This is the September selection in my cinema's
"Best Of Cinema"
series. My intention is to visit every film in the series, but the last film I
saw was
"The Doors"
in May. Family visits and holidays kept me away from the cinema. I want to
catch up now.
"Robocop" was made in 1987. I vaguely remember seeing it on television in the
early 2000's. I wasn't very impressed, but I couldn't remember why. In the
years since then I've often heard it mentioned by friends who're enthusiastic
about it. I know that it's generally considered a classic film, so I was glad
for the opportunity to see it today.
The film takes place in a fictional version of Detroit, which is due to be
demolished so that a vibrant new city can be built in its place. Crime is so
rampant that it's deemed necessary to take drastic measures to stop it before
the building can begin. The first solution is a police robot that malfunctions
in its first trial. Artificial Intelligence wasn't as advanced in the 1980's
as it is today. Then a second project is planned using a cyborg police officer,
a robot powered by the brain of an experienced police officer.
Alex Murphy is a police officer who's been newly transferred to the central
precinct in Detroit. He's almost killed on his first day. He loses an arm and
both of his legs. He's the perfect candidate for the new project. The company
running the project, Omni Consumer Products, is ruthless. Murphy's brain is
wiped clean. He has no memories of his previous life, but he still has his
instincts as a cop.
Murphy no longer remembers his own name. He's Robocop. At first he's very
efficient. Then he has a dream of his previous life and (near) death. Instead
of just doing his job, he wants revenge on the criminals who ruined his life.
I have difficulty understanding why the film is so popular. As we left the
cinema, one of my friends told me it's one of his favourite films. I can't
relate to the main character. He's hardly introduced before he's shot to
pieces. His robotic self doesn't have the same charm as Arnold Schwarzenegger
in
"Terminator 2". There's no humour to make him endearing. The bad guys are just ridiculous
caricatures who laugh as they commit crimes. They're the sort of crooks we'd
see in a cheap B-Movie. I have nothing against cheap B-Movies, but "Robocop"
wants to be taken seriously. Or does it? There are satirical elements in the
film, but not enough for it to be comical. "Robocop" fails where
the 1989 version of "Batman" succeeds.
It seems that I'm in a tiny minority of people who don't like "Robocop". I'll
make an offer to my readers. If anyone wants to write a full review praising
the film, I'll publish it. I'm allowing a second opinion.
Success Rate: + 1.9
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