Customer Reviews

RoboCop 2 [VHS]

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(24)
2 star:		(14)
1 star:		(16)

 

 

In contrast to many other reviewers, I happen to think R2 has an astonishingly inventive script brimming with daring, dark satire. The satire is so dark however, that it challenges a viewer not to be merely "entertained", but enter into a dialogue with the film. I contend that R2 is in the tradition of such apocpalyptic satirical art as CLOCKWORK ORANGE and NAKED LUNCH which serve to warn humankind just where in hell its crazed heart may lead.

Unlike most mainstream Hollywood films, R2 is deeply critical of humanity and its resulting civilization -- starting with the harsh market-driven economy of winners and losers (it is no coincidence that both the drug trade and OCP bow to the same economic models). By depicting a world of such dire human/social affliction coupled with all the high-tech tools required to increase its profit (and anguish), R2 challenges the viewer to separate from this "humanity". Like the best satire, R2 exists to crack our rose-colored glasses, bloody our noses, and tell us what's wrong, so there is precious little "good" to root for in either old or new Detroit. What's at stake in R2 is simply keeping the flood of evil from drowning everything all at once.

The film's sharp satirical touches include: expanding the Reagan-era "privatizing" mania to that of OCP "owning" Detroit as a merciless send-up of free market philosophy; the 12-year old drug kingpin just a few tweaks from today's gun-toting teenaged gangbangers as a potent symbol for a suicidal civilization's nihilistic future; the telethon to "save" Detroit as a chilling parody of the fiscal/civil tensions between Democracy and Capitalism (in which, tellingly, the 12-year old drug dealer purchases Detroit's "freedom"); the designer drug, Nuke, as the corrupted escape-valve for society's traumatized, post-Ritalin citizens (and just wait until human genome research trickles down to the greed of the street); the domestication of Robocop into a platitude-whining ninny as a ridicule of pie-in-the-sky suburban values failing in a battlezone of urban realities (which the suburbanites' defection from the inner-city helped to create); and the Robocop 2 cyborg who sports a criminal mind determined as the best fit for our high-tech future. These and other barbs all serve to criticize society's faith that higher and higher technology will save us from human folly instead of high-tech being correctly seen as just the latest edition of that same human folly.

Yes, the script may superficially suffer from its demanding ambitions with perhaps one-too-many a sub-plot (screenwriter Frank Miller's graphic novel background pushes the envelope here), but R2's postcards-from-hell humor and prescient social criticism are the diamonds wrought from such risk. R2 is a wake-up call for a society increasingly divorced from nature: he who lives like a machine will die like a machine.

Robocop 2 is probably the most under-rated and most harshly criticized sequel in history (tying with Predator 2, which came out the same year). Because of a few missing elements from the first and a slightly more cartoonish approach to the violence, the critics and public alike were not pleased and opinions and feelings toward the franchise nosedived with the just plain awful Robocop 3.

Don't con yourself out of a good movie though. Robocop 2 still has the same savage sense of humor, cynical social commentary and character pathos of the first film. It's a hyper-realistic vision of an America populated by gun-loving psychos, a democracy owned by big business and the poverty-stricken addicted to drugs dealt to them by peddlers believing themselves to be the second coming of Christ.

Far-fetched could be the typical way of describing it. Completely-over-the-top would be more appropriate. Empire Strikes Back director Irvin Kershner chucks in as much sadistic violence, deafening gunfire, endless destruction and loss of human life that the film just begs you not to take it seriously.

Some of the blame was placed on writer Frank Miller for the film being more cartoonish than the original. I don't think this is very fair. I read Miller's original script when I was in high school and it is rather different and, dare I say, unfilmable. Robocop 2 himself was not Nuke Lord Caine, the psychotic hippie with delusions of Godhood. He was called Kong, a psychotic cop who pretty much killed everybody he came across. Sgt. Reed and the Old Man died and there wasn't much humor. Screenwriter Walon Green was hired to doctor the script and much of what appears on screen is actually his work. Frank Miller's original ideas are pretty much just left as the framework for the whole movie and some of his story was recycled into Robocop 3 (don't blame him for that one either). Miller was obviously upset with this but was still a good enough sport to appear in the film (keep a lookout for him playing Doctor Frank), though he vowed not to work in Hollywood again for fear of being taken advantage of. Until Robert Rodriguez promised to make good on his Sin City graphic novels.

Verhoven may be gone but Irvin Kershner tries hard to deliver the same mix mirth and magic and actually does get it right. Basil Poledouris' brooding score is also gone (it returns in Robocop 3) but new composer Leonard Rosenman creates a wonderfully heroic and upbeat theme that suits the film more than Poledouris' moody, tormented score to the first.

Filmed once again in Texas, Houston this time, you really have to feel for Peter Weller walking around in that Robosuit. It must have weighed a ton and he'd be sweating bucketloads inside. There is a particular scene in the film where Murphy is tortured into near-death/destruction that is very hard to watch. But it does lead to him getting a brand-new makeover and those crazy new directives put into his head. The bit where he lectures the Little League kids and scolds the youngsters playing by the leaky fire hydrant (after quoting some very suspicious philosophy) is hilarious.

Robocop 2 is a great movie. Despite problems with the script and story and some slightly dated stop-motion effects it's a brilliant sequel that lives up to expectations. Do listen to the nay-sayers. I don't know what kind of film they were expecting.

And thank you for not smoking!

The DVD is in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen with eye-popping colors (check out the chrome of Robo's armor) and Dolby 5.1 sound. I am a little sad that there are no extras such as a commentary as I would really have liked to hear what Kershner has to say about the film. And there are deleted scenes that I know of that have Murphy visit his grave and some more details on why Caine is so weird.

Oh well. One can only hope that in the future...

The inevitable sequel is not as bad as some make out; though, compared with the original, it fails on all levels. Released with a surge of hype in 1989, this will fill only those who saw the first as a violent action picture, rather than the layered modern sci-fi it really is.

It's portrayal of a new drug culture offers nothing new, and seems pretty lazy and easy as a purpose to satirise. The villain, Cain, a sort of hippy throwback, seems a bit too much of a `superhero' villain (i.e. wacky, unconventional) to offer any gritty realism (unlike the first). Irvin Kershner, the director who gave us the most fulfilling Star Wars episode - The Empire Strikes Back, seems to lack the social and political bite that Verhoeven created with the first movie.

However, if you see the film in the right light - as a comic-book style movie, then ROBOCOP 2 is elevated somewhat. There are parts when satire does sparkle, for example, where Robocop/Murphy is `reprogrammed' and set back out onto the streets is a vicious swipe at OTT political correctness and liberalism (as the first movie took a swipe at conservatism and big business fascism).

The violence is not as brutal and realistic as the first one, but it is still far off the `children' friendly Robocop spin-offs that follow this movie.

News bulletins and faux advertisements return, but this time they feel too absurd and hokey, so instead of satirising modern western media, it simply parodies the adverts/news bulletins that where in the first film.

It isn't as bad as professional reviewers have said, so this may come across as two hours of full-on exciting action - though not much else.

I didn't know about this 4 part series different than the 3 movies, and this one has entered the top 10 of my all time favorite movies. Its funny, its silly, its sad, and parts of it touched my heart because it shows us there is a human side to Robocop. I love whenever he moves, you hear servo motors, and its a scream how he turns. Robo cop has a heart, and it took me a 2nd viewing to see the things that blew past me the first time. He sees his grave site and he weeps, then he goes out and kicks some ass! I gotta get the whole set to see the next installment. ROBOCOP RULES!!!!!

People must be on CRACK to think this movie was any tamer than the first. Insane violence, that it was overboard...into the waters of satire. The last line sums up this movie's subtle genius "After all, Lois...we're only human". I love the old theme, but it's too heroic. This theme sounds more satirical. The villain was also much better in this movie. The 12 year old kid was nothing but more satire. There were tons of great one-liners...this wasn't just satire by itself this was RoboCop at his best. "Cain! Let's step outside." Peter Weller's voice is the best cyborg voice EVER.

'Robocop 2' is one of those movies that's pretty impossible to dissect or debate in any meaningful way, as those who hate it and those who like it are bound to say exactly the same thing. The film's critics will tell you that 'Robocop 2' is stupid, grotesque, juvenile, mean-spirited and violent. Indeed, this is precisely what the supporters of the film will say, but in a positive manner. Suffice to say, if you liked a Robocop I can't imagine why you wouldn't like the sequel, though some don't, apparently.

'Robocop 2's one major flaw is that it is somewhat overlong. At 116 or so minutes it could definitely stand to have 15 minutes lopped off, particularly during the segue between the major showdown with Cain and his gang, and the final climax. Still, though the film loses a bit of steam in the second half, it never runs down entirely, and the intensely amusing and over the top climax is worth the wait. A lesser concern, though still a problem, is that the little kid druglord is annoying as hell. Other than those two concerns, however, this movie is pretty sweet.

Anyway, the plot it like this: Things still suck in Detroit, and OCP has engineered a Police Strike and various other things in order to gain flat out ownership of the city. At the same time, a new drug, called Nuke, is gaining popularity due to the backing of the mysterious Cain and his gang. Finally, Robocop himself is caught in the middle of all this, and he just wants to serve and protect and whatnot, though neither OCP nor Cain's group are too fond of this idea, obviously. He finds a way, though.

Much like the original, 'Robocop 2' is an endless stream of graphic violence and shock tactics and ham-fisted social commentary. Most films that are trying to be shocking irritate me, but 'Robocop 2' never ceases to find fun in the outrage, though the profane little kids grow tiresome quite quickly. (The little league team that savages and assails a shopkeeper, however, now that is amusing.) Needless to say, the blood-splattered action scenes are the major highlight, with the most squib hits you're likely to see outside of a John Woo film. Robocop himself is still very entertaining, though it's again tough to say precisely why, and in spite of the general silliness of the film, you can't help but like him and sympathize with him so. (The best thing relating to Robocop personally is a section early in the film where OCP has reprogrammed him to be a pansy, and he wanders around spouting inane homilies and elementary school assembly type speeches. Veryfunny.) The very best stuff in the film, however, is the great stop-motion animation work. This is some high quality work here, and the big Cain Robocop 2 featured in the later portions of the film is pretty sweet. The absolute best part of the film, however, is the scene where we watch the test footage of the earlier attempts to create a new Robocop, where they go crazy and kill themselves and others and whatnot. This scene is absolutely priceless, definitely worth the view alone. Hilariously awesome.

Yeah, I'm done. I do enjoy the Robocop. Perhaps you will too.

Grade: B

Robocop 2 is an underated movie that is one hell of a fun movie. Like the first, there is nonstop action and explosions everywhere and it still keeps the same savage dark humor of the original. This dark humor is one thing that always had me fixated on the screen. My personal favorite scene is when they change Robocop from a criminal stopper to a kind weird robot applying no violence whatsoever. Just check out what he says: "and now for a word on nutrition" I was laughing so hard that I couldn't stop. It still has the silly announcers from the first one. On top of it, it still has the insane shootouts and crazy creations.
This movie deals with Robocop and his partner trying to fight off a huge drug reign. But, the so called good guys all are going to extreme measures to create a new robocop and this definitely isn't for the worst.
Anyway, this is such an awesom movie with another great performance by Peter Weller. So, buy the whole trilogy and you'll be in for a treat. While Terminator 2 was praised and this wasn't, this movie gives T2 a run for its money, and in some aspects may be a better film.

I did not even know these new Robocop movies had been made. I take it they where T.V movies or something? However the big reason that they do not have part 4, 5, 6, or 7 on them is because it would have to be called Robocop 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4. These are a 4 part series all spanning over into the continuity of each other. I saw these DVD's for sale individualy on the shelf at very cheap prices, but I thought they where the TV series that was made a few years ago. They are not. These are 2001 made movies, each running for about an hour and twenty minutes and all continue the story into each other. But I never watched these untill I rented all 4 in one. Amazon dont show anything like it, but here in Australia it is titled as ACTION PACK 2, and is 2 DVD's with 2 double sided discs in each. The last one is the four Robocop series movies. On 2 flip sided discs.

The lowdown on the adventure is that it's ten years since robocop was made. He has been serving the public trust, protecting the innocent, and in some ways upholding the law. There are all new crime bosses in Delta City. And OCP as as in charge and as corrupted as ever.

Robo has a new cheif John Cableat the station who was Robo's partner when he was alive as Alex Murphy. Throguhout the first episode Robo is having memory flash backs of John, and eventualy John discovers who it is underneath the titanium armour known as Robocop. Eventualy John Cable is shot dead in the line of duty but reserected as the new and improved version as Robocop, but corrupted by an OCP executive, his first mission, while being unknown to anybody yet, is to frame Robocop by attacking the head of OCP and various other things. Robocop is then disgraced as a fugitive and hunted down to be taken off the streets. OCP send out Cable and introduce the public to the new and improved Robocop unit. Robocop tries to make Cable remember who he is. Will Robo make him remember or not? Eventualy another of OCP's executives gets his plan to make every hom ein Delta City run by the one mega computer operating in the OCP biulding will let nothing get in the way of his dream, even if it means murder. Eventualy when the machine is about to go online and take over everything in the city, a bad guy attempts to upload a virus on the computer that will spread to all computers, and then to humans!! Will Robocop be able to defeat the new and improved Robocop unit with his friend John Cable inside? Will Robo be able to do something about the new computer virus while being hunted down as a fugitive by OCP and Cable? Find out by watching, it might suprise you what happens in the end.

Overall I thought the whole thing was very interesting. Lots of comedy and fun and action, I thought some parts where pretty lame and boring. Some things I did not like, I hated the way Robocop sounded when he walked, being so used to the sound he is supposed to have, the new one did not work for me. There is no sign of an ED-209 anywhere in sight. During a grave sight scene, it shows Alex Murphy as having died in 1992, obviously they never bothered to work out what year Robocop (original) was supposed to be set in.

Apart from that the whole thing is pretty enjoyable. You'll have to own all 4 DVD's to enjoy the whole story line. Other wise it is just movies that dont make sense. Robocop's ultimiate challenge is another Robocop, new and improved and the man is also one of Alex Murphys best friends. So join Robo on an adventure through Delta City and see what happens if your interested.

No Bonus Features.

I swear, many of you reviewing this movie wouldn't know a sequel better than the original if it came and bit you in the bum! For starters, this sequel blows the original out of the water for many reasons. I'll explain below:

This is not to say the first one wasn't great...because it was. It's among my favorite movies of all time, no question. But there were some flaws to the first one, and that was mainly the lighter tone of it over this one. For those of you that didn't know, the original script for the first movie had to be toned down quite a few times in order for it to be rated R instead of NC-17, and look what the end result was. Had the script not been toned down, the first movie most likely would've been similar to what this one was: darker, edgier, gorier, and above all, better.

On to the movie itself. Whoever says the movie had no sense of humor, even a dark one, obviously has never watched the movie from the beginning or only seen bits and pieces of it. The "MagnaVolt" commercial at the beginning alone makes me laugh so hard to make my stomach hurt every time I see it. Let's not forget the "suicide" OCP commercial too. It's sardonic, yet hilarious at the same time (though I'm not sure it was meant to be that way). Though not dark humor, the Save Our City telethon that the mayor hosts (which doesn't raise any money) is just a totally stupid concept that you can't but laugh at. Oh yeah, don't forget what Robo says to the kids in the arcade: "Isn't this a school day?"

Personally, I thought this movie was better than the original because it WASN'T as light-toned as the first one was. The feeling of dread in the first real scene (an almost post-apocalyptic-looking slum with gangs, hobos, hookers and muggers running amok in the devestated streets) is like no other I've felt from any other movie in my life to date. That dark tone just lingers throughout the entire movie, and that alone kept me in my seat watching it.

I'd go on, but I'd go way over 1000 words, so ta-ta...

My advice is: watch #1 first and don't waste your money on #3. All the bad guys from Robo 1 have been killed off, Peter Weller and Nancy Allen (remember her from "Carrie"?) have survived and now we have a new evil, sinister bad guy (Cain) who is drug lord supreme. He is distributing the highly addictive drug "nuke" and people are willing to steal and even kill for it ("nuke me baby"). A kid of about 10 going on 30 is one of his accomplices and is very handy with an automatic weapon. Detroit owes OCP something like 50 million and they're demanding payment. The mayor is incensed over this but can't even come close to raising the money with a talent telethon. Guess who comes to the rescue? Not Cain, his life support system has been pulled and he's been transformed into RoboCop 2. The kid has the money and the mayor is more than happy to accept such a generous offer. By the way, Cain was in a little automobile accident. Don't play chicken on a motorcycle going up against an armor plated van, not unless you're RoboCop. That's a basic outline of the movie. And don't tell me you liked #1 but the violence in this one was too much. I admit, there is more gratuitous violence, but what do you expect? This is Detroit, not Rocky Top, Tennessee. But what I still don't get about this movie is how does Robo know his car is going to get blown to smithereens when he goes to find Cain at the River Rouge plant? And why isn't he detected getting out of the car? And another thing, when the bad cop (Duffy) ends up in the operating room I think you should "Have the kid leave".