NationMaster - Encyclopedia: RoboCop

RoboCop is a 1987 science-fiction, action movie and satire of business-driven capitalism, directed by Paul Verhoeven. Filming took place in Detroit, Michigan, United States, with Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Dallas, Texas filling in for Michigan locales as well. ^[1] It spawned two sequels, several comic books, multiple video games, two animated series, dozens of action figures and two television series, all featuring a cyborg police officer. The film was produced by Orion Pictures. Image File history File linksMetadata RoboCop. ... Paul Verhoeven (IPA: [pÊŒul vÉ›rhuvÉ™n]) (born July 18, 1938 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch film director, screenwriter, and film producer. ... Jon Davison is a film producer. ... Edward Neumeier is a screenwriter best known for his work on the science fiction movies RoboCop (with Michael Miner) and Starship Troopers. ... Peter Weller (born June 24, 1947) is an Academy Award-nominated American film and stage actor, director and lecturer. ... Nancy Anne Allen (born June 24, 1950) is an American film actress. ... Dan OHerlihy (May 1, 1919â€“February 17, 2005) was an Irish film actor. ... Daniel Ronald Ronny Cox (born July 23, 1938) is an American character actor, singer/songwriter, and guitarist. ... Kurtwood Larson Smith (born July 3, 1943) is an American television and film character actor. ... Miguel Ferrer (born February 7, 1955) is an actor of Puerto Rican-Irish-American descent who is often cast in movies as a villain. ... Basil Poledouris (Greek: Î’Î±ÏƒÎ¯Î»Î·Ï‚ Î Î¿Î»ÎµÎ´Î¿ÏÏÎ·Ï‚) (August 21, 1945 - November 8, 2006) was an American film composer. ... Jost Vacano (* March 15, 1940) is a German cinematographer and director of photography. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... is the 198th day of the year (199th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... // May 9 - Actor Tom Cruise marries actress Mimi Rogers. ... A directors cut is a specially edited version of a film, and less often TV series, music video, commercials or video games, that is supposed to represent the directors own approved edit. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... USD redirects here. ... RoboCop 2 is a science fiction film, released in 1990 and set in the near future in a dystopian metropolitan Detroit, Michigan. ... The year 1990 in film involved some significant events. ... // May 9 - Actor Tom Cruise marries actress Mimi Rogers. ... For the song from The Rocky Horror Show, see Science Fiction/Double Feature. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... 1867 edition of the satirical magazine Punch, a British satirical magazine, ground-breaking on popular literature satire. ... For other uses, see Capitalism (disambiguation). ... Paul Verhoeven (IPA: [pÊŒul vÉ›rhuvÉ™n]) (born July 18, 1938 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch film director, screenwriter, and film producer. ... â€œDetroitâ€ redirects here. ... Pittsburgh redirects here. ... â€œDallasâ€ redirects here. ... For other uses, see Sequel (disambiguation). ... A comic book is a magazine or book containing the art form of comics. ... This article is about computer and video games. ... An animated series or cartoon series is a television series produced by means of animation. ... Zarbon action figure from Dragon Ball Z made by Bandai An action figure is a posable plastic figurine of a character, often from a movie, comic book, video game, or television program. ... A television program is the content of television broadcasting. ... Cyborgs are a prominent staple in the science fiction genre. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

A 20th Anniversary Collector's Edition DVD was released on August 21, 2007. Size comparison: A 12 cm Sony DVD+RW and a 19 cm Dixon Ticonderoga pencil. ... is the 233rd day of the year (234th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Plot

The film is set in a dystopian, near-future Detroit. Violent crime is out of control, and the city is in financial ruin; it contracts the megacorporation Omni Consumer Products (OCP) to fund and operate the police department, in effect privatizing it. Rather than rebuild "Old Detroit," OCP plans to replace it with a modern utopia called "Delta City". Before this large construction project can begin, OCP wishes to end crime in the city, which has overwhelmed the police department; recent cop-killings have started talks about strikes. This article is about the philosophical concept and literary form. ... A violent crime or crime of violence is a crime in which the offender uses or threatens violent force upon the victim. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Omni Consumer Products (OCP) is the primary fictional corporation in the RoboCop series of movies, tv-shows, video-games, and comics. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see Utopia (disambiguation). ...

In response, OCP Senior Vice President Dick Jones (Ronny Cox) demonstrates to the corporation's board of directors his new law enforcement droid, ED-209, which he claims will end the crime in Old Detroit. The demonstration fails disastrously, resulting in the violent death of a junior executive. Taking advantage, Bob Morton (Miguel Ferrer) proposes his own "RoboCop" program to the head of OCP (Daniel O'Herlihy), who accepts. Daniel Ronald Ronny Cox (born July 23, 1938) is an American character actor, singer/songwriter, and guitarist. ... The first appearance of the ED-209 in the first RoboCop film The Enforcement Droid Series 209 (or ED-209) is a fictional law enforcement robot featured as one of the design and special effect highlights of the movie RoboCop (1987), and its two sequels. ... Miguel Ferrer (born February 7, 1955) is an actor of Puerto Rican-Irish-American descent who is often cast in movies as a villain. ... Dan OHerlihy (May 1, 1919â€“February 17, 2005) was an Irish film actor. ...

"Fortunately" for Morton's project, police officer Alex J. Murphy (Peter Weller), recently reassigned to the dangerous Metro West precinct, is soon mortally wounded in action by the vicious gang of notorious criminals led by Clarence J. Boddicker (Kurtwood Smith); he is pronounced dead in the hospital. Morton's team obtains his body and builds a cyborg police officer around his face and brain. The new RoboCop spectacularly halts crime throughout the city, using extreme methods bordering on police brutality; his programming even seems to disregard Miranda rights. Morton's overwhelmingly successful project propels him to an OCP vice presidency, but Jones warns him of his unabashed bravado and arrogance. Later, Jones sends Boddicker to murder Morton as punishment for disrespecting him and ruining his ED-209 plans. Peter Weller (born June 24, 1947) is an Academy Award-nominated American film and stage actor, director and lecturer. ... Kurtwood Larson Smith (born July 3, 1943) is an American television and film character actor. ... David Kirkwood on the ground after being struck by police batons Police brutality is a term used to describe the excessive use of physical force, assault, verbal attacks, and threats by police officers and other law enforcement officers. ... The Miranda warning is a police warning that is given to criminal suspects in police custody or in a custodial situation in the United States before they are asked questions relating to the commission of a crime. ...

Meanwhile, RoboCop unexpectedly begins to experience memories from his previous life (starting with the moment he was shot to death by Boddicker and his gang) and starts to pursue Boddicker and his gang. He eventually detains Boddicker in a cocaine factory; during the violent arrest, Boddicker implicates Jones in his illegal activities. While subsequently trying to arrest Jones, RoboCop is stopped by a classified directive in his program, Directive Four, which prohibits him from arresting any senior OCP executive. RoboCop is then severely damaged by an ED-209 unit and a police SWAT team but escapes with the help of his former partner, Anne Lewis (Nancy Allen), who has deduced that the cyborg is Murphy. Nancy Anne Allen (born June 24, 1950) is an American film actress. ...

Concerned with RoboCop's recorded memories of Boddicker's implicating confession, Jones has Boddicker released from custody and tasks him with the destruction of RoboCop. Boddicker's gang members, previously rounded up by RoboCop, are released when the police force goes on strike; supplied by Jones with military weapons, they track RoboCop to an abandoned steel mill. In a final showdown, RoboCop and Anne Lewis eliminate the entire gang, although RoboCop is damaged and Lewis wounded. RoboCop proceeds to OCP headquarters, where Jones is again attempting to pitch ED-209 to the board of directors. When RoboCop reveals Jones' criminal activities, Jones tries to take the head of OCP hostage; however, he is fired by the "Old Man". This allows Robocop to circumvent Directive 4 and he shoots Jones, who crashes through a window and falls to his death. By film's end, RoboCop has resolved his emotional conflicts over being a hybrid of machine and man. The "Old Man" says to the former OCP product, "Nice shooting, son. What's your name?" Satisfied that he is a cop first, RoboCop replies, "Murphy." Image File history File links RoboCop_-_Directive_4_DRM.pngâ€Ž Summary RoboCop attempts to arrest Omni Consumer Products (OCP) vice-president but cannot due to Directive 4. ... Image File history File links RoboCop_-_Directive_4_DRM.pngâ€Ž Summary RoboCop attempts to arrest Omni Consumer Products (OCP) vice-president but cannot due to Directive 4. ...

Production details

Origins

RoboCop was written by Edward Neumeier and Michael Miner. Allegedly, while the two were attempting to pitch the screenplay around Hollywood, they accidentally got stuck at an airplane terminal with a high-ranking movie executive for several hours. Here they were able to warm him up for the project and thus set into motion the chain of events which eventually became RoboCop the movie. Edward Neumeier is a screenwriter best known for his work on the science fiction movies RoboCop (with Michael Miner) and Starship Troopers. ...

RoboCop marked the first major Hollywood production for Dutch director Paul Verhoeven. Although he had been working in the Netherlands for over a decade and directed several films to great acclaim (e.g. Soldier of Orange), Verhoeven moved away in 1984 to seek broader opportunities in Hollywood. While RoboCop is often credited as his English language debut, he had in fact previously made Flesh & Blood in 1985, starring Rutger Hauer and Jennifer Jason Leigh. It was for RoboCop however, that Verhoeven would rise to the international spotlight. Paul Verhoeven (IPA: [pÊŒul vÉ›rhuvÉ™n]) (born July 18, 1938 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch film director, screenwriter, and film producer. ... Soldaat van Oranje (Soldier of Orange) is a 1977 film by Paul Verhoeven, starring Rutger Hauer and Jeroen Krabbe. ... Flesh & Blood (1985) is a film directed by Paul Verhoeven. ... Rutger Oelsen Hauer (IPA: [rÊtxÉ›r ulsÉ›n hÊŒuÉ›r]) (born in Breukelen, January 23, 1944) is a Dutch film actor. ... Jennifer Jason Leigh (born February 5, 1962) is an American actress who has appeared in numerous films. ...

On the Criterion Edition audio commentary (available on both the laserdisc and DVD versions) Verhoeven recalls that, when he first glanced through the script, he threw it away in disgust. Afterwards, his wife picked the script from the bin and read it more thoroughly, convincing him that the plot had more substance than he originally assumed. Repo Man director Alex Cox was offered to direct before Verhoeven came aboard^[2]. For other uses, see Repo Man (disambiguation). ... Alexander Morton Cox (b. ...

The story satirizes Reaganomics and the consumerism of the eighties era, with OCP presented as a massive corporate hulk that controls citizens' lives on all levels of society. Almost no distinction is made between the conduct of top level executives and street criminals, as both are seen occupied with drugs, corrupting society and talking the same catch phrases while conducting their shady affairs ("good business is where you find it").^[3] Ronald Reagan, the US president from which Reaganomics derives its name Reaganomics (a blend of Reagan and economics, coined by radio broadcaster Paul Harvey) is a term that has been used to both describe and decry free market advocacy economic policies of U.S. President Ronald Reagan, who served from... Consumerist redirects here. ...

The character of RoboCop itself was inspired by Judge Dredd^[4] as well as the Marvel Comics superhero Iron Man (one of these comic books can be seen during the convenience store robbery). Iron Man was conceived by Stan Lee as the alter ego of Tony Stark, a billionaire industrialist working as a military contractor. During the original run of the comic, Iron Man was mostly occupied battling communism. In this light, RoboCop is seen as a subversive take on this classic Marvel character. Although both Neumeier and Verhoeven have declared themselves staunchly on the left as far politics are concerned, Neumeier recalls on the audio commentary to Starship Troopers that many of his leftist friends wrongly perceived RoboCop as a fascist movie. However, on the 20th Anniversary DVD, producer Jon Davison referred to the film's message as "fascism for liberals" - a politically liberal film done in the most violent way possible. For the 1995 film, see Judge Dredd (film). ... This article is about the comic book company. ... Iron Man (Anthony Edward Tony Stark) is a fictional comic book superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. ... For the fictional character of this name, see Stan Lee (Judge Dredd character). ... Communism is an ideology that seeks to establish a classless, stateless social organization based on common ownership of the means of production. ... This article is about the film. ...

In several articles and interviews previously published and also on the DVD commentary to the film, Paul Verhoeven revealed that, despite not being a Christian, he immediately saw parallels in the story of RoboCop with that of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. In the commentary, Verhoeven goes on to defend the graphic death of Murphy as a necessity to make the resurrection as RoboCop gain dramatic weight, and the aversion of the audience to the villains greater. Four years earlier, Verhoeven had made the movie The Fourth Man, which relies heavily on Christian symbolism. Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... In The Fourth Man (original Dutch title is De Vierde Man), an alcoholic novelist, Gerard Reve, leaves Amsterdam to deliver a lecture at the Vlissingen Literary Society where he becomes sexually involved with its attractive treasurer, Christine Halslag. ...

A running joke within RoboCop is an inane TV show with the catchphrase "I'd buy that for a dollar!", which people in the film's future universe find humorous. The star is the goofy Bixby Snyder (S.D. Nemeth), apparently based on Benny Hill. However neither the name of the show nor the character are ever revealed in the movie. On the DVD commentary, Edward Neumeier comments that somehow the explanation & history of this television show never made it into the script. According to the one version of the script, Snyder was set to appear in a fourth "Media Break" immediately following the death of Dick Jones in the OCP boardroom (where the film version ends). A news program was to show Snyder handcuffed by police and being frog-marched away because of allegations of child molestation. Alfred Hawthorn Hill (21 January 1924 â€“ 19 April 1992), better known as Benny Hill, was a prolific English comic, actor and singer, best known for his television programme, The Benny Hill Show. ... Look up frog march in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Child sexual abuse is an umbrella term describing criminal and civil offenses in which an adult engages in sexual activity with a minor or exploits a minor for the purpose of sexual gratification. ...

Casting

Paul Verhoeven initially considered Rutger Hauer, whom he had worked with on most of his films, as well as Michael Ironside, for the role of RoboCop. Allegedly Arnold Schwarzenegger was at one point in talks to do the film, but Verhoeven eventually dismissed all three on the basis that the bulky RoboCop costume would require a light-built actor to work with. Peter Weller was subsequently cast as Murphy/RoboCop and prepared for the role by studying bird movements in a padded baseball suit. Rutger Oelsen Hauer (IPA: [rÊtxÉ›r ulsÉ›n hÊŒuÉ›r]) (born in Breukelen, January 23, 1944) is a Dutch film actor. ... Michael Ironside (born Frederick Reginald Ironside[1] on February 12, 1950) is a Canadian character actor. ... Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (German pronunciation (IPA): ) (born July 30, 1947) is an Austrian-American bodybuilder, actor, and politician, currently serving as the 38th Governor of the U.S. state of California. ... Peter Weller (born June 24, 1947) is an Academy Award-nominated American film and stage actor, director and lecturer. ...

In the commentary, Verhoeven explains his choice to cast Kurtwood Smith and Ronny Cox as the central villains. Ronny Cox was an actor who until then was primarily known for "nice-guy" roles such as fatherly figures, and similarly Kurtwood Smith was cast against type as a more intellectual type of gang leader; Smith was originally brought in to read for both Clarence and Dick Jones.^[5] Verhoeven comments that the look of Clarence Boddicker with the glasses reminded him of Heinrich Himmler. Kurtwood Larson Smith (born July 3, 1943) is an American television and film character actor. ... Daniel Ronald Ronny Cox (born July 23, 1938) is an American character actor, singer/songwriter, and guitarist. ... Heinrich Luitpold Himmler ( ; 7 October 1900â€“23 May 1945) was commander of the Schutzstaffel (SS) and one of the most powerful men in Nazi Germany and the Nazi hierarchy. ...

In addition, the secretary of OCP executive Dick Jones (whom Boddicker lasciviously hits on) is played by Joan Pirkle, the real-life wife of Kurtwood Smith. Paul Verhoeven himself has a small cameo during the arrest of Leon in the nightclub scene; there is one brief close-up of him dancing maniacally as Leon is being dragged away by his hair. Peter Weller (born June 24, 1947) is an Academy Award-nominated American film and stage actor, director and lecturer. ... Nancy Anne Allen (born June 24, 1950) is an American film actress. ... Daniel Ronald Ronny Cox (born July 23, 1938) is an American character actor, singer/songwriter, and guitarist. ... Kurtwood Larson Smith (born July 3, 1943) is an American television and film character actor. ... Miguel Ferrer (born February 7, 1955) is an actor of Puerto Rican-Irish-American descent who is often cast in movies as a villain. ... Robert DoQui (born 1934 in Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States) is an African-American actor who has starred in film and on television. ... Felton Perry (born on September 11, 1945 in Chicago, Illinois, USA) is an African-American actor. ... Paul McCrane as Dr. Romano on ER. Paul David McCrane (born January 19, 1961) is an American movie, television and theatre actor. ... Jesse D. Goins is an African-American character actor who has starred in film and on television. ... Ray Wise (born 29 August 1947) is an American actor, known for his roles in Twin Peaks as Leland Palmer, and as Leon Nash, right-hand henchmen to villain Clarence Boddicker in the sci-fi classic Robocop. ...

Interestingly, RoboCop features three actors who would go on to have recurring roles on the TV series "Twin Peaks" (1990-1991): Ray Wise (Leland Palmer), Miguel Ferrer (Albert Rosenfield), and Dan O'Herlihy (Andrew Packard). Several members of the cast would also go on to play roles in the fifth season of 24 including Peter Weller as Christopher Henderson, Paul McCrane as Graem Bauer, and Ray Wise as Hal Gardner For the hills in San Francisco, see Twin Peaks, San Francisco, California. ... Season Five, also known as Day 5 of the television series 24 premiered on January 15, 2006 and aired its season finale on May 22, 2006. ... Christopher Henderson is a fictional character from the television series 24. ... Spoiler warning: Graem Gray Bauer is a fictional character played by Paul McCrane, who first appeared in Episode 19 of the fifth season of the television program 24. ... Hal Gardner is a fictional character from the TV series 24, played by Ray Wise. ...

Filming

Filming began during the summer of 1986 and lasted from August 6 until mid-October. Many of the urban settings of the movie were filmed in downtown Dallas, Texas due to the futuristic appearances of the buildings. The front of Dallas City Hall was used as the exterior for the fictional OCP Headquarters, combined with extensive matte painting to make the building appear taller. Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 218th day of the year (219th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... â€œDallasâ€ redirects here. ... Dallas City Hall is the seat of Dallas municipal government, located at 1500 Marilla in the Government District of downtown Dallas, Texas (USA). ...

Peter Weller had prepared extensively for the role using a padded costume (supposedly, development of the actual RoboCop suit was three weeks behind schedule). By the time shooting was underway and the costume arrived on set, however, Weller discovered he was almost unable to move in it as he had anticipated, and required additional training to get accustomed. Weller later revealed to Roger Ebert that during filming, he was losing three pounds a day due to sweat loss while wearing the RoboCop suit in 100+ degree Fahrenheit temperatures ^[6]. Peter's personal assistant, Todd Trotter, was responsible for keeping the actor cool in between takes with electric fans and, when available, large ducts connected to free-standing air conditioning units. The suit later had a fan built into it. Roger Joseph Ebert (born June 18, 1942) is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American film critic. ...

Vehicles

The Ford Taurus was used as the police interceptor in the movie due to its then-futuristic design. Additionally, the main competitor of the Ford Taurus at the time was the Pontiac 6000, which is parodied by its movie counterpart, the "6000 SUX". The 6000 SUX itself was based on a 1976 Oldsmobile Cutlass with extensive bodywork. Commercials advertise the SUX as "an American tradition" with a fuel efficiency of 8.2 miles per gallon. In early production, it was to be powered by jet turbines. The exhaust of the turbine is still visible above the rear license plate of Clarence Boddicker's SUX in chase scenes. The newly-released Mercury Merkur XR4Ti makes a small cameo appearance as an executive vehicle when Robocop is delivered to the precinct. The 6000 SUX was designed by Gene Winfield of Winfield Rod & Custom, while the Chiodo Brothers Productions fabricated and animated the dinosaur puppet in the 6000 SUX commercial. The dinosaur itself was animated by Don Waller, who actually had a cameo in the same sequence, reacting to the rampaging creature in a tight close-up. ^[7]. Image File history File links 6000SUX.jpgâ€Ž Screenshot of the adversment for the 6000 SUX. Fair use rationale: Screenshot is taken from a movie. ... Image File history File links 6000SUX.jpgâ€Ž Screenshot of the adversment for the 6000 SUX. Fair use rationale: Screenshot is taken from a movie. ... The Ford Taurus is a mid-size, front wheel drive car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company in North America. ... The Pontiac 6000 was a conservatively styled mid-size car introduced by Pontiac in 1981 for the 1982 model year, slotting between the Bonneville and the Phoenix. ... The Oldsmobile Cutlass was an automobile made by the Oldsmobile division of General Motors. ... Miles per gallon (MPG, or mpg) is a measure of fuel efficiency - the number of miles the car can run on one gallon of fuel. ... a Merkur XR4Ti at a car show 1985 Merkur XR4Ti The Merkur XR4Ti was a short-lived American-market version of the European Ford Sierra XR4i. ...

Soundtrack

The soundtrack score for the movie was composed by Basil Poledouris (1945 - 2006), who used both synthesized and orchestral music as a mirror to the man-versus-machine theme of the movie. The score alternates brass heavy material, including the memorable RoboCop theme and ED-209's theme, with more introverted pieces for strings, such as during RoboCop's home-coming scene. The soundtrack is available on CD and has been reissued and remastered several times in recent years. The theme song also made its way into the arcade and NES RoboCop video games. Basil Poledouris (Greek: Î’Î±ÏƒÎ¯Î»Î·Ï‚ Î Î¿Î»ÎµÎ´Î¿ÏÏÎ·Ï‚) (August 21, 1945 - November 8, 2006) was an American film composer. ... Image of a trumpet, foreground, a piccolo trumpet behind, and a flugelhorn in background. ... A string instrument (or stringed instrument) is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. ...

In the Nightclub scene of the movie, the song "Show Me Your Spine" by P.T.P. was played. P.T.P was a short lived side project consisting of members of the band Ministry. However, this song was not available in any official form until it was eventually released in 2004 on an album called "Side Trax" by Ministry. The industrial band PTP was a short-lived side project of Ministrys Alain Jourgensen. ... Ministry is an American industrial metal band founded by frontman Al Jourgensen in 1981. ...

Reception

RoboCop opened in American theaters on July 17, 1987. The film was a commercial success and grossed over $8 million in its opening weekend and almost $54 million during its domestic run, making it the 16th most successful movie that year ^[8] ^[9]. is the 198th day of the year (199th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ...

The movie was originally given an X rating by the MPAA in 1987. To satisfy the requirements of the ratings board, Verhoeven trimmed blood and gore from the most violent scenes in the movie, including the malfunctioning of ED-209, Murphy's execution (where his entire right arm is severed by a shotgun blast and a final overhead shot of Lewis sobbing over Murphy on the blood-soaked floor), and the final battle with Clarence Boddicker. It was re-evaluated and given an R rating. The original version was included on the Criterion Collection laserdisc and DVD of the film (both now out of print), the 2005 trilogy box set and the 2007 anniversary edition, the latter two were released by MGM. X-rated, X certificate, X classification or similar terms are labels for movies implying strong adult content, typically pornography or violence. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The MPAA film rating system is a system used in the United States and territories and instituted by the Motion Picture Association of America to rate a movie based on its content. ...

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

Themes

RoboCop explores larger themes regarding the media and human nature in addition to being a big budget action film; the philosopher Steven Best wrote an essay on some of this content^[10]. Image:Steven best. ...

In the Criterion Edition DVD commentary track, executive producer Jon Davison and writer Edward Neumeier both point to the decay of American industry from the 1970s through the early 1980s. The abandoned Rust Belt-style factories that RoboCop and Clarence Boddicker's gang use as hideouts demonstrate this theme. Massive unemployment is prevalent, being reported frequently on the news, as is poverty and the crime that results from economic hardship. The Criterion Collection logo The Criterion Collection is a privately held company that distributes authoritative consumer versions of important classic and contemporary films on DVD. It was established in 1984 as a joint venture between Janus Films and the Voyager Company. ... Manufacturing Belt, highlighted in red The Rust Belt, a term coined from Manufacturing Belt, is an area in parts of the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States of America. ...

The concept of dehumanization is also represented in the title character. Murphy is killed in the line of duty and rebuilt as a cold, mechanized, and violent entity. Although he later seems to regain some of his humanity, his ruthlessness in dealing with criminals is quite outside the boundaries of reasonable use of force employed by the police. His methods are, however, amazingly effective against the criminal elements of the city, with the movie depicting crime decreasing dramatically where RoboCop is operating.

In contrast to the theme of dehumanization is the theme of regaining one's humanity. Although Murphy has become "RoboCop", during the last sequence of the movie we find that despite being a product of OCP, his basic core of individuality has not been lost. The president of OCP says, "Nice shooting son, what's your name?" RoboCop declares with a smile, "Murphy." It is now clear that RoboCop is no longer just a programmed and manufactured amalgam of flesh and robotics, but a human being.

Another theme is the sense of justice finally being brought to vicious and remorseless criminals. The criminals mercilessly execute Murphy as well as many other cops and innocent citizens and are involved in drug trafficking, murder, and prostitution. A key point is that lawyers, probably controlled by ruthless corporate executives, are able to release criminals within hours or days despite the severity and number of crimes they were charged with. This shows the inability of the judicial system to effectively contend with criminals, and the only way for the citizens of Detroit to be truly safe is when Murphy "deals" with them.

Sequels, spin-offs, and attractions

Due to the enduring popularity of the character, there have been a number of RoboCop spin-offs,sequels, and attractions. They are: A spin-off (or spinoff) is a new organization or entity formed by a split from a larger one such as a new company formed from a university research group. ... For other uses, see Sequel (disambiguation). ...

RoboCop 2 is a science fiction film, released in 1990 and set in the near future in a dystopian metropolitan Detroit, Michigan. ... RoboCop 3 is a science fiction film, released in 1993, set in the near future in a dystopian metropolitan Detroit, Michigan. ... Frank Miller (born January 27, 1957) is an American writer, artist and film director best known for his film noir-style comic book stories. ... This article is about computer and video games. ... arcade, see Arcade. ... â€œGame consoleâ€ redirects here. ... Robocop is a video game released in 1989 by Data East for the Nintendo Entertainment System. ... Robocop 2 is a 1990 video game published by Ocean. ... RoboCop 3 is a 1992 video game published by Ocean. ... RoboCop versus The Terminator is a video game released for a number of platforms and based on the RoboCop and Terminator franchises. ... Animation refers to the process in which each frame of a film or movie is produced individually, whether generated as a computer graphic, or by photographing a drawn image, or by repeatedly making small changes to a model (see claymation and stop motion), and then photographing the result. ... A television program is the content of television broadcasting. ... Star Tours is a simulator ride located in many of the Disney theme parks, including Disneyland in California, Disney-MGM Studios in Florida, Disneyland Park in Paris, and Tokyo Disneyland in Japan. ... For other uses, see Disneyland (disambiguation). ... IMAX theatre at the Melbourne Museum complex, Australia BFI London IMAX by night IMAX dome in Guayaquil, Ecuador IMAX Theater in SM Mall of Asia, Philippines IMAX (short for Image Maximum) is a film format created by Canadas IMAX Corporation that has the capacity to display images of far... A miniseries, in a serial storytelling medium, is a production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. ... A comic book is a magazine or book containing the art form of comics. ... This article is about the comic book company. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Avatar Press company logo. ... It has been suggested that Gaming crossovers be merged into this article or section. ... RoboCop vs. ... Frank Millers RoboCop (also known as Frank Miller--RoboCop) is comic book mini-series published by Avatar Press. ... Trade paperback of Will Eisners A Contract with God (1978), often mistakenly cited as the first graphic novel. ... The limited series is a term referring to a comic book series with a set finite number of issues. ...

Other popular culture

â€œComputer and video gamesâ€ redirects here. ... James Pond 2: Codename RoboCod is a platform game originally released on the Commodore Amiga in 1991. ... An image from World of Warcraft, one of the largest commercial MMORPGs as of 2004, based on active subscriptions. ... World of Warcraft (commonly abbreviated as WoW) is a massive multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed by Blizzard Entertainment and is the fourth game in the Warcraft series, excluding expansion packs and the cancelled Warcraft Adventures: Lord of the Clans. ... The Canard DigÃ©rateur of Jacques de Vaucanson, hailed in 1739 as the first automaton capable of digestion. ... â€œComputer and video gamesâ€ redirects here. ... â€œStarcraftâ€ redirects here. ... A television program is the content of television broadcasting. ... Sledge Hammer! was a satirical police sitcom produced by New World Television that ran for two seasons on ABC from 1986 to 1988. ... â€œComputer and video gamesâ€ redirects here. ... Family Guy is an Emmy award winning American animated television series about a nuclear family in the fictional town of Quahog (IPA or ), Rhode Island. ... Running Mates is an episode from the FOX animated television series Family Guy. ... Family Guy is an Emmy award winning American animated television series about a nuclear family in the fictional town of Quahog (IPA or ), Rhode Island. ... â€œPetardedâ€ is the title of a fourth season episode of the animated series Family Guy. ... Beavis and Butt-head is an animated comedy show that aired on US TV station MTV from 1993 to 1997. ... Rockos Modern Life is an American animated television series whose four seasons aired from 1993 to 1996. ... TimeSplitters: Future Perfect Categories: 2005 computer and video games | GameCube games | PlayStation 2 games | Xbox games | First-person shooters | Computer and video game stubs ... United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ... William Thomas Romanowski (born April 2, 1966 in Vernon, Connecticut) is a former American football player. ... Antonio Ramiro Romo (born April 21, 1980 in San Diego, California) is an American football player in the NFL. He is currently the starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. ... â€œAnimÃ©â€ redirects here. ... The Phantom Woman The Ripper The Man Who Bites His Tongue Having fun with the Android AD Police Files is a three-part OVA which serves as a prequel to the anime series Bubblegum Crisis, produced by Artmic and AIC. Set five years before the events of Bubblegum Crisis, this... Bubblegum Crisis ) is a cyberpunk-style anime set in a future, post-disaster Tokyo, called Megatokyo. The series has a manga adaptation. ... Sensory deprivation is the deliberate reduction or removal of stimuli from one or more of the senses. ... This article is a biography of Howard Stern as an individual; for information regarding his radio show see The Howard Stern Show. ... DeAndre Way (born on July 28, 1990 in Chicago, Illinois), better known by his stage name, Soulja Boy, is an American rapper, best known for the dance and song called Crank That (Soulja Boy). // DeAndre was born in Chicago, Illinois, and moved to Atlanta, Georgia at the age of six. ... Crank That (Soulja Boy) is the debut single form rapper Soulja Boy on his debut album Souljaboytellem. ... Cover of an early edition of The Colour of Magic; art by Josh Kirby Discworld is a comedic fantasy book series by the British author Terry Pratchett set on the Discworld, a flat world balanced on the backs of four elephants which are in turn standing on the back of... Feet of Clay is the nineteenth Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett, and a parody of detective novels. ... For the type of star, see Red dwarf. ... DNA was the second epsiode to air in the fourth series of Red Dwarf. ... For the origami historian, see David Lister (Origami Historian). ... Pork vindalho, served in Lisbon, Portugal, in a goan restaurant Vindaloo also called Vindalho or Vindallo is a very popular Indian dish. ... Hot Shots! Part Deux is a 1993 comedy spoof film, and a sequel to the 1991 comedy Hot Shots! Directed again by Jim Abrahams, the film again stars Charlie Sheen, Lloyd Bridges, Valeria Golino, Richard Crenna, Brenda Bakke, Miguel Ferrer, Ryan Stiles, Rowan Atkinson, and Jerry Haleva. ... Be Kind Rewind is an upcoming 2007 comedy film directed by Michel Gondry and starring Jack Black and Mos Def. ... For other persons named Jack Black, see Jack Black (disambiguation). ... Mos Def (born Dante Terrell Smith on December 11, 1973 in Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.), is an American rapper and actor. ... Bottom view of VHS cassette with magnetic tape exposed Top view of VHS cassette with front casing removed The Video Home System, better known by its abbreviation VHS, is a recording and playing standard. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Fenton Crackshell is a fictional character created by The Walt Disney Company. ... Fenton Crackshell Fenton Crackshell is a fictional character created by the Walt Disney company and voiced by Hamilton Camp. ... The Beagle Boys are a group of fictional characters from the Scrooge McDuck universe loosely based on the popular image of Ma Barker and the Barker-Karpis Gang. ... Beverly Hills Cop (1984) is an American comedy film directed by Martin Brest and starring Eddie Murphy. ... Icons of tokusatsu in the late 1970s: Spider-Man, Kamen Rider Stronger, Kamen Rider V3, Battle Fever J, Ultraman Jonias, as well as the manga and anime icon Doraemon Tokusatsu ) is a Japanese word that literally means special effects. ... Kidou Keiji Jiban (æ©Ÿå‹•åˆ‘äº‹ã‚¸ãƒãƒ³ KidÅ Keiji Jiban), translated into English as Mobile Detective Jiban, is a Japanese tokusatsu television series produced by Toei, aired by TV Asahi in Japan from January 29, 1989 to January 28, 1990 with 52 episodes and a feature movie. ... Tokusou Robo Janperson ) or translated as Special Investigator Robo Janperson was the 1993 installment in Toei Co. ... The Metal Heroes, Space Sherrif Gavan to Ironbark Detective Robotack The Metal Heroes Series ) is a genre of tokusatsu superhero TV series produced by Toei for Japanese television. ...

References

External links

Categories: 1987 films | Cyberpunk | Best Science Fiction Film Saturn | Fictional cyborgs | Fictional characters from Michigan | Fictional police officers | Fictional Irish-Americans | English-language films | RoboCop | RoboCop films | Films directed by Paul Verhoeven | Satirical films | Superheroes | Pittsburgh in film and television | Fiction set in the near future | Superhero films | Tech-noir films Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Wikiquote is one of a family of wiki-based projects run by the Wikimedia Foundation, running on MediaWiki software. ... The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) is an online database of information about movies, actors, television shows, production crew personnel, and video games. ... RoboCop 2 is a science fiction film, released in 1990 and set in the near future in a dystopian metropolitan Detroit, Michigan. ... RoboCop 3 is a science fiction film, released in 1993, set in the near future in a dystopian metropolitan Detroit, Michigan. ... Robocop is a video game released in 1989 by Data East for the Nintendo Entertainment System. ... Robocop 2 is a 1990 video game published by Ocean. ... RoboCop 3 is a 1992 video game published by Ocean. ... RoboCop versus The Terminator is a video game released for a number of platforms and based on the RoboCop and Terminator franchises. ... For the video game, see RoboCop versus The Terminator RoboCop versus The Terminator is a four-issue comic book crossover limited series published in 1992 by Dark Horse Comics. ... Frank Millers RoboCop (also known as Frank Miller--RoboCop) is comic book mini-series published by Avatar Press. ... This article is about the character. ... The first appearance of the ED-209 in the first RoboCop film The Enforcement Droid Series 209 (or ED-209) is a fictional law enforcement robot featured as one of the design and special effect highlights of the movie RoboCop (1987), and its two sequels. ... Anne Lewis (sometimes referred to as Officer Anne Lewis) is a fictional police officer featured in the 1987 science fiction movie RoboCop. ... Omni Consumer Products (OCP) is the primary fictional corporation in the RoboCop series of movies, tv-shows, video-games, and comics. ... Paul Verhoeven (IPA: [pÊŒul vÉ›rhuvÉ™n]) (born July 18, 1938 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch film director, screenwriter, and film producer. ... Business Is Business (Dutch title: Wat zien ik) is a 1971 comedy film. ... Turkish Delight is the English title of the 1973 movie Turks fruit, directed by Paul Verhoeven, based on a novel by Jan Wolkers. ... Katie Tippel (Dutch title: Keetje Tippel) is 1975 film by Paul Verhoeven. ... Soldaat van Oranje (Soldier of Orange) is a 1977 film by Paul Verhoeven, starring Rutger Hauer and Jeroen Krabbe. ... All Things Pass (Dutch: Voorbij, voorbij) is a 1979 television film directed by Paul Verhoeven. ... Spetters, a Dutch film released in 1980, was the controversial mainstream debut film by infamous director Paul Verhoeven. ... In The Fourth Man (original Dutch title is De Vierde Man), an alcoholic novelist, Gerard Reve, leaves Amsterdam to deliver a lecture at the Vlissingen Literary Society where he becomes sexually involved with its attractive treasurer, Christine Halslag. ... Flesh & Blood (1985) is a film directed by Paul Verhoeven. ... Total Recall is an American science fiction film released on June 1, 1990, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Ronald Shusett, Dan OBannon, Jon Povill and Gary Goldman. ... Basic Instinct is a 1992 thriller film, directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Joe Eszterhas. ... Showgirls is a film directed by Paul Verhoeven and released in 1995 by United Artists. ... This article is about the film. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Black Book (Dutch: Zwartboek) is a 2006 thriller war film by director Paul Verhoeven, starring Carice van Houten, Sebastian Koch, Thom Hoffman, and Halina Reijn. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... This article is under construction. ... This article is under construction. ... . ... This article is under construction. ... This article is under construction. ... . ... . ... . ... . ... . ...

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