Kino International's DVD release of the cult classic Giorgio Moroder version of "Metropolis" released in 1984 with a modern rock soundtrack.
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In 1981, three-time Academy Award-winning composer Giorgio Moroder began a three-year endeavor to restore the science fiction classic, Metropolis. During this process, Moroder made the controversial decision to give the film a new, contemporary score, and added a pop music soundtrack featuring songs from some of the biggest stars of the early MTV era, including Pat Benatar, Billy Squier, Freddie Mercury, Bonnie Tyler, Adam Ant, Jon Anderson and more.
In addition to the new score, missing footage was re-edited into the film, intertitles were removed and replaced with subtitles and sound effects and color tinting were added, creating an all new experience...and an all-new film! But for more than a quarter century, this version of Metropolis has remained out of print - until now.
A new HD transfer was created from one of the few remaining prints available, and Kino Lorber is presenting the film in the best possible quality - just as it was seen in its original release in August 1984.
To my ears, Mansell's hit-or-miss. His Moon score is a good example of minimalist variation exercises and he's provided some effectively creepy (and undeserved) aural ambience to both retarded sub-cinema actioners and Aronofsky's regurgitations, but I always thought Metropolis worthy of an erudite score, be it symphonic or electronic. I'd class Mansell with the likes of Kawai or Carpenter (in good company, really - despite their periodic missteps, they've all produced memorable movie music), but I don't feel that his style could convey the ethos of Lang's masterwork. Nonetheless, I love to be proven wrong!