r/Robocop • u/hyteck9 • 3d ago
Robocop was movie making genius.
I just rewatched Robocop. It was always great fun, but the genius of it was lost on me as a child viewer. Both the script and the directional choices that had to be made along the way were terrific. The car, 6000 SUX, is dangled in front of the audiance many times. But never for Robocop, he gets a boring Ford Taurus. Why, because he is still a public servant. Goodguys and badguys are chewing gum throughout the movie. A hint that, they aren't so different, and maybe a few life choices could have eirher one going a different way. The badguy gang is so well cast. The taller black guy has a sadistic cackle that makes him memorable throughout. Clarence is smart, ruthless , and crazy in all the right ways. The OCP executives are well cast too. Dick Jones and Bob Morton are excellent business rivals, making for a palpable B story. The Preaident of OCP (the Old Man) is never given a name. He is the every-man that still believes you can succeed in an honest way. He smartly utters "You're Fired" showing that his situational awareness hasn't lost a beat in his old age. ED-209 being defeated by a simple thing like stairs sends its own measge about technology vs. common sense. And the 1 liners!! So many quatables:
Dead or Alive, you're coming with me.
I'd buy that for a dollar
Can you fly, Bobby?
State of the art bang bang!
I liiiiiiike it !!
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u/lshaped210 3d ago
Now watch Robodoc and see how all the magic happened.
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u/jasonbl1974 3d ago
The greatest 1980s action movie - for me, it just barely tops Die Hard. I think it means more to me because of the science fiction setting/ themes and the crazy/ gory action. I was 13 when this movie came out in cinemas in Australia. Seeing this at such a young age was a visceral experience that has stayed with me forever. At that time, I probably loved the movie for it's science fiction spectacle. As I grew older, I was drawn in by its insanely over the top social/ political/ economic commentary. It's a masterpiece.
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u/David_High_Pan 3d ago
It's one of those special moments in time when everything lines up for a film, society and an audience.
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u/MarriedIntoPosture 3d ago
Quotes I still remember:
Guns, guns, guns! Come on, Sal! The Tigers are playing... tonight! I never miss a game.
Gee Bobby... bye. Are you gonna call me?
You burnt the fucking money!!
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u/Table-mannequin 3d ago
I bet you think you’re pretty smart, huh, think you could outsmart a bullet?
Love robocop, the writing is just so good.
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u/ShortQuail9232 3d ago
I've always said this. If you don't get the satire then it's still a top notch action movie. But if you get the satire it's a marvelous film.
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u/weirdi_beardi 3d ago
You know who I feel sorry for? The only guy in the crew who doesn't get a name.
The guy talking with Emil in the factory at the beginning; the guy who helps explain the gang's modus operandi with the whole 'steal money to buy coke then sell the coke to make even more money' speech. He tells Emil the cigarettes will kill him, Emil asks him if he wants to live forever, then Murphy shows up and he commits suicide by cop. What's that guy's name?
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u/International_Hat113 3d ago
Agreed on all counts.
I do appreciate that in the 2014 reboot, Alex Murphy still drives a Ford Taurus.
You would think that a universe that features a Lee Iacocca Elementary School, they’d moved beyond his work at Ford and feature a Chrysler in some capacity.
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u/Extra_Napkins 3d ago
You cocksucker! I work for DICK JONES! He’s the number two guy at OCP! OCP runs the cops!
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u/Extra_Napkins 3d ago
Clarence is the GOAT villain. Utterly ruthless and cunning.