The RoboCop Thread

[Cobblepot4Mayor]

I almost wavered myself and went to see the remake. I heard it features a trace of the original Robocop theme music, which I was astounded by after their dreadful redesign of the suit. But then I slipped the original movie into my dvd player and just one look at the footage convinced myself not to make the mistake Total Recall fans did when that was remade. I haven't watched any of the three original Robocop films since that new outfit was unveiled (out of depression mostly). Thankfully I've now overcome this ridiculous problem and had the best evening in a long while watching the classic 1987 original. I'd encourage other disappointed fans to do the same and not get into meaningless fights about "which is better". It's quite perfectly obvious what the answer to that question is.

If you ask me we're all living in a very UNcool time period these days lol We like to think things are so much better now with fancy gadgets, better music and more high tech movies surrounding us but really we're living in a new incarnation of the 1950's, where the tone and the imagination of everything is sweet, wholesome and not too "ball breaking" anymore. Frankly it's all driving me a bit crazy lol The new Robocop for me is a perfect example of what the original film would have been had it not been made in 1987.

I take it they will have removed concepts such as ED 209 being unable to walk down stairs? Because of course it needs to be "realistic" (the killer word of the once great sci-fi ideas of the 80's/90's). How can a threatening gun-like robot be incapable of not moving up and down something as mundane as stairs? I adore that moment in the first movie. It's funny and it is memorable and gives that stop motion robot sooooo much child-like personality than just being a simple walking war weapon with gun arms. And may I also ask if Robocop still eats "Baby Food"? I presume not because again, quite ridiculous but here's the thing: it's amusing and memorable. How much fun it was in old games such as "Roboocop vs The Terminator" to pick up baby food powerups for health!

[The Dark Knight]

I almost wavered myself and went to see the remake.

If you have an open mind and like the character, go see the reboot. It's definitely not the worst Robocop offering.

I heard it features a trace of the original Robocop theme music

It does appear, yes. Though only for the title card and maybe once after.

which I was astounded by after their dreadful redesign of the suit.

I don't think the new suit is dreadful, just different. The reboot explains the aesthetic changes in the story. It's funny, people ask why a reboot is necessary, and when the film does its own thing it gets blasted. A scene for scene recreation of the original would be boring and pointless. Just as B89 is different to BB.

But then I slipped the original movie into my dvd player and just one look at the footage convinced myself not to make the mistake Total Recall fans did when that was remade.

And you will always have a copy of the original film.

I haven't watched any of the three original Robocop films since that new outfit was unveiled (out of depression mostly).

I can understand where you're coming from. I went through something similar with the Spider-Man reboot. But ultimately, we can have favourites, but we're getting new content from our beloved characters. And we both like said characters. It shouldn't be something to be depressed about, rather excited.

Thankfully I've now overcome this ridiculous problem and had the best evening in a long while watching the classic 1987 original. I'd encourage other disappointed fans to do the same and not get into meaningless fights about "which is better". It's quite perfectly obvious what the answer to that question is.

Obviously you would side with the original, but I do recommend seeing the reboot. That way you can know if its a disappointment or not. I thought it would be average, but like both interpretations just fine.

The new Robocop for me is a perfect example of what the original film would have been had it not been made in 1987.

I understand your sentiment, but Robocop 2014 is tailored to today's climate. Robots and ED 209's being deployed in the Middle East scanning and patrolling towns for suicide bombers and the like.

I take it they will have removed concepts such as ED 209 being unable to walk down stairs? Because of course it needs to be "realistic" (the killer word of the once great sci-fi ideas of the 80's/90's).

I'm not fond of realism, but Robocop 2014 isn't a 'realism' movie. As for walking down stairs or eating baby food, no, that's not present. It's a double edged sword. If they recreated those moments, I assume they'd be called plagiarists with no imagination, rising off the original's coat tails. They kept the core elements and make new scenes of their own.

[johnnygobbs]

This remake is getting even worse reviews that I was expecting.  Oh dear. 

[The Dark Knight]

This remake is getting even worse reviews that I was expecting.  Oh dear. 

Which is silly, really, because it's a perfectly good movie. Other factors are at play, me thinks.

[Cobblepot4Mayor]

This remake is getting even worse reviews that I was expecting.  Oh dear. 

Personally I think these reviews are perfectly justified. No offence to those who like it but this really isn't a special movie. And just being "good" isn't enough for me when you've seen the "masterpiece" of Verhoeven. I feel it's exploiting the original movie to achieve it's success. I've only seen the trailers but they were enough to tell me all about what the film is. What we basically have here is a movie trying to be "Iron Man" and nothing else. Much of what I saw has been seen in tens of thousands of productions in the last decade and not just the effects.

Some have argued I believe that you shouldn't compare it to the original. My girlfriend nicely summed up that argument: doesn't the entire concept of a remake invite you to compare it to the original? There is no re-interpretation without the original. 'Opening your mind to something different' for me is just a weak plea to people to ignore its bigger and better older brother, and not acknowledge its failures.

I saw this video review yesterday of these two guys discussing the film which they saw at a preview. It not so much nailed the coffin for me viewing it, but more buried the coffin into the ground for sure. Much of what they discuss I agree with I'm afraid. For anybody who is interested I've included a link here. I cannot believe they've actually played "I Fought The Law" by The Clash over the end credits. They have to be f***ing kidding me right? lol:

Not too pleased to hear of the cliched "reboot reference gag" of including "I'd buy that for a dollar!" in the new one either.

[The Dark Knight]

I have actually seen the full length movie, not just the trailers, and think the poor reviews are clouded by bad attitudes. Those who are open minded have had similiar reactions to me. I don't know how one can say it's not a special movie when they haven't even seen it.

If Superman, Batman, Bond or any other franchise gets another film, it is largely welcomed because people want to see more interpretations of their beloved characters. The key word being interpretations. The original film is the launch-pad, sure, but that doesn't eradicate the concept of 'this movie is its own thing'. Batman Begins is totally its own movie even if it brings Batman (1989) to mind.

If the franchise was going to continue, facts are another film had to be made at some point. If anything, the reboot keeps the spirit of the original alive. It may open some eyes to the world of Robocop, and introduce a new generation of fans that otherwise would have no idea it existed. This film does not tarnish the character's legacy one bit. If that's the worry, it's unfounded. Robocop 3 and 4, etc did that job already.

I cannot believe they've actually played "I Fought The Law" by The Clash over the end credits. They have to be f***ing kidding me right? lol

I know, right? How dare the reboot strike out on its own and have its own identity.

Having actually seen the movie, the song works quite well given the final scene's structure. Something you cannot glean from watching a trailer.

[Cobblepot4Mayor]

I am actually going to give this damn movie a chance tomorrow before it closes. I know I'm going to regret it. But since we'll never have a Ghostbusters III now with the desperately sad passing of Harold Ramis, might as well bask in the glory of a "might be bad" reboot before I die lol

Somebody who saw the film and didn't like it at all, mentioned that by the very end Murphy is back in his silver suit. Is this true? Some have speculated it was a last minute reshoot alteration. I obviously haven't seen yet so I've no idea what they mean. Because the idea of this thing being a remake or toning down the OTT and comical violence (although very VERY disappointing still) isn't my real problem. My problem is that crap looking black kevlar suit. It's strange that certain fans and especially critics don't seem to give a damn about that aspect of all. Critics are mourning the loss of the fancy social satire. Worse they've introduced that new look into comics. No way that garbage is gonna stick around. Give it some time, they'll be protesting to bring back the silver one. The new 2014 silver suit I've seen in photos and although it's not a patch on Rob Bottin's original design it's still recognisably "ROBOCOP". Why oh why didn't they go with this instead.

If a sequel is made perhaps it'll be better for me but only if he's back in the classic Robocop suit. Next time I'd like original characters and a plot that we've never seen in the movies. I certainly don't want a remake of Robocop 2 as some fans have expressed. Let's have something 100% fresh to appease classic and reboot fans. If they are prepared to do that I think they deserve another shot.

[The Laughing Fish]

I just saw this recently. You can add this as another Robocop movie that I hated.

It's bland, boring, and lacks a real threat because the villains are almost non-existant. And just like that godforsaken original, the villains get killed off in an anticlimactic manner - even moreso here. Apart from the shootout with Robocop and the ED-209s, the way the final showdown was shot was incredibly lazy as hell. In fact, the action overall in this movie was just as crap as the original's; of course the action in the original was only more memorable because of its pathetic, worthless gore.

The acting was incredibly bland too. Keaton was wasted, Jackson was barely even in the film, and the guy who played Robocop was wooden for most of the time. Very unimpressed with the main actor's performance. Only Oldman shines as the compassionate scientist Norton who rebuilds Murphy back to life, but then again it's not really outstanding either. Overall, the acting was subpar.

Only two scenes I liked in this movie included Murphy waking up from a dream that was implanted by Dr. Norton in the lab, and Norton revealing to Murphy what was left of his remains. Everything else had no tension, no chemistry, no excitement because the action was bland, and the story was thin. This remake was nowhere near as that depraved rubbish original, or the second one for that matter, but it's still not good because the film drags and the dull acting just doesn't help me care for Murphy, or for anyone else for that matter. Except maybe for Oldman.   

I didn't have high expectations when I was about to watch this, and yet I still came out disappointed. I haven't been this disappointed in a remake or a reboot since Batman Begins (which funnily enough, the only character I only cared about in that movie was played by Oldman too). It's now come to a point that my regard for Robocop is at an all-time low. I've had enough with this stupid franchise and I've long passed realised that it was never good to begin with. You can argue the merits for the satire all you want, but if it doesn't at least make me care about the characters, then that's a problem. I'm not going to watch another Robocop movie ever again.

[riddler]

Somebody who saw the film and didn't like it at all, mentioned that by the very end Murphy is back in his silver suit. Is this true? Some have speculated it was a last minute reshoot alteration.

If a sequel is made perhaps it'll be better for me but only if he's back in the classic Robocop suit. Next time I'd like original characters and a plot that we've never seen in the movies. I certainly don't want a remake of Robocop 2 as some fans have expressed. Let's have something 100% fresh to appease classic and reboot fans. If they are prepared to do that I think they deserve another shot.

He wears silver when he first becomes robocop and again at the end, black for the remainder.


I just saw this today; I like what they did in the sense that they didn't try and do the same film, they did their own thing. The only references/similarities to the original are as follows;
-Murphy had a wife and son
-his partner is named Lewis and is a black man
- he does have the directives that he can not arrest or shoot certain people and this is used for corruption
-towards the end of the credits the original robocop theme plays

The machine is much more human in this one than the original. In the original Robocop is mostly a machine with traces of human memory, in this one he is more of a huma with robotics.


I liked Gary Oldman's character, it reminded me of a Dr Frankenstein vs monster relationship. It was good seeing Keaton back on the big screen although his character isn't very likeable; he's more of a ruthless business man (I guess the Dick Jones of this version although not as evil and corrupt).

[Silver Nemesis]

I've lately been doing a catch-up on Keaton's more recent films, and I finally got around to watching this. I approached the movie with low expectations but tried to view it with an open mind. I think The Dark Knight's right that you have to evaluate the film on its own merits and in terms of what the filmmakers were trying to accomplish, rather than what we, as fans of the 1987 film, wanted them to accomplish. But as a big fan of Verhoeven's original movie, I found it hard to disconnect the two interpretations. The fact it's called 'RoboCop' makes it almost impossible not to compare them.

Basically, I thought it was a very average action/superhero film, albeit slightly better than I was expecting. Oldman was on top form, as expected, and his character was easily the most interesting in the film. Keaton's performance was good, though I had some problems with the way his character was written. I liked the way the film attempted to address contemporary issues of terrorism and drone warfare. The original movie touched on the drone theme a little with the ED-209 mech, but the new film has the benefit of real life advances in drone technology to draw upon for inspiration. That said, I think the 1987 film had a much richer thematic framework, tackling pertinent contemporary issues of corporate corruption, gentrification, privatisation, and urban decay, plus philosophical ruminations on death, resurrection and the human soul. Most of these themes were absent from the new film. Even RoboCop 2 (1990) tackled heavy themes of drug warfare, child abuse, labour action, free will and political corruption. The themes of the 2014 movie feel a little lightweight by comparison, and the satire wasn't nearly as funny or biting as in the old films.

One of the film's main problems is the lack of a compelling villain. The original film featured some of the most memorable heels of eighties cinema. But the new film has a very forgettable drug dealer character that RoboCop eliminates about two thirds of the way through the picture. By rights, the film should have ended there. The story's over. But they needed a third act, so they have Keaton's character – who until that point hasn't really done anything wrong – suddenly decide to have Murphy killed. This struck me as more of a structural contrivance to create a villain and a final act, rather than a believable action on the part of his character. There wasn't much to foreshadow Keaton's villainous turn at any earlier point in the film. It just sort of comes out of nowhere.

I thought Keaton did a good job with what he had to work with, but his character, like the movie as a whole, was not well written. At least not in my opinion. There were other problems that cropped up as a result of the bad writing. Like why did OmniCorp choose to upload the police database into Murphy's brain five minutes before he was scheduled to make his first public debut? They'd had months to work on him, yet they left this one massive procedure – a procedure that could potentially destroy his sanity – until the most inappropriate moment imaginable.  Like Keaton's heel turn, this was an example of the characters behaving in a way that made no logical sense in order to facilitate the dramatic/emotional requirements of the following scenes.

I also think the movie should have been rated R. The atmosphere of ultraviolent dread was one of the defining characteristics of the first two RoboCop films, and its absence was cited as a major factor in the failure of the third movie. There are certain moments in the 2014 film where I thought we really needed to see the horrific consequences of the violence in order to accentuate the visceral horror (e.g. the boy with the knife at the beginning). In fairness, I believe Joel Kinnaman and director José Padilha did lobby for an R rating, but the studio wouldn't hear of it. So I can't blame the filmmakers for that one.

Overall I'd rate RoboCop (2014) 5½/10 – an average 21st century popcorn flick containing some interesting ideas and a couple of strong performances. It's marginally better than I was expecting, but falls far short of the 1987 original. To its credit, the movie does try to carve an identity for itself. But that's precisely why I think it should have been called something other than RoboCop. Giving it that title invites comparison with Verhoeven's film. And those comparisons don't work in its favour.

There are rumours circulating of a sequel called RoboCops. If that's true, it sounds like they could be taking inspiration from one of the old Marvel RoboCop storylines.