tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3338557.post1654997516462839946..comments2023-08-18T04:37:47.001-04:00Comments on Byzantium's Shores: chronicling the misadventures of an overalls-clad hippie: "Dead or alive, you're coming with me."Kelly Sedingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10704114189919711467noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3338557.post-81601546967704314142011-08-29T13:17:40.133-04:002011-08-29T13:17:40.133-04:00A couple of notes: there actually was a third Robo...A couple of notes: there actually was a third <i>Robocop</i> film (with some other dude taking over the suit from Peter Weller, much to the character's detriment) as well as a short-lived syndicated TV series -- both were pretty lame, and are rightfully forgotten. (I've mostly forgotten <i>Robo 2</i> as well, to be honest.)<br /><br />Regarding the film's ending, I can see how it could be read as abrupt, but I've always felt it was perfect. <i>Robocop</i> is essentially about retaining a human identity in the face of a mechanized world and evil capitalists who would reduce a man to a mere "unit." And a faceless one at that.(Note that I'm not calling <i>all</i> capitalists evil, as "the old man" Robo/Murphy is speaking to in the end is arguably not such a bad guy. But Miguel Ferrer's and Ronnie Cox's characters unquestionably <i>are</i> evil, and their particular evil is motivated by capitalism.) This all works beautifully at a thematic level: after killing the thugs who were trying to kill him, Robocop drives to OCP, the seat of the evil that was done to him; he dispatches ED-209, the machine that represents this mechanized future; and then in his final line, he reclaims his own, original, human name. It's as humanistic in its way as Luke Skywalker shutting off his targeting computer: the man triumphs over the machine.<br /><br />All of that action happens in a very short amount of screentime, true, but then, as you point out, so does the introduction and first act. I read both the beginning and ending not as "abrupt" but as "concise." They say what they need to say with economy. <br /><br />For the record, I'm not a great van of Verhoven's later work. I think <i>Robocop</i> is his master piece. And despite the dated '80s references, hair styles and tone (especially in the fake news segments), it seems even more relevant to me now than it did 25 years ago. I love this flick.Jasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11001416935247782462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3338557.post-43465394468016969452011-08-28T12:36:12.555-04:002011-08-28T12:36:12.555-04:00I liked Robocop also, I only hope it isn't tar...I liked <i>Robocop</i> also, I only hope it isn't targeted for a remake. Oh wait, I see in IMDB a <i>Robocop</i> slated for 2013. It's been such a long time since I've seen it, it would be worth to get it from Netflix.Doughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17390184801964500564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3338557.post-1176402357944826052011-08-28T11:26:11.079-04:002011-08-28T11:26:11.079-04:00I've always enjoyed Robocop, too. And if anyon...I've always enjoyed Robocop, too. And if anyone doesn't agree, there's going to be... trouble.Call me Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17704646008578216859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3338557.post-25218674332645910002011-08-28T11:06:53.963-04:002011-08-28T11:06:53.963-04:00Robocop was definitely a great movie. Verhoeven, i...Robocop was definitely a great movie. Verhoeven, in this case, really did an outstanding job (don't get me started on Starship Troopers). I agree that the ending was abrupt. I've had a few discussions with filmmaker types, but it always comes down to, "how else could he have done it?" No good answer.<br /><br />Nice review.<br /><br />Gusmad photoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00578744473094802480noreply@blogger.com