Robocop Trilogy

A stylish pulp-fiction blend of sci-fi action and graphic violence, the original Robocop burst onto screens in 1987 and was instantly embraced by a large and loyal fan base--strong enough to ensure two sequels, a TV series, countless comic books, and an ongoing franchise that refuses to die. Set in the not-too-distant, corporate-ruled future, the initial film was by far the best, with Peter Weller perfectly cast as a Detroit cop nearly slaughtered on the job and then reassembled with an abundance of cyborganic body parts, as the half-man, half-robot "Robocop." A technological marvel, he becomes the force's greatest tool against crime, while also battling his sleazy would-be killers, who are out to finish the job they started in a hail of shotgun fire. Dutch director Paul Verhoeven indulged his penchant for bloody, relentless violence, but the film was so vividly alive with black humor and edgy satire that it was destined for cult-favorite hit status. The sequels Robocop 2 and Robocop 3 pale by comparison, but that won't stop the faithful from flocking to MGM's new handsomely packaged boxed set, which compiles all three films and a handful of notable extras for the first film, including a characteristically fun commentary track from Verhoeven (who is joined by co-writer Edward Neumeier, and executive producer Jon Davison), the 37-minute retrospective documentary “Flesh and Steel--The Making of Robocop,” two original featurettes (“Making Robocop” and “Shooting Robocop”), and deleted scenes. Recommended. (J. Shannon)[DVD Review—Sept. 4, 2007—MGM, 2 discs, 103 min., not rated, $19.99—Making its fourth appearance on DVD, 1987's Robocop (20th Anniversary Collector's Edition) sports a very nice transfer and DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 sound. DVD extras include both the original theatrical version and the extended version, audio commentary with director Paul Verhoeven, writer Ed Neumeier and executive producer Jon Davison, a 37-minute “Flesh and Steel” “making-of” featurette, “Robocop: Creating a Legend” (21 min.), “Special Effects: Then and Now” (18 min.), a “Villains of Old Detroit” featurette (17 min.), the 1987 featurettes “Shooting Robocop” (8 min.) and “Making Robocop” (8 min.), “The Boardroom” storyboard comparison with commentary by animator Phil Tippett (6 min.), four deleted scenes (3 min.), and six photo galleries on production design, special effects, cast, crew, and behind-the-scenes. Bottom line: an extended extras package for a classic contemporary sci-fi thriller.][Blu-ray Review— Oct. 26, 2010—MGM, 3 discs, 325 min., PG-13/R, $59.99—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1987's Robocop, 1990's Robocop 2, and 1993's Robocop 3 all sport nice transfers with DTS-HD 5.1 sound. The only bonus features are trailers. Bottom line: a disappointingly extra-less Blu-ray debut for classic Robocop and its lesser sequels.]