Fritz Lang's 'Metropolis' Gets a Remake

Metropolis, on its own, is probably the greatest cinematic triumphs, I dunno, EVER. Those sets, costumes, the entire lot, all created by designers long before a time of computers and this nonsense. CGI looks like cartoons, even at its best. It is not perfected. There are no need for examples of proof while watching any number of films in the last two to five years. Metropolis, while filled with melodramatic silent movie era acting, physically looks real. One of the rarest forms of film that still keeps people asking, "How the hell did they DO THAT?" We don't get that question much anymore.

Someone here previously posted a negative "believe it or not" response to the musical version of Metropolis that appeared in London 20 years ago. Much of the music from this show is spectacular, and in my opinion I believe the best way to go about reinventing Metropolis in an uninsulting way to its followers is to ride the coat tails of this wonderful new rush of musical movie fever. Make it something fresh.

You cannot remake Metropolis, period. But if you are so arrogant as to think you have the right to recreate Van Gough's Starry Night, at least do it differently. This is just a bad idea.

Disturbia, while entertaining, is a lackluster attempt at Hitchcock's Rear Window. Metropolis was never for once presented as entertainment. It is simply, for all intensive purposes, a painting of how horrible we humans are to one another. Perhaps being one of the most important films ever made, it might be best to just lay off.

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I really wish the entities that own the rights to these films would at least shop around when the sell the rights.

Maybe its just me, but if I own Metropolis and I was inclined to sell it I would rather sell it to Peter Jackson or James Cameron for 1.5 mil than to McG for 2 mil.

I dunno, whatever, another one bites the dust. Next year we'll be talking about how Uwe Bolls will have bought the rights to remake the anime version of Metropolis. bleh...

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"But what do you think? Can the producer behind Alexander, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, and The Name of the Rose handle Metropolis? Oh yeah, and just to make it more exciting -- Kassar produced Basic Instinct 2."

You had me until Basic Instinct 2.

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You know, I always thought that when they started to even consider to remake great classics like Metropolis, then that would be it, creativity would be gone, imagination would be dead, and this is it, this is the moment. Congratulations Hollywood, you are nothing but a bunch of brainless money hungry bastards that because you don't want to risk on trying anything new, you will rather violate great movies. Really, way to go.

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You seem to forget that Metropolis has already been remade, albeit it rather freely - as Rintaro's anime Metropolis (2001).

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I just wanted to say 'no' to this idea.

And to add that the first time I saw this movie, my daughter was six years old and sat through it with me.

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"The Name of the Rose" is one of my favorite movies, directed by Jean Jacques Anaud, who is absolutely brilliant in my opinion. Aside from that, Schuly and Kassar should abandon this project, the resume is not very impressive.

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As much as it shows how the Hollywood studio system will return to "update" or "re-imagine" classic films that quite frankly no one should be allowed to touch, i do like the idea of Ridley[not Tony] Scott have a shot. Ridleys unique visual vision is something that always interests me, but i also love the idea od Ridley doing another sci-fi film again.

Other names to think about;

Jean Pierre Jeunet
and
An on from Luc Besson[ but only with a script by David Koepp]

Something to think about...

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I really feel that Fritz Lang's Metropolis shouldn't even be touched. What makes it so good is it was the past's take on the future, and it hits hard and well.

The future doing a movie about the future is kind of rediculous. Think about it, the past makes better movies about the future than the Future does. It's what the era doesn't know or thinks will happen is what makes it work.

Era films are different, but The future shouldn't touch this movie. The hardships of making props is a lot better than glossy CG film anyday. It feels more rewarding to see hard work making costumes and not computer works of art.

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I always thought Metropolis was ripe for a remake, based on the fact that such a large portion of the film has been lost.

Not that I think it'll be any GOOD when it's remade...

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I have to say I'm open to the idea Metropolis being remade. It could use some of today's technology for atmosphere and scenery. I'm slightly scared that they will get some crap director because all the good ones will say NO WAY, NUH UH. God, I hope they don't ruin it.

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I don't expect anyone to believe this , but ;Metropolis was adapted as a musical for the London stage in 1989. Predictably , it was horrendous.

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Agree with Richard.

Rintaro's anime Metropolis was a great remake.

http://imdb.com/title/tt0293416/

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