Movie Review – RoboCop 3 (1993)
After the financial success of RoboCop 2, Hollywood still decided to pursue with another RoboCop sequel despite mixed to poor reviews of the second film.
RoboCop 3 was released in 1993.
This time around OCP is finally serious about destroying part of Detroit, Michigan, to make way for the construction of “Delta City.” The police force runs into resistance from some of old Detroit’s residents, and it turns into a war between the people and police force. RoboCop is caught in the middle as he’s programmed to follow his orders, yet he cannot harm innocent people. To complicate the matter, OCP is now under the leadership of a Japanese company, and RoboCop isn’t the only sophisticated robot running around Detroit.
To add insult to injury, RoboCop 3 had its harsh language and graphic violence reduced so that the film would have a PG-13 rating, making it more appealing to families and younger audiences. Both of the previous RoboCop films were rated R.
Directed by Fred Dekker, RoboCop 3 stars Robert John Burke in the title role of Alex Murphy / RoboCop. Supporting him are Nancy Allen as Officer Anne Lewis, John Castle as Commander Paul McDaggett, Rip Torn as the president of OCP, Remy Ryan as Nikko Halloran, Felton Perry as OCP Vice President Donald Johnson, Jill Hennessy as Dr. Marie Lazarus, Robert DoQui as Sgt. Warren Reed, and Bradley Whitford as Jeffrey Fleck.
RoboCop 3 (1993) – (c) Orion Pictures / MGM
RoboCop 3 begins with a television commercial advertising Delta City, a utopia-like city planned for development by Omni Consumer Products (OCP). A news broadcast then tells us that OCP has been taken over by a Japanese company called Kanemitsu Corporation. We’re then told about Detroit’s escalating levels of violence (just like in the previous two films), and OCP’s answer for it. The answer this time is an armed force called Urban Rehabilitators (Rehabs). Lead by Commander Paul McDaggett (John Castle), we’re told that the Rehabilitators are there to simply help the police force despite their heavy weapons and veteran combat troops fresh from the Amazon War.
But as we see, the Rehabilitators are also being used to serve eviction notices and physically remove people from their homes. Read more…
Categories: movie reviews Tags: movie review, RoboCop, sci-fi
Movie Review – RoboCop 2 (1990)
Back in 1987, RoboCop thrilled audiences with its tale of a dead police officer brought back to life as a cyborg, and his quest for revenge against the criminals who killed him.
1990’s RoboCop 2 continues the story established in the first film.
Set a not long after the events in the first film, RoboCop 2 continues the story with OCP‘s progress towards taking over most of the city of Detroit, Michigan, and converting it into “Delta City.” OCP is also working towards the next model in the “RoboCop” line of cyborg police units. In addition to the story of OCP, RoboCop 2 also wages war on drugs. The drug in this film is Nuke, a cheap and readily available drug that’s common on the streets of Detroit.
Directed by Ivan Kershner, RoboCop 2 returns many of the same cast members from the first RoboCop film. Peter Weller reprises his role as Alex Murphy / RoboCop. The same goes true for Nancy Allen in the role of Officer Anne Lewis, Dan O’Herlihy as “The Old Man,” Felton Perry as OCP vice president Donald Johnson, and Robert DoQui as Sgt. Reed.
New faces in RoboCop 2 include Belinda Bauer as Dr. Juliette Faxx, Tom Noonan as criminal leader Cain, and Gabriel Damon as Hob, a 12-year-old kid and Cain’s assistant.
RoboCop 2 (1990) – (c) Orion Pictures
RoboCop 2 begins with some satirical television commercials along with some news stories. One of the news stories is about the assassination of the Surgeon General as he gives a news conference about the dangers of Nuke, a new and wildly popular designer drug. This is followed by a message from Cain (Tom Noonan), a terrorist and the Nuke cult leader.
We also learn that most of the Detroit police officers are on strike. They’re upset that Omni Consumer Products (OCP) has cut their salaries and cancelled their pension plan. This is leaving the already dangerous city prone to even more criminal activity. Read more…
Categories: movie reviews Tags: movie review, RoboCop, sci-fi
Movie Review – RoboCop (1987)
Imagine a world in the not-too-distant future where crime is rampant and the solution is straight out of a science laboratory.
Released in 1987, RoboCop tells a violent tale where a Detroit police officer is tortured and nearly killed by a notorious criminal’s gang, only to return as a half-man, half-machine cyborg cop seeking revenge. Throw in plenty of bloody violence along with greed, corruption, drugs, and good, old fashioned murder, and there you go.
Directed by Paul Verhoeven, RoboCop stars Peter Weller as Detroit police officer Alex Murphy / RoboCop. Co-starring in the film are Nancy Allen as officer Anne Lewis, Ronny Cox as OCP senior president Richard “Dick” Jones, Kurtwood Smith as Clarence Boddicker, and Miguel Ferrer as OCP executive Robert “Bob” Morton.
RoboCop takes place in Detroit, Michigan in the year 2029.
Crime is rampant and the city itself is on the edge of financial collapse. The federal government is not interested in bailing out the city (sound familiar?). Along comes the Omni Consumper Products (OCP) corporation to the rescue. In exchange for funding and running Detroit’s police force, the mayor is allowing OCP to demolish sections of Detroit and create “Delta City,” a high-end utopia. “Delta City” will be an independent city within a city that is run by OCP and NOT the city of Detroit.
The film begins with a Detroit television station giving us news stories. Mixed with the news reports are satirical commercials for products making a mockery of society. One of the news reports mentions that a few Detroit police officers were murdered by crime boss Clarence Boddicker, a killer associated with the deaths of 31 police officers. One of the police officers was only critically injured, but his outlook is grim.
RoboCop (1987) – (c) Orion Pictures
At one of the police precincts we see officer Alex Murphy (Peter Weller) arrive after being transferred from a different precinct. It’s noted that OCP has been shuffling quite a few officers around the city as they run the police program. When Murphy goes to the locker room he notices that several of his fellow officers are very upset with the way that OCP continues to deteriorate the police department. There’s talk of the officers going on strike soon.
After suiting up in his gear, Alex Murphy is introduced to his new partner, officer Anne Lewis (Nancy Allen). The two of them leave and head out on patrol of their section of the city. Read more…
Categories: movie reviews Tags: movie review, RoboCop, sci-fi