The following disc will be released on November 26th by Arrow Video (www.arrowvideo.com – www.facebook.com/ArrowVideo/) as a 2-Disc Limited Edition Collector’s Set and as a Limited Edition Steelbook.
The 80’s were a decade filled with big action cinema, starring the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Chuck Norris, Jean-Claude Van Damme and many others. Yet one of the best films of the era came from smaller studio Orion Pictures. It was, by comparison, an ambitious low-budget effort that cost about half as much as its action contemporaries). The movie also featured no big headline names, just a long list of very talented character actors. It also had an eccentric European director at its helm, who clearly had more on his mind than just explosions and thrills. The results surprised audiences and critics alike, grossing a healthy return and earning raves from many members of the press.
Make no mistake, all of its success was deserved. Robocop is a sci-fi action masterpiece that still stands as one of the best of its genre. The movie has kept a devoted fan base over the years and has been released by companies like Criterion, who put it out on laserdisc, as well as MGM and Fox. This week, Arrow Video are releasing a 2-disc Limited Edition Collector’s Set of the movie, and wow is it ever incredible. The package seemingly collects every extra ever produced for previous releases, and adds an impressive set of new bonuses that will blow away viewers. And of course, it contains a 4K restoration of the film from the original camera negative approved by director Paul Verhoeven. This is an absolutely brilliant disc.
For those unfamiliar with the picture, the story is set in Detroit in the near future, with the OCP (Omni Consumer Products) corporation essentially in control of the entire city. As cutthroat businessmen attempt to update and modernize the privatized police enforcement for their own profit, cop Alex Murphy (Peter Weller) is gunned down in the line of duty by sociopathic criminal Clarence Boddicker (Kurtwood Smith) and his gang. Murphy’s body is immediately seized by OCP and used for a pilot project in which he is turned into a cybernetic police officer.
At first, the company is impressed with their new automaton product. However, after Robocop is recognized by his old partner Anne Lewis (Nancy Allen), he begins to have flashes of his old human life. And when the protagonist discovers that OCP has ties to the criminal underworld and his own murder, it forces the cyborg hero to mount a rebellion against his corporate owners.
Everything about the picture works. The action is brilliantly shot by Jost Vacano (Das Boot, The NeverEnding Story, Total Recall) and edited by Frank J. Urioste (who had just worked on The Hitcher and would go on to cut Die Hard, Total Recall and Cliffhanger) and events move at a rapid clip. In fact, the movie flies by in no time at all, using darkly humorous media breaks to paint the disturbing backdrop of a world controlled by big business. There are plenty of exciting and exaggerated moments as Robocop takes down criminals and then squares off against many high-ranking members of the OCP corporation. The movie also benefits from visually spectacular shoot-outs which are further augmented and made compelling courtesy of the film’s unusual hero and digital sightline tricks.
It also works as a human story. Viewers are immediately drawn in and empathize immediately with the lead as he meets a horrific end and then has the last remaining pieces of his body and soul taken by OCP. From this point forward, we watch as the character tries to recover his identity and place in the world. And the corporate satire is brilliant, as the businessmen seem to have almost no empathy for citizens or each other and act like gangsters to acquire what they want. The movie changes tone from tragic to satirical almost as rapidly as it moves, yet it always seems to work and its intent is always crystal clear. It also helps that the cast is so charming (including the villains), even when events are at their most violent.
It’s easy to see why the film has endured and may be in even higher esteem now than during its initial release. There are so many elements at play and so much subtext that there’s always something else to unpack every time one watches it. Every time I revisit Robocop (which is usually every couple of years) it holds up. And in today’s age the movie’s themes are more relevant than ever. The world appears to really be catching up to the one presented in this film.
I’ve owned previous Blu-rays of the feature and this edition offers another step forward in terms of quality. It actually does looks sharper and more colorful than the previous Blu-ray put out by Fox, making this the best presentation the film has ever received. One can really take in the colors and various light sources reflect off of the main character and surfaces. This is particularly true in the corporate world, which contrasts nicely with the rundown city vistas and police precinct sets. Of course, it’s an action flick and the bullet squibs, sparks and explosions also pop more vibrantly than ever. I never thought I’d see the movie look quite this good.
The movie includes a previously recorded commentary with director Paul Verhoeven which is fantastic to listen to. You’ll discover that the director had initially dismissed the script when it was sent to him, but his wife found the discarded draft, read it and convinced the filmmaker that there was far more going on beneath the surface. Verhoeven is an animated personality and very entertaining to listen to.
There are also two new commentaries present. The first is from film historian Paul M. Sammon, who worked on the film shooting featurettes during the production. He shares trivia about the production and speaks about his own interactions with Verhoeven. Sammon goes into great analysis of the themes and ideas present in the film, including critiques of consumerism, how technology can bolster cruelty, and the director’s own view of American values that were common in action films of the era. It’s a very enlightening track that is well worth listening to. There’s also a second commentary from experts/fans, who present more facts about the film and enthusiastically discuss the elements about it that speak to them.
There are plenty of new interviews as well. The first is with co-writer Michael Miner, who discusses his inspiration for the film. He had been reading a lot of comic books and wanted to make a feature incorporating similar elements, but also mentions that he was a fan of sci-fi authors like Philip K. Dick. Of course, he also wanted to bring a sociological perspective to the material, and confirms that one of the picture’s goals was to critique and satirize predatory capitalism. Nancy Allen also talks about how impressed she was with original screenplay and her time working on the film. Mark Goldblatt (who later became a director himself on Dead Heat and The Punisher) speaks about being the second unit director on the film and the importance of adopting Verhoeven’s shooting style to help match his pieces and inserts with the director’s footage.
Also enjoyable is a talk with casting director Julie Selzer about finding the right cast members and how many of their careers progressed. She also mentions that while casting Miguel Ferrer in the role of businessman Bob Morton, he introduced her to his cousin who was hoping to get a start in the business… that man young man happened to be George Clooney. There’s also an enlightening piece about the score by Basil Poledouris, which involves identifying the film’s musical themes and how they are used repeatedly to assign emotional significance to individual moments. You’ll also get a look at a man who owns many of the props used in the film who describes how they came into his hands. Additionally, the disc includes a 45-minute Q&A from a few years back with director Verhoeven, stars Weller and Allen, writers Miner and Ed Neumeie and effects man Phil Tippett. This bonus a great extra that goes over many of the elements mentioned previously.
Another interesting bonus is the inclusion of the television cut of the picture, which obviously has the gorier bits cut out and features redubs of the swear words, as well as some alternate scenes and takes. There’s also a separate heading in which you can just watch the altered bits alone without sitting through the entire features. Those interested in knowing what the differences are between the R-rated and Unrated versions can also see a side-by-side comparison. This disc also includes the isolated score, which is phenomenal music on its own to listen to.
The set also includes numerous extras from previously released sets, including archival featurettes on the effects work, deleted scenes, storyboards of the boardroom sequence, raw dailies from the filming of the unrated gore scenes, trailers, TV spots and an image gallery. As if all of this wasn’t enough, you’ll also get six collector’s postcards, and impressive book with more details about the production, a double-sided fold out poster, and a reversable sleeve featuring both the original and newly commissioned artwork. Amazing stuff.
In my estimation, Robocop is a perfect action movie. And now, I can say the same of Arrow Video’s 2-Disc Limited Edition Collector’s Set of the feature. It looks incredible and has everything you could possibly want and more as extras. Even enthusiasts like me learned some new things about the movie by checking out this disc. As a result, this Blu-ray couldn’t come more highly recommended.