Robocop

No, not the remake. I am talking about the 1987 classic of a man turned into a super crime-fighting machine. Directed by Paul Verhoeven, who went on to direct Starship Trooper's, Basic instinct, Total Recall (not the damn remake!) and, tragically, Showgirl's. The film that sound's so bad, this blog, which reviews Cult movies, will never have the misfortune to review it. But as for one of his first movies in America, he landed with a splash. Through the use of practical effect's, ultra-violence, stellar cast and social satire with a unbiased point of view, we see the horrifically wonderful world of tommorow. Greed, corruption, social decay, urbanization and dependence on technology is our coming utopia and as with most Dystopia/science-fiction film's, the future SUCK'S! And in spite of dated effect's and obvious budgetary constriction's, we have a bad-ass, clever and memorable  addition to film. 

On to the story: Veteran cop Alex Murphy is moved to the lower precinct of Detroit where all the scum of the street rape, rob and murder 24/7 (To be fair, the movie is accurate). However, on his first day he run's into Boddicker, a notorious crime boss, and is brutally mowed down in a hail on shotgun blasts. But as the Police department belong's to OCP, a malevolent consumer/military product company, Murphy's body is used for the prototype of Robocop. Highly armored and packing heat, nothing stop's Robocop from stopping all crime in Detroit and avenging his death at the hand's of Boddicker.

You know, for a film made in the 1980's, the vision of the future does seem quite...cheap. I mean in film's like Metropolis(1927), the vision of the future is skyscrapers and a city of metal. Here it is only set in the year god only know's and nothing has changed except for interactive computer com's placed around the city and futuristic weapon's. They still use corded phones and lunchbox sized TV's. As well as that, the building's look just as they did in the 80's, including factories and warehouses using machinery that would be considered a health hazard. I know nobody can predict the future of technology, but you can at least put some effort into it.

But for what it is, it is a damn impressive film. The stop motion effects, full body suit for Robocop and the MOST. BLOOD SQUIBS. EVER! are particularly effective. Plus, Robocop is a complete bad ass. Expert marksmanship, super strength, a whole arsenal of weaponry and the best quips since the Terminator. But we can also feel sympathy for this killing machine, someone who can barely grasp at the memories of a man, he seek's out his identity with hopes of becoming more than a machine. The rest of the supporting cast is great also. We have Miguel Ferrer of Twin peaks and Hot shots part deux fame, playing the developer of Robocop and he satires the business yuppie to an extreme. We also have Nancy Allen playing the quick and witty Officer Lewis. I like her in the start of the movie, but her hand to hand fighting skill's sadly don't get much more prominence throughout the rest of the movie. Also there is Ronny Cox (Beverly Hill cop, Total Recall) and Kurtwood Smith (That 70's show, 24) as our over the top and slimy antagonists. Proving that subtlety and and an explosive personality can make great villains. And the satire is as clever as it is funny. Adverts and television are simplified, the scene when an executive is shot to death during a board meeting actually has someone asking for a paramedic. I believe my favorite part is the climax, with Robocop taking out all of crime in a gory, OTT fashion that leaves you begging for more as he opens fire on his enemies. Hey, the action is very good, with shoot-outs a plenty and enough of people being thrown at/through shit, it's quite intense. And the score is awesome, ranging from the bad ass marching theme to the tragic string variation. I seem to be using Bad ass a lot in this review, well that's the best way to rate a film like this. Level 1=Transformers

Level 10= Lord of the Ring's

I say it's a level 9=On par with Dredd. I recommend you all watch this version first, before you watch the remake that really doesn't need to exist. Anyone who say's otherwise clearly has not seen the film. Your Move Creep!