Bloodtype Online

 

    As a kid growing up in the 80's I definitely lucked out when it came to action movies.  That was the prime of the Schwarzenegger and Stallone era, as well as the start for guys like Steven Segal and Jean Claude Van Damme.   Not only that, but there were TONS of other action flicks with no name actors that are equally as cool.  But there was only one of these movies that shocked me as a little horror lover because of the gore quotient it displayed.   That movie was none other than Paul Verhoeven's 1987 classic film Robocop. 

 

    The films premise is simple, but oh so effective as well.  It's about Officer Murphy (Peter Weller) who just gets reassigned to the struggling Detroit Metro police department.   He's a simple family man who is married with a son, and one day that family would be ripped apart.  One day on a call with his new partner Officer Lewis (Nancy Allen)they are trailing after one of the most ruthless crime syndicates that Detroit has to offer.   Because of the lack of police in the city they couldn't get backup in time and Murphy would be brutally killed in the line of duty.   At the same time there is a company called OCP that is working in conjunction with the police department to design new weapons that would help them fight the war on crime.   After a robot called ED209 malfunctions and accidentally kills an OCP staff member, another OCP staffer named Bob Morton (Miguel Ferrer) steps up to the plate with his design with Robocop.  The only problem is that they use the deceased Officer Murphy as the person behind the robot itself.   Little do they realize that playing god won't work out for the greater good of the city as this is a classic battle of man versus machine with a little bit of Frankenstein mixed in for good measure.  

 

    This movie is so bad ass it's almost hard to put it into words.  When I watched it I almost felt like I did when I was a kid, because it holds up (minus one scene, but that would be a spoiler so you'll have to look elsewhere for that) pretty much the entire movie.   Plus, with the great transfer on the DVD it's never and I mean never looked better.  This movie kicks ass pretty much right from the get go and I have to say that if you've never seen the extended version of the film, you need to get this disc.   There are more gore scenes added and although the running time isn't expanded very much, the added material would be easily noticed by fans of the film.  

 

    Paul Verhoeven really did a great job with this film as with all of the special effects going on combined with the kick ass chase scenes, this one was no easy feat.   It's script was solid as can be and it shows that Verhoeven had to have a blast making this one.  Everything is perfect for the most part on the direction side of things and this movie is easily Verhoeven's best in my opinion.  

 

    The acting in the film is stellar as well, and really adds to the fact that the movie is already good.  Peter Weller is great in the lead role as Murphy/Robocop and does a great job during the scenes where Robocop has to show his human side.   There's just something about Weller's delivery as the robot that can be crushing at times.   Perfect examples of these are during the flashback scenes or when he visits his old home as Robocop.   Nancy Allen does well in her sidekick role as Officer Lewis, Miguel Ferrer does a usual great job at playing the slime ball, Kurtwood Smith (aka Red from That 70's Show) plays one of the most ruthless bad guys I've ever seen in anything, and Ronny Cox kicks ass as the head of OCP Dick Jones.  

 

    Another thing that should be mentioned is the overhaul of memorable scenes in the movie.  That to me is the mark of a great action film, and believe me there aren't many out there that are even close to the level of this one.   From blowing up gas stations to the ED209 being the baddest motherfucker on the planet this one wins you over in every scene possible.  Literally watching this movie made me realize why it could be easily considered one of if not the greatest action movie of all time.   There is zero filler material in the film.  Every scene furthers the story and adds something to it as a whole.   How many movies can say such a thing? 

 

    Another thing about Robocop that makes it that damn great is the special effects.  The great Rob Bottin (The Thing) actually created Robocop and that impressed the hell out of me.   Not that he just created Robocop, but the fact that he's the one who made every incarnation of Robo, from brand spanking new Robo, to I look like I've been hit by a nuclear missile Robo, and they all are excellent.   The gore effects in the film are great too and highly eclipse most of the other 1980's action films.

 

    The DVD features commentary by Paul Verhoeven, Ed Neumeier and producer Jon Davison, Flesh and Steel documentary by Jeffrey Schwarz, two contemporary promo featurettes, Storyboard with commentary by animator Phil Tippett, deleted scenes, photo gallery, two trailers, and a TV spot. Disc Two has featurettes Villains of Old Detroit, Special Effects Then and Now, RoboCop: Creating a Legend, and of course the excellent extended cut of the film.

 

    Overall this is a disc that fans of Robocop must have.  It's literally one of the best genre DVD releases in the year of 2007 and Fox really went all out on this one.   Not only that but the movie is easily one of my favorite films of all time and it holds up even though it's 20 years old.  This one isn't just HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, it's a definite sell blood to get this DVD if you don't have the cash.  So in closing I think it's safe to say, "I'd buy that for a dollar"!!!!!

 

Rating - ****

 

-Ed Demko