Let
me be right up front about this particular DVD release, a lot of folks
will be purchasing the ROBOCOP TRILOGY ($40) just so they can get
the unrated version of the original ROBOCOP in 16:9 enhanced wide
screen. Where the original ROBOCOP was a brilliant combination
science fiction, extreme violence, religious allegory and biting social
satire, the two film sequels seem like little more than popcorn
entertainment hoping to cash in on the first movie’s strong credentials.
Perhaps the biggest asset to the success of the original ROBOCOP
was the participation of director Paul Verhoeven. With ROBOCOP, the
Dutch director brought a decidedly different esthetic to this production,
thus crafting a classic motion picture out of what could have could have
been a run of the mill genre film concept. Instead of being just another
run of the mill sci-fi/action movie, ROBOCOP actually has something
to say about the greedy era in which it was made, not to mention movie
violence.
Set
in the not too distant future, ROBOCOP depicts the very violent
city of Detroit, where the giant Omni Consumer Products (OCP) has
contracted with the city to privatize and run the metropolitan police
department. As the film opens Officer Alex J. Murphy (Peter Weller) is
transferred to the most violent precinct in the city and is partnered with
Anne Lewis (Nancy Allen). However, on his first day in the new precinct,
Murphy is brutally murdered by one of the city’s most notorious
criminals, Clarence Boddicker (Kurtwood Smith) and his band of thugs. What’s
left of Murphy becomes the property of OCP, and is utilized to create a
prototype for the corporation’s Robocop project, which could replace the
city’s human police officers with cyborgs. Although intended as a police
department automaton controlled by OCP, Robocop is haunted by fragmented
dreams of Murphy’s life and brutal death, which sets him on a course to
apprehend those responsible for killing the man he once was. The cast of ROBOCOP
also features Ronny Cox, Dan O'Herlihy, Miguel Ferrer, Robert DoQui, Ray
Wise, Felton Perry and Paul McCrane.
As
sequels go, ROBOCOP 2 isn’t particularly bad, and this film
actually makes an effort to provide some of the social satire that was
contained in the original. The plot of ROBOCOP 2 finds the law
enforcement cyborg not only having to deal with his lost humanity and
reprogramming, but also OCP’s new replacement model, dubbed Robocop 2,
which incidentally is making use of the drug addicted mind of a psychotic
criminal. As expected there is ensuing chaos, death and destruction, which
leads to the inevitable cyborg showdown. In addition to the returning
Peter Weller, Nancy Allen and Dan O'Herlihy the cast of ROBOCOP 2
also includes Tom Noonan, Gabriel Damon and Galyn Görg.
Now
we come to ROBOCOP 3, which offers a few enjoyable action
sequences, but is otherwise a disappointing second sequel to a film that
has become a classic in its own rights. Most of the original stars are
gone, with Robert Burke (who looks a little like Peter Weller in his
makeup) taking over the title role. This time out, OCP has brought in an
army of mercenaries to "relocate" the impoverished citizens of
old Detroit and make way for their upscale Delta City. A number of
citizens form an underground resistance to stop the OCP mercenaries from
exterminating the denizens of old Detroit, which puts Robocop at odds with
the corporation that created him. The cast of ROBOCOP 3 includes
Rip Torn, Mako, CCH Pounder, Daniel von Bargen and Jill Hennessy.
MGM
Home Entertainment has made the three films that comprise the ROBOCOP
TRILOGY available on DVD in 1.85:1 widescreen presentations, which
have been enhanced for playback on 16:9 displays. Without hesitation, I
can say that this is the absolute best that ROBOCOP has looked in
the home venue. However, this isn’t to say that ROBOCOP looks
phenomenal. The optical special effects work is dated and these sequences
appear a little rougher than unprocessed footage. For the most part, the
picture appears sharp and nicely defined. Colors are stable and are
rendered with a natural level of saturation. Of course, special effects
shots tend to have colors that appear slightly askew. Blacks appear fairly
accurate, whites are clean and shadow detail is more than respectable. The
film elements from which ROBOCOP has been transferred display some
minor blemishes and an occasionally noticeable grain structure. Digital
compression artifacts are never a cause for concern. As for ROBOCOP 2
and ROBOCOP 3, these films look somewhat better than the original,
displaying slightly more detailed images, stronger colors and fewer
appreciable flaws.
All
three films in the ROBOCOP TRILOGY are presented here with Dolby
Digital 5.1 channel sound mixes. All three films sound great for
productions that predate the fully discrete digital era. An occasional
passage or an occasional sound may have a slightly dated quality, but for
the most part the tracks are full bodied and really come to life during
each film’s gunplay heavy action sequences. Surround usage may not be as
well implemented, as it would be in newer soundtracks, but the rear
channels deliver when required. Dialogue is always understandable and the
voices are well recorded for their era. Bass isn’t ground shaking, like
newer soundtracks, but it never sounds anemic. French Dolby Surround
tracks are provided for all three films, with the first film also sporting
a Spanish Dolby Surround track. All three films include English, French
and Spanish subtitles.
Full
motion video, animation and sound serve to enhance the DVD's interactive
menus. Through the menus, one has access to standard scene selection and
set up features, as well as a few nice supplements for the original ROBOCOP.
Director Paul Verhoeven, writer Edward Neumeir, and executive producer Jon
Davison are on hand for a running audio commentary track. This is an
excellent track in which the participants provide a great deal of
information on the development of the project, and ultimately, the making
of ROBOCOP. Flesh and Steel, The Making Of RoboCop is
a terrific thirty-six minute program that features interviews with the
production team and provides a rather detailed look at the film’s
creation. Shooting RoboCop is an eight-minute promotional
program from the time of the film’s original production that provides a
bit of fluff to get audiences into the theater. Making RoboCop
is also from the time of the film’s original production, but this
eight-minute program offers a look at the more technical aspects of the
production. Storyboard With Commentary By Animator Phil Tippett
allows one to look as the preliminary work that went into the film’s
stop-motion animated sequences. Four deleted scenes are also provided, as
are six photo galleries and theatrical trailers for each film, plus bonus
trailers and a TV spot for ROBOCOP.
As
I stated above, a lot of folks will be purchasing the ROBOCOP TRILOGY
only for the first film. ROBOCOP is indeed a film that has achieved
status that goes beyond the typical conventions of science fiction or
action movie genres. MGM has done a terrific job with ROBOCOP,
giving fans something they have longed for-- the unrated version of the
film in a 16:9 enhanced widescreen presentation. ROBOCOP 2 and ROBOCOP
3 aren’t quite in the same league with the movie that spawned them,
but they do have their moments.
Let
me be right up front about this particular DVD release, a lot of folks
will be purchasing the ROBOCOP TRILOGY ($40) just so they can get
the unrated version of the original ROBOCOP in 16:9 enhanced wide
screen. Where the original ROBOCOP was a brilliant combination
science fiction, extreme violence, religious allegory and biting social
satire, the two film sequels seem like little more than popcorn
entertainment hoping to cash in on the first movie’s strong credentials.
Perhaps the biggest asset to the success of the original ROBOCOP
was the participation of director Paul Verhoeven. With ROBOCOP, the
Dutch director brought a decidedly different esthetic to this production,
thus crafting a classic motion picture out of what could have could have
been a run of the mill genre film concept. Instead of being just another
run of the mill sci-fi/action movie, ROBOCOP actually has something
to say about the greedy era in which it was made, not to mention movie
violence.
Set
in the not too distant future, ROBOCOP depicts the very violent
city of Detroit, where the giant Omni Consumer Products (OCP) has
contracted with the city to privatize and run the metropolitan police
department. As the film opens Officer Alex J. Murphy (Peter Weller) is
transferred to the most violent precinct in the city and is partnered with
Anne Lewis (Nancy Allen). However, on his first day in the new precinct,
Murphy is brutally murdered by one of the city’s most notorious
criminals, Clarence Boddicker (Kurtwood Smith) and his band of thugs. What’s
left of Murphy becomes the property of OCP, and is utilized to create a
prototype for the corporation’s Robocop project, which could replace the
city’s human police officers with cyborgs. Although intended as a police
department automaton controlled by OCP, Robocop is haunted by fragmented
dreams of Murphy’s life and brutal death, which sets him on a course to
apprehend those responsible for killing the man he once was. The cast of ROBOCOP
also features Ronny Cox, Dan O'Herlihy, Miguel Ferrer, Robert DoQui, Ray
Wise, Felton Perry and Paul McCrane.
As
sequels go, ROBOCOP 2 isn’t particularly bad, and this film
actually makes an effort to provide some of the social satire that was
contained in the original. The plot of ROBOCOP 2 finds the law
enforcement cyborg not only having to deal with his lost humanity and
reprogramming, but also OCP’s new replacement model, dubbed Robocop 2,
which incidentally is making use of the drug addicted mind of a psychotic
criminal. As expected there is ensuing chaos, death and destruction, which
leads to the inevitable cyborg showdown. In addition to the returning
Peter Weller, Nancy Allen and Dan O'Herlihy the cast of ROBOCOP 2
also includes Tom Noonan, Gabriel Damon and Galyn Görg.
Now
we come to ROBOCOP 3, which offers a few enjoyable action
sequences, but is otherwise a disappointing second sequel to a film that
has become a classic in its own rights. Most of the original stars are
gone, with Robert Burke (who looks a little like Peter Weller in his
makeup) taking over the title role. This time out, OCP has brought in an
army of mercenaries to "relocate" the impoverished citizens of
old Detroit and make way for their upscale Delta City. A number of
citizens form an underground resistance to stop the OCP mercenaries from
exterminating the denizens of old Detroit, which puts Robocop at odds with
the corporation that created him. The cast of ROBOCOP 3 includes
Rip Torn, Mako, CCH Pounder, Daniel von Bargen and Jill Hennessy.
MGM
Home Entertainment has made the three films that comprise the ROBOCOP
TRILOGY available on DVD in 1.85:1 widescreen presentations, which
have been enhanced for playback on 16:9 displays. Without hesitation, I
can say that this is the absolute best that ROBOCOP has looked in
the home venue. However, this isn’t to say that ROBOCOP looks
phenomenal. The optical special effects work is dated and these sequences
appear a little rougher than unprocessed footage. For the most part, the
picture appears sharp and nicely defined. Colors are stable and are
rendered with a natural level of saturation. Of course, special effects
shots tend to have colors that appear slightly askew. Blacks appear fairly
accurate, whites are clean and shadow detail is more than respectable. The
film elements from which ROBOCOP has been transferred display some
minor blemishes and an occasionally noticeable grain structure. Digital
compression artifacts are never a cause for concern. As for ROBOCOP 2
and ROBOCOP 3, these films look somewhat better than the original,
displaying slightly more detailed images, stronger colors and fewer
appreciable flaws.
All
three films in the ROBOCOP TRILOGY are presented here with Dolby
Digital 5.1 channel sound mixes. All three films sound great for
productions that predate the fully discrete digital era. An occasional
passage or an occasional sound may have a slightly dated quality, but for
the most part the tracks are full bodied and really come to life during
each film’s gunplay heavy action sequences. Surround usage may not be as
well implemented, as it would be in newer soundtracks, but the rear
channels deliver when required. Dialogue is always understandable and the
voices are well recorded for their era. Bass isn’t ground shaking, like
newer soundtracks, but it never sounds anemic. French Dolby Surround
tracks are provided for all three films, with the first film also sporting
a Spanish Dolby Surround track. All three films include English, French
and Spanish subtitles.
Full
motion video, animation and sound serve to enhance the DVD's interactive
menus. Through the menus, one has access to standard scene selection and
set up features, as well as a few nice supplements for the original ROBOCOP.
Director Paul Verhoeven, writer Edward Neumeir, and executive producer Jon
Davison are on hand for a running audio commentary track. This is an
excellent track in which the participants provide a great deal of
information on the development of the project, and ultimately, the making
of ROBOCOP. Flesh and Steel, The Making Of RoboCop is
a terrific thirty-six minute program that features interviews with the
production team and provides a rather detailed look at the film’s
creation. Shooting RoboCop is an eight-minute promotional
program from the time of the film’s original production that provides a
bit of fluff to get audiences into the theater. Making RoboCop
is also from the time of the film’s original production, but this
eight-minute program offers a look at the more technical aspects of the
production. Storyboard With Commentary By Animator Phil Tippett
allows one to look as the preliminary work that went into the film’s
stop-motion animated sequences. Four deleted scenes are also provided, as
are six photo galleries and theatrical trailers for each film, plus bonus
trailers and a TV spot for ROBOCOP.
As
I stated above, a lot of folks will be purchasing the ROBOCOP TRILOGY
only for the first film. ROBOCOP is indeed a film that has achieved
status that goes beyond the typical conventions of science fiction or
action movie genres. MGM has done a terrific job with ROBOCOP,
giving fans something they have longed for-- the unrated version of the
film in a 16:9 enhanced widescreen presentation. ROBOCOP 2 and ROBOCOP
3 aren’t quite in the same league with the movie that spawned them,
but they do have their moments.
