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Metropolis
Sony Pictures Entertainment


8.4

based on 16 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 10 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie

MPAA RATING: PG-13 for violence and images of destruction

Starring Jamieson Price, Toshio Furukawa, Dave Mallow, and Scott Weinger

This Japanese anime, set in the future, depicts a grand city-state populated by humans and robots, the cohabitants of a strictly segmented society. (Sony)

GENRE(S):	Sci-fi
WRITTEN BY:	Katsuhiro Ôtomo Osamu Tezuka (1949 manga)
DIRECTED BY:	Tarô Rin
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: April 23, 2002 Video: April 23, 2002 Theatrical: January 25, 2002
RUNNING TIME:	107 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	Japan
LANGUAGE(S):	Japanese (with English subtitles)

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

A wild elaboration. If you have never seen a Japanese anime, start here. If you love them, Metropolis proves you are right.

Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov

By the time the explosive finale arrives (with a wistful Ray Charles crooning over shots of cataclysmic destruction, no less), you'll be hard pressed to name a recent film with this much action, pathos, and smarts.

New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman

The story is compelling, but Metropolis is such a visual masterpiece, it's easy to get lost within its seemingly endless layers of graphic complexity.

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Liam Lacey

May not have the most sophisticated narrative, but it is one of the most spectacular and masterly demonstrations of animation in screen history.

Boston Globe Jonathan Perry

Poetic, surreal, and curiously powerful.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Sean Axmaker

This is no Disney fable and the apocalyptic vision isn't for everyone, but science-fiction fans and adventurous filmgoers will find this ingenious explosion of retro-cyberpunk a compelling dystopian vision with a gleam of hope.

Film Threat Ron Wells

They should have produced this in 3D for IMAX as Metropolis is the kind of work destined to blow the minds of stoners everywhere.

New Times (L.A.) Luke Y. Thompson

Roll with any stylistic difficulties you might initially have, and prepare to be awed.

LA Weekly David Chute

This muscular anime melodrama is so visually splendid that on that level alone it qualifies as a breakthrough.

The Onion (A.V. Club) Tasha Robinson

Technologically, the film is impressive, and it readily overwhelms the senses with frenetic computer-generated activity, an apocalyptic grand finale, and a bombastic jazz score. But unlike its classic predecessor, it doesn't leave much in its wake but ringing ears and unanswered questions.

Chicago Tribune Michael Wilmington

Here is a film of staggering technical and visual virtuosity, filled with utterly amazing images, that's also entertaining and engaging for children and adults on several levels.

San Francisco Chronicle Mick LaSalle

Superior animated film from Japan.

The New York Times Dana Stevens

A hallucinatory tour de force of color, perspective and scale, virtually encapsulates the history of Japanese animation.

TV Guide Maitland McDonagh

The look is utterly faithful to Tezuka's aesthetic -- he loved classic Disney animation, especially "Bambi" (1942) -- but it's hard to empathize with the angst of a character who looks like a Super Mario Brother.

New York Post Staff (Not credited)

The dialogue is dubbed into English by generic actors, whose phony, emotionless rendition undermines what's on the screen.

Village Voice Michael Atkinson

Metropolis is "A.I." without tears.

The average user rating for this movie is 8.4 (out of 10) based on 10 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

[Anonymous] gave it an8:
Nice visuals, and the political theme is well excecuted, but it's hard to tell which party supports what. The characters don't have much substance, but they are used well. Adding substnace to them would've made this film even better.

Colin B. gave it a 10:
This film is awesome. I feel sorry for people who can't see this because they can't look past the surface.

Conrad G. gave it a 10:
The story might not be the best one, but the grafics and excruciating detail of this movie make up for its poor story. this movie deserves IMAX theater, and after seeing it you will have a whole new opinion on japanese anime.

Yoon C. gave it a 3:
Impressive as graphics for a video game. Unwatchable otherwise.

John A. gave it a 10:
Best animated movie of the year.

Zach V. gave it an 8:
An underrated masterpiece, even though the Osama Tezuka version is far superior to it. This might be the best mix of cel and computer animation of all animated films. The plot really is nothing new, but the characters (Japanese subbed version) have a lot of heart. However, the film is hurt a little by the sometimes slow pacing and familar story.

Jack D. gave it an 8:
Breathtaking animation and an awesome climax, but it doesn't always work.

Metropolis Sony Pictures Entertainment

Metropolis
Sony Pictures Entertainment