Let me say up front that as a 35-year-old fan of American indie and European films, Osamu Tezuka's anime film "Metropolis" -- transformed into a big screen flick by Katsuhiro Otomo ("Akira") and director Rintaro ("X," "Galaxy Express 999") -- is clearly not aimed in my direction. But, as a devoted fan of The Simpsons and life-long Merrie Melodies fan, I don't write off animation as an art or entertainment form.
"Metropolis," which includes a few nods to the futuristic city of the classic film of the same name, is based on the late 1940s Japanese manga (comic) by Osamu Tezuka, who is acknowledged as the godfather of anime and manga.
Set sometime in the future, "Metropolis" takes place in a strictly segregated, multi-layered city inhabited by humans and robots. It follows detective Shunsaku Ban and his nephew Ken-ichi as they search for a renegade scientist, Dr. Laughton, so they can arrest him and seize Tima, a young half-robot, half-human girl that is his latest project. Tima is being created as the perfect heir to a powerful leader who hopes her lack of emotions will make her the ultimate leader.
High-paced and packed with nearly non-stop action, "Metropolis" is a whirlwind of activity and high intensity animation that flickers by rapid-fire. The story isn't terribly interesting but that's probably not the point anyway.
To these eyes, the animation, for all its glitz and tension, isn't terribly original or interesting, resembling a 1970s or '80s Japanese science fiction television cartoon. And those big eyes ... can you say "Speed Racer"?
Kids will love the flashing colors, the robots and the futuristic images. And there's not much in the way or swearing or sex, so it's probably fine to bring them. Action film fans will eat up the high-flying chases and other action scenes. But if you're hoping for anything deeper, look elsewhere.
"Metropolis" opens Fri., May 3 at Landmark's Oriental Theatre. Click here for showtimes.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
