Metropolis

Reviewed by Mike Xiong
October 15, 2007

Director: Rintaro Studio: Tristar Pictures Genre: Sci-Fi MPAA Rating: PG-13 Website: Click Here

Based on Osamu Tezuka’s original creation, Tristar Pictures presents Metropolis, a Sci-Fi wonder animation filled with fantastic effects and transition.  Not only does it reveal beauty, but a very outstanding story along with characters that appeal greatly to viewers.

Metropolis is about a young man by the name of Kenichi who encounters a powerful robot; but having the appearance of a young girl with the personality of a baby child and its powers dormant, Kenichi has no idea what he is getting himself into when he decides to protect the robot, which he names Tima.  It turns out that Kenichi has a lot to teach Tima about basic human life.  Eventually she begins to understand things, but she also begins to think she is a real human being.  The truth behind it all is that Duke Red, a very strong political leader, wants to use Tima’s power to rule all of Metropolis atop the Ziggurat along with his Marduk party.  Kenichi and Tima manage to escape after falling deeper into the lower levels of Metropolis where the poor live in rotting cities and where people and robots live together, but not as peacefully.  Robots are programmed to work, but the people abuse them because the robots have replaced them of their jobs.  While running from Duke Red’s people, Kenichi and Tima also run into another problem, Duke Red’s adopted son, Rock, leader of the Vigilante Marduk party.  Rock is not happy with the fact that his father wants to throne a robot at the top of the Ziggurat, the symbol of Metropolis’ civilization.  He believes that his father should be the one to sit atop the Ziggurat, and he is intent on destroying Tima at all costs without his father knowing.  It’s all up to Kenichi to keep Tima out of harm.

I believe that Metropolis is a magnificent story; it definitely was worth being made into a film.  The Evolution Factor for Metropolis is medium, although very great in its art and for its wonderful characters.  The animation seems to be that of old generation anime with peaks of the new added within.  With these elements, Metropolis is still worth watching, but owning a copy is solely up to the viewer.  The art will definitely capture your mind and you’ll keep the images with you always.