tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post8177206807249575230..comments2024-03-27T21:42:56.131-05:00Comments on 1001plus: The Future of Law EnforcementSJHoneywellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-49954570158841061682013-12-05T23:55:22.193-06:002013-12-05T23:55:22.193-06:00It's a good point about the ED-209 malfunction...It's a good point about the ED-209 malfunction. I hadn't considered it, but it does make sense, and it's the sort of boundary that Verhoeven likes to push. I wouldn't put it past him. <br /><br />For as violent as the film is, it is surprisingly funny at times--but you're right. There's a good amount of sympathy for Murphy, much of which comes out in the scene where he goes back to his now-empty house as well as the one in which he takes off his visor and sees himself for the first time.SJHoneywellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-38821266935679506282013-11-29T19:30:03.868-06:002013-11-29T19:30:03.868-06:00Siskel and Ebert had a big segment on their show a...Siskel and Ebert had a big segment on their show about the violence in Robocop, specifically the ED-209 malfunction. They (rightly) interpreted the ultra-violent, extra long killing of the executive as a parody, making a point about our capacity to witness violence. They thought the MPAA gutted the scene by forcing Verhoeven to shorten it.<br /><br />I love Robocop. Murphy's fatal confrontation with the gang is absolutely horrific and terrifying. It's very effective in establishing how nasty the villains are and in creating vast amounts of sympathy for Murphy. I'd compare it in tone to Joe Pesci losing it in Goodfellas. The satire and humor are well-directed and the acting first rate.<br /><br />In short, I'd buy that for a dollar.<br />Ipecachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15157560182505626755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-40891282458379884982013-11-21T23:52:42.033-06:002013-11-21T23:52:42.033-06:00I'm not much interested in the remake. I like ...I'm not much interested in the remake. I like this one because I admit it has some positive associations for me from when it was first around. I was right at the right age to appreciate it for its violent and strange qualities, and that sort of love sticks around.SJHoneywellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-57320556791191612392013-11-21T20:05:16.704-06:002013-11-21T20:05:16.704-06:00Like Saturday Night Fever this is another film I n...Like Saturday Night Fever this is another film I never saw until many years after it came out. I remember the controversy over the X rating. Originally the scene with the malfunction went on for over a minute with thousands of bullets pretty much disintegrating the man. Ah, those were the days when the MPAA actually had some sanity and considered violence worse than sex.<br /><br />When I did finally see it my reaction was like another commenter - it didn't really do much of anything for me. I didn't hate it, but not much in it kept my interest, either.<br /><br />And they're doing a 2014 remake of it with a lot of familiar faces, but a guy I've never heard of in the title role.<br /><br />Five.Chip Laryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00787403805554027107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-4168642202939111312013-11-21T11:59:55.630-06:002013-11-21T11:59:55.630-06:00I think I probably saw it on television first, too...I think I probably saw it on television first, too. I'd seen a less cut-down version of it, but even with that, I'd forgotten the level of violence here. It's really, really bloody. The execution of Murphy is incredibly brutal and shocking.<br /><br />I see that I didn't mention the great Ray Wise above. That's an oversight on my part. He's always fun, especially as a camp-ish villain.<br /><br />You're right about the pacing, too. I was what felt like 20 minutes in last night when I realized that I had about an hour of the film left. SJHoneywellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-7945527976315363222013-11-21T09:08:03.098-06:002013-11-21T09:08:03.098-06:00I originally saw Robocop on TV, and while I've...I originally saw Robocop on TV, and while I've watched it a few more times, I'm not sure they haven't been on TV too. So I probably haven't even seen the most violent parts. The guy (Dr. Romano from ER) getting stuck in the acid is pretty nasty even on television.<br /><br />I'm a huge fan of Robocop. How can you not like a movie with Peter Weller, Ronny Cox, Kurtwood Smith, Miguel Ferrer, and Ray Wise? The extra touches from Verhoeven make it even better. The story also moves at a rapid pace and barely lets up; the editing is really sharp. I finally saw the trailer of the new one, and even if it's good, it still feels strange that it exists. It probably can't be worse than Robocop 2, though. Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12351431577484530230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-75277120715733211762013-11-21T08:00:12.312-06:002013-11-21T08:00:12.312-06:00This might be one that's more tied to its time...This might be one that's more tied to its time than I would have thought. I'm not sure that your reaction is all that unusual. I've mentioned it in other places as a great action film and gotten lukewarm reactions before.SJHoneywellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-41474928180027548482013-11-21T02:55:23.037-06:002013-11-21T02:55:23.037-06:00So I watched this sometime within the last 12 mont...So I watched this sometime within the last 12 months. I hadn't seen the entire thing before, just bits and pieces over the years. So I finally checked it out and, shockingly... I didn't care for it. I don't really recall why. I vaguely remember just feeling... bored. I didn't hate it, just felt kinda bleh about it.Nickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08092564511948736386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-26768112230281471872013-11-21T00:23:51.406-06:002013-11-21T00:23:51.406-06:00I don't know about Weller's background/lac...I don't know about Weller's background/lack of background in the arts. I know for this role he worked a huge amount with a mime coach, who helped him determine the best way to move to convey the robotic element of the character.SJHoneywellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550007053995112090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166297507174717122.post-90215940672452750312013-11-20T23:01:30.402-06:002013-11-20T23:01:30.402-06:00I thought I read somewhere that Weller was an aiki...I thought I read somewhere that Weller was an aikidoka. I just tried to look that up, and didn't find the info after a superficial search. I may dig more later. I bring this up because (1) you're a practitioner yourself, so there's a kind of karmic connection there, and (2) Weller's martial arts skill (assuming what I read was true) might at least partially account for how convincing his physicality was. Actors with dance and/or martial arts backgrounds are often excellent when it comes to proprioception and body movement. Another example would be actor Robert Patrick, who was positively scary as the often-snakelike T-1000. Patrick is also a martial artist.Kevin Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01328790917314282058noreply@blogger.com