ROBOCOP (2014)

Genre: Action/Sci-Fi
Director: Jose Padilha
Cast: Joel Kinnaman, Gary Oldman, Michael Keaton, Samuel L. Jackson, Abbie Cornish, Jackie Earle Haley, Michael K. Williams, Jay Baruchel, Jennifer Ehle, Marianne Jean-Baptiste
RunTime: 2 hrs 1 min
Rating: PG13 (Violence & Brief Coarse Language)
Released By: Sony Pictures Releasing International
Official Website: http://www.omnicorp.com/

Opening Day: 30 January 2014

Synopsis: In "RoboCop," the year is 2028 and multinational conglomerate OmniCorp is at the center of robot technology. Their drones are winning American wars around the globe and now they want to bring this technology to the home front. Alex Murphy (Kinnaman) is a loving husband, father and good cop doing his best to stem the tide of crime and corruption in Detroit. After he is critically injured in the line of duty, OmniCorp utilizes their remarkable science of robotics to save Alex's life. He returns to the streets of his beloved city with amazing new abilities, but with issues a regular man has never had to face before.

Movie Review:

And this writer thought he needn’t be reminded of that disturbing scene in director Paul Verhoeven’s 1987 movie. Before the guy made the iconic Total Recall (1990) and Starship Troopers (1997), he gave the world Robocop. The movie has often been mentioned in media as one of the most violently traumatising action flicks ever. How the protagonist Alex Murphy was brutally murdered remains one of the most talked about scenes in cinema history. Don’t even get us started on how a villain slowly dissolves to death after being drenched in toxic waste.

Call this reviewer a coward, but these scenes freaked the hell out of him. After all, he was only a six year old kid then. But hey, it didn’t stop him from pestering his parents to get an uber cool action figure from the nearest toy shop.

With this remake directed by Brazilian filmmaker Jose Padilha (Elite Squad), this columnist is pretty sure he can sit through the 121 production without flinching, especially when it’s a PG13 movie with the consumer advice “Violence & Brief Coarse Language”. In this day and age of movie making, it’s all about maximixing profits with impressive box office returns, man.

There’s not much you need to know about the plot, really. In 2028 Detroit, Alex Murphy is a loving husband, father and good cop. After being critically injured in a car explosion, a multinational conglomerate OmniCorp sees a chance to create part man, part robot police superhero. Cue themes regarding media, corruption, authorisationism, capitalism and human nature. But why get yourself all confused with this academia issues? You want an enjoyable action movie? You’ve got one right here.

Padilha knows better than to get Robocop all moped up with emotions. After a short introduction, Alex Murphy gets hurt and is all ready to suit up in his uber cool outfit. From there, expect adrenaline filled action sequences. You want car chases? Check. What about gun fights? Yup, they’re in place. A finale showdown between Robocop and massive machines? Don’t even get us started on that. This movie is pure popcorn fun, that’s for sure.

Fans of the original will find themselves going through a checklist of comparisons, but while this geeky behaviour is somewhat respectable, we are advising that you don’t do so because you’d be missing out on what the remake is set out to do – an entertaining two hours in the cinema.

The supporting actors are on form here. Besides the reliable Abbie Cornish (Seven Psychopaths), Jay Baruchel (The Sorcerer’s Apprentice) and James Earle Haley (Little Children), we had fun watching Gary Oldman (Sirius Black!), Michael Keaton (Batman!), and Samuel L Jackson (Mace Windu!) portraying a righteous researcher, a shady businessman and a TV host respectively.

Unfortunately, our leading man Joel Kinnaman (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo) pales in comparison next to his co stars. The 34 year old actor isn’t all that bad, but just doesn’t hold his own ground. This isn’t a major flaw though, because all we want is for him to go shoot some baddies in his Robocop persona. 

And yes, this writer’s got that impulse to go out there to get some action figures again.

Movie Rating:

(A decent remake that delivers what it’s supposed to – fun, sleek and modern action sequences)

Review by John Li