***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS*** RoboCop(1987) on one level is an allegory on the death and rebirth of Jesus Christ. Its a topic that has been a fascination for artists almost more than anything else. Art's interest in the death and rebirth of Jesus is a continuous one. One of Paul Verhoeven's dream projects is to do a film on the topic of Jesus. The 4th Man(1984) also in certain moments was obsessed with the Jesus allegory presented in RoboCop(1987). Story makes many references to Jesus and Franenstein tales.
After building up an impressive resume as an European cult film director, Paul Verhoeven in the mid 1980s decided to make it a try at Hollywood. RoboCop(1987) was his first and best Hollywood feature. When he made this, Paul Verhoeven showed some promise as a filmmaker who could take chances with taboo subject matters in Hollywood. American films since RoboCop(1987) have been dissapointments especially Starship Troopers(1997) and Hollow Man(2000). One exception of a good Hollywood film besides RoboCop(1987) is Total Recall(1990). It always saddens me when excellent foreign filmmakers(for most part) who come to Hollywood end up making mediocre films.
RoboCop(1987) might have not been possible without box office success of The Terminator(1984). Like most things in cinema one form of movie always gives way to another. An interesting tidbit on RoboCop is that Arnold Schwarzenegger was considered as a canidate for main role. Due to the fact that Arnold was too big to fit into the RoboCop suit, the filmmakers went for Peter Wellar instead. RoboCop(1987) and The Terminator(1984) are two of the most influential SCIFI films of the 1980s. Look of the latter film is apparent in set designs of former.
Violence in feature is shown with a dark humor approach. There are a few instants when violence enters the realm of comic books with over the top presentation. Disturbingly humorous is what I call the death of Kenny moment. Violent scenes are flamboyantly filmed by Paul Verhoeven. Some of the gore scenes are in the style of Lone Wolf and Cub, and Lucio Fulci. Daring way of showing violence that many in today's Hollywood would never do.
A fun part in watching it is the cold blooded villainous performance of Kurtwood Smith. He plays his character with ability to act brutish and look intellectual at same time. You never would think just by looking at Clarence Boddicker with his bookish looks that he is a foul mouth murderer. Its funny to know that vicious bad guys are usually played by nice guys. Michael Ironside plays the same sort of character in Total Recall(1990). Editing of RoboCop(1987) is fantastic especially during the Mediabreak moments.
Tangled in the satiric and violent web is a tragic tale of rediscovery. Focuses on a man who loses all that is precious to him including his human ways. The robotized Murphy is in essence in the same path as the replicants of Blade Runner(1982). Deals with similar ideas about identity and memory as Total Recall(1990). Identity and what it means to a person is the most important theme of RoboCop(1987). The main protagonist does at least get a portion of his past life which seemed lost to him.
Mediabreak sequences are interludes to the main action of the plot. Mediabreak sequences and the commercials that follow them provide a humorous truth about American culture. The funniest commercial presented in the parody of the Battleship boardgame. Nancy Allen is excellent in what I think is her best role. Ronny Cox is menacing as the ruthless executive, Dick Jones. Miguel Ferrer does well in the role of the ambitious and arrogant Bob Morton.
Aspect of RoboCop that story zeros in on is the dual nature of main character once he's transformed into RoboCop. Its at the moment of a dream that RoboCop begins to wonder about who he is. Peter Weller brings a lot of depth into the role to make Alex Murphy a tragic hero. Alex Murphy's death is shocking because of the way he's killed. As gruesome and over the top as any death scene in a Lucio Fulci film from the early 1980s. Its the kind of death scene one usually reserves for the end of a film.
Works as a satire on the attitude and excess of the 1980s. Yuppie culture in RoboCop(1987) is shown as arrogant and obnoxious. 1980s culture has never been protrayed with the humorous edge lacking in most films about 1980s culture with exception of Heathers(1989). Rob Bottin provides some gruesome but impressive makeup effects for RoboCop. Ranks among Bottin's best work as makeup effects man alongside The Howling(1980), and The Thing(1982). Rob Bottin's effects for Murphy's bloody demise rivals anything by Tom Savini or Gianetto De Rossi.
A subtle moment is when Murphy/RoboCop shoots at bottles of baby food wi help of his partner for aim. It represents the fact that RoboCop can never have children or have an intimate relationship with Lewis. A couple of action scenes are in the fashion of Hong Kong Heroic Bloodshed pics. RoboCop(1987) is made up of memorable set pieces which have their own impressive signature. Peter Weller's performance as a robot who regains his human face preemits Arnold Schwarzenegger's development of human traits in Terminator 2:Judgement Day(1991). One of the ten great SCIFI films made during the 1980s.
After building up an impressive resume as an European cult film director, Paul Verhoeven in the mid 1980s decided to make it a try at Hollywood. RoboCop(1987) was his first and best Hollywood feature. When he made this, Paul Verhoeven showed some promise as a filmmaker who could take chances with taboo subject matters in Hollywood. American films since RoboCop(1987) have been dissapointments especially Starship Troopers(1997) and Hollow Man(2000). One exception of a good Hollywood film besides RoboCop(1987) is Total Recall(1990). It always saddens me when excellent foreign filmmakers(for most part) who come to Hollywood end up making mediocre films.
RoboCop(1987) might have not been possible without box office success of The Terminator(1984). Like most things in cinema one form of movie always gives way to another. An interesting tidbit on RoboCop is that Arnold Schwarzenegger was considered as a canidate for main role. Due to the fact that Arnold was too big to fit into the RoboCop suit, the filmmakers went for Peter Wellar instead. RoboCop(1987) and The Terminator(1984) are two of the most influential SCIFI films of the 1980s. Look of the latter film is apparent in set designs of former.
Violence in feature is shown with a dark humor approach. There are a few instants when violence enters the realm of comic books with over the top presentation. Disturbingly humorous is what I call the death of Kenny moment. Violent scenes are flamboyantly filmed by Paul Verhoeven. Some of the gore scenes are in the style of Lone Wolf and Cub, and Lucio Fulci. Daring way of showing violence that many in today's Hollywood would never do.
A fun part in watching it is the cold blooded villainous performance of Kurtwood Smith. He plays his character with ability to act brutish and look intellectual at same time. You never would think just by looking at Clarence Boddicker with his bookish looks that he is a foul mouth murderer. Its funny to know that vicious bad guys are usually played by nice guys. Michael Ironside plays the same sort of character in Total Recall(1990). Editing of RoboCop(1987) is fantastic especially during the Mediabreak moments.
Tangled in the satiric and violent web is a tragic tale of rediscovery. Focuses on a man who loses all that is precious to him including his human ways. The robotized Murphy is in essence in the same path as the replicants of Blade Runner(1982). Deals with similar ideas about identity and memory as Total Recall(1990). Identity and what it means to a person is the most important theme of RoboCop(1987). The main protagonist does at least get a portion of his past life which seemed lost to him.
Mediabreak sequences are interludes to the main action of the plot. Mediabreak sequences and the commercials that follow them provide a humorous truth about American culture. The funniest commercial presented in the parody of the Battleship boardgame. Nancy Allen is excellent in what I think is her best role. Ronny Cox is menacing as the ruthless executive, Dick Jones. Miguel Ferrer does well in the role of the ambitious and arrogant Bob Morton.
Aspect of RoboCop that story zeros in on is the dual nature of main character once he's transformed into RoboCop. Its at the moment of a dream that RoboCop begins to wonder about who he is. Peter Weller brings a lot of depth into the role to make Alex Murphy a tragic hero. Alex Murphy's death is shocking because of the way he's killed. As gruesome and over the top as any death scene in a Lucio Fulci film from the early 1980s. Its the kind of death scene one usually reserves for the end of a film.
Works as a satire on the attitude and excess of the 1980s. Yuppie culture in RoboCop(1987) is shown as arrogant and obnoxious. 1980s culture has never been protrayed with the humorous edge lacking in most films about 1980s culture with exception of Heathers(1989). Rob Bottin provides some gruesome but impressive makeup effects for RoboCop. Ranks among Bottin's best work as makeup effects man alongside The Howling(1980), and The Thing(1982). Rob Bottin's effects for Murphy's bloody demise rivals anything by Tom Savini or Gianetto De Rossi.
A subtle moment is when Murphy/RoboCop shoots at bottles of baby food wi help of his partner for aim. It represents the fact that RoboCop can never have children or have an intimate relationship with Lewis. A couple of action scenes are in the fashion of Hong Kong Heroic Bloodshed pics. RoboCop(1987) is made up of memorable set pieces which have their own impressive signature. Peter Weller's performance as a robot who regains his human face preemits Arnold Schwarzenegger's development of human traits in Terminator 2:Judgement Day(1991). One of the ten great SCIFI films made during the 1980s.