Movie Details
| Title: |
|
Metropolis |
| Director: |
|
Fritz Lang |
| Year: |
|
1927 |
| Genre: |
|
Silent |
| Times Seen: |
|
1 |
| Last Seen: |
|
05.27.05 |
Other Movies Seen By This Director (4)
- Clash By Night
- Ministry of Fear
- The Testament of Dr. Mabuse
- While the City Sleeps
Notes History
| Date Viewed |
Venue |
Note |
| 05.27.05 | Alamo Downtown | It's been a while since I've seen this, so I was quick to buy a ticket to see it at the Alamo with DJ Nick Nack supplying the live score. The music was a pretty wide range from bleepy-bloopy techno bits to hip hop instrumental tracks to distorted guitar or psychedelic rock riffs. Overall if fit the film pretty well. That film, kooky silent-era quirks aside, stands up pretty well today. Some of Lang's camera tricks are really freakin cool and the sheer amount of design and extras available back then is astounding. There's a lot to be said about those cineasts who believe that sound ruined film... sure they're emoting way to much with their bodies to make up for it, but aside from the acting there was a lot going on back then. Some of Lang's shots are so dynamic and exhilarating that it makes you wonder what film would be like today if Jolson hadn't said "mammy" with such flourish. Another thing i noticed on this viewing is how overtly religious it all was. I remember Lang saying in an interview that the reaso why films are getting more violent is because more and more people are turning away from the Church. Without any sort of ethical or moral fear to instill on the secular audience, filmmakers have to turn to violence, which scares the religious and atheist alike. In his later work, Lang used a fair amount of violence himself (including burning a girl's face to scar-rific horror in The Big Heat), but Metropolis is on a much higher ground with its message and turmoil. It's interesting how things change I guess. |
