Robocop

1987 • 103 minutes

About this movie

Set in Old Detroit, a crime-ridden ghetto of the not too distant future, a cop killed in the line of duty is robotized then dispatched to fight crime. But Robocop is haunted by snatches of memory and dreams of who and what he used to be. As Robocop discovers his past, he uncovers a murder conspiracy at the highest level of police management.

Ratings and reviews

I watch this for the first time since my youth and - even at 40 years old - had a hard time watching some of the scenes... I didn't remember it being so graphically violent. I did a search on Wiki and I think I found out why - this version appears to be the "uncut" version that was originally rated X. Here's what they say about it: The following scenes are presented in the uncut version of the movie which originally received an X Rating: During the boardroom meeting, ED-209 continuously shoots Kinney, who falls back on a table. This scene is now extended slightly to show additional shots being fired and Kinney's body reacting to them. There is also a quick shot of ED-209's programmer unsuccessfully trying to shut it down by ripping out its power cord. A brief alternate shot of Bobby being shot in the leg and the impact that follows before he's tossed out of the getaway van. Murphy's death scene is the most altered scene in the movie. When his hand is shot off, Murphy gets up and a stump is seen where his hand used to be. His right arm is shown being shot off completely (in the theatrical version, Murphy is shown with one arm without any explanation). In the final seconds of his murder, the camera spins around Murphy as he writhes in pain, Clarence shoots him in the head, and a hole appears. This shot was achieved using a sophisticated animatronic puppet of Peter Weller controlled off-screen. An overhead shot also shows the bloody aftermath of what has happened to Murphy as Lewis looks on shocked at his dead body. When Clarence Boddicker is stabbed in the neck, there is an alternate shot of him holding his neck as he turns around and blood spurts from the wound. I believe Google should advertise that this is the extended version so that people know what they're getting themselves into.

Robocop is ultra violent, so use caution. That said, it has some good qualities. Some of the adult subject matter is interesting: privitaztion of public resources (a profit-focused corporation running the police force, and the potential problems caused by that focus on profit), corporate corruption, the social commentary throughout the film, and the human drama of a deceased police officer-turned-cyborg rediscovering in a series of heartbreaking scenes memories from his past life, remembering how he died, and pursuing justice. Questions raised include: is a cyborg just a machine, or is he/she/it still a human? Can a corporation own an entity that is part human, part machine? Should profit-focused corporations run public services? In addition, I think that officers Murphy and Louis are decent role models (Robocop's occasionally excessive interrogation techniques notwithstanding). There are also characters who demonstrate bad behavior and hopefully teach viewers why people should not behave that way. Viewer discretion is advised, but the human drama and social commentary in this film make it worthwhile viewing for those able to handle the gory violence.

Pros: The amazing action (lots of blanks and squibs), the great villains, and the hilarious news segments. Cons: Characters aren't fleshed out enough, especially the female cop. I don't even remember her name, so that goes to show you.