MovieChat Forums > Metropolis (1927) Discussion > I really want to like it, but...

I really want to like it, but...

posted 14 years ago by Matt-the-Hasp
24 replies | jump to latest

So being a film student we watched this film in class about a year ago. I didn't appreciate silent films anywhere near as much as I do now, and after about an hour I was bored.

Lately however, I've been watching many films from this era and find many of the to be very enjoyable. My favorites are The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and The Kid, although I admit a reason I enjoyed these more were because of their short running time.

Tonight I sat down to give Metropolis another go. I've read a lot about it and appreciate the fact that it's so influential to pretty much every big-budget sci-fi film made since. However, once again I got bored about an hour in. I think I have good taste in film and thought I would be able to enjoy it (even though I don't LOVE the science-fiction genre). I watched the full film but it didn't really do anything for me, I wouldn't give it higher than 6/10. I don't know if it's just because all the techniques have been so overused now or whatever, but it just can't keep me entertained and I doubt I'll ever watch the uncut version as it's EVEN LONGER. I thought it was overlong from what I'd already seen!

37?!

[–] hbenthow 14 years ago

Well, as you said, perhaps it's just one of those movies you can't really "get" or enjoy. I don't find it overlong, in fact, it is one of those movies where more really is more. And although many other movies have imitated it, I don't think any have matched it. It's my all-time favorite movie.

[–] dagrattle 14 years ago

I agree with the other poster that it just might not be your type of movie. I'm a big silents person, and I'm okay with Metropolis, but there are other silents and other silent directors that I will always like more.

That said, the new version - by getting much closer to Lang's original release - is a much fuller story than the other versions. Some of what seemed like gaps before are filled in. You might want to give it one more chance.

[–] Simian_Jack 14 years ago

There may be any number of reasons why Metropolis leaves you cold. Want a challenge? Look for the four-hour Napoleon directed by Able Gance. There's a story about that restoration, Coppola, and an even longer cut... but for the sake of this thread I'll skip that and just suggest as an experiment you may wish to check your reaction to a longer silent film with a much different style and flavor.

Of course, I'd have to ask whether you can stand epic films of any other era or genre - Lawrence of Arabia, Lord of the Rings, The Godfather, etc.

[–] exchronos 13 years ago

View Askew Matt,

It all depends on what version you saw of the film.

Did you watch a cheap USA public domain print? Those are everywhere and are utter crap, they are bargain bin.

Did you watch the Kino Restored version on DVD?

That's much better quality with missing scenes typed up to help explain the gaps.

Did you watch the Georgio Moroder version?

This is much shorter yet more concise story, color tinted, and 1980s soundtrack featuring Freddie Mercury!

If I were you I'd suggest watching the new 2010 restoration. Only about 3 scenes are still missing, it's finally in the original scene order, and 25 minutes of missing film has been added back in. The recently found scenes are of lower picture quality than the others that are reused from the previous Kino restoration (very clear picture in those scenes, most of the film!).

I think the best thing to keep in mind while watching is the fact that this film was made in 1927. The special effects are extraordinary, the scale of backgrounds and cityscapes is impressive considering it's before widescreen, and that it was all miniatures, mirrors, and so forth.

Give it another chance. There's actually not much science fiction in most of the film. It's mainly about socio-economic struggles, but also has a deep religious subtext as well. The story is what makes it great. Plus, it's entertaining! I mean, who else saves thousands of kids from a flooding underground city while all their parents dance around exploding machines?

Not sure if you can rent the film in a regular DVD rental place, but you may be able to rent it off Amazon for like $3 for 24 hours for a month (you get a month to use up all 24 hours of viewing, nice!). That way you can watch it without shelling out $22 for the DVD or $26 for the Blu-Ray.

Sincerely,
Exchronos

[–] marco_ccs 13 years ago

It may be a matter of taste, many people praise A Clockwork Orange or Seven Samurai, to me those films are average.

Deal with it, Cate Blanchett!

[–] Boris_Day 13 years ago

I'm not a huge fan either and I love silent films and I love Fritz Lang. I count Pandora's Box and Sunrise among my all time favourites, but Metropolis leaves me cold. I just watched the restored version and there are some amazing sequences and visuals in the film, but but its message is naive and simplistic. The characters are just as cardboard thin as they are in many of todays sci-fi blockbusters.

[–] fffip 13 years ago

I love Metropolis and hate Pandora's Box, so it may just be a taste thing. The characters are far from thin, however. Rotwang and Joh have a deep, dark history which is evident throughout the film and their quality acting, Alfred Abel as Joh Fredersen is absolutely fantastic in his role, showing each emotion with the least effort... I really don't understand how you can say the characters are paper thin when you prefer Pandora's Box... a naive girl drags around a guy who is hopelessly in love with her, to both's deterioration and/or demise, and wreaking havoc on others she meets along the way... like that hasn't been done a million times either... and both films have simplistic and naive plots. It's called "making films for the masses" :D

But anyway, it may just be a taste thing. I also suggest you try longer films from different periods or whatnot, to see if it's a length thing, or a scifi thing, or whatever. Maybe watch films like Blade Runner, or any other film that was influenced by Metropolis... I know I had a deeper respect for the film as I saw how it influenced later films while I watched it.

___
Harry: Well yeah, there was like an 8% chance.
Perry: Eight? Who taught you math!

[–] artao 13 years ago

Ok, you don't care for it ... fair enough.
But a 6/10? Seriously? You can't get past your personal issues with not being able to 'get into it' and see it for the great film it actually is? There's entertaining movies, and then there's good movies. Sometimes a movie is both, but not all that often.

[–] dslacker 13 years ago

I was in the same position - didn't think it was such a great film - until I just saw the latest restoration with the 25 minutes of 'lost' footage. This time I really enjoyed it. Most of the lost footage is just reaction shots that were probably (and correctly) cut to lower the running time. But the end of the film is much better with the important shots that were lost. I believe the current restoration has the scenes in the order they were originally, which also is a big improvement.

[–] Big G-2 13 years ago

What puzzles me is that the OP says he got "bored", but never really states why which is quite baffling considering he called himself (or herself) a "film student". Perhaps the OP misconstrued something, that can perhaps be explained or even debated, but lack of details prevent that from happening (and of course, as many have already mentioned, maybe it is just a matter of taste, but again without any details, we really don't know that. It becomes an educated guess).

[–] AsHimself 13 years ago

Boring is subjective. So is comedy. You can't explain it much beyond that. I agree with the OP, except that I'd give it a 5/10. I've seen Metropolis in full three times, including the 2010 restoration, and parts of it probably a dozen times. I've also watched three documentaries on this movie. I know why people like this film, yet unlike you and others who share an opposite opinion, I don't find it bizarre that they do like it.

People on this board take $#!t way to personally.

[–] knoxfan2008 9 years ago

Giving the film 6/10 seems generous for a film they claim not to like. I think it's mature, they don't like a film, but agree it's technical aspects are good and therefore deserve a 6. They shouldn't just give it a 9 because it's famous. And it is mature to not give it a score like 2 or 3 when the visuals and craftsmanship objectively ensure at least a 5. So your comment "You can't get past your personal issues with not being able to 'get into it' and see it for the great film it actually is? " Is totally unfair and very arrogant and immature.

[–] lilwith 13 years ago

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari was... boring.

The Kid = Cutest film ever.

Metropolis = Wonderful masterpiece.

"I was circumcised with a hacksaw but I don't complain about anything..." - lilwith