Robocop: How Does it Hold Up
In 1987, the world was changed when Robocop was released. The story of a cop who was blown up, and rebuilt so he can deal with criminals with the utmost force. But does this classic movie still hold 31 years later? Also, there will be no restraint on spoilers.
Robocop is the classic tale of a cop who was blown up, and rebuilt as a no nonsense cyborg cop. Obviously, Robocop would want his revenge on the people who killed him, and forced his family to leave Detroit. Now with nothing to lose, Robocop fights his killers, as well as the robot sentry Ed-209. And when he goes after these guys, it’s with lethal force. Whether he’s shooting, stabbing, or using toxic waste, the criminals go down.
As for this story, it’s perfect for Robocop. The story knows it’s not serious, so it isn’t written to be that way. Plus, Robocop is a great character, because we first meet Officer Murphy, and he’s obviously a good guy. But once he becomes Robocop, he’s an emotionless, well, machine. His first goal is to arrest criminals, and if they resist, he uses force. And Robocop’s villains are great. Clarence and his lackeys are just flat out evil, and it’s great to watch. There’s also Dick Jones, who represents the evil corporate business man, especially when you find out that he’s been pulling the strings behind everything the whole time. And at the end of the movie, we see Robocop using his real name again, showing that Murphy is regaining his humanity.
While Robocop may have a good story, do the visuals still hold up? Well that is a resounding yes. The Robocop suit seems restraining, but it actually works, as Murphy has become a cyborg with limited movement. There’s also Ed-209, which is made using stop motion animation. While it can look awkward when in the same shot as regular actors, for the most, Ed looks fine. But one of the best looking effects is when on of the criminals is doused in toxic waste, and he starts melting. This effect looks great, and seems like it could be straight out of a horror game. It also ends in a fitting way, exploding after being hit by a car. And another great effect is all the blood squibs that shoot out when the actor is shot, and some actors get shot a lot. The first scene where Ed shoots the Omni Corp employee is one of the bloodiest in the movie.
One of the most surprising things about Robocop is just how good the soundtrack is. It has no right being as good as it is, but somehow it’s great. The tracks can be intense, energetic, and even emotional at points. Even if you don’t want to watch the movie, I’d suggest you give the soundtrack a listen.
So, does Robocop still hold up 31 years later? It definitely does. It has a great story, good visuals, awesome violence, and a surprisingly good soundtrack. And yes, the violence is a selling point, because it is just fun to watch. Whether it’s seeing a terrible criminal get what they deserve, or just seeing Robocop be insanely overpowered, it’s always great. Plus, it has some of the best one liners in all of movie history. So go honor Robocop’s legacy by watching it today, forgetting the reboot, and hope that the upcoming movie will be as good as the original.
