RoboCop Movie Review

Detroit cop killed in action is used as donor for the face and brain of a crime-fighting cyborg. Trouble begins when RoboCop starts remembering his life as a human and discovers corruption within the giant company that created’ him in more ways than one. Not just superhero action; there's a bleak, cynical view of the future (with catastrophes sprightly described by happy-talk newscaster Leeza Gibbons) coupled with an acid satire of corporate values, and an underlying sadness about the dehumanized, strangely forlorn main character, which Peter Weller manages to convey with a minimum of expression – or flesh, for that matter. Terrific special f/x include Rob Bottin's cyborg suit and the slick stop-motion animation by Phil Tippet that brings to life Robocop's deadliest (but dumbest) nemesis, Enforcement Droid 209. Ferocious violence nearly earned this an X-rating; copies of Paul Verhoeven's original cut are sought by collectors. Inspired two sequels and a short-lived TV series, all progressively less interesting.

1987 (R) 103m/C Peter Weller, Nancy Allen, Ronny Cox, Kurtwood Smith, Ray Wise, Miguel Ferrer, Dan O'Herlihy, Robert DoQui, Felton Perry, Paul McCrane, Del Zamora; D: Paul Verhoeven; W: Michael Miner, Edward Neumeier; M: Basil Poledouris. Nominations: Academy Awards ‘87: Best Film Editing, Best Sound. VHS, Beta, LV ORI