Robocop/Robocop 2/Robocop 3 [Blu-ray] [1987]

First: Amazon...stop lumping blu-ray and DVD reviews together - it's confusing and it renders many of them meaningless. Also, what's with reviews for VHS???? You can't buy them any more, and they look awful; so who cares about them? Just my opinion.

As for Robocop. I'm so glad I decided to buy this blu-ray box (despite the poor reviews). I've owned this film on VHS and twice on DVD and I can honestly say that this blu-ray is the best this film has ever looked or sounded. It's a dated movie with pretty shoddy special effects and all of that is glaringly obvious when watching this blu-ray; but if you love the film anyway that shouldn't matter to you.

Other people have listed the audio tracks, talked about quality, subtitles and the lack of extras...but what I couldn't find a reference to is which version of Robocop is in this boxset. Well, I've just finished watching it and I can assure everyone that it's the, far superior, Director's Cut on this disc.
So, if you don't care about the lack of extras this is the set to buy.

P.S. A request (or plea) to anyone who thinks about reviewing a blu-ray: Please, please, please, can you give details about picture quality, audio details, extras or your opinion on whether the blu is better than the DVD. These reviews that say "I like this film, it's good" or "I've just got my disc and watched it," mean absolutely nothing and are a waste of space.

This trilogy was the first ever DVD set I brought - i've really expanded my collection since, and I have to say, that I have never grown tired of it.

Robocop, the original directed by blood and guts, nudity loving Paul Verhoven is an absolute masterpiece. For me, once you have seen the Director's Cut version of this film, you'll never go back to the theatrical release. Robocop, for anyone that is unfamiliar with the story is about Alex Murphy. A cop transferred from his peaceful precinct to the distinct hell hole of the one he's in now. (I am writing this quite some time after watching the film, so which Metro district it is escapes me)

He is partnered with a short haired Nancy Allen, who plays Lois, a bubble gum blowing, no nonsense cop who can more than defend herself. It is interesting to view that Lois is almost stripped of her sexuality - the short hair and body armer disguising female curves. If you listen to the excellent audio commentary from Paul Verrhoven, this was because the director didn't want Robocop to have any kind of sexual attraction to Lois, hence the unflattering body armour and very short hairstyle. I have to say, it works very well, and I do prefer it, rather than the idea you have a helmet removed and the cliche of long flowing blonde hair cascading down as she does so. Paul Verhoven thought the same.

Anyway, back to the film. The supporting cast is excellent, and the action is non stop. With the uncut version, the violence is definitely upped, especially within the first half hour - Murphy's "death" and ED209's unfortunate debut involving Mr Kenny are unflinchingly visceral. Little else changes, except for more violence, but it does complete Paul's wonderful vision of a corrupt business empire which allows a city to slide into the 7th level of hell, simply so they can build their precious Delta City. ED209's debut is dealt with by stop motion wizard Phil Tippit, and the film has dated well.

Needless to say, it's down to Robocop to save the day (and the Company President) from the evil Vice President, Dick Jones. With great acting from everyone involved - especially lunatic Clarrence Bodiker - this is the best of all three, and a Cult Classic which would later have references to it in the 90's with hit comedy, "Spaced."

Now, this review is supposed to be based on all three, so I'd better get a move on...

Robocop 2 is a darker view, directed by Empire Strikes Back Director, Irvin Krishner, it's a much more sombre, darker sequal and suffers from some awful special effects and looks older than its predocessor. It follows the continuing exploits of OCP trying to build Delta City and Cain, a notorious drug dealer, dealing in the incredibly addictive narcotic Nuke. It's nowhere near as good as the first film, but does have its high points.

Robocop 3 is a terrible end to the triology. It suffers from awful acting, a lack of plot, characters you don't care about and isn't really watchable at all.

This boxset is still worth owning though for the first film alone.

Robocop! Now there's a blast from the past. I remember watching it on VHS, playing it on my Gameboy, and sneaking into the cinema when Robocop 2 came out. What I didn't remember though, is just how bloody good the films are.

When it came out, Robocop was ground breaking - it was THE film to see. I can't think of a anything like it since that caused as big of a stir, except Terminator 2. It surely is an Icon of the era and a landmark in cinema. Everyone of a certain age will remember him. And for good reason.

I'm a grown man of 33 now and bought this trilogy as it was going cheap at my local HMV - I'd never seen 3 - and hadn't seen the other 2 in nearly 20 years. And I have to say, films 1 & 2 have stood the test of time. The effects still look great and haven't dated at all. The stories are deep and gritty, and they certainly don't pull any punches.

The script in both films are excellent - producing more than a few catch phrases you can repeat over and over, and the vision of the future is handled brilliantly, with adverts for strange and sinister products. The effects are brilliant and all in all, the world the Robocop films create feel scary, plausible, convincing and worst/best of all - very, very possible.

I haven't managed to stay awake yet through Robocop 3 - every time I've put it on I've fallen fast asleep. You know how sleepy you get on your sofa, on a saturday afternoon, around 3 o'clock but I think it's safe to say it's not going to live up the other two films when I do get through it - but that doesn't matter.

Robocop and Robocop 2 are classics. Landmarks in cinema and are just as enjoyable today as they ever were. Murphy's lines and Robocop's objective spark a million memories as they bellow out in electric tones: ''Serve the public trust. Protect the innocent. Up hold the law'' and '' Dead or alive, you're coming with me.''

The criminals are pure evil, are genuinely scary - especially the kid in the second one - and the story lines in both the 1st and 2nd film are good and strong. I will come back and up date this review when I've finished watching 3, but the fact that I haven't doesn't really matter - because I can safely say this box set is a great buy for the first 2 movies alone. Get it now.

10/10 - Robocop is a film that deserves to be talked about more than it is. I thoroughly recommend you watching both movies again. I think you'll be surprised at just how good all they are. If you found this review helpful at all, please give it the thumbs up - if not, comment on why, so I can do a better job for you next time... in the words of Robocop himself: "Thank you for your co-operation."