It's funny how much I have heard about this movie and yet how little I have heard about this movie, I think people focus more on the impact and inspiration this film has than the actual plot and themes. It can be pretty layered with religious overtones, the gap between classes, a quite literal revolution story, and a romance all thrown in together but balanced quite nicely. We follow the son of the ruler of this metropolis who quickly is smitten by a woman from the undercity as he's drawn into the industrial nightmare, while his father has machinations of his own. That's bare bones, it really would take quite a while to break this plot down fully but it's so worth watching that I wouldn't give it away regardless. I have rarely seen a film so fitting of the times than now, the simple face value instances of a severe not only wealth gap but class gap between the higher echelons of society that reap the benefits of a nameless voiceless force that work themselves to death, a leader that has zero qualms instigating a violent response from lower class citizens to consolidate power, and how a small group can become an army to rise up against it's oppresors reeks of this foul year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Twenty-Six. And oh how I wish the resolution of this film could be anything beyond a pipe dream in reality, a constant theme of the movie is, the mediator between the brain and the hand must be the heart, and it shows how compassion and solidarity for your fellow man can create a better tomorrow. It's fairly potent and powerful stuff, and ideals I support fully. I know Gustav Fröhlich is our main character and he does indeed do a good job showcasing a man who is willing to fight for the woman he loves and has sympathy instead of apathy for those less fortunate than him BUT Brigitte Helm is in this movie. Good fucking God this woman is the star and the real focus for my money's worth, and she gets to act with so much more range because of her importance to the plot. I have never in even my wildest nightmares seen eyes so jaw droppingly beautiful and yet terrifying beyond the capacity for rational thought, I don't know who was in charge of the lighting for this movie but they damn well knew how to light her face! Jesus God almighty! Another standout in the cast for me was Fritz Rasp known only as The Thin Man, maybe it was the clothing or such a distinct physicality but he almost almost was giving me Joker vibes, and for a relatively small part he was quite memorable. I know everybody and their grandmother talks about the visuals and the special effects, rightfully so cause Fritz Lang has always been such a diligent director who knows how to achieve a shot. The modelwork, the absurdly expansive sets, the backdrops, the truly experimental collage of images, the costuming, it's absolutely no wonder why this movie has stuck around in the public consciousness. And for a movie that is damn near two and a half hours long which is rare for me in my experiences with silent movies, moves at a pretty good pace. It's never boring and considering we still don't really have the full film even after all this time due to several edits being made not long after it's premiere, who knows how much longer it really is. But the reconstruction efforts are very much appreciated, thanks to a 16mm print found in Buenos Aires. Now the real question is do I like it better than Faust? In terms of plot, no. In terms of relevance, it's essential. I'll give it 4 stars, 9/10! I don't really get preachy on this show but pay close attention to the world, support your neighbors and community, and tear down those rich and powerful fuck's worlds until there's nothing but ash for them to choke on.
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