Rating: Summary: Movie restored again Review: Just for all those people waiting for a better version of Metropolis: there's a new restoration! Yes, they've showed it here in Rotterdam (too bad I didn't know, I read it in the papers afterwards) and the reviews are very good. It seems to be a restoration that began in 1998 and was finished in 2000. I'll just wait till that version is on DVD.
Rating: Summary: An important film, despite terrible image quality Review: Fritz Lang's Metropolis is quite a dynamic film with an important statement about worker's condition compared to the lifestyles of the rich and famous. These conditions are still experienced today, all over the world, and Lang's message should always be kept in mind. The story itself is very creative, with some terrific special effects, especially considering the fact that cinematography was still in its infancy. There is some light magic that is most impressive for this early sci-fi flick. However the quality, or lack thereof, of this DVD should be a terrible embarassment to the producers. Yes, it is a film we all want to see, but the company has really cranked out a load of garbage on this one. Fortunately it was very cheap to buy.
Rating: Summary: I'm still waiting to see a good print of this movie! Review: When I saw this DVD at a bargain price, I said "Wow, I've got to get this deal." I was ... It's not much money, but I could have spent it on a couple of six-packs. I thought DVD was supposed to mean outstanding quality. I've seen 16mm films on Fatty Arbuckle from 1920 that look better than this. Absolutely the worst I've ever seen. The "soundtrack" sounds like a bad funeral ... I've never seen this movie all the way through because every print I've ever seen loses my interest after 15 minutes or so. Maybe it's just way past its prime. Maybe it's just a relic. I'm confused. Well, at least I've got a new coaster for the beer.
Rating: Summary: A Major Disappointment Review: When I first found out that Metropolis had been produced in DVD I was thrilled. When I played it, I was disappointed to say the least. I had expected the DVD would be of the American release of the 80's (two thumbs-up from Siskel & Ebert) with the rock music score (which it was not) but the quality of the video is the real disappointment -- it would have to improve to be poor -- unwatchable when compared to the copy of a copy of a tape I already had. I should have read the other reviews before purchasing. I now have a shiny... beer coaster.
Rating: Summary: The movie's five stars, but the transfer... Review: Yes, the transfer ..., but since the Criterion Collection seems not to want to bother, it's probably the best we've got. The bad reviews are exaggerating; I've seen worse transfers, both of this film and in general. Also, this DVD has a longer cut than most, and anything's better than the butchering Moroder gave it in the 80s. Definitely not a respectful version of this film, but at ... bucks, you know what you're getting into.
Rating: Summary: A Great Classic Butchered Review: I couldn't believe my eyes (and ears) when I started playing the DVD version of Fritz Lang's 1927 Metropolis (a 1998 Madacy Entertainment release). The image was shockingly miserable, badly out of focus and even off-centre -- parts of it were simply cut off. It looked it was filmed directly off the screen in some old cinema; the fourth-rate print used for the transfer must have been pulled out of rubbish somewhere. My 1-star rating of this transfer is still too high -- but no lower options are available. It is really sad when a great classic can be butchered like this.
Rating: Summary: Stuopendous movie created by a true genius! Review: There are few directors that truly will be remember for all time; in fact the list allot shorter then most people ever can imagine. To this short an exclusive list one should not forget to add Fritz Lang. Lang was in movie, i.e., Metropolis VHS ~ Fritz Lang , able to create the first science fiction movie that also has a well developed script, amazing acting ability and an atmosphere that has only been matched by a handfull of directors, e.g., Marnau, Pasolini, Bergman, De Mille and Wyler. Few directors can say that they were resonsible for creating a genere in movie; however in the case of Lang's Metropolis, he must be considered the grandfather of science fiction movies and all subsequent movies should and will be judged against his masterwork or his peice de la resistance (spelling?!). Highly Recommended.
Rating: Summary: terrible quality Review: I must add my voice to the chorus of disapproval surrounding the VHS and DVD releases of "Metropolis". The Australian release of this title is, I assume, identical to the "newly restored" 139 minute version mentioned in other reviews. Warning: this version is as bad as everyone is saying. The picture quality is appalling, the soundtrack complete shlock, and the film speed is crushingly slow; my memories of this great movie were dealt a severe blow. It was also embarassing to invite a bunch of friends who'd never seen the movie to sit through it. Please attempt to preview this transfer before buying, otherwise you may never watch another silent film again.
Rating: Summary: brillantly done Review: This version of Metropolis is definetely a great movie. Fritz Lang was able to create a world of the future and is quite frightening like 1984. However, hope still does exist with the worker's attempts to revolt and the son of one the elite falling in love with the daughter of a worker. Though the modern soundtrack is sort of odd, the movie is still worth seeing.
Rating: Summary: Hold out for Moroder... its coming Review: Tinted and intoned with rock music most memorably by Queen, Moroder's version should have offended Metropolis fans everywhere. But instead it is chosen by most as the best way to watch Metropolis and I agree. It is the best looking and most pleasant way to view this film. As important and visually exciting a film as it is, a lot of it can be quite a chore to sit through and the modern touches add a lot to make the experience more enjoyable. As you can read from the rest of the Amazon kingdom, other versions of the film are relatively atrocious. You won't regret waiting a while to see the new disc. For purists there is no reason you can't turn down the color and turn off the sound. Moroder's version is Metropolis for the masses.
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