Metropolis (Fritz Lang) coming in 2009!

[powerknowledge]

From Blu-ray.com:

Kino International has revealed that they are bringing the 1927 Fritz Lang silent film 'Metropolis' to Blu-ray sometime in 2009. The film, which was painstakingly restored by Kino in 2001, is often credited with starting the Sci-Fi genre. At this point in planning, it is too early to speculate about technical specs, but special features should be similar to the DVD release.

'Metropolis' is often recognized as a major influence of more recent Sci-Fi classics, such as '2001: A Space Odyssey', 'Blade Runner', 'Dark City', 'The Matrix', and even 'Star Wars'. For its time, it was one of the most elaborate and expensive films ever made, equivalent to approximately $200M today.

As one of the best films ever made, many Blu-ray fans are eagerly anticipating the high definition release of this classic film.

Blu-ray.com - Metropolis Coming to Blu-ray in 2009

Simply outstanding.

[dugpa]

Great news! And since they'll be going back to the HD master, we won't have all the horrible PAL to NTSC conversion issues that plague the dvd. It'll be interesting to see how Kino's blu-ray efforts pan out. I have a love hate relationship with the company as they have some outstanding films in their catalog, but put out some of the worst dvds.

[EM3]

I guess they can concentrate on picture only since it is a silent movie

Bad joke I couldn't resist. I should of bought this on DVD since I need to add it to my collection.

[dugpa]

Originally Posted by EM3

I should of bought this on DVD since I need to add it to my collection.

Naw, be glad you waited. Like most Kino releases they fucked up the dvd by doing the afore mentioned PAL to NTSC conversion instead of making a new NTSC master from the HD original. Ghosting abound. So you didn't miss anything.

[Sehnzeleid]

Originally Posted by dugpa

Naw, be glad you waited. Like most Kino releases they fucked up the dvd by doing the afore mentioned PAL to NTSC conversion instead of making a new NTSC master from the HD original. Ghosting abound. So you didn't miss anything.

Exactly.

The film, which was painstakingly restored by Kino in 2001...

Blu-ray.com.

Kino had no hand in the film's restoration at all.

[powerknowledge]

Old news by now, but thedigitalbits and others have reported that the recently discovered complete footage of Lang's original cut will make its way onto Kino's Blu-ray edition of the film (and, presumably, also an SD edition). Finally, the film will be able to be seen in its unaltered form.

Certainly this will delay the title slightly, but this is the holy grail.

It also holds out hope that Kino will release an edition in both formats that isn't plagued with NTSC/PAL conversion problems. Let's cross our fingers...

[dugpa]

Originally Posted by powerknowledge

It also holds out hope that Kino will release an edition in both formats that isn't plagued with NTSC/PAL conversion problems. Let's cross our fingers...

By its very nature there shouldn't be any NTSC/PAL issues because we're talking HD, and the source would have to come from an HD master. Neither PAL nor NTSC would ever enter into things. Though sadly this is Kino after all so I wouldn't put it past them to try to release an upconverted PAL souce as HD. Sad that so many good films are in the hands of one of the most incompetent home video companies.

Looking at the stills from the found footage, it needs some serious restoration work. Hopefully Murnau and Koerber will restore it and we won't be stuck with whatever bastardization Kino would do.