I have been playing Role Playing Games since I was around 10 years old, and my favorite type of scenario to play was always in futuristic settings. I always enjoyed the idea of advanced technologies, robotics, cybernetics, and futuristic crime-busting! So when the movie Robocop first came out, I was ecstatic about seeing it. Even to this day, I still enjoy the movie just as much as the first time I saw it.

What I really particularly enjoy about this movie is we actually get to know the person who becomes Robocop a bit personally, and see many flashbacks to his former life. We also get to know a few of his little quirks and comments which will resurface when he is "rebuilt."

Peter Weller plays the role of Alex Murphy, a cop who has been transferred to the Metro Detroit Police precinct. Murphy and his new partner Anne Lewis (Nancy Allen) respond to a call about a heist, and quickly find and pursue the criminals only to temporarily lose them. When Murphy and Lewis catch up with them in an industrial area, they split up and Murphy finds himself without assistance as he is confronted with all 5 of them. In a most heinous act, Murphy is brutally shot numerous times from point blank range, and left for dead.

When he next awakens, Murphy finds he has virtually none of his former memories, and now has a new cybernetic-enhanced body. Omni Consumer Products (OCP), the corporation that has a contract to run the Metro Detroit Police Force, has rebuilt Murphy as the ultimate crime fighting man/machine - Robocop.

Considering this movie was made in 1987, I thought the special effects were quite excellent. Robocop really does look very realistic, and the cybernetic sounds are very cool when he moves and walks. Top it off with his new enhanced voice which when he talks is totally powerful. Of course what super-cop would be complete without catch phrases... "Excuse me, I have to go. Somewhere there is a crime happening."

The star of the movie, Peter Weller, really fit the role of Robocop well with his look and style. Although we don't really see a lot of him under his Robo-look, he was very entertaining to watch throughout the whole movie. It certainly was not the most complex role since Robocop doesn't exactly do or say a whole lot most of the time other than walking around and saying short phrases, shooting at stuff and subduing bad-dudes. But I don't think complexity was a requirement for quality in this instance. Simplicity is what made him so awesome.

I also found Robocop was the kind of character you could actually care about. I get a sinking feeling every time I watch the scene with Robocop attempting to arrest the OCP executive who is responsible for numerous crimes. As the powerful Robot ED-209 is attacking the incapacitated Robocop, and then the police turn on him, you can literally feel his pain. He was like a helpless animal that didn't understand what was happening to it.

Nancy Allen really did a good job in the role of Murphy/Robocop's partner. She played a key role in saving Robocop in the aforementioned scene, and was generally convincing. A good example is when she first encounters Robocop and is trying to talk to him and find out if it is or was indeed Murphy. She really did seem genuine throughout the movie.

My favorite bad guy was the superb Kurtwood Smith who played Clarence Boddicker, a seedy drug lord and vicious criminal. He was the kind of bad guy you just absolutely love to hate, and can't wait till he gets what he deserves. But what made him so entertaining was just how much he enjoyed being evil. Crime was like a sport to him, and he rarely lost.

The person who was responsible for creating Robocop was OCP executive Bob Morton, played by Miguel Ferrer. Ferrer effectively shows us just how much of a slime bag he was early on in the movie. Egotistical and insubordinate, Bob gets what's coming to him fairly early in the movie when the executive he went over the head of to push his Robocop program forward gets his revenge. Call me amoral, but I really got a kick out of the way Bob meets his fate.

The quality about this movie that makes it so enjoyable for me to watch over and over again are the many parts and scenes that I find myself looking forward to. As one awesome event occurs, I am anticipating the next cool one, and there are many of them throughout the movie. One of my favorites is when Robocop is first dealing with his first few crimes, and he simply walks up to the guy who is robbing a store (who takes a few shots at him). Robo then easily bends the barrel of the gun down, and knocks the guy flying with an arm swat. Too awesome!!!!

The climax of the whole movie also happens at the end, which is where it belongs (makes me giggle every time I watch it). Nothing is worse than a movie that feels like it should have been over a half hour sooner, and this one is not one of them.

So if you have never seen Robocop, and are a big sci-fi fan like me, I suggest you go rent this movie as soon as possible! You won't be disappointed.


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age