Hello all! I know it has been weeks since I last posted on here. Things have just been crazy with school, but here is a review I wrote with a friend of mine known as Josh Whitlow, a fellow movie buff like myself! Enjoy!
A tale as old as time, well maybe not as old as time but
about a month or two. Two movie buffs sharing their opinions on some of the
best and worst in the movie industry from time to time! First, Whitlow, a
Facebook movie reviewer that has been brave enough to review movies like Batman
and Robin and Spider-man 3. The Movie Maniac (Sean Kenny), a man that is just
crazy about movies, and sometimes drives himself insane by reviewing stinkers
like Max Magician and the Legend of the Rings! Now, we will take our reviewing
to another level with Whitlow and the Movie Maniac! Yeah we like movies! In
fact, we can't get enough of them, and now we are going to review one of the
best in the sci-fi/action genre! The future of law enforcement Robocop (1987)!
STORY SYNOPSIS BY THE
MOVIE MANIAC
Okay, so I always get super psyched every, and I mean EVERY
time someone utters the word Robocop! This movie is great beyond comparison!
Robocop was directed by Paul Verhoeven (you know the guy that brough you “Total
Recall” and “Starship Troopers!”). It was released in 1987, and stars Peter
Weller, Nancy Allen, Ronny Cox, and Kurtwood Smith (yes the dad from “That 70’s
Show”!). Officer Alex J. Murphy (Weller), a cop that just got transferred to a
futuristic Detroit that is ruled by crime and lots of money hungry big wigs
(well that future is not too far off), goes on a mission with his partner Anne
Lewis (Allen) that ends in disaster when he is blown apart by a street gang
lead by Clarence J. Boddicker (Smith). Yep! He is the villain in this movie!
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| Clarence Boddicker- Villain |
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| Jones- Villain |
After being blown to pieces, a team of scientists put him
back together using artificial intelligence, transforming him into Robocop!
This guy could put the entire Detroit police force out of business because he
is a one-man army who feels no pain, and will stop at nothing to protect the
innocent, and seek justice! However, Robocop’s keeps getting small reminders
that he was once human, which leads him to remember who killed him as Murphy.
From this point on, he goes on a revenge rampage to get back at the ones who
ruined his life, yet transformed it for a better cause! Oh the complexity!
The Movie Maniac’s
Verdict
Robocop happens to be one of my all time favorite action
films. It really gives The Terminator a run for its money because I think the
movie is literally non stop action from start to finish, well almost anyway.
Peter Weller does a great job as Robocop. He really lays down the law! Not
Sylvester Stallone LAAAAW! haha but the law nonetheless. Kurtwood Smith does a
surprisingly good performance as the main villain. Who'd a thought that That
70's Show dad could be evil! haha I also just liked the overall concept of the
movie, that maybe when a cop dies, he could sign off that he can be used for
future defense experiments. It might seem a little inhumane, but if a person is
dead, and they sign off as an organ donor, well they take out the organs, so I
liked the idea of a cop still fighting for the greater good even after he was
killed in action. All of the villains seem to enjoy being evil, which makes us
hate them even more, and you get s sense that the city is in chaos. The third
act is also pretty impressive!
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| ROBOCOP! |
Okay, so now what I don't like about this film. Nancy Allen's character was
kind of annoying in my opinion. I mean I know that she served as the reminder
that Robocop was once human, but I mean he can't do anything about it, so why
bring it up I guess? You know what I mean? She also seemed to be a very weak
cop. Also, as much as I liked the addition of the Murphy’s past memories get in
the way of his Robocop duties, I almost wish he didn’t remember his family. I
know that seems horrible of me, but I just don’t like how he remembers his
family full blast, and then absolutely nothing is done about afterwards. It
would be cool if he like at least ran into his son or wife toward the end just
to add some closure or something, but that is just me. I will say that I like
how he remembers who killed him because that makes him stronger as a cop! He
goes completely insane with power, and awesomeness. Well, you just have to see
it for yourself! The gore factor is also undeniably well gory! The amount of
violence in this movie is crazy, but it is also necessary to the grittiness of
the plot! Overall, it is a great sci-fi/action film, and I can see myself
watching a few more times in the future!
Whitlow’s Verdict
I agree with you about Peter Weller (Alex Murphy/RoboCop)
& Kurtwood Smith (Clarence Boddicker) doing a GOOD job in their respective
roles, but I would also go so far as to include Ronny Cox (Dick Jones) in that
category and also as the role of co-main villain with Smith (Clarence was more
of the muscle villain with henchmen while Dick Jones was the brains behind the
operation so he should definitely be up there, plus I like the aspect of this
movie having two main villains both working together 1st for the 'Delta City'
PLOT which then later becomes the 'KILL RoboCop' PLOT). I also love the RoboCop
suit itself (the overall design alone has become iconic) with his super-awesome
gun that apparently never runs out of ammo (seriously, that thing couldn't
possibly hold more than 30 rounds in one magazine/clip & I swear he shoots
way more than that in the coke factory scene), but probably my favorite thing
about this movie is the score/music behind it (the score accompanies everything
this movie is illustrating to us by allowing each scene to naturally flow from
one witty/comedic moment to an action-packed/shooter scene to a very
tragic/emotional moment)...I also agree with you about Nancy Allen (Anne
Lewis), her & Murphy are partners for like an hour before he gets killed
off (partly because of her in my opinion) but she acts like they've been
partners for years (NOT to mention the sexual tension between them when they're
talking about Murphy's son but I might be reading a little too much into this),
I mean she doesn't do a horrible job acting-wise, I just wish her character
would've been much stronger/better written (less of a woman stereotype in a few
places - she kicks a guy's ass like once & the rest of the time she's
getting' her ask knocked-out or shot at), they're are also a few glaring
mistakes/errors in the film that I've noticed in my later years (like when
Murphy takes off his RoboCop helmet & the black part the was his neck/chin
is missing all the sudden or when Emil tries to run RoboCop over with his truck
driving it into toxic chemical you can see RoboCop sprint out of the way for a
few seconds - which he can't do, he's essentially Frankenstein's monster in the
speed department).
Overall, it's a pretty GOOD movie...GOOD acting (for the
most part - GOLD STAR goes to Kurtwood Smith for being a sadistic ass who I
ended up liking), GOOD story (kind of an metaphor for Jesus Christ), GREAT
music (nuff said), yeah it's a bit dated NOW (it's 25 years old after ALL), the
action's a bit over-the top but it still fits with the tone/style of the movie
so it works, there's some minor continuity errors here and there (ex: when
RoboCop takes his helmet off the black part around his neck and on his chin
magically disappears + you can see at least one of the rockets the ED-209
launches attached to a piece of string as a guide) and the ending feels a tad
bit unfinished (technically it was = they originally had another video scene as
the ending showing how Anne Lewis was recovering from her wounds and the
"I'd Buy That For a Dollar!" guy getting arrested for having sex with
a minor or something), but for the most part it's a great film that's worthy of
recogition (the sequels on the other hand...)
The Movie Maniac’s
Rebuttal
Yeah the Robocop suit is really awesome actually, especially
since you cannot see his eyes, which makes him all the more intimidating. At
the same time, I always wondered if he is like crossing his eyes at people as
he is arresting him, and going “Nah nah nah nah nah!” haha. Well, maybe not. But
yeah it is a very nostalgic movie. I mean it took me about 21 years until I
actually saw it, but even so, I always knew who Robocop was. I mean he has
become somewhat of an icon really when you think about it. I also like your
analysis of the two villains. There really is a mastermind, and a muscle
villain! Well said, Whitlow!
OUR OVERALL RATING
We give this movie an 8/10! It is a well-crafted and designed movie, and plus it has
huge nostalgic value! I mean come one, even if you have not seen this movie
yet, 9 times out of 10 you know what Robocop is!
That is it from us! Tune in for future reviews in the
near…well…future! Whitlow and the Movie Maniac signing off!
