Robocop 2 (1990)

[Mofo Rising]

First off, I love Robocop. I purchased it on Blu-ray and watched it again recently, and I still love almost everything about it. Just a great movie.

I remember when Robocop 2 came out in 1990, and I remember liking it quite a bit. I watched it again tonight. The results were... less than satisfactory.

It's stupid. Really stupid.

Starting off, there seems to be no opening credits to the movie. Secondly, they got rid of the iconic theme music from the original. Robocop's like Superman, when he shows up you should hear his theme music. "Da da da da dunh. Da da da DUNH!" I guess by 1990 they still hadn't assimilated John Williams-style leitmotifs?

Frank Miller wrote this movie. I don't hold Frank Miller in very high regard, and his fairly juvenile sociopolitical criticisms are all over this movie. Evil corporation? Check. Disdain for popular media? Check. High-powered female seductress who eventually receives her comeuppance? Check.

And why is there a little kid in this movie? A 10-year-old boy constantly appears in this movie as a primary antagonist. Nobody can stop him for some reason, not even Robocop. He's 10! Slap the kid across the room! Oh wait, I'm sorry. Robocop has some residual paternalistic feelings from leaving his family behind, so he needs to bond with some budding sociopath.

Where have you gone, Clarence Boddicker? A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.

The '80s satire, which worked so well in the first movie is also here, but it's so ham-handed you have to groan. At the end of the movie, when OCP is trying to take over Detroit, they unfurl giant flags with their logo on it. Giant red flags with a white circle in the middle with their logo on it.



We're not stupid, movie magic makers.

I'm fairly surprised at how bad this movie really was. I wasn't expecting anything as great as the first Robocop, but it genuinely took me aback at how effectively this movie ramped up the stupidity. Don't even get me started on the new and improved "nice" Robocop.

I really wanted to like it, but I can't give it any more than 2 out of 5 stars.

An aside, I was still living off the high of my 12-year-old's memories of this movie when Robocop 3 came out 3 years later. Even then I thought it looked too stupid to watch. I'm not looking forward to watching it. (I'll probably watch it soon.)

Another aside, there is a brief moment in the film when the female antagonist is looking through mugshots of death row criminals. I'm guessing they are all comics creators. I spotted Alan Moore and Frank Miller, but didn't recognize the rest.

[Trevor]

The thing that bothered me about this was the fact that RoboCop has forgotten his new found humanity which he rediscovered in the original Robocop. I remember being scared when he starts to remove his helmet and when he does, I felt pity and empathy for him, not disgust.

[RD]

The first one is probably one of my favorite films. All the sequels and TV shows that came after were awful.

Murphy basically gets a restart and loses the humanity he gained by the end of the first film. There were those interesting scenes of him following his wife, but then it just gets dropped. There's no memorable villains. We get a little kid and Kane. Both are rather boring. 

At least it still had a few funny commercials. I liked the Anti-theft device that electrocuted carjackers, and the SPF 5000 sunscreen ad.

[arcadeaction]

Be thankful you did not watch the third movie... It's terribly terrible.

By the way, have you guys seen this hilarious video by Peter Weller (actor who played RoboCop in the first two movies)? I thought it was fabulous.
funnyordie.com/videos/521706ecf7/robocop-speaks-to-detroit

Detroit deserves RoboCop ;)

[Mr. DS]

There was something definitely amiss in the second one.  If I were to try to put my finger on it, that would be the tongue in cheek humor the first one served up.  This one just seemed to serious not to mention a complete lack of coherency. 

[JaseSF]

I recall this delivering in terms of violent action but little else. One of those enjoyed best if you don't think too much about it I suspect.

[Chainsawmidget]

Frank Miller wrote this movie. I don't hold Frank Miller in very high regard, and his fairly juvenile sociopolitical criticisms are all over this movie. Evil corporation? Check. Disdain for popular media? Check. High-powered female seductress who eventually receives her comeuppance? Check.

Frank Miller was actually upset (or possibly just disappointed.  It all depends on when you ask him) that they changed several aspects of his script. 

There was eventually a comicbook adaption of the original idea released.  I've read it.  The movie was much better.

[Swamp Thing]

How can't you like a movie with a 12 year old drug-dealing machine-gun using cop-killer?

This movie is bad ass! A type of movie that you just wouldn't see be made in this day in age.

[God the Worms]

Sorry dudes, I'm with Swamp Thing. As it loses the story development aspect from the first one, I feel it went for more of a black comedy, action/gore film. Mind you I'm not saying it's perfect or even close to the same level as the first, but I just love Robocop as a character so much that I'll take him anyway, even this weird, nice one.

I suppose the 3rd one was meant for kids. On the account of children asking for Robocop toys and video games without the parents ever seeing the movies. When they did, they freaked, hence Robocop 3 was born.

[RD]

Sorry dudes, I'm with Swamp Thing. As it loses the story development aspect from the first one, I feel it went for more of a black comedy, action/gore film.

The first one established that dark comedic and violent tone, and I think it did it a lot better. Besides the opening scene with a chain of robberies that ends with hooker taking out a guys eye with her bootheel and a few faux commercials, I felt a lot of the comedy fell flat this time around.

As for Robocop 3, I know i've seen bits and peices of it, but I blanked it out. It's a shame too since Fred Dekker was responsible for Night of the Creeps and Monster Squad. Which are both a lot of fun.

[Mofo Rising]

Fred Dekker did Robocop 3? I did not know that.

I wouldn't have had a huge problem with Robocop 2 turning into a gore comedy. It's just that it didn't do it very well. Everything in the movie is handled rather clumsily, and I ended up finding most of the elements used either stupid or embarassing for the makers.

A prime example is the 10-year-old drug dealer. He's set up as a wannabe crime lord later in the movie, but let me get this straight. You're a drug addict, and the only thing standing between you and your drugs is a 10-year-old? Smack him in the head and steal everything he's got! Oddly, nobody in the movie does this.

Ah well, I'll always have the first Robocop.

[JPickettIII]

I liked the first one but the second one was dumb.  I did like the other robot(Kane) that Robo had to fight.  Very cool looking and menancing.  I am not sure why the kid could not be stopped.  He was only ten.  Take him over the knee and give him a spanking.  I am suprised that Robo could not handle the gang either.  He could stand up to some bullets but not others????  Oh well I would give it a 3 out of 10.

Later,

John

[Trekkie313]

Well, pretty much any human sized robot/android isn't gonna be immune to electrical shocks and armor piercing bullets.

I think its a more than worthy follow up to the original, miles better than any live-action stuff that came after Peter Weller left.

[arcadeaction]

Have any of you seen RoboCop: Prime Directives tv mini-series (4 long episodes), directed by Julian Grant.
The first episode is quite well done. But the story goes from weird to bizarre... a singl evirus that infects both all computers and humans... WTF 

[trekgeezer]

Prime Directives was a cheap piece of crap.     I own and quite enjoy the TV series (much more social satire and much more exploration of Murphy's humanity).   Most people dismiss it due to it's kid friendly nature.


I was holding some hope for Darren Aronofsky remake, but he has now left the project, and I have no idea about this new guy they have helming it.

http://collider.com/jose-padilha-robocop/81320/