This film is both visually and philosophically exciting. It offers inspirational insight about character of human beings, and the nature of love. Unfortunately, with a few exceptions, it does not leave its characters with anymore memorable attributes than its original creator Tezuka has left behind.

Ideas drive the events of this film. The story however gets bogged down as characters are separated in the massive caverns of the city itself and must make their way back to one another.

Tima's inability to discover herself, her need to submerge herself into Kenichi, and her eventual plunge into the city's destruction are well crafted. Tima herself, however, does not develop much. Kenichi and his uncle are merely virtuous retro-male characters. Atlas and Pero emerge as scene stealing character actors but withdraw all too quickly, and while Rock's need to be loved should make him sympathetic, his cruelty removes whatever sympathy the audience might feel. The strongest character in the film is "Metropolis" itself, and it is a fascinating presence.

Metropolis would be worth seeing for the magnificence of the city alone. This is truly an amazing film, not only for the mix of CG and animation, but for the purity of its stylized, archaic look. Even the movements of the characters retain the same stretchy and comic fluidity of pre-war Mickey Mouse cartoons.

The performances by voice actors Yuka Imoto as Tima, and Koki Okada as Rock are perfect, difficult considering that they competed for attention against such strong visuals.

The robot named Fifi was cheesy indeed, but I must admit I choked up when they found him/her alive.