RoboCop.
Now let's get one thing out of the way: I'm not referring to the franchise as a whole, due to the fact the sequels & TV show are crap.

I'm referring of course, to Verhoeven's masterpiece.

Why? Because it's as relevant now as it was then. You can watch it and enjoy it on the level of a comic-book style action film with over-the-top violence, or you can dig a little deeper and discover a sharp satire that pokes fun at the way tragic news reports are nestled between car adverts & family boardgames about nuclear armageddon.

For me, it's two-fold. Watching now makes me realise how much we rely on technology around us now, so much so that we may have to look upon it as a saviour from the pervading crime wave that the media loves splashing about on the front pages. But in turn, through all this technology, are we falling further out of touch with ourselves as human beings? Peter Weller's portrayal of the mortally wounded cop-turned-cyborg is incredible for the way that he begins life as RoboCop as he is meant to be: Cold, calculating, doing what must be done as his program orders, as a machine should be.
But then we see the slow reveal of the human lost inside, memories of family that he can no longer relate to, and the thirst for revenge on the killers who took away his life.

Plus it's relevant now as it shows that although we thought corporate life was bad in the 80s, it's virtually parallel with what happens now, with corporations such as Haliburton & Blackwater taking on aspects in our world around us that Orwell would be spinning in his grave about.

So to recap: Science fiction, action, over-the-top violence, biting satire, drama, an amazing soundtrack by the late Basil Poledouris, and a gun that would kneecap a T-Rex.

Edit: also a prophetic idea about video on a cd sized disc - crazy people, where do they get these ideas?!

No apologies for length Lewis, we're only human.
(Jimmy Jangle, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 21:49, 11 replies)

I tried
to watch it teh other night but my missus was "no fucking way" after about ten mins I actually agreed with her, maybe 10 years ago...
( SauronWibble I'll hold it, you lick it..., Thu 17 Jul 2008, 21:51, closed)

I'd buy that for 49p
'HE'S AN AMERICAN JESUS' - Paul Verhoeven
(catbrain likes the hairy scratchings bestest, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 21:54, closed)

Agreed
The original Robocop is a true modern classic.

SauronWibble - Hand in your man badge immediately.
(Prof. Moriarty put his foot in it on, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 22:02, closed)

I have watched this about a hundred times
but the ITV politeness edit is one of the funniest things you will ever see!
(Halfy By light alone, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 22:04, closed)

Prof.
Well I did just hand my balls to my missus to place in her handbag. Thumbprint on my heeeed
( SauronWibble I'll hold it, you lick it..., Thu 17 Jul 2008, 22:08, closed)

but I ain't that far in
that I'd suggest 'Grease' or nowt
( SauronWibble I'll hold it, you lick it..., Thu 17 Jul 2008, 22:09, closed)

It's
when you find that you know most of the script of 'Dirty dancing' that you really start to worry that your genitals are turning inside out.


/Nobody puts Baby in a corner.

//Oh dear God it's starting again.
(Prof. Moriarty put his foot in it on, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 22:13, closed)

Halfy you're right
It turned an 18 into a PG, after that I've never watched a full film on ITV. Anyone see Kindergarten Cop the other day? They removed the best bit where the kid stands up and states obvious biological differences between genders.

Chav-TV twunts.
(Jimmy Jangle, Thu 17 Jul 2008, 22:54, closed)

It hasn't dated as badly as I thought...
In 1987, we may have scoffed at the idea of that society may take a dark and fascistic turn in the near future but look closely at what actually came to pass. Scary stuff.

Great satire though, Robocop was the blackest of black comedies in many ways.

However, there's a totally unnecessary remake on the way...
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Thu 17 Jul 2008, 22:55, closed)

^
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

That's like remaking Jaws... totally redundant.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Thu 17 Jul 2008, 23:36, closed)

the ITV all new new happy happy version is indeed brilliant.
"Your company built the freaky thing, I don't have to take no more of this baloney!"

"Take that, you blugger!"

brilliant.

the fact that the redub voices sound nothing like the originals and are largely at completely inappropriate volumes really adds to it.
( Mockingbird Practitioner of SCIENCE, Fri 18 Jul 2008, 12:13, closed)