RoboCop (1987)

 

Let me take you back to the 1980s. Where movies arguably at the peak of their prime, and a lot of franchises were initially born. Films like “Ghostbusters”, “Beverly Hills Cop”, “The Terminator”, and so much more were created, it would make the decade already memorable. One of these movies that came out, was 1987's “RoboCop”, directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Edward Neumeier and Michael Miner. When it was released, it became a massive hit, spawning off numerous merchandise and future installments. Yet, everyone remembers it for the amazing special effects as well as pushing the rating system to its limits. While there are some minor issues present, “RoboCop” surprisingly holds up. Despite its primitive status, “RoboCop” is enjoyably even all these years later. “RoboCop” might not have been the first of its kind, but it does put a lot of social commentary that is effective to this day.

The story follows good cop Alex Murphy (Peter Weller) who gets accidentally killed on the first day of the job. The man responsible for this brutal slaying was none other than cop killer Clarence Boddicker (Kurtwood Smith), a man who hates cops with extreme prejudice. However, while Murphy might be dead, his body is used by the company OCP, and turns his life around. Now, a product under the supervision of OCP, Murphy is now RoboCop, a smart and definitely intelligent officer, that can take down criminals with relative response and ease. All that is left, is Boddicker...

What makes “RoboCop” work is a variety of things.

First and foremost is the acting. Weller is outstanding; he is great as both humanizing Murphy and the mechanized RoboCop, and he delivers with every scene he is put in. Weller is the hero that a lot of people look up to, and with RoboCop and Murphy, Weller is definitely that hero. Smith is also presence to be recognized; he is dastardly and cunning in his execution, and gets the job done by any means necessary. As for the rest of the cast, everyone does a fantastic job, as well. From Nancy Allen as Murphy's poignant and trusted partner, to both Ronny Cox and Miguel Ferrer portraying the seedy underbelly of OCP. All of the actors and actresses do a great job here, and work well with what they are given with.

All of this is given under phenomenal direction from Verhoeven. He gives all of the actors a good sense of what is going on, and how to block their movements. Especially with Weller as Robocop; he moves slow due to all of the machines that are in his control, but he attacks with brute force, it's pretty unbelievable to see him in such a tight costume. Plus, the camera could also be considered its own character. Creating an amazing first person perspective from the point of view of Robocop, as well as stimulating all of the action being portrayed, the camera in the movie is well worth taking a look at.

The music by Basil Polesouris is a great blend of action, while also bringing in some metal to make the soundtrack all the more noticeable. And, with the main theme of the movie, we are given a blend of all these elements making it very distinctive and memorable in the process. The soundtrack is worth taking a listen to.

But what really sets this movie apart, and what makes it memorable in the first place, are two things: the story and the special effects.

The RoboCop suit is one of the most iconic costumes ever conceived, and instantly recognizable. Weller must have been uncomfortable in the costume, but it pays off in the end. Plus, in the film, there is enough violence and gore that will definitely shock some viewers, but it is needed to tell the story, which I'll get to later. The violence was so extreme, that “RoboCop” originally got an X rating back in the day, due to the extreme violence that was shown. And even today, it holds on its own with a strong R rating. But that doesn't mean the rest of the effects are quite good. The use of matte paintings detail the city of Detroit as much larger than necessary. And while using stop motion for certain effects like ED-209, it still holds up to this day. It's fascinating to view and witness the special effects done for this movie.

The story is also quite engaging. With a commentary on how machines collide with police force, our two writers here type out a convincing story about the effects robotics could have on our future. Also, we are given in great detail what humanity can inspire within the confines of a machine. We get all of this and more in one glorious package.

But, with that said, there are some issues that hold the film back for a brief moment.

For instance, there are some story elements, including a police strike, that are not shown in full detail, and the whole side story involving Murphy's family is sort of dropped in favor of catching the bad guy. And while the setting of Detroit, Michigan is great for the movie, looking at the city now, the setting has definitely changed. Which brings me to the biggest problem with the film: the time period. “RoboCop” is a product of the 1980s and feels like the 1980s. This is signified due to the news broadcasts and infomercials that represent act transitions, which really encapsulate the time period that this movie was from.

In conclusion, “RoboCop” from 1987 is a fantastic spectacle of special effects, social commentary, and much more. While it has aged in terms of quality, there is no denying it still entertaining. Watch this movie, and you might be surprised with what you get.