Movie #171 Robocop *1987*

Peter Weller - Robocop / Murphy
Kurtwood Smith - Boddicker
Paul Verhoeven (Director)

Set in the not to distant semi-distopian future of Detroit Robot cop is a sci-fi action flick that has gained a lot of accolades from film geeks.  I figured I should check it out.  This movie was an HOB staple when I was growing up.  I saw it plenty of times then, but I had not watched it since those formidable years.

Upon my re-viewing I found that I remembered a few things (the line "I'll buy that for a dollar" for one) but my memory really wasn't that good on remembering details.  For example, I remember this film felling a lot more pornographic.  This is a gritty Detroit, being ran by criminals both on the street and in the office buildings.  But nearly to the extent that I recalled.  The crime problem in the movie seems centered around a single gang.  When in reality, the crime problem in Detroit is way worse that the film predicted.  I seemed to recall more sex, nudity, cursing and violence.  By today's standards, or my desensitized perception, this films seems almost quaint.

Robocop is a film about a slain cop that becomes part of a corporate program to incorporate real life cops to robot strctures.  At first everything seems wonderful, but then the mostly robotic cop begins having dreams of his lost family and the men who killed or nearly killed him.  He sort of achieves some sort of AI.  From then on the film is a revenge / thriller.

I found the first 2 acts to be intriguing and well constructed.  Then in the final act it sort of goes off the hinges a little.  The introduction of rocket launchers has a tendency to do that in cinema.  The acting is sort of secondary in the film, but I did find Peter Weller interesting if nothing else.  He has been in a lot of "cult films" and has a relatively large following.  Sort of a Bruce Campbell type.  I did enjoy the movie, but I can't say that I drooled over it the way a lot of critics are doing now a days.  I did also like the way that they used news reports to help set the scene in the film.  It reminded me a little of Romeo + Juliet (Movie #159)

This movie has an unexpected connection to my next film to review Source Code, but I won't give away any twists.  I figured Robocop to be a good stupid action film to pass my evening.  It ended up being a decent, thought provoking film asking questions about capitalism, consumerism and other hot button issues.  I give Robocop ★★★.  Check out the Trailer Park to see for yourself.