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Metropolis (2001)
IMDb Rating 8.0
Front Cover Actor Back Cover
Kouki Okada [Voice]
Jenni Baird Charlotte
Keith Carradine Quincy
Carolyn M. Doyle Nurse
Michael Ealy Calvin McDade
Greg Fitzpatrick (voice)
Darryl Fong Doctor
Adam Kaufman Mathew
Sarah Paulson Audrey
Matthew Rauch Darren Nordlund
Michael E. Rodgers Nate
John Berczeller Gregory Dial
Rueben Grundy Fireman
Plot
Playing like a candy-colored hybrid of Fritz Lang's film of the same name and Ridley Scott's Blade Runner, Osamu Tezuka's Metropolis borrows its plot liberally from numerous legendary sci-fi sources (despite the fact that the original manga was released in 1945, certain cinematic aspects can't help but appearing overly familiar), all the while dazzling viewers on the same cutting-edge visual level as such anime classics as Akira and Ghost in the Shell. The common anime practice of combining amazingly rendered backdrops and more traditionally hand-drawn characters continues here, though with such nuances as beautifully flowing hair and soulfully expressive faces, it becomes obvious that painstaking detail was paid to making the characters both visually and emotionally involving. However, as expressive as some of the central characters may be, it's the elaborate tri-level industrial labyrinth that encompasses the world of Metropolis that forms the film's central character, and it is a kalidescopic animated marvel to behold. Director Rintaro's beautifully composed visual design is so awe-inspiringly colorful and complex that, from the opening frames, the viewer is fully absorbed in the environment, with plot and characterization almost coming as an afterthought. And that is precisely where the film's ultimately forgivable main weakness lies. In between scenes of wide-eyed, jaw-dropping visuals, the story of human and android tension set against the backdrop of a futuristic city borrows from so many sources that it borders on cliché. Thankfully, writer Tezuka's characters are given a depth and sense of purpose that, while not altogether unconvincing or original, consistently connect with the viewer's sense of recognition and sympathy. Viewers will no doubt attest that Metropolis works almost flawlessly on a purely visual and asthetic level within the opening frames of the film. Thankfully, Tezuka's storytelling skills compliment that on a level which, while not entirely new or original, is at the very least genuinely sincere and thoughtful. — Jason Buchanan
Movie Details
Genre Drama
Director Michael M. Robin; Rintaro
Producer Ellen Lent; Patrick McKee
Writer Katsuhiro Otomo
Studio Toho
Country USA
Language English
Audience Rating PG-13
Running Time 108 mins
Movie Release Date 2001
Color Color
Personal Details
Format DVD
Seen It Yes
Index 121
Collection Status In Collection
Location Shelf
Product Details
Region Region 1
Screen Ratio Widescreen 1.85:1 Color (Anamorphic)
Layers Single Side, Dual Layer
UPC (Barcode) 043396077966
Chapters 28
Release Date 4/23/2002
Subtitles English; Spanish; French; Portuguese; Chinese; Korean; Thai
Packaging Custom Case
Audio Tracks ENGLISH: Dolby Digital 5.1 [CC]
FRENCH: Dolby Digital Stereo
JAPANESE: Dolby Digital 5.1
JAPANESE: DTS 5.1
Nr of Disks/Tapes 2
Extra Features
Disc One:
Theatrical Trailers
Animated Menus
Scene Selections

Disc Two:
Animax Special: The Making Of Osamu Tezuka's Metropolis
Exclusive Filmmaker Interviews
Multi-Angle Animation Comparisons
History of Osamu Tezuka's Metropolis Comic Book
Biography of Osamu Tezuka and Rintaro
Conceptual Art Gallery
Links
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