In all the history of cinema I don’t know that I would be alone is saying that Fritz Lang’s Metropolis is one of the more impressive. Considering the era in which it was created (aka 1927), the sheer grandness of it all is truly shocking. Everything from the sets, to the storyline itself, to the more provocative nature of the material show just how ahead of its time this film was.
This is one of those cinematic masterpieces with which I cannot really find fault. And if fault does exist, even in some glaring way, I don’t want to find it.
It is a bit of a commitment, a mere two and a half hours long, but it’s worth taking the time to watch. If you at all love cinema I think this piece remains a real must-watch-no-matter-what.
Getting off my soap box on its perfection, I will say specifically, I love the overall vibe of this movie. It got its hooks in me. It had that treasured steam-punk feel without dipping into shallow fantasy, and instead dealt with deep philosophical notions.
Lastly, it’s just fun to watch. Its being a silent film allows, in my opinion, the vision of it really take center stage.
Give it a watch if you haven’t, and let me know what you think!
Image via Metropolis (1927), directed by Fritz Lang.