The robocop reboot is fucking awesome. Instead of depicting the excess and corruption of America in the 1980s the reboot focuses on the problems facing modern America in the near future. Like the original, the reboot is thought provoking, has great action sequences and is at times hilarious. There were lots of subtle and not so subtle nods to the original Robocop which I really appreciated. The reboot isn't nearly as edgy or violent as the original but it does have a lot of heart and it does a great job of making you care about Alex Murphy and his family.
My only complaints were very small ones as the movie has a smart script filled with nods to the original robocop and the whole cast was wonderful. However, there were a few scenes were they decided to use handicam which was annoying and distracting much like it was at the begging of Man of Steel. When will Hollywood realize everyone hates shaky camera movements? Just because a few successful movies used it doesnt mean that the shakycam had anything to do with their success. It didn't ruin the movie and fortunately it's only in a few scenes near the beginning. Also, there are several points in the movie where robocop is looking at footage of crimes and people having conversations and the movie doesnt make it clear where the heck that footage came from. I guess we are to believe there are cameras and microphones everywhere at all times in the near future? Also, the movie could have used another action scene. There was action throughout the movie but I felt like it was a little lighter on action sequences than I expected from a robocop reboot. Again, these are all minor complaints as I enjoyed the movie all throughout.
I really hope Robocop does well and that we get sequels as there is definitely potential for more robocop movies. I think the mixed reaction from critics is primarily due to this being a reboot but even most of the negative reviews aren't too scathing as the reboot is at very least better than many would expect. I didn't have high expectations going into it but it had me from the first scene and only got better. Honestly, Robocop 3 came out decades ago and was a financial disaster. Plus nobody cares about any of the robocop tv shows so they either had to leave the franchise alone or they had to reboot it and there was too much potential for it to make money for them to leave it alone. But Robocop fans can rest easy knowing that this is one reboot that doesn't feel like it's just a shallow rehash going through the motions but rather it takes the soul of the original and repurposes it, much like alex murphy was repurposed when he was transformed into Robocop.
My only complaints were very small ones as the movie has a smart script filled with nods to the original robocop and the whole cast was wonderful. However, there were a few scenes were they decided to use handicam which was annoying and distracting much like it was at the begging of Man of Steel. When will Hollywood realize everyone hates shaky camera movements? Just because a few successful movies used it doesnt mean that the shakycam had anything to do with their success. It didn't ruin the movie and fortunately it's only in a few scenes near the beginning. Also, there are several points in the movie where robocop is looking at footage of crimes and people having conversations and the movie doesnt make it clear where the heck that footage came from. I guess we are to believe there are cameras and microphones everywhere at all times in the near future? Also, the movie could have used another action scene. There was action throughout the movie but I felt like it was a little lighter on action sequences than I expected from a robocop reboot. Again, these are all minor complaints as I enjoyed the movie all throughout.
I really hope Robocop does well and that we get sequels as there is definitely potential for more robocop movies. I think the mixed reaction from critics is primarily due to this being a reboot but even most of the negative reviews aren't too scathing as the reboot is at very least better than many would expect. I didn't have high expectations going into it but it had me from the first scene and only got better. Honestly, Robocop 3 came out decades ago and was a financial disaster. Plus nobody cares about any of the robocop tv shows so they either had to leave the franchise alone or they had to reboot it and there was too much potential for it to make money for them to leave it alone. But Robocop fans can rest easy knowing that this is one reboot that doesn't feel like it's just a shallow rehash going through the motions but rather it takes the soul of the original and repurposes it, much like alex murphy was repurposed when he was transformed into Robocop.