Review of RoboCop (1987) by Adam F — 30 May 2013

"Robocop" is violent, funny, exciting and one of the best action films to come out of the 80's. There isn't anything that doesn't work and not only has it aged tremendously well, but there is so much going on in the film that even on a second or third viewing you'll notice something new that will delight you. One of the most satisfying elements of the films is the violence. This movie is incredibly brutal, with characters getting blown away left and right from the very beginning of the film. Originally rated X but edited down to an R-rating, even the "tamer" cut of the film will genuinely shock you when it comes to such bloody scenes as the one where "Murphy" confronts Kurtwood Smith as "Clarence" for the first time. Somehow though, director Paul Verhoven manages to get that perfect mix of comedy and genuine shock to never go over that edge of tasteless cinema. One scene the brutal violence will have you laughing hysterically while the next will have you feeling genuinely disturbed and emotionally shaken (depending on what the story wants you to feel). The villains in the film are reprehensible and you delight in seeing "Robocop" deliver the kind of police justice that only the movies can deliver. These slime balls get shot, blown up, stabbed, melted, thrown through windows, thrown out of building and every time you'll be screaming "Yeah! Take that you dirt bag! That's what you get!".

These great antagonists are one of the major strengths of the film. You get a lot of them, each are distinct from one another and reflect different ugly sides of humanity (and in some cases, "Robocop" himself). You get the corrupt business guys, willing to recklessly endanger the populace for the sake of profits and constantly backstabbing each other in order to get on top and you get the manic street-level thugs who are savagely at war with the police department. Actually the gangs are not that different from the big business guys because they're also willing to do anything for a profit and never give a second thought to the collateral damages they're causing. Unlike the white collar guys however, they aren't afraid of getting their hands dirty so you really have to wonder which one of these is the most appalling: the one who shows you up front he's dirty and delights in the carnage that's being caused, or the one that pretends to be civilized but gives little regard for human life in the end. An important theme in the film is the idea of "Man vs. Machine" and without delving too much into it, this brings us to the third villain. The emotionless, mindless law enforcing "ED-209": at once this character is a genuine physical threat for the titular protagonist, a source of comedy and a warning of what a mindless justice system devoid of all emotions could mean for humanity. Despite it completely lacking any personality (It's a robot, it doesn't think) this "beast" has a unique design, some great lines (more on that in a bit) and some subtle touches that make it unforgettable. Every time it lifts its guns and wants to intimidate you, it belches out tiger roars or other animal sounds and the its very first scene is one of the most iconic in the film; an introduction so perfect you're guaranteed to imitate its mannerisms and quote it any chance you can.

About the quotable lines in the movie and the written script; an essential quality in a great film is a solid collection of iconic scenes and memorable, quotable lines. In "Robocop" nearly every scene has a moment or quote that is totally unique and will earn its place in your library of awesome movie lines. "Dead or alive, you're coming with me!"; "I'd buy that for a dollar!"; "Your move, creep."; "I bet you think you're pretty smart... Think you can outsmart a bullet?!". Even one of these would be enough to immortalize "Robocop" but with all of these you can't deny the brilliance of the script and you'll have fun identifying the lines as they're quoted constantly in pop culture or between you and other fans. On top of these great lines we also get some great action sequences (the best being the final confrontation between "Clarence" and "Robocop" while their allies are also duking it out) and some really funny comedic moments. There are some fake commercials inserted within the film that work as great pieces of satire and also help flesh out the world that these characters are living in.

On a technical standpoint, the movie is expertly put together. The special effects and makeup are astounding. You can tell that everyone working on the film really put their heart into it and weren't afraid to show off their talent. There are several moments that will have you wondering how they pulled the whole thing off while you'll be humming the great score by Basil Poledouris. Best of all, there's a lot to think about in the film. There are a lot of satirical moments and with the strong theme of "Man vs. Machine" throughout (even in some subtle moments like when "Murphy" goes through his abandoned house) you'll really be thinking and anxious to discuss the movie or read about it once it's over. On top of the countless details you'll probably have missed the first time around (keep an eye out for the scenes where "Robocop" is interacting with schoolchildren and ask yourself if those were genuine reactions or not) you can spend a lot of time just taking notes and discussing the movie with your buddies.

Between the R-Rated and the X/unrated versions, there are some satisfying additions (like a scene where we get a taste of what kind of bond the police officers at the Detroit station have together) and more blood and violence, which helps the movie feel more like a comedy (it becomes really over-the-top often). This is the preferred version, even if there is at least one continuity error early on in an early car chase because of the extended footage (it's quick so you won't mind). When it comes to action, science fiction and even dark comedy, it doesn't get much better than "Robocop", which is so much more than what you would expect from the title. If you haven't seen it yet, watch it asap. If you've already seen it, get your friends together and take another look. After having some big laughs together you're guaranteed some really good in-jokes and intelligent discussions. (Extended Edition on Dvd, May 17th, 2013).