Last night I went to go see Fritz Lang’s Metropolis. BUT, not just any ol’ version. It was the 1984 version:
In 1984, a new restoration and edit of the film was made by Giorgio Moroder, a music producer who specialized in pop-rock soundtracks for motion pictures. Moroder’s version of the film introduced a new contemporary pop music soundtrack for the film. Although it restored a number of previously missing scenes and plot details from the original release (in particular, Moroder’s version restores the character of Hel, who was omitted from the original release version of the film), his version of the film runs to only 80 minutes in length, although this is mainly due to the original intertitles being replaced with subtitles, and being run at 24 frames.
I’ve loved Giorgio Moroder ever since I heard the American Gigolo soundtrack. Of course he was around long before that, but that was MY first exposure to him. Of course he also did the soundtrack for 1982′s Cat People, Electric Dreams and The NeverEnding Story, other film favorites.
There have been some critics who don’t feel like Moroder’s score went with the film, but I liked it just fine. I just pictured it in the context of the time it was made (the 80′s) and personally didn’t have a problem with it. I also feel like it made something “old” a little more accessible to a different generation. I want the soundtrack.
I arrived early, as usual, and sat on the staircase (where the line had formed) and read until the theater was ready. For some unexplained reason (perhaps it was the landing area, and steps lent themselves to more comfortable seating), the man in front of me left a HUGE gap between him and the people in front of him. Naturally, some dickhead couple, after looking up the staircase to see a long line formed, opted to sit in this space, as if they didn’t realize that they were cutting in line. I just sighed and tried not to focus on it. It just reminded me why I hate the public en masse. In a perfect world, I’d have loved to press a button and have them fall thousands of feet to their doom, impaled on rusty spikes. But in the real world, I just wrote it off as more of a selfish, ignorant society’s lack of etiquette.
Once in the theater there was plenty of room, since there weren’t nearly as many people there as with newer “classics”, which was nice. I sat there and ate my pretzel dog (apparently they’d taken the place of the more delicious BAGEL DOGS that they used to offer). Of course, everyone was talking and per usual, there were the people who think they’re hilarious and that everyone wants to be privy to everything they say; I hoped they’d shut-the-fuck-up once the movie started. And naturally, a group of 4 people sat behind me and were ‘awesome’ all prior to the movie’s start. BUT the GREAT thing was that you could hear a pin drop, once the movie began. NICE. As it should be.
Well, I should say ALMOST quiet enough to hear a pin drop. About 30 minutes into the film, the guy one chair away begins to S N O R E. Seriously. Wtf is that about? I mean, this is a MIDNIGHT showing. Why would you blow $20 (admission, snacks) to go somewhere and fuckin’ fall asleep?! Knock on wood that I can still handle staying up late. Thank god. Nothing says oldster like falling asleep during a fuckin’ movie. Sorry, but that’s how I feel about it. If worst comes to worst, take a fuckin’ nap prior to show time, Sleeping Beauty. Geez!
No one could keep their itty bitty eyes open long enough to go see it with me, which can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it’s always nice to share the experience with someone, then on the OTHER hand, going alone alleviates any superfluous small talk and/or listening to whining about how “boring” it is to wait in line. Waiting in line: it’s not thrill-a-minute stuff, but it’s what you have to do sometimes when you’re a big boy. The alternative: be one of those ‘I’m too cool to get there early’-losers and wait in line at the concession stand, then rush to get inside, only to find that there are no ‘good’ seats. Totally worth it. NOT!
Overall, it was great getting to see the movie on the big screen. It was a perfect night.
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If I wasn’t working that evening, I might have joined you for the screening. But, to be truthful, I think I’m done with the Inwood. The weekend prior to this screening, I went to see Lucio Fulci’s “Zombie” at their Friday midnite showing and too many ‘hipster’ elements reminded me why I haven’t gone to this theater in over a year. But, I wanted to see this on the big screen.
On the long drive back, I figured that it was ultimately a complete waste of my time and money to see a digital projection in Dallas for $10. I know, I should focus on the experience of it all, which is really why I chose to go in the first place, but too many other factors became annoying to me during the screening.
First off, I absolutely can’t stand the seats in that place. Unless, I were to have a sweetie nestled next to me, it’s virtually impossible to get comfortable and I couldn’t help feeling like Lily Tomlin throughout. (Cue Tears For Fears’ “Songs From The Big Chair”…)
Secondly, what is up with the lackluster presenters at this theater? I guess if they don’t give a shit about what’s being shown, they truly don’t put forth any effort warming up the crowd. So, then, why bother? Not that the crowd needs warming up, but if it had went a lot smoother, I wouldn’t be annoyed and anxious to get the movie rolling (I should say ‘spinning,’ since it was a disc) already. They did their signature trivia question plus giveaway, but didn’t even give the audience a chance to answer or HEAR the question… the presenter thought it was hilarious that some woman tried to pay for her admission with a receipt from Pei Wei (What the fuck?!) and decided to give her the DVD prize. No actual trivia, just time to give something free to a moron. Whatever. Also, the presenter decided to rattle off all the films the Inwood would be screening throughout November and December. He mentioned “Metropolis” as being the… wait for it… Giorgio More-Order version. WHOM?! Also, they’re screening “Santa Claus Conquers The Martians” sometime in December and his comment was, “I’m not sure if it’s the black and white or colorized version that we’re showing.” My bet is that it’s the color version, know-nothing! And, then, as if this bullshit wasn’t strung out long enough, some dickhead in front of me decided to ask a few questions and request films to be shown… the most ridiculous, energy-draining questions, along with some heavy rotation cinema requests… “Army Of Darkness,” “Monty Python And The Holy Grail,” et cetera.
One of my favorite parts of “Zombie” is it’s score and it was great to hear the opening titles at a low roar… VOLUME, PLEASE! Oh, and every screening must have people who are above the film being shown, providing their snickers and chuckles during every inappropriate moment. I’m convinced the Inwood’s regular attendees are, for the most part, bored and just want something to do from midnight to 2 a.m. and have no invested interest about what’s being shown. Like other film-going experiences, it truly puzzles me why people want to piss away money on a social experience.
At least, you had a far less annoying experience than mine. I think that a silent film would demand a much more attentive, respectful crowd. Unfortunately, I had to deal with people who find dubbing both crazy and hilarious.
Comment by Nathan November 10, 2011 @ 8:23 pmSo, in a nutshell, you love the Inwood overall experience?
I know what you mean though, but to be honest, I haven’t been anywhere that’s anywhere near perfect. The Inwood is one of the ONLY places I go to the movies any more. Everywhere else is too “awesome” for me to justify dropping a wad, just to have to listen to other people fuckin’ talk and/or be distracted by cellphones lighting up and/or ringing.
The nice thing about retrospectives (depending on the ‘hip’ factor) is that it cuts down on the idiots. Mainstream retrospectives that have since found a ‘cult’ following (i.e. Scarface, A Nightmare Before Christmas, zombies) are a given that they’re gonna have an AWESOME audience. Rule of thumb: If there’s a tie-in product for it at Hot Topic, don’t go to the movie. And with the resurgence of zombie popularity (AMC’s The Walking Dead TV show, Zombieland, and the slew of other zombie-themed movies slated to come out this year, and that came out last year…), it was no surprise that the audience would be full of idiots who weren’t there because they’re cinemaphiles like you and I. That’s just one of the reasons I choose the movies that I do. I KNOW that if it’s a silent film, foreign film and/or obscure film, the audience will be sparse, but idiot-free. At least that’s *usually* how it works. Until the apocalypse comes, we’ll never be idiot-free. It’s a shame really. Common sense and/or etiquette went extinct a long time ago. Etiquette is no longer instilled en masse.
Comment by kirkkitsch November 15, 2011 @ 7:30 pm