To get you started is my complete post to the Robocop Central site concerning my opinions on Robocop, but they got a WHOLE lot more!! Read on to see how it all started for me, etc...
Opinions
For as I once said in a chat-room to someone who had NOT been reborn....
16, Female, The Regal Tigress, aka Kimberly LeCrone, from Lancaster,
Pennsylvania
Okay, well after reading-over the previous opinions and such, I decided
that I should try my hand at it. *grin* Yes, I am female, and I know in
this genre of film, it's usually stereotypical to be a predominately "guy
thing," but I, for one, am very glad to see other women taking interest in
Robocop. Anyways, that isn't the intention of my letter, rather just to
express my opinions, as insignificant as they might be in the great scheme
of things. first of all, let me tell you that I wasn't always a Robocop
fan, it's only been recently that I came about a renewed interest in it. I
think the biggest mis-conception about Robocop itself, is that it is SOLELY
a "blow'em up-shoot'em out" movie, which simply isn't true. That sort of
thing gets old quite fast, and so, when I'd see Robocop on, the first
usually, it would be mid-way through and he'd be shooting someone. I'd
roll my eyes and switch the channel. (Please don't shoot!) Well, I have
to admit, that's how it was for quite awhile, but then, a few moths ago, I
caught just the end, long enough to see in the credits, Phil Tippett. I
don't know how many of you know who he is, but he was one of the original
pioneers in stop-motion (and later go-motion) animation. My future
career-plans concern 3D computer animation, and special-effects among other
things, so I was quite impressed to see his name there! (Among other
things, he was the supervising animation-expert in "Jurassic Park," and
"The Lost World.") So this peaked my interest, and I made a mental-note to
actually WATCH Robocop, if and when it came on again.
Well, a few months later, I came into watching Robocop 1 just during the
scene with Dick Jones I believe (*smile*), and Robocop, and, of COURSE,
Ed-209... not that I knew that then mind you, but I was easily caught-up
with the grand animation-effects. And then, something else... There was
something about him taking his helmet off that made me feel pity for the
guy, and at the same time, a big dose of respect for what he likely went
through, and what I could put together from the snippets I'd seen before.
Humanity in the face of inhumanity. That's what it was. So I watched the
remainder of the movie, sad as I was that it was to end all-too-soon. The
credits began rolling, and in the following minutes, I found my mind
wandering.... What exactly happened to him? What was to come of him? And
then, I found myself both pondering, AND humming the music. That was the
exact moment I knew I was hooked.
So, wanting to see if there was a sequel, I made my way to my local
video-store the following day, and over the next few days, managed to rent,
and watch numerous time, Robocop 1, 2, 3, and the pilot episode to the
rerunning series that I faintly remembered to have seen in previous years.
(I spent about a week in there in the hopes of finding a copy of Robocop 4,
which doesn't exist, though I had been falsely told that it did). My
opinions are as follows.
Robocop 1-The ultimate movie. What more is there to say? After I finally
got around to renting a decent copy where more than 20 minutes of watchable
video and sound existed (it took me 5 tries at various stores), it was
well worth it. After seeing it, I can't believe that I had so mis-judged
it! While wit, action, and great special-effects and action existed,
humanity what really shined. It wasn't a story of some cop being
turned into supercop, it was the combined story of not only the evils of
big-business destroying its underlings, but that in the face of such
adversity, humanity could conquer all, no matter how difficult the journey.
Period. Saying anymore would only insult this movie's luster. And who
wouldn't agree about Robo's stance on rapists? Hmm?
Robocop 2-Ummm... well, I have to say, this was my least-favorite.
Pathetic as it was, for the longest time I thought that the head NUKE kid
was Murphy's son, mind you, I had only recently seen just the END of
Robocop 1, so I was a bit confused, and then just basically annoyed with
the prospects of putting CAIN in Robocop 2... *grumble* Again, the acting
and special-effects were great, but there was just TOO LARGE a dose of
blood, so much that it became not only over-whelming, but it covered up
the story... Oh yes.. the story... That's what hooked me in the first
place, and I must say, I felt cheated the way that Murphy's search for
humanity just, well, ended. This "You're human!" "You're product!" began
getting annoying, both for me, and for Murphy too I suspect. And after
driving by Nancy's house, obviously wanting to know more about the piece of
him that is still missing, that search is abruptly ended with his talk with
his wife. *sigh* But I wasn't to be discouraged, I WANTED to find out
what happened, so I watched on...
Robocop 3-My personal opinion? 2nd best only to Robocop 1. It was VERY
sad to not see Weller in the main-role, but then again, in the last movie,
it didn't seem to be much about him anyways, and the stunt-doubles could
have taken it from there. So you can see why he mightn't have been
overly-eager to return. He didn't and we can't change that, but we can
appreciate what the 3rd Robocop had to offer. Though one of the main
actors, and director were absent, I actually found it quite heartening,
especially the scene
whereabouts the Sergeant questions Robo if he knows that there is a warrant
out for his arrest, he says that he knows and then mentions that they
should call the fire-department, very good, amusing low-key humor, that was
missing entirely from the 2nd movie. There again, I'm getting ahead of
myself! In the beginning, I thought the tribute to ED-209 very cute, and
of course, who can forget, "What does it feel like being a
rocket-scientist?" Am I the only one who has ever thought of that very
thing happening somewhere? Anyways, I thought that it started very well,
especially seeing another female character come into view, Lazarus (sp?).
FINALLY Robo appeared to return along with the question of his humanity and
his right to them! And finally SOMEONE, be it a splatter-punk or not,
NOTICED that his "face" was uncovered! Well, he didn't SHOOT Murphy there,
but at least he noticed. Anyways, it was nice finally seeing someone
notice that little thing that had been bothering me, but among more
questions of his memory, and his "rights" to them, it was interesting
seeing both sides of the story, the cops, who I felt sorry for when they
went to bust the "renegade" group's break-in of the police warehouse, and
OF COURSE the people themselves, being over-run and kicked-out by OCP... as
much as we LOVE them right? I found that paradox interesting, with the
"good-guys" on two opposing sides, well... that is, until the REAL
"bad-guys" shined through. ARUGH!!! That's all I could say! I was quite
surprised that they'd actually kill her off! At the same time, I'm feeling
so proud of Murphy being able to make yet another decision! I CRIED! And
mind you, I don't easily cry, it was just like his only friend, ("I don't
have many... friends...") had been killed off! Right then, it wouldn't
have taken much for me to volunteer to be his next partner, but it was
horrible thinking of not only that, but that if she would have just worn
that blasted vest... ARUGH!!! *calm calm* Again, I found it to be
humanity shining through. And even with his partner dead, he is able to
carry-on, and *grin* show us that cyborgs CAN lie, even if it is about the
number of rats... It was just cute seeing his priorities return, and
finally seeing the police stand-up for themselves and show how, "Real cops
kick @ss!" OTOMO was interesting, but with all "his" abilities, you would
have thought that he'd be a little quicker on the attack, but still, I
didn't see the movie as all THAT bad, for at least it had a plot, and I
must admit, I did have a tear in my eye as Murphy comforted that little
girl, and told her that remembering is the key, since he might never be
able to do the same to Jimmy again. And OF COURSE, who can forget that
PERFECT line, "My friends call me Murphy, YOU call me ROBOCOP!" It was
nice to see it end as well as could be expected, though, I still felt
incomplete. With no obvious burial for Lewis, and Murphy's "family" still
out there, I had gone looking for, on false information, Robocop 4, and
found to my utter delight, Robocop: The Series.....
As yet, I've only seen the pilot episode, because, to date, I STILL have
yet to be able to 1.) Order the episodes on tape, 2.) Find anyone around me
who's recorded them, or 3.) Be able to get the Sci-Fi Channel, and when I
CAN see, is when it's been cancelled for the week,.. *grumble* which does
help me one bit, and only helps to fuel my need for more Robo... *grin*
Anyways, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I DID get to see "The Future of
Law Enforcement" and smile as Robo cleverly evaded actually SHOOTING much
of anyone, but then, it is kinder, gentler TV isn't it? *grin* I thought
that though there was yet another actor, that he did a fine job, along with
his new "detective" partner Lisa. Another fine addition to this Series was
the creation of quite another unique character Diana Powers, the witty
secretary, and I could NOT turn it off until I found out what happened!
Nice special effects too! But I can barely contain myself for the rest of
the series, though apparently they've stopped making it, it's something new to me, and every moment will be thoroughly embraced!
Well now, that was quite a chunk of my thoughts wasn't it? It happens
during RWS, Robocop Withdrawal Syndrome, especially since many friends and
relatives are becoming slightly sick of me trying to convince them that the
movies are NOT stupid! DURN RIGHT! But, well, I hope you enjoyed, or
manage to barely live through my ramblings. I'm quite happy to have
recruited others into seeing Robocop for what it truly is, my mom is an
especially big accomplishment, for she actually FINALLY admitted that she
was looking forward to seeing the series! *grin* Score one more for
Robocop! Anyways, it's nice seeing that there are other people out there
that have too realized this, for though the future isn't always certain,
there has to be something that we can depend on, and strive for, humanity,
and faith in ourselves to carry-on.
"Whatever you say, I thought it made a statement
about the lack of humanity today, that's all, I mean, can you IMAGINE
being in his shoes, not remembering his family, with only the occasional
image of your past-loved-ones? It's horrible! he couldn't even TELL them,
because he was worried for their safety! So close to them, yet so far
apart... his WIFE and KID! And his father, and most everyone else!
Then he lost his partner, two-fold, *sigh* THAT'S what's so great
about it, man over-coming great odds, in spite of everything else...period!..."
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