The great thing about the 1980s is that the major technological advancements that were rising like the sun on the horizon were still an unknown mystery. In 1987, smart phones, the internet, and surround sound were all unheard of, and as such, the release of “Robocop” that July brought along with it a horde of interest from both movie goers and tech geeks alike.
Director Paul Verhoeven was free of today’s technological certainties to use his imaginative mind to do as it pleased, with a much greater scope of shock and awe on fans than would be today.
“Robocop” is as simple as it sounds. Set in a future version of Detroit (where its nice to see the crime is as scary as it is in today’s Motor City) law enforcement agencies are experimenting with robots as a way of stopping the ridiculous bouts of crime that have a virtual free reign over the entire town.
Robocop is science fictions answer to a Schwarzenneger like superhero that can’t be stopped. The cast is made up of decent talent, though none are so big they’d dazzle. Peter Weller plays the primary character, Officer Alex Murphy, a loving family man who has sworn an oath to the badge and of course, all things good.
Weller is joined by a handful of also-rans that include the standard hard nosed Police Chief who detests lawyers and some snake-like executive types who feign interest in stopping crime for no other reason than to make a buck.
The villainous gang is lead by the ruthless Clarence Boddicker, played by the great Kurtwood Smith. In typical 80s style, Boddicker has no depth or back story at all – he’s simply a menace that gets off on perpetrating heinous acts, which is perfect since Smith has mastered the art of playing such deviants.
As older movies go, the animation and effects don’t compare to today, and that’s okay. They pass for acceptable considering the limitations and actually make some scenes, like the early malfunctioning of the ED-209 test droid, that much creepier. The creation of the titular Robocop is surprisingly excellent, though the title and tag line rob the viewer of any form of suspense. Going into the film there’s no way you would be shocked at what transpires at the beginning.
As a whole, “Robocop” flows well. I like the backdrop of the run down and decaying Detroit, which looms on the citizens as equally as harsh as Boddicker’s gang. As the corruption of the top brass does battle with fountain pens in a boardroom on the 95th floor of a skyscraper, the streets below are waging a war with blood and bullets. The guts and gore are graphic and often, cementing its man movie status, but I could have done without the silly sequence of Robocop stopping a handful of petty crimes in an attempt at being comical.
Stay away from any sequels or remakes. The original “Robocop” is a time tested and solid film. If you want action and chaos, its still an al time classic.
by – Matt Christopher
