What a beautiful statement. The heart is there in this restoration and it shows. After the debacle of "Day of the Triffids", it's good to know that someone still cares about quality. To me, this version of "Metropolis" is all that and then some.
Rating:
Summary: Stunning, shockingly beautiful, as expected.....
Review: I purchased this film in advance when I saw the preview on Kino's website. It just came today, and I watched this version for the first time. This is the film which made me fall in love with silent films. My mother had an atrocious copy put out most likely by "Goodtimes" on vhs. I saw it the first time in 1988, and it has enthralled me ever since.
The premise is basic; in the future, mankind is downtrodden by the brutal masters of industry. Freder is the son of one such master, Joh Frederson, the master of Metropolis. The sons of these masters are kept seperate from the workers, so they never see the devestation wrought by their fathers. Freder, Joh's son, falls in love with a worker's daughter, Maria, who is a motivational speaker in secret meetings for the workers. Freder, in his pursuit, discovers the brutal conditions the workers are subjected to, and sets against his father. Joh goes to Rotwang, a mad scientist who creates a robot to look like Maria to foment revolution to help control the workers.
The story is actually very well done, but prior to this version nothing has been available at an adequate quality. With this painstakingly preserved version, this beautiful film is seen once more as it was meant to be, or as close as possible given the available footage. The restored film looks great, allowing a better print than many films half its age. The restored music score is dazzling, and the production stills, 43 minute documentary, and many other relevant features are worth the admission fee. If you like Sci Fi and/or silent films, this film is not only great, but necessary.
Rating:
Summary: Kino DVD is perfect!
Review: I don't know what anyone else may claim, but personally, this is hands-down the cleanest, most brilliant transfer of Fritz Lang's "Metropolis" that I have ever seen - indeed, it's the nicest 'print' of a silent film I have ever seen. This should set a new precedent in the industry of film restoration and the folks at Kino deserve my sincerest thanks. I never thought I'd ever see Metropolis look so good - (or sound so good).
The score is great! I love the soundtrack. In 5.1 Digital, you simply can't beat it. It's a wonderful piece of music too - goes with the immagery better than anything I've seen before. I've always liked the piano score by Robert E. Lee, but I think this "new" orchestral score works even better.
If you like Metropolis, you MUST get this DVD from Kino! If you like sci-fi, then you also MUST get this DVD.
Make sure you buy the version from Kino, and don't complain that it costs considerably more than the other versions on the market - it is WELL worth it, believe me! This 2002 restoration of Metropolis is a landmark in film history, and I am happy to be a part of it!
Rating:
Summary: METROPOLIS-THE RESTORED VERSION FROM KINO
Review: Well, all I can say about this edition is "WOW"! So the years haven't been kind to this movie, and about 1/4 of it is irretrievably "lost". I think it still stands out as a silent masterpiece. There are added intertitles, and in the extras, which are plentiful, you have access to some still photographs of missing scenes which help to better understand some of the subplots. Picture quality is outstanding, and the musical score fits perfectly. By all means, well worth the price and a worthy addition to any DVD collection. Good job, KINO!
Rating:
Summary: Regarding the 24fps problem...
Review: From what I understand, Kino's theatrical version of the film was projected at 24fps and they decided to keep it that way for their DVD release. Furthermore, many sources on the web claim that the ORIGINAL theatrical release in 1927 was shown at speeds of 24-28fps.
Rating: 
Summary: Explanation for 24 fps
Review: Per a lengthy review at DVD Talk, this DVD is at 24 fps because that apparently is how the movie was originally shown in the 1920s -- sometimes at 25 or 26 fps, likely because the movie was so long that the distributors feared they'd lose people, so they sped up the film to shorten the viewing time. The original score was made to go with the movie at 24 fps. So, this IS the original Metropolis -- at least as far as the first theatergoers saw it. But, as the DVD Talk reviewer notes, the movie definitely should be viewed at 20 fps. But this is the best we have for now, until someone spends the $$ to rescore it and re-DVD it at 20 fps. Any volunteers?
Rating: 
Summary: This could have been better
Review: I saw the print this DVD is based on a few months ago at the Uptown Theatre in Minneapolis. Kino has done more than anyone before to restore this great film. However, there ARE problems. The original score, for instance, was not always in synch with the action on the screen. That is due, no doubt, to the fact that the film is still missing much of it's footage. Therefore, the placement of the soundtrack must have been guesswork. And, frankly, the music itself is a weak and dated element. Kino should have commisioned the Alloy Orchestra to provide their outstanding version as an alternate. ...
Rating:
Summary: fps...oops
Review: Heard it's beautiful. But...unfortunately the folks at Kino decided to present the movie at 24 fps rather than the original 20 fps. 4% difference in length of film and the film will draw snickers during certain key sequneces. Why oh why did they do this? Speeding up the film. Kino toured the film at it's original 20 fps format at considerable inconvenience. Why they didn't just keep it faithful for the end product is beyond me. Keep it real!
Rating:
Summary: A DAZZLING RESTORATION OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL MOVIE EVER!
Review: This film has influenced everything from Citizen Kane (the opening shot of Kane's mansion is reference to an almost identical shot in Metropolis) to the Matrix. The effects in this movie are astonishing for our times and even more astonishing when its 1926 creation date is taken into account. I saw the KINO release on the big screen at a local theatre and was absolutely amazed. I've seen most all other releases and cuts. The KINO release has excellent picture and a soundtrack that actually fits the action on screen (unlike many previous releases.) Also, it contains the full story making up for loss footage with well written descriptive intertitles. Previous releases all were forced to alter the story a little to deal with the loss footage. This is by far the richest fullest plot of Metropolis I've seen. Good Job KINO International!
Rating:
Summary: An Exceptional Masterpiece
Review: Arguably one of the most influential science-fiction movies of all time, the 2002 re-release of Fritz Lang's 1927 epic "Metropolis" was truly one of the miracles of modern times. Not only had a generous amount of footage been re-integrated to the cut, but the entire film had been gloriously restored and the exisiting title cards re-translated from the original German."Metropolis" tells the story of a massive city split in two: under the earth is the city of the workers, slaves to the 10-hour clock. Their endless toil provides for the rulers of the upper world, a class of rich and indolent nobles. In-between these worlds steps Maria, a beautiful worker that tells the workers that a mediator will come to join the city and that "Without the heart, there can be no understanding between the hand and the mind." But her goal is not so easily reached, and a mad scientist, his villainous robot decoy, and a resistant upper class work against her. Lang's vision is astounding, and the special effects are fantastically rendered for the time. The film's production costs were so great, it almost bankrupt the studio. The result is a fantastic blend of drama, allegory, romance, myth, and classic science-fiction. The score is evocative like few others, and the newly restored film has a new recording of the original soundtrack. While some of the footage is lost forever, title cards fill in the gaps, and this is the only thing the movie can be faulted for. This is the ONLY version of the movie to own. All others use an inferior print and some even tell an entirely different story. Also, avoid the 1984 Georgio Moroder-scored version at all costs. This DVD is a must for anyone who even has the slightest interest in cinema. It truly is one of the most wonderful films ever made.
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