Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
'Your Move, Creep!', 24 April 2006
Robocop has gone down as something of a cult movie, overlooked by many and loved by others. There are some cult movies that are are so poor that you are left wondering what has kept people watching. And then there are cult movies which leave you amazed that they have not become recognised classics. Robocop is definately one of the latter.
The story is comic bookesque in nature and on the surface it is fairly straightforward; a cop in Detroit of the future is rebuilt after his murder, as Robocop, a near-invincible cyborg, set to rid the city of thugs and vandals before it is rebuilt as the glittering Delta City. Once you dip deeper, you find many fascinating angles and interpretations of the film. All throughout there is the cold humanity, evident in the way that the saviour of the city (Robocop himself) is able to save a woman from rape but has no compassion whatsoever. When he finally wakes up he is confronted by the sickening estate agent in his old house, still bearing mementos of his family, he flips as the agent (on a computer screen of course) chatters innane sales drivel. There is the warning signs of corruption with Omni Consumer Products (OCP) and their control of the Police Force. Perhaps it is a subtle dig at corporatism, perhaps not, but it still terrifies as the society, corrupted by gread and consumerism fly ever closer to self destruction (emphasised by the catch-phrase 'I'll buy that for a dollar!'). There is also the reminder that evil, corruption and violence cannot be swept away Noah's Ark style as we see with one of the main characters (I won't give away who) talking through his visions for the perfect Delta City. I first watched this film when I was six (yes, six!) and just thought it was a cool action film, but what you see as the years go by reveals what a deep and powerful film it really is.
So why then has it become a cult film? Why is it not a recognised classic? Well, the first problem is that action films are rarely taken seriously as genuine cinema. While this is justified in many a case it does not apply to Robocop. Here, the violence is a necessary part of the story, rather that the story itself. However, many people are either turned off by, or don't take violence seriously. As the violence here is so extreme, it's unsuprising many have turned away. It is ultra violence of the kind that only Alex from Clockwork Orange would trully aspire to. The heavy drug use also serves to act as a deterrent for many critics. My advice is to make your own mind up. There is so much that one can take from this splendid film. It may be horrifcally violent, but it is also a brilliantly told story, played out to perfection by all concerned. Well worthy of a place in cinema history, I would like it to get the credit it is due, but hopefully, the world will never become violent enough to love it too much.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"I'm not arresting you anymore...", 3 Sep 2003
Still hailed as a sci-fi classic even today (and happens to be one of my personal favourites), “Robocop” is a marvelous and outstanding film. This is one of the few movies I can watch over and over again and never get sick of it. I may not be a big sci-fi buff, but that’s one of the great things about this movie; you don’t have to be one.“Robocop” takes place in the future where Detroit is plagued with crime and murder. Cops are threatening to go on strike while crime lords and gangs run amuck. And when a police officer is brutally murdered by a relentless crime lord and his band of thugs, that’s when corporation giant OCP resurrects him and transforms him into the ultimate crime-fighting machine. In all of it’s violent and dark glory, “Robocop” is a film that proves to be both a successful action thriller and a clever satire. I love everything about this movie. The story, the plot, the characters, everything! This is one of the few movies that when I pop it in the DVD player and hear the music for the opening titles, I get chills. It’s like seeing it for the first time every time I watch it. It’s very well written and directed. It also has some terrific acting. (Who would’ve thought that the father from “That 70’s Show” could prove to be a very effective villain?) And for an older movie, it has some incredible special effects. Be warned, this is not a movie for people who do not like excessively violent movies. This one’s as violent as they come. Gun shot wounds, arms and heads getting blown off, people getting shot multiple times... you get the idea. After all, this is Paul Verhoeven we’re talking about (the very man behind “Total Recall,” and “Starship Troopers”). So be warned. “Robocop” will forever remain a classic in my eyes. It’s one of the few sci-fi flicks I can watch over and over again. THIS is the one to see (while #2 wasn’t too bad of a movie, the third one is a complete embarrassment). If you want to see a great sci-fi movie with brains and action, this is the one to experience. In the very wise words of Robocop himself, “Stay out of trouble.”
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An outstanding and unforgetable 1980's futuristic vigilante classic, 12 Jul 2007
I don't know why but this film never gets the respect that it truly deserves, Is it snobbery against it or is is just misunderstood, either way I couldn't give a flying circus because as far as I am concerned this is a 1980's action packed five star classic. I do have to say though and I am not embarrased to admit it but I do get a little nostalgic just thinking about this film as (at the time of writing) I really can't believe that this is twenty years old, but enough of that.
I can remember when this was at the cinema and I desperately wanted to see it but I couldn't as I was too young and so I had to wait till it was available to rent on video, if you are too young, you are probably thinking so what but in those days (God that makes me sound older than I am) you had to wait ages until a film was available to rent, unlike now where a film is available to buy let alone rent almost instantly after it's cinema release. Anyway when I finally got to see it on video rental, it definitely lived up to my expectations and more.
If you have never seen this, to put it simply (don't worry I won't go into too much detail of the story) it is set in a futuristic Detroit which is in absolute chaos with crime at an all time high with some of the most repulsive and violent thugs ever to appear in a movie causing mayhem on the streets of Detroit, but they get what they deserve in the end as things are about to change. This movie is about a cop called Murphy (Peter Weller) who's bravery almost costs him his life when he takes on a gang of thugs and is almost left for dead (I remember finding these scenes in particular absolutely brutal and upsetting), he his then saved and rebuilt into a part man, part robot cyborg by the people in charge of the police force and this is where Robocop truly begins.
I admit that this film is incredibly violent at times but it is also incredibly emotional and moving at times, especially the scenes in which Robocop starts to remember his family, it is also funny at times and those sensationalised news reports are brilliantly done. I have always thought that the director of this PAUL VERHOEVEN is underrated, his films have a very over the top but unique style to them especially this, TOTAL RECALL and STARSHIP TROOPERS, these three in particular are my favourites of his.
Just one more thing that I must mention is that fantastic, underappreciated and uplifting music, I say uplifting because everytime this comes on you know that something positive has just happened and that it is another victory for Robocop against the criminals, I really can't help but smile everytime I hear it.
So then, if you like your films action packed and are intelligent enough to see past some of the brutal violence in this or for some reason you have just never seen this or any of the other films I have just mentioned, then you are in for an absolute treat. ENJOY.
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