Search - Metropolis [UMD for PSP] on UMD for PSP

Strong Plot, But Never Fully Develops Its Ideas

Jason N. Mical | Bellevue, WA, USA | 04/29/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Based on Manga by Osamu Tenzuka (the "Godfather" of anime responsible for the familiar doe-eyed look) and adapted to the screen by Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira), "Metropolis" only bears passing resemblance to the Fritz Lang film that obviously inspired it. While the animation is breathtaking and the story good, it never fully delves into the possibilities of the various philosophical problems it raises: artificial intelligence, surrender of freedom for security, and responsibility of outsiders to do the right thing. As a result, "Metropolis" ends up coming off as a really, really nice piece of fluff - one that, unfortunately, cannot compete with other `serious' anime titles like Princess Mononoke, Akira, or Grave of the Fireflies.The story alternates between Kenichi, the son of a Japanese private eye sent to the gigantic future-city of Metropolis to find a doctor who is accused of making illegal human-robot hybrids, and Rock, a slightly off-kilter policeman who is head of the fascist-leaning goon squads that kill robots and revolutionaries with equal gusto. When Rock discovers that his adoptive father, a powerful Duke who plans on taking over Metropolis, has ordered the creation of a robot that resembles his dead daughter, he attempts to kill her, but she falls into the city's seedy robot/worker underworld where she meets Kenichi. He forms a bond with her, but her innocence is soon replaced as she realizes she was created for one purpose: the completion of a mysterious ziggurat that sits at the center of Metropolis. As the story moves towards its inevitable, Akira-esque conclusion, the revolutionary workers in the city attempt to gain control, although it becomes clear they are merely pawns of a larger force.As other reviewers have noted, it's difficult not to see the strains of other movies in this one: Akira most notably, but Ghost in the Shell as well, and probably quite a few others. It's not a problem, but it makes "Metropolis" seem a little soul-less - as if it were cobbled together from stolen parts. The good parts of Fritz Lang's classic are present, but incredibly watered-down - robots with souls, workers revolting, and arrogance in power. Again, these concepts are never fully explored, leaving the viewer wondering, `great, well, what next?' It should be noted, however, that the soundtrack is a lively collection of old jazz, blues, and swing tunes, and adds a very unique side to Metropolis - probably its most outstanding feature.While many of the backgrounds are rendered, the animation is far more fluid and traditional than other recent computer-assisted efforts, most notably the short and rocky "Blood-The Last Vampire." While the viewer notices them, it's never a distraction. The characters are all animated with the traditional `super-deformed' large heads, hands, and feet, and of course eyes the size of dinner plates (if you're a cute character, anyway). The DVD is the perfect exhibition ground for this movie, as its presented in stunning anamorphic widescreen that looks so good it hurts. The colors are lush and clear, and there are two DD 5.1 soundtracks (one English, one Japanese) and - an anime first - the original Japanese track in bass-blowing DTS. There are subtitles for the purists (and hard of hearing), of course, but the dub is pretty darn good. The extras are all contained on a second small DVD similar to promotional CDs they used to hand out. It's more of a gimmick than anything, but it's your standard making-of fare and interviews. In other words, you'll watch it once and forget about it.Metropolis should probably stay in the "rent it before you buy it" category, especially if you are used to more depth from your anime. It's one of those movies that grows on you, and you end up liking it despite its problems."

I DO NOT LIKE Anime and I loved this movie...

Jay | Savannah, Ga. | 07/08/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have seen several anime films in the last ten years or so (anyone does who has friends who draw, I think) and most of it has either left me disgusted or, even if impressed by the animation, bored and wondering why I didn't just watch Bugs Bunny instead.
Up until now the best one I had seen was "Princess Mononoke", and it was tedious for a good twenty minutes right in the middle of the film.
Metropolis, however, transcends Japanimation.
I thought, watching it, that if someone made a live-action version of this, shot for shot, it would undoubtedly be the highest grossing film in history, and probably take home the Best Picture Oscar. Not that there is anything in it that can really be called "acting", and the story, though very deep (especially for anime) and thought-provoking, is not one of the most thrilling ever told.
However, a combination of tightly direction action (and repose), a script universal and yet human enough to make you genuinely care about these 2-D characters--and some of the most amazing visuals ever juxtaposed on screen--make Metropolis a high quality SF FILM and the fact that is it animated and tied to a dubious genre is almost negligible.
Except, of course, that you will marvel that something so epic and detailed can go from an idea in a man's head, to a drawing, to the setting for a world that will make your seen your own in a new way..."