Law enforcement is a dangerous job for all police at the best of times. That is no more apparent than in the 1987 science-fiction movie, Robocop. After seeing this movie a few times I appreciate what it must be like to be a cop and what it is like to be the target of criminals, and at the mercy of the public they are protecting. Robocop allows us to see first-hand what it means to have your life 'robbed' away from you, then what it takes to right the wrong that has been committed.
When a good cop, Alex Murphy, gets blown away by some ruthless criminals, innovative scientists and doctors are able to piece him back together as an unstoppable crime-fighting cyborg called 'Robocop'. Impervious to bullets and bombs, and equipped to with high-tech weaponry, Robocop quickly makes a name for himself by cleaning up the crime-ridden streets of violence-ravaged Detroit. But despite his new, hardened exterior, Robocop is tormented by scraps of memory of his former life, and relives vivid nightmares of his own death at the hands of the vicious killers. Now he is out to seek more than justice.he wants revenge!
I am fascinated by Robocop director Paul Verhoeven. His direction style is pretty good, with his most famous work being Basic Instinct, a movie I did like. I am sure that this movie took along time to direct, and I also know that Verhoeven was very 'hands-on' directing it. However he has a very weird mind, especially with his obsession about the crucifix. In Robocop, Verhoeven said 'I wanted to show Satan killing Jesus', in reference to the character of Alex Murphy. I question this man's morals and values, as they are very confronting. His fascination with violence is also a very hard thing to understand.
The other people involved in making 'Robocop' were screenwriters Edward Neumeier and Michael Miner, who wrote a wonderful script for this movie. The hero of the film was especially well written. The people who were involved in making the 'Robocop' suit, had an arduous task, but did it beautifully. The suit was designed by Rob Bottin. I am sure he would have had to put a lot of thought into what and how the suit would be like.
Actor Peter Weller had the difficult, but enviable task of being Police Officer Alex Murphy/Robocop. I feel that he was a great choice for being 'the knight in shining armor'. The way he makes us believe that he is a robot is terrific, as is the way that he brings a human side to his other personality. I recently saw Weller in the movie 'Styx', starring alongside Aussie actor Bryan Brown. 'Robo's' partner is female cop Anne Lewis (Nancy Allen). Her character remains loyal to Robocop, because when other people believe Alex Murphy is 'dead', Lewis knows her old partner is inside that machine somewhere.
There are some really bad characters in Robocop. Robert 'Bob' Morton (Miguel Ferrier) would seem to be on the side of good, as he is the one responsible for making 'a man become a robot'. However it also evident that he is only doing it for his own gain. The meanest character on this film was a man by the name of Clarence Boddicker, (Kurtwood Smith). His character has no conscience, as he goes around Detroit killing innocent cops without blinking an eye. He is doing this under the evil instructions of OCP employee Richard 'Dick' Jones (Ronny Cox). By the end of the movie you are willing that Dick and the bad guy are blown away by Robocop.
I would describe the scenes to this movie as being either 'gruesome or heroic'. Alex Murphy's death is one of the most challenging pieces of cinema I have ever seen, as was the introduction of Police robot 'Ed 209'. When Ed goes haywire, killing an innocent man, once again the violence is very confronting for the audience. This scene also shows the subtle use of comedy. After shutting down the robot, a person calls out for a 'paramedic' to help the dead man. This was very humorous, as the man was more than just 'dead', and makes what was something so violent seem to be just a joke. By the end this movie, I felt very desensitised by the violence, as if it were commonplace.
This movie also has some heroic scenes. All of the screen time with Robocop seemed to make him feel like a hero, as we are all willing him to do his job, by being a tough indestructible police officer. My favourite two 'Robo-scenes' are one, when Robocop confronts one of his killers at a 'Shell' gas station, and two, when our hero uncovers a major drug raid, again involving the scum that ended Alex Murphy. I also like the soundtrack to 'Robocop'. The Robocop 'march' highlights the status of our hero and these scenes. Yet we are also made to feel for this cyborg. I like how we see him revisit his former home, and what affect his 'human brain' has. This robot is still very vulnerable and disturbed by what has happened to him in the past as a human.
It is a known fact that people hated working on this movie, which is understandable. I am sure it would have been demanding, on and off screen. Peter Weller also openly admitted that being 'Robocop' was the worst experience of his acting life, simply because of the costume that he had to wear. I was not surprised to hear that. Yet he gave the Robocop figure great 'heart' which it needed. This movie will test your threshold for violence, as it is 'cynical and unblinking'. It will also make you feel good, as the main star is a 'likeable' robot. Watch out for the wonderful DVD which is now available for this movie. For an 80's movie, Robocop was a very good one.
CMRS gives 'Robocop': 4 (Very Good Film)
When a good cop, Alex Murphy, gets blown away by some ruthless criminals, innovative scientists and doctors are able to piece him back together as an unstoppable crime-fighting cyborg called 'Robocop'. Impervious to bullets and bombs, and equipped to with high-tech weaponry, Robocop quickly makes a name for himself by cleaning up the crime-ridden streets of violence-ravaged Detroit. But despite his new, hardened exterior, Robocop is tormented by scraps of memory of his former life, and relives vivid nightmares of his own death at the hands of the vicious killers. Now he is out to seek more than justice.he wants revenge!
I am fascinated by Robocop director Paul Verhoeven. His direction style is pretty good, with his most famous work being Basic Instinct, a movie I did like. I am sure that this movie took along time to direct, and I also know that Verhoeven was very 'hands-on' directing it. However he has a very weird mind, especially with his obsession about the crucifix. In Robocop, Verhoeven said 'I wanted to show Satan killing Jesus', in reference to the character of Alex Murphy. I question this man's morals and values, as they are very confronting. His fascination with violence is also a very hard thing to understand.
The other people involved in making 'Robocop' were screenwriters Edward Neumeier and Michael Miner, who wrote a wonderful script for this movie. The hero of the film was especially well written. The people who were involved in making the 'Robocop' suit, had an arduous task, but did it beautifully. The suit was designed by Rob Bottin. I am sure he would have had to put a lot of thought into what and how the suit would be like.
Actor Peter Weller had the difficult, but enviable task of being Police Officer Alex Murphy/Robocop. I feel that he was a great choice for being 'the knight in shining armor'. The way he makes us believe that he is a robot is terrific, as is the way that he brings a human side to his other personality. I recently saw Weller in the movie 'Styx', starring alongside Aussie actor Bryan Brown. 'Robo's' partner is female cop Anne Lewis (Nancy Allen). Her character remains loyal to Robocop, because when other people believe Alex Murphy is 'dead', Lewis knows her old partner is inside that machine somewhere.
There are some really bad characters in Robocop. Robert 'Bob' Morton (Miguel Ferrier) would seem to be on the side of good, as he is the one responsible for making 'a man become a robot'. However it also evident that he is only doing it for his own gain. The meanest character on this film was a man by the name of Clarence Boddicker, (Kurtwood Smith). His character has no conscience, as he goes around Detroit killing innocent cops without blinking an eye. He is doing this under the evil instructions of OCP employee Richard 'Dick' Jones (Ronny Cox). By the end of the movie you are willing that Dick and the bad guy are blown away by Robocop.
I would describe the scenes to this movie as being either 'gruesome or heroic'. Alex Murphy's death is one of the most challenging pieces of cinema I have ever seen, as was the introduction of Police robot 'Ed 209'. When Ed goes haywire, killing an innocent man, once again the violence is very confronting for the audience. This scene also shows the subtle use of comedy. After shutting down the robot, a person calls out for a 'paramedic' to help the dead man. This was very humorous, as the man was more than just 'dead', and makes what was something so violent seem to be just a joke. By the end this movie, I felt very desensitised by the violence, as if it were commonplace.
This movie also has some heroic scenes. All of the screen time with Robocop seemed to make him feel like a hero, as we are all willing him to do his job, by being a tough indestructible police officer. My favourite two 'Robo-scenes' are one, when Robocop confronts one of his killers at a 'Shell' gas station, and two, when our hero uncovers a major drug raid, again involving the scum that ended Alex Murphy. I also like the soundtrack to 'Robocop'. The Robocop 'march' highlights the status of our hero and these scenes. Yet we are also made to feel for this cyborg. I like how we see him revisit his former home, and what affect his 'human brain' has. This robot is still very vulnerable and disturbed by what has happened to him in the past as a human.
It is a known fact that people hated working on this movie, which is understandable. I am sure it would have been demanding, on and off screen. Peter Weller also openly admitted that being 'Robocop' was the worst experience of his acting life, simply because of the costume that he had to wear. I was not surprised to hear that. Yet he gave the Robocop figure great 'heart' which it needed. This movie will test your threshold for violence, as it is 'cynical and unblinking'. It will also make you feel good, as the main star is a 'likeable' robot. Watch out for the wonderful DVD which is now available for this movie. For an 80's movie, Robocop was a very good one.
CMRS gives 'Robocop': 4 (Very Good Film)