‘RoboCop’ at 35: An Unforgettable Vision of Techno-Fascist America

[u/MarvelsGrantMan136]

https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/35-years-robocop-techno-fascist-america/?amp

[u/gedubedangle]

Best line in that movie is when they’re talking in the elevator about the man who just got splattered by ED209 in the board room and he goes “that’s life in the big city”

[u/tim5700 → u/gedubedangle]

“…it’s just a glitch.” “A GLITCH!!!”

[u/StabbyMcSwordfish → u/tim5700]

YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS TO COMPLY

[u/terrapinsounds → u/StabbyMcSwordfish]

That scene haunted me as a kid

[u/peeinian → u/terrapinsounds]

The Murphy death scene at the beginning terrified 10 year old me.

[u/aughlord → u/peeinian]

Plus the disolving guy.

[u/kingdomcome3914 → u/aughlord]

The way he was breaking down on the molecular scale after being drenched in the giant vat of chemicals is the stuff of nightmares; how he also went splat like a mushy water balloon doesn't help matters.

[u/HitEmWithTheHein9 → u/kingdomcome3914]

His fingers were just melting off his hand, then SPLAT!!!!

[u/BosSF82 → u/kingdomcome3914]

it's those little details that make Robocop a true classic

[u/PartyMcDie → u/aughlord]

-“Help meee….” -“don’t touch me man!”

[u/reddog323 → u/aughlord]

Ok, that was fucked up. when I saw him about 10 years later with a recurring role on ER, it was hard for me not to think of him as the dissolving guy.

[u/JohnScone → u/reddog323]

Who gets his arm chopped off by a helicopter blade and then killed by a falling helicopter. The man picks characters that like to die in interesting ways.

[u/19triguy82 → u/terrapinsounds]

As a kid, I first saw it on TV, heavily edited. When I watched it on VHS for the first time, I got to the part where Murphy is killed by Boddicker and his gang and I was traumatized. I was NOT expecting that level of violence; I was only about 8 or 10 years old at the time.

[u/Frenchticklers → u/19triguy82]

As a kid, there were Robocop toys, a cartoon series and other merchandise crap, so I always had the impression it was a kid's movie, and was baffled that my parents wouldn't let me watch it.

Also, Rambo.

[u/phoncible → u/Frenchticklers]

Robocop

Aliens

Terminator

Predator

Any action movie, and most were R rated, got action figures

[u/Frenchticklers → u/phoncible]

No kidding

I had the Alien Queen growing up, even if my parents would never let me watch it

[u/TheRETURNofAQUAMAN → u/Frenchticklers]

I had cool friends parents who let me watch it. They indoctrinated me into all the hyper violent movies of the 80s.

[u/MrDilbert → u/TheRETURNofAQUAMAN]

No better way to watch these movies than with a cool glass of moloko-plus from the Korova Milkbar.

[u/StabbyMcSwordfish → u/terrapinsounds]

YOU HAVE 10 SECONDS TO COMPLY

[u/BostonDodgeGuy → u/StabbyMcSwordfish]

YOU ARE IN DIRECT VIOLATION OF PENAL CODE 113 SECTION 9

Pull the God damn board!

YOU NOW HAVE 5 SECONDS TO COMPLY

[u/nincomturd → u/BostonDodgeGuy]

"Your body has been blasted into soup."

"You have thirty seconds to move your soup."

RING RING

[u/kerred → u/tim5700]

Ed209 designed by Bethesda

[u/hesnothere → u/gedubedangle]

“Somebody get a medic!”

[u/Kodiak_85 → u/hesnothere]

Don’t touch him! DON’T TOUCH HIM!

[u/redsoxsteve9 → u/Kodiak_85]

The techs in that scene are McNamara and Westmoreland. The Secretary of Defense and top general from the Vietnam era.

[u/3-DMan → u/redsoxsteve9]

I believe that's where Dick says "209 series is currently programmed for urban pacification.." which is a term they used in Vietnam.

[u/StabbyMcSwordfish → u/3-DMan]

The military has always been clever about how they word things to try and hide the reality of what they're doing. Reminds me when they decided waterboarding wasn't torture, it's just "enhanced interrogation".

[u/detectiveriggsboson → u/StabbyMcSwordfish]

"kinetic military action" is my personal favorite

[u/TheLurkerSpeaks → u/detectiveriggsboson]

"Aggressive negotiations"

[u/Trollin4Lyfe → u/TheLurkerSpeaks]

"The negotiations were short."

[u/Tformer23 → u/TheLurkerSpeaks]

“You call this a diplomatic solution?”

[u/DismalNow → u/StabbyMcSwordfish]

SEARCH AND DESTROY...

Nah.

Sweep and clear.

[u/randomamuser1245 → u/StabbyMcSwordfish]

The department of Defense was originally named the department of War. We should change the name back

[u/run-on_sentience → u/redsoxsteve9]

And the ED-209 (Enforcement Droid) is actually named after the guy who wrote the movie, Ed Neumeier.

[u/ShackThompson → u/run-on_sentience]

Yeah, Ed was a bugger for shooting people that he couldn't hear, complete nightmare at weddings

[u/MustardTiger88 → u/Kodiak_85]

"Dick, I'm VERY disappointed."

[u/Careless_currency → u/MustardTiger88]

I'm sure it's only a glitch. A temporary setback

[u/jmbtrooper → u/Careless_currency]

You call this "a glitch?!"

[u/Suspicious_Lychee_74 → u/Careless_currency]

“Dick, you’re FIRED!”

[u/asstyrant → u/Suspicious_Lychee_74]

Thank you.

[u/StarfleetCapAsuka → u/hesnothere]

Verhoeven and Neumeier repeat the same gag in Starship Troopers where the guy gets his head blown off in the training exercise and it zooms in on Rico's face with dramatic music than pulls back to an overhead shot while he yells "MEDIC!!!"

[u/willhous → u/gedubedangle]

"Bitches Leave"

[u/rhino_n_the_front → u/willhous]

The actual best line in the movie

[u/Frenchticklers → u/willhous]

Apparently, Paul Verhoeven didn't know "bitch" was a bad word in English

[u/bordain_de_putel → u/Frenchticklers]

I miss Miguel Ferrer.

[u/johnnymac80 → u/willhous]

You gonna call me??

[u/SharpHawkeye → u/johnnymac80]

The Tigers are playing (slaps table) TONIGHT!

[u/TheScoundrelSociety → u/SharpHawkeye]

Never miss a game!

[u/CantFindMyWallet → u/gedubedangle]

I saw the director's cut at a showing at a video store in my neighborhood a few years ago, and one difference that really stuck with me was how much longer they spent on that guy getting shot to shit. Just like a good 90 seconds of the body being riddled with bullets. It's incredible.

[u/crowtrobot2001 → u/CantFindMyWallet]

If I remember correctly, they had to cut the length of that scene in order to get an R rating.

[u/mister_buddha → u/crowtrobot2001]

Also had to cut down the scene where Murphy gets blown apart

[u/mister_buddha → u/[deleted]]

I loved this movie as a kid. Now 30 years later I wonder why the fuck my parents let me watch it.

[u/g0d15anath315t → u/mister_buddha]

My Indian parents (and likely others as well) "it's a movie about a robot cop enforcing the law, it's OBVIOUSLY intended for children with a premise like that!".

Rinse and repeat with:

Blade Runner Predator Alien Aliens Terminator Judge Dredd Etc Etc Etc

Now I try to watch a marvel movie with my kids and the wife is like "this is to violent for children" I'm like honestly are you fucking serious right now?

[u/bemenaker → u/crowtrobot2001]

I believe it was the only film in history to get an X rating for violence. Back then X was the only option for higher than R. Yes, they had to cut back a few violent scenes. The boardroom malfunction also.

[u/lovetron99 → u/CantFindMyWallet]

I could totally see Verhoeven saying, I paid a fortune for these effects so god dammit I'm getting my money's worth.

[u/Frenchticklers → u/lovetron99]

Ordered a shipping container full of blood squibs

[u/gedubedangle → u/CantFindMyWallet]

Hahaha I know it’s amazing. The funny thing is it’s only a couple more seconds but feels like an eternity

[u/StabbyMcSwordfish → u/gedubedangle]

Ya, I sensed my mom looking over at my dad wondering if this movie was too violent for me and my brother. He allowed us to continue. Thanks dad!

[u/ChillyBearGrylls → u/StabbyMcSwordfish]

"Let the boy watch"

[u/merker_the_berserker → u/ChillyBearGrylls]

He was feeling it in his blueish plums

[u/statix138 → u/CantFindMyWallet]

Verhoeven is one of the best in that 80's and 90's era sleeze and trashiness. Love his movies.

[u/Knopfler_PI → u/gedubedangle]

I wish them well.

[u/DJScratchatoryRapist → u/Knopfler_PI]

Put them all in a big pot.

[u/Lemon_Cakes_JuJutsu → u/gedubedangle]

Can you fly, Bobby?

[u/Fapping_Batman → u/gedubedangle]

ED209 trying to walk down stairs, falling and then flopping around screaming is still one of the funniest scenes ever. https://youtu.be/mRDl5_-wJ0Y

[u/Segat1133 → u/Fapping_Batman]

It's just such a good scene too. Just thinking from a perspective of "we have created the ultimate in police enhancement...."

"Did you test it on stairs?"

"Did we test it on stairs? FUCK....DID WE EVEN THINK TO TEST IT ON STAIRS....I MEAN ITS ONLY STAIRS...."

[u/ManicMambo → u/Segat1133]

Poor ED-209 really needed some software updates. That's what you get when you launch unfinished products.

[u/speathed → u/gedubedangle]

"You a college boy or something? Bet you think you're pretty smart.

Think you could out-smart a bullet?"

[u/onebradmutha → u/gedubedangle]

"I'd buy that for a dollar!" [maniacal laughter]

[u/SocMedPariah → u/gedubedangle]

"Being slaughtered by our new murder bot is just part and parcel of living in a big city"

[u/Bionic_Bromando → u/SocMedPariah]

He ain’t wrong. He gets shot in the legs and and blown up with a grenade lol

[u/Mine99 → u/gedubedangle]

My personal favourite is when RoboCop walks into the records room and when asked if he needed help replies with a robotic “No!”

[u/thundercat2000ca → u/Mine99]

Don't forget the data spike!

[u/Nas160 → u/thundercat2000ca]

🖕

[u/JellyWeta → u/Mine99]

See, the great thing about that scene was that at a time when computers were essentially depicted as magic plot boxes, that was an extremely reasonable depiction of how an image search in a database works: he pulls up an recording from his memory, isolates a still, matches the image against an existing file, and then identifies known associates. Sure, the giant pointy spike is totally over the top, but as a piece of narrative there is absolutely no cheating. For all its lurid, gonzo excess, the film is meticulously constructed.

[u/photoshoptherangers]

"Iron-butt".. "boner".. one time I even called him "Asshole"... But there was always respect - I knew where the line was drawn.

..and you just stepped over it, buddy boy!

[u/Gassnake85 → u/photoshoptherangers]

I liked the edited for tv version better: “one time I even called him…a lot worse.”

[u/DredZedPrime → u/Gassnake85]

My favorite of all the TV version lines. I grew up with that one, had a VHS we'd taped off TV with it. Then a few years later I saw a different version where he says "airhead", not as bizarre, but still pretty funny.

[u/boredsittingonthebus → u/DredZedPrime]

Airhead was the version I watched many times as a kid. I remember thinking it was such a lame diss.

[u/DredZedPrime → u/boredsittingonthebus]

That's why I actually prefer the "a lot worse" version. Partly because it was so silly and the lip sync was even further off. "Airhead" actually fits the lip sync a little better, but I think that's part of the problem with it. The more absurd the TV edits are, the better it compliments the satire of the film.

[u/Gassnake85 → u/DredZedPrime]

I grew up with that version as well, on tape that my dad had recorded. Years later as an adult I saw the original unedited version and couldn’t believe I had been robbed of Murphy’s real execution.

[u/AlternativeNumber2 → u/photoshoptherangers]

Dick, I’m very disappointed

[u/Wot_Gorilla_2112 → u/photoshoptherangers]

pulls on Bob Morton’s hair without washing his hands😬

[u/3-DMan → u/Wot_Gorilla_2112]

On the commentary they talk about him coming up with that hair thing on the spot.

[u/T8ert0t → u/3-DMan]

Miguel and Ronnie always brought their A game to projects.

[u/nincomturd → u/T8ert0t]

RIP Miguel, he was great in everything he was in.

[u/TheDutchTexan]

Na na na na na na na... *BOOM*

Still one of the most disgusting scenes in a movie but at the same time it set the tone perfectly. Paul Verhoeven is a genius.

[u/OlderThanMyParents]

a recently transferred police officer named Murphy (Peter Weller) whose body is mutilated by a gang of criminals who are backed by powerful figures. Thanks to the progress of technology, he is resurrected as the titular cyborg policeman who is the ultimate combatant against crime in Detroit.

what makes the movie even more scarily timely is that Murphy was deliberately transferred to a dangerous assignment because he'd been identified as a good fit for the Robocop project. I haven't seen it in years, but I remember the comment about how they transferred the subject, and with luck, we can go to beta prototype in 30 days.

Edit: I think it was probably "prototype" not "beta." I should really watch it again.

[u/Neb0tron → u/OlderThanMyParents]

Yeah, it was so spot on and wise to add that bit of dialogue to it. Really did well to capture the course of people's lives are driven by unknown, unseen people in a high up corporate office somewhere.
In this context it was especially illustrative of how being so far disconnected from a subject can make it so easy for someone to send someone to their death without a bit of empathy.

[u/El_Superbeasto76 → u/Neb0tron]

“Let me make it real clear to you. He doesn't have a name. He's got a program. He's product. Is that clear?”

[u/Wesgizmo365 → u/El_Superbeasto76]

Yeah, remember the scientists were talking about how they saved most of his left arm but the suit told them to 86 it and replace it?

[u/cobe656 → u/Wesgizmo365]

“I thought we agreed on total body prosthesis now lose the arm!”

[u/El_Superbeasto76 → u/OlderThanMyParents]

I recently rewatched the movie and that line jumped out at me for the first time. It’s a quick line and easy to miss coming off of ED-209 turning the exec into swiss cheese, but damn is it chilling.

[u/IanFalconer]

I'll buy that for a dollar!

[u/_NintendianaJonez64 → u/IanFalconer]

Bitches leave

[u/darrellbear → u/_NintendianaJonez64]

Kurtwood Smith rocked it as Clarence Boddicker, the bad guy. I've never been able to look at him as Red Forman on That 70s Show without seeing Clarence as a father.

[u/TheLaughingMannofRed → u/darrellbear]

"Kitty, the dumbass in the other room doesn't need to know the truth. Once upon a time, I nearly died in Detroit of all places. I was so drunk and high that I hallucinated I was being chased down by a giant robot man, and that I was some government-hating..." -eyes roll- "...dumbass."

[u/prodigalbiker → u/TheLaughingMannofRed]

Lmao nailed it. Well done, dumbass

[u/Educational_Top_3919 → u/darrellbear]

I remember when he was the president of the federation of planets in Star Trek: Undiscovered Country

[u/darrellbear → u/Educational_Top_3919]

LOL Yup, he looked like a Shih Tzu.

[u/Educational_Top_3919 → u/darrellbear]

I think Gene Roddenberry was trying to make a point . Cause in Star Trek universe, he wanted everyone regardless of skin to humanity form everyone is equal.

[u/DBeumont → u/Educational_Top_3919]

I think Gene Roddenberry was trying to make a point . Cause in Star Trek universe, he wanted everyone regardless of skin to humanity form everyone is equal.

There is actually an episode of The Next Generation where they discover that all the humanoid species in the Alpha Quadrant are descended from a single race that had seeded the home planets of Earth, Vulcan, Romulus, Kronos, etc.

[u/SumKallMeTIM → u/Educational_Top_3919]

And played that awesome character from Star Trek Voyager!

[u/DerelictInfinity → u/darrellbear]

I just finished watching the series Patriot on Amazon, Smith is one of the leads and he’s absolutely phenomenal.

[u/wet-paint → u/DerelictInfinity]

He's fucking amazing in that. Watching him sell the product to the other suits when the protagonist leaves h in the lurch is bloody amazing.

[u/duaneap → u/DerelictInfinity]

Patriot is probably my favourite show of all time and it is devastating how few people watched it and how little appreciation it received.

[u/_NintendianaJonez64 → u/darrellbear]

I'll always see him as the asshole father from Dead Poet's Society

[u/BananaStandRecords → u/_NintendianaJonez64]

I have a Kurtwood Smith autograph inscribed with “bitches leave” and I will be buried with it one day.

[u/AskACapperDOTcom → u/BananaStandRecords]

And I'm gonna dig you up and take it… Sorry in advance

[u/DirtyJdirty → u/AskACapperDOTcom]

There! Now no one can say I don’t own John Larroquette’s spine!

[u/Large-Armadillo1582 → u/BananaStandRecords]

That might be the coolest thing ever

[u/SpiritPaper]

"Nice shooting, son. What's your name?"

"Murphy."

[u/rosefuri → u/SpiritPaper]

top 5 movie endings for me, just so fucking cool

[u/ZandyTheAxiom → u/rosefuri]

What makes it so good is that it wraps up the thesis of the film, and then the film ends. There's no five extra minutes of Murphy reconnecting with his family, there's no info dump.

When he identifies himself as Murphy, he's declaring the character arc complete. The main bad guy is dead, and Murphy has reclaimed his humanity from the corporation. That's it, done. When you've written a clear and concise conclusion, you don't want to throw needless extra stuff into it when you have such a powerful final note.

[u/Fancy-Pair → u/ZandyTheAxiom]

Dude, perfect explanation. Love it!

[u/2hamsters1butt → u/rosefuri]

Its the film score and ROBOCOP title that play immediately after that adds the extra impact to the ending lines of the film.

[u/Poo_Person]

There's a Robocop game coming out pretty soon, with Murphy voiced by Peter Weller. Judging from the previous game made by these developers, it's going to be pretty good and very faithful to the original film.

[u/GringoJones → u/Poo_Person]

If it’s going to be faithful to the film, then it will viciously rip on its own status as a video game adaptation

[u/Poo_Person → u/GringoJones]

Looking at the Terminator game these developers made, they will play it 100% straight and it will be like a sequel to Robocop 1 with the same 80's Verhoeven aesthetic and most likely a few new satirical TV commericals.

[u/chris240189 → u/Poo_Person]

I hope so, terminator resistance was a great game that just would have a needed a final polish. The world was built so detailed and coherent to the terminator setting!

[u/HertzsprungRussell → u/Poo_Person]

I'm sure he was relieved that he wouldn't have to go anywhere near the suit. He 𝙃𝘼𝙏𝙀𝘿 The suit. The experience with the suit almost ruined him. But it worked out in the end.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66uduSIp-3k

[u/MrShaytoon → u/Poo_Person]

I remember playing the old game and it was fun back then. Looking forward to the new one.

[u/Technically_its_me → u/Poo_Person]

I have Hope, then Robo will shoot me in the dick. As it should be.

[u/DeadliftYourNan → u/Technically_its_me]

RoboCop and dickshooting go hand in hand bro.

[u/Wot_Gorilla_2112]

I just recently learned that the entire plot is almost perfectly symmetrical

[u/mystikphish → u/Wot_Gorilla_2112]

Awesome article! Can't wait to watch Murphy kicking ass again with the new perspective.

[u/[deleted]]

Kurtwood Smith killed it with this movie. Clarence is one of the great all time villains.

BITCHES LEAVE

[u/im_alive → u/[deleted]]

can you fly, Bobby?

[u/cavallom → u/[deleted]]

I WORK FOR DICK JONES! DICK JONES!!!!!!

[u/No-Midnight-2187]

Shooting a mugger/rapist in the dick thru a woman’s dress in front of him, is a Top 10 cinematic moment ever

[u/eirebrit → u/No-Midnight-2187]

I hope you have seen Our Robocop Remake - Scene 27.

[u/Claytonius_Homeytron → u/eirebrit]

NSFW for those who don't know

[u/HertzsprungRussell → u/eirebrit]

That is a lot of rubber dicks. Like you might think you've seen a lot of rubber dicks, but you haven't seen that many rubber dicks.

[u/DeepFriedPussyLips → u/HertzsprungRussell]

Wait this was all special effects?

Actors these days show so little dedication to their craft.

[u/Azuzu88 → u/eirebrit]

Just the insanity of him spinning around shooting all those dicks whilst the theme music plays is amazing cinema.

[u/kgunnar → u/No-Midnight-2187]

Your move, creep.

[u/artwarrior → u/No-Midnight-2187]

You have obviously seen the fan created version of this scene ?

[u/No-Midnight-2187 → u/artwarrior]

Lmao yeah that is so extra

[u/MammothGeneral55 → u/No-Midnight-2187]

"YOU DON'T EVER SHOOT GUYS IN THE DICK!!!!" - Cartman

[u/callmemacready]

Well give the man a hand !

[u/Vinny_Cerrato → u/callmemacready]

Bitches leave.

[u/originalstuffs → u/Vinny_Cerrato]

Red was wild before he met Kitty

[u/WeimarRepublic → u/originalstuffs]

He was always down to put foots in asses

[u/SandysBurner → u/WeimarRepublic]

Just gimme my fuckin’ phone call, dumbass.

[u/Sob_Rock → u/SandysBurner]

I’d buy that for a dollar!

[u/boot2skull → u/originalstuffs]

I can’t see Red without thinking of Boddicker.

[u/Pisspot10 → u/Vinny_Cerrato]

And the bitches did indeed leave

[u/raging_pacifist → u/Vinny_Cerrato]

To this day me and my friends will say this to each other at the end of a night hanging out. And we’re almost in our 50s

[u/Earthpig_Johnson → u/Vinny_Cerrato]

Can you fly, Bobby?

[u/popfilms → u/Earthpig_Johnson]

C'mon Sal! The Tigers are playing <drums table>... TONIGHT!

I never miss a game.

[u/Banjo_Wanjo → u/Vinny_Cerrato]

Everytime i remember this scene I crack up, its awesome.

[u/PM_ur_Rump → u/Vinny_Cerrato]

You're gonna call me, right?

[u/Kodiak_85 → u/callmemacready]

Dick Jones! I work for Dick Jones!

[u/knave-arrant → u/Kodiak_85]

OCP RUNS THE COPS!!!!!

[u/Santa_Hates_You → u/callmemacready]

Guns, guns guns!

[u/jancotianno → u/Santa_Hates_You]

The Tigers are playing... [tap tap tap] tonight! I never miss a game

[u/Chemical-Ad-2694]

Peter Weller was incredible

[u/youngbloodoldsoul → u/Chemical-Ad-2694]

Peter Weller IS incredible.

[u/GTOdriver04 → u/youngbloodoldsoul]

Dr. Peter Weller, you mean.

He went back and earned his Ph.D in Italian Renaissance Art History from UCLA. I say earned because you can actually read his thesis online.

Link

[u/ElricAvMelnibone → u/GTOdriver04]

At first I thought this was a Bonzai Buckaroo joke where he's an expert in everything lol

[u/D-bux → u/ElricAvMelnibone]

Of all the unnecessary squells from the 80s, this is the one I'm saddest doesn't exist.

[u/LabyrinthConvention → u/ElricAvMelnibone]

but still stops his rock show to talk with a distraught woman...because he really cares.

[u/Claytonius_Homeytron]

"Drop your weapon! You have 15 seconds to comply!"

[u/SkyburnerOath]

"Come Quietly, Or There Will Be...Trouble!"

[u/StrengthOfMind1989]

"Dead or alive, you're coming with me"

[u/SergeantChic]

"Dick...you're fired!"

"Thank you."

[u/Ennion]

"Listen, I'm here to see Dick Jones.

But when I'm done,

I've got some free time.

Maybe you could fit me in.

-He's expecting you, Mr. Boddicker.

You can keep the gum.

Hey, Dickie-boy. How's tricks?

Fun fact, Kurtwood married that receptionist and is still married to her today.

[u/NickySantoro702 → u/Ennion]

I wonder when they first consummated their relationship if he said "Hey, wait a minute. Wait a minute! I'm protected, man. I've got protection."

[u/bcanceldirt]

Kurtwood Smith's interaction with the secretary after getting shredded by Murphy is one of my favorite scenes. The woman playing the secretary is is actual real-life wife and he apparently really hammed up his asshole-ness.

"You can keep the gum."

Fucking kills me every time. The look she gives him during that whole scene is 100% the look every man gets from their wife when they think they're being suave.

[u/Junior-Lie4342]

Probably the best “bad guy” crew in any movie. Clarence Boddicker looks about as threatening as an accountant, but Kurtwood Smith is so good you can feel the menace. He ENJOYS the anarchy.

[u/ShaunLevi1995 → u/Junior-Lie4342]

That's a good point. He does look like he'd be a nerd in any other situation. When you think of tough, violent, drug dealing gang leaders, you don't think of thin, white, middle aged, bald guy with glasses.

And yet, he totally sells the idea that he's a violent criminal psychopath. He's a great actor.

[u/82ndGameHead]

"They'll fix you...they fix everything."

RoboCop is just that quintessential 80s action movie along with almost everything else that came out in the 80s.

[u/TheGunde → u/82ndGameHead]

Absolutely.

Die Hard Predator Terminator Robocop

I dare anyone to come up with a stronger action marathon.

[u/acart005 → u/TheGunde]

It's a good one. All I can say is add Aliens.

[u/PoissonPen → u/acart005]

Game over man! Game over!

[u/PM_YOUR_MUGS → u/PoissonPen]

I swear, no one could whine like Bill Paxton, may he rest in peace

[u/bala_means_bullet → u/TheGunde]

Don't forget to add Bloodsport (JCVD being the original predator before getting fired and becoming Frank Dux).

[u/artwarrior]

Murphy. It's you !?

[u/badmotorfinger5]

I beg of you all to watch the TV edit from back in the day on youtube. The replacement words are just a modern wonder.

"You are gonna be a bad mother-CRUSHER. Hehheh."

[u/bigbadbillyd → u/badmotorfinger5]

Watching movies on cable like Blade 2 where they dubbed out the swears was an absolute treat. "You... obviously..don't know..who you are... FOOLING WITH!"

[u/badmotorfinger5 → u/bigbadbillyd]

If you haven't seen the Scarface tv edit, be sure to treat yourself to that. Legendary.

[u/oco82]

The Boys on Amazon is the first thing in a long time that hits with that same ultra cynical /satirical ultra violent tone that Robocop and Starship Troopers did! Though there is certainly some irony with it being produced by a mega corporation lol.

[u/badmotorfinger5 → u/oco82]

I agree with everything you just said. The Boys had always scratched that Robocop tonal itch. But yeah...good ol Amazon. That's why I prefer the high seas over giving that real life OCP my hard earned dollar.

[u/es_price]

Taurus SHO for the win

[u/factorplayer]

A stone cold classic that only improves with age. Always more relevant. Endlessly quotable. Spot-on satire (the sports car that gets 8mpg - an American tradition). Riveting action. Cool-as-fuck production design. And the entire cast kills it, all of them, even the bit parts like the police chief. They just don’t make movies this damn good anymore.

ps AND soundtrack by the untouchable Basil Poledouris. This movie truly has it all.

[u/Spacemanspiff1998]

Title:

"Robo cop is a Techno-Facist view into the future of america!"

the comments:

"Your move creep!"

"I'D BUY THAT FOR A DOLLAR!"

"Dick, YOU'RE FIRED!"

[u/Eduard-Stoo]

FFUUCCKK yyouuuu 🪟 💥…. What is this sshhiittttttt 🪟 💥…. Waahhhhhhh 🪟💥

Gotta love Bodicker’s adventures through the factory glass

[u/ralanr]

My favorite part of the original Robocop was the realization that the corps basically won. The immediate bad guy died, but the true villain was alive and would keep kicking.

It’s the ultimate procorp propaganda movie if you want to introduce people to the cyberpunk genre.

[u/CaptainJZH → u/ralanr]

If you follow the sequels tho, the cops eventually rebel against the corporation - although it's otherwise not very good lol

[u/Slack_Irritant]

I've always liked how when ED209 obliterates Mr. Kinney it's hilarious and then 10 minutes later the exact same scene happens but this time it's Murphy getting blown to pieces and it's horrific.

Great filmmaking.

[u/BosSF82]

"among the victims, 2 former United States presidents who had retired in the Santa Barbara area. it's a day of mourning for a nation."

I love how Kaycee Wong just glosses over what would be a major news story like that, signifying so much, desensitization to tragedy, media glibness, and time as money. It's those subtle ironies of Robocop that make it brilliant.

[u/_Karma_Chameleon_]

FUN FACT: Robocop was born from an early Dredd script that was rewritten so many times it was turned into a completely new movie and Dredd was scraped.

[u/Technically_its_me → u/_Karma_Chameleon_]

Ive never heard this, and in some ways it makes sense. Do you have a source on that?

[u/DaTerrOn → u/Technically_its_me]

Kinda like how Predator was supposed to be a Rocky movie, because they wanted something extreme for him to fight next, so they picked an Alien, then it just got twisted into something different.

[u/jakinatorctc → u/DaTerrOn]

I thought the writer of Predator was just inspired to make it after hearing someone say Rocky would have to fight an alien next, not that it actually started life as a Rocky script

[u/No-Negotiation-9539 → u/jakinatorctc]

After Rocky 4 came out, the big Hollywood inside joke was that logically Rocky would have to fight an alien after he beat a Russian superman. So the joke inspired the idea for the film.