A Cult Classic in both the science fiction and action genre, RoboCop is much more than the sum of its parts. It offers thought-provoking ideas and satire that still hold up today.
Alex Murphy is an idealistic and honest cop newly transferred to a new precinct in a dystopian future version of Detroit. During his first patrol, he and his partner Lewis pursue the most notorious criminal in the city, Clarence Boddicker. They then get ambushed by Clarence's gang and Murphy is brutally gunned down by the sadistic criminals. After being declared dead, Murphy's body is taken to OCP, a mega-corporation that has just been granted control of the police department. Murphy is rebuilt with advanced cybernetics and is now dubbed "RoboCop". RoboCop takes to the crime-ridden streets of Detriot and discovers a criminal conspiracy that goes to the top of OCP. He also begins to recall memories of his former life as Alex Murphy, which causes the human side of him to emerge from the machine.
What looks like at first glance an over-the-top action flick, RoboCop is so much more than that. Screenwriters Edward Neumeier and Micheal Miner craft a story that makes a statement to the audience and the world we live in, and Director Paul Verhoeven presents it brilliantly in both a satirical and horrifying way. The world of RoboCop is where big businesses rule and a lack of empathy for violence and tragedy is at the forefront. Throughout the film, sequences of advertisements for products and news coverage emphasize those things. The news frequently covers tragic events occurring worldwide without a hint of sympathy. The ads consist of things such as a heart transplant being presented like they're selling a car with payment plans and warranties. The most ridiculous product advertised is a family board game called "Nukem" which simulates death and destruction on a global scale. The on-screen violence also plays a part in the film's depiction of America. In the beginning, when OCP Senior President Dick Jones presents "ED-209" a robot built for the police department, the presentation goes wrong with ED killing a volunteer. The corporate yes-men are horrified at first but it doesn't take long for them to dismiss it out of their minds. The best use of violence comes shortly after this when Murphy is brutally shot multiple times by Clarence's gang. It's effectively uncomfortable with how it's handled compared to other bloody scenes in the movie. It's as if Verhoeven is reminding us how disturbing and gruesome violence in the world can be, where so much of the media has brainwashed us into thinking nothing of it.
The ironic thing about this movie is the heart and soul of the story can be found in the titular RoboCop. Compared to the uncompromising evil and greed presented by both the corporate and street criminals throughout the film, RoboCop is uncompromising in his pursuit of justice. This is the reason RoboCop earns so much of our sympathy because much of his suffering is because of that stoic mindset, whether it's at the beginning when he is brutalized as Alex Murphy, or when his creators turn against him in the final act when he attempts to go against his programming and try to arrest an OCP executive. The man and the machine aspect is also at the forefront and Petter Weller nails both those aspects with his monotone, deadpan delivery, as well as giving off a sense of being a lost child when struggling with his humanity. When he talks with his former partner Lewis about his former life as Alex Murphy, he says of his family "I can see them, but I can't remember them", and the way Weller Delivers that line makes you feel the weight of what he's lost. Another great character scene comes when RoboCop confronts his killer at a drug factory and brutally lays waste to everyone until he gets his hands on Clarence. He reads him his Miranda rights while at the same time violently throwing him around, showing both the humanity and programming inside. Clarence screams "You're a Cop" when RoboCop has him in a chokehold with seemingly the intent to kill. But he finally stops and responds to Clarence with "Yes, I'm a cop", is it RoboCop's morality or programming that keeps him from going all the way here? It's ambiguous things like this that make the film so fascinating.
RoboCop has earned its place as one of the best science fiction films out there. With its portrayal of humanity and the rapid rise of commercialism and corporate power, it's an impressive achievement. I would certainly buy that for a dollar.
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