It’s been some time since I watched the film ROBOCOP. I
loved the movie when it first came out, enjoyed it on tape and then disc later.
I have copies of the original and second films and while I watched the reboot I
didn’t think it was that great. So when I heard Arrow Video was going to be
releasing their version of the classic I can admit that I was excited.
If for some reason you’ve never seen the movie here goes.
Taking place in Detroit in the near future, crime runs rampant in the streets.
Who knew how this movie could predict that? The police are overworked and
underpaid and putting their lives on the line daily. They get help in the form
of weapons and armor from a private company called OCP (Omni Consumer
Products). Too bad the goods being sold aren’t quite up to what they need.
OCP has an ulterior motive. They have their own items on the
drawing board to replace the police. Their top man Dick Jones wants to send out
a new robot, the ED-209. Unfortunately during a demonstrations the robot kills
another executive before it can be shut down. This allows up and coming exec
Bob Morton (Jose Ferrer) to plug his idea into the mix, a robot/human hybrid,
to the head of the company. They just need a subject.
Just transferred to the worst district in the city is Alex
Murphy (Peter Weller). Murphy is a good solid cop with a family that wants to
make a difference. He’s teamed with hard knocks cop Anne Lewis (Nancy Allen)
and they head out on the job. They get a call that takes them to an abandoned
factory where the main criminal in the city, Clarence Boddicker (Kurtwood
Smith) and his gang have taken the money from a recent robbery. Before they can
move in Lewis is knocked unconscious and Murphy is literally blown apart by
Boddicker. OCP has their test subject.
OCP combines what is left with the still alive but barely
Murphy with a robotic shell. The plan is to erase his memories and replace them
with programming. Robocop when up and running is what the city needs taking on
all crime and stopping it with the force necessary while never being wounded.
But the memory wipe wasn’t quite as planned. Murphy has some memories left. And
Lewis thinks she recognizes Murphy beneath the mask.
Eventually a showdown with Boddicker will take place but in
the meantime more underhanded dealings with OCP are revealed. A secret block
placed inside Robocop’s programming comes out. And the city will find that it
needs its police just as much as they need their new hero.
Director Paul Verhoeven was on a sci-fi roll when this film
came out. He followed the film with TOTAL RECALL before heading into more
mainstream subjects with BASIC INSTINCT. But he did insert a sensibility here
with a knack at placing commentary about the world around us into the mix.
While the focus might be crime and crime fighting much of the film revolves
around the corporate world and the product placement mentality of everyday
viewing. Shows intercut in the film have things taking place that an apparent
mindless society finds funny. And newscasts have smiling faces presenting
horrifying stories. We have become that cold hearted society here.
The movie was a huge success with two sequels and the revamp
I mentioned. In addition to that there is talk of yet another reboot to the
film. Fans filled the theaters when each one came out though they began to
dwindle with each one. But that’s because they quality began to slack off as
well. Still, they made for entertaining sci-fi at the time.
While the acting here is wonderful it never gets the notice
that it should, instead people talk about the effects. While they were stunning
for the time the actors deserve more credit. Weller as Murphy has little time
onscreen as himself but is effective in those few moments. To be able to create
an unfelling machine with feelings was no easy task and yet he accomplishes it
here. Allen turns in a fine performance as well, though her time is limited.
Ferrer as the back stabbing cutthroat exec would go on to use that performance
to build more like it. Ronny Cox as Jones has never been more evil. And
Kurtwood Smith would go on to become the most cantankerous father anyone ever
saw in the series THAT 70S SHOW.
The film is as enjoyable today as it was when first released
in 1987. It’s hard to believe that it is that old already, just shy of 30 years
now. If you enjoyed it then you’ll enjoy it just as much now and Arrow has done
a great job with this release, presenting it in a 4K restoration of the film
from the original camera negative by MGM, transferred in 2013 and approved by
director Paul Verhoeven. And the extras here are up to par with all of their
releases.
Those extras include the director’s cut and the theatrical
cuts of the film, a limited edition collector’s handbook with new writing on
the film by Omar Ahmed, Christopher Griffiths and Henry Blyth, an archive
commentary by director Verhoeven, exec producer Jon Davison and co-writer Ed
Neumeier, a new commentary track by film historian Paul M. Sammon, a new
commentary track by fans Christopher Griffiths, Gary Smart and Eastwood Allen,
THE FUTURE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT: CREATING ROBOCOP a newly films interview with
co-writer Michael Miner, ROBOTALK a newly filmed conversation between Ed
Neumeier and filmmakers David Birke and Nick McCarthy, TRUTH OF CHARACTER a
newly filmed interview with Nancy Allen, CASTING OLD DETROIT a newly filmed
interview with casting director Julie Selzer, CONNECTINT THE SHOTS a newly
films interview with second unit director Mark Goldblatt, COMPOSING ROBOCOP a
new tribute to composer Basil Poledouris, ROBOPROPS a newly films tour of
super-fan Julien Dumont’s collection of original props and memorabilia, a 2012
Q&A with Verhoeven, Davison, Neumeier, Miner, Allen, Well and animator Phil
Tippett, ROBOCOP: CREATING A LEGEND, VILLAINS OF OLD DETROIT and SPECIAL
EFFECTS THEN AND NOW three archive featurettes from 2007, Paul Verhoeven Easter
egg, four deleted scenes, THE BOARDROOM: STORYBOARD with commentary by Phil
Tippet, Director’s cut production footage with raw dailies from the film of the
unrated gore scenes, two theatrical trailers, three TV spots, extensive image
galleries, an archive commentary by Verhoeven, Jon Davison and Neumeier
recorded for the theatrical version of the film, two isolated score tracks, an
edited-for-television version of the film with alternate dubs, takes and edits
of several scenes, a split screen comparison of the theatrical cut and
director’s cut and ROBOCOP: EDITED FOR TELEVISION a compilation of alternate
scenes from two edited-for-television version newly transferred in HD from
recently-unearthed 35mm elements. Whew! That’s an exhaustive amount of extras!
Fans will find this version a must have and film lovers will
enjoy it as well. Make sure you pick one up today.
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