If there's one film that I don't think will ever get old and stop being important, it's the great Fritz Lang's 1927 silent German masterpiece METROPOLIS. It's themes of man's struggle in life as technology and machines begin to dictate our every move and the horrible idea that we are just all batteries working for 'the man' is something that we can all relate too.
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METROPOLIS is one of the most important films of all time. At it's time 80 years ago it was the most expensive production ever made (equiv. of over $200 million in today's market) with gothic and futuristic art deco and huge skyscrapers.
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It's influence in cinema history is undeniable. The image of the 'Tower of Babel' above and the whole look of this world would influence BLADE RUNNER and Tim Burton's BATMAN. The whole idea of THE MATRIX has roots in this film.
The image of the mad scientist and the robotic female would forever influence pop culture too. Would FRANKENSTEIN exist the way we know if it wasn't for this film? Variety are carrying the news that a Munich based producing duo have acquired the remake rights to the feature and are currently in talks with a number of directors over helming their 'updated' remake. A decision is expected early next year on who will be given the gig, with the movie likely to have begun production before the end of 2008. That's it. Nothing else. No other news on this at the moment. We shed another tear for a great movie about to be raped...