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Conference noted::sf

Title:Arcana Caelestia
Notice:Directory listings are in topic 2
Moderator:NETRIX::thomas
Created:Thu Dec 08 1983
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1300
Total number of notes:18728

508.0. "ROBOCOP" by RUTLND::ELEE (Just Another Southern Gentleman) Mon Jul 27 1987 17:45

    This note is reserved for discussion of the movie ROBOCOP.
    
    This movie centers around the creation of the ultimate cyborg
    policeman.  We are treated to a moderately futuristic view
    of a Detroit where crime seems to rein supreme and cops really
    do deserve combat pay.  The protagonist, Murphy, is the victim
    of a vicious gang-style execution.  His legally dead remains 
    are incorporated into a state-of-the-art cyborg frame, combining
    street smarts and training with advanced cybernetics.  It's a 
    pretty deadly combination.
    
    I found it quite entertaining but rather on the violent side.
    
    Other comments?
    
    				Eric Lee
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508.1Heh hehHPSCAD::WALLI see the middle kingdom...Mon Jul 27 1987 17:5910
    
    I liked it quite a bit.
    
    I've given a lot of thought to the sort of technology that went
    into building RoboCop -- particularly the interfaces to the human
    nervous system.  I think it warrants deeper exploration in SF. 
    Maybe I'll do it myself, if I find the time.
    
    "You're fired!"
    DFW
508.2Mr. EDPROSE::WAJENBERGMon Jul 27 1987 20:4613
    I agree with .1; it was well-plotted and well-acted, didn't have
    any screaming boners or inconsistencies, had some genuine human
    interest that was thoroughly integrated into the SF elements, had
    some good satire, but was certainly very, very violent and bloody.
    
    I enjoyed the ED-209 police robot that Robocop replaces.  It looks
    like a cross between a big, viscious Japanese toy such as have flooded
    the toy market of late, and one of the two-legged scout walkers
    from "Star Wars."  Lest the "Star Wars" connection escape you, ED
    stands for "Enforcement 'Droid."  It was a marvelous parody of a
    killer robot.
    
    Earl Wajenberg
508.3BANDIT::MARSHALLhunting the snarkMon Jul 27 1987 21:1718
    re ED:
    
    I've only seen reviews so far. One showed the scene where the ED
    is to be demonstrated in front of the board of directors.
    
    The 'droid hauls off and shoots up a few of the executives, and
    all the chairman says to the designer is "I'm very disappointed".
    To which the designer replies,"It's probably just a glitch".
    It was so deadpan that I found it hilarious.
    
    Hope to see this movie (along with a number of others).
    
                                                   
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508.4AKOV68::BOYAJIANI want a hat with cherriesTue Jul 28 1987 04:4418
    I had very mixed feelings about ROBOCOP. The action kept the
    movie going and the characters felt right (Clarence has to be
    one of the slimiest bad guys I've ever seen). But I felt that
    the filmmakers weren't able to take the whole thing seriously
    and camped it up a bit with those cutesy news broadcasts and
    commercials (like the one for the game Nukem). The scene described
    in .3 is the worst example. After a particularly gruesome
    execution of the poor executive, the head of the company (who
    is otherwise portrayed as a nice guy) can only say, "I'm disap-
    pointed"?
    
    What really surprised me was that one of my impressions about
    the film was wrong. I rather expected that Robocop's confrontation
    with ED would be the climax of the film, and be quite long. But,
    it came early and was quite quick.
    
    --- jerry
    --- jerry
508.5BEING::POSTPISCHILAlways mount a scratch monkey.Tue Jul 28 1987 14:139
    Re .4:
    
    I do not think there was any intent at all to "take the whole thing
    seriously".  The movie was intended to have comedy.  I think it was
    quite well done -- when the poor executive was killed, the audience was
    mortified and amused at the same time.  I am sure that was deliberate.
    
    
    				-- edp
508.6KIRK::KOLKERConan the LibrarianTue Jul 28 1987 14:1811
    re .4
    
    I thought the sidebars and marginalia featuring the video news:
    "Give us 3 minutes and we'll give you the world" were *hillarious*.
    
    Those little schticks like the runamok laser from the SDI "peace"
    platform killing 3 ex presidents in Santa Barabara were worth the
    price of the admission ticket.  I haven't seen anything that funny
    since "Network".
    
    
508.7humor aforethoughtAMULET::FARRINGTONstatistically anomalousTue Jul 28 1987 16:306
    Caught the (very) tail end of an interview with the producer (or
    was it the director; Eastern European type, anyway).  The humor
    was apparently intentional.  He wants to go off to make a more
    "serious" movie, next.
    
    Dwight (looking forward to that big-screen violence :})
508.8"Looks like Baby Food!"SSDEVO::BARACHSmile and act surprised.Tue Jul 28 1987 22:3320
    I liked ROBOCOP (except the name of the movie).

    Murphy's "execution" was rather brutal but well-done (story-wise and
    visually).  That is, I felt every blast that the poor guy took, and was
    almost relieved when he was finally "dead".  It was a tear-jerking
    ending to it when his partner Lewis finds him.
    
    Not yet mentioned was one of the funniest (to me) scenes in the movie,
    where the would-be rapist is holding that blond woman hostage, and
    Robocop shoots, and we are tense because we think he has REALLY screwed
    up, and.... 
    
    Well, I don't want to spoil TOO many things for those who haven't
    seen it. 

    So go see it.
    
    And of course, there is the great ending.
    
    				==ELB==
508.9AKOV75::BOYAJIANI want a hat with cherriesWed Jul 29 1987 04:1924
    re:.8
    
    Hmm... I didn't think he screwed up that time. I figured out
    what he had in mind about 2 seconds before it happened.
    
    re:.5
    
    Oh, I'm sure it was deliberate. I just don't think it was the
    right way to go. Balancing the right amount of seriousness and
    humor is very difficult. I don't think ROBOCOP pulled it off.
    Apparently, I'm in the minority, but that doesn't change my mind.
    
    A good example of a movie that *did* pull it off is AMERICAN
    WEREWOLF IN LONDON, in which the horror was the result fo the
    situation(s), and the humor came out of the characters. ROBOCOP
    was trying to make light of events.
    
    By the way, one of my housemates (Jack) tells me that my other
    housemate (Eirikur) spotted a funny in the copyright notice at the
    very end of the closing credits. It says something to the effect
    of: "Violation of this copyright notice will be subject to punish-
    ment by enforcement 'droids."
    
    --- jerry
508.10Agreeing to DifferPROSE::WAJENBERGWed Jul 29 1987 13:127
    Re .9
    
    Well, there you have it.  I saw "American Werewolf in London" and
    thought it was a failure, an uneven blend of humor and horror that
    couldn't decide if it was comedy or melodramatic tragedy.
    
    Earl Wajenberg
508.11Still more....RHODES::BOYDThu Aug 13 1987 02:423
    	Rumer has it due to the 35 million that ROBOCOP made in its'
    first week that we will see ROBOCOP II !
    
508.12Hot and HeavyMPGS::PORTERDFri Aug 14 1987 16:484
      There was an interview with the actor who portrayed "robocop";
    he said there will have to be some serious discussion about"Robocop
    II" because the armour he wore weighed about 100lbs and was extremely
    hot.
508.13non-sequiterBANDIT::MARSHALLhunting the snarkSun Aug 16 1987 04:528
    the actor who played Robocop also portrayed Buckeroo Banzai.
    
                                                   
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508.14So what if it *does* belong elsewhere?JENEVR::CHELSEAMostly harmless.Mon Aug 17 1987 17:034
    Re: .13 (and .12 and .11)
    
    Yes, and if he's going to do any sequels, he should be doing Buckaroo
    Banzai (and you can tell him I said so, too).
508.15AKOV76::BOYAJIANScience Is GoldenTue Aug 18 1987 04:286
    re:.14
    
    Except that ROBOCOP is making lots of money and BUCKEROO BANZAI
    didn't. That's life in Tinseltown.
    
    --- jerry    
508.16Heh heh...HPSCAD::WALLI see the middle kingdom...Tue Aug 18 1987 13:0910
    
    Also, I believe that the rights to Buckaroo Banzai are currently
    being fought over.  I don't think we'll see much in the area until
    the smoke clears.
    
    You know what'd make a good Robocop sequel?  He gets some information
    that someone in the BioWeapons division of OCP is cranking out these
    leathery eggs to be dropped into the sewers...
    
    DFW
508.17Robocop II - Terminaliens....SSDEVO::CHAMPIONThe Elf!Tue Aug 18 1987 15:517
    
    Addenum to .16
    
    Oooooh, yeah - by Arnold Schwartzeneger in hydraulics!
    
    Carol
    
508.18'X' ratingCSC32::M_PFOFFNickeled and Dimed to DeathThu Sep 17 1987 20:029
    I heard that the movie almost got a "X" rating. The part in the
    board room where the guy gets wasted by accident was modified to
    get the "R" rating. They had the robot not stopping by itself, but
    rather kept shooting until it ran out of bullits. Basicly there
    was nothing left of the guy but scraps. The review board didn't
    like that. 
    
    I really liked the movie, but it was very violent.
    
508.19Anybody listening .....POLAR::ROTORNO MATTER WHERE YOU GO, THERE YOU AREFri Oct 30 1987 20:377
    Some thoughts.
    .14 me too.
    .15 So?
    
    Buck's my hero.
    
    Dave
508.20ROBOCOP on tape by late January, 1988DICKNS::KLAESThis place has got everything!Tue Dec 01 1987 11:434
    	ROBOCOP is due to be released on videotape January 29, 1988.
    
    	Larry
    
508.21On cable in January, alsoMAGES::BURRWed Jan 06 1988 16:123
I believe it's also premiering on cable this month on either HBO or Cinemax.

							Rod Burr
508.22Robocop IIJETSAM::WILBURWed Nov 09 1988 17:1238


	All these little tidbits from the Worldcon and 
	No one's talking

	Robocop II Spoiler to follow.



	The film is being made under the name "This cop for hire."
	Which only gives you an idea what it might be like but not
	the title it will really come out as...

	The female cop that was wounded at the end will NOT be
	a robocop.

	A small part at the hospital was cut out, showing her in casts
	and looking like she'd recover.

	But our Robocop goes through an identity crisis and leaves the
	police force. Small Rampage.

	We also get to find out the the President of the Company
	wasn't a simple nice old man.

	The part where the melting man gets hit by the car and
	explodes was done with a hollow maniquain sp (dummy)
	and for two weeks under the hot sun everyone on the set
	had to pour the remains of their meals into the hollow
	dummy until...it was ready! What a scene!

	Thats all I have...

	and a real rumorish thing... Buckaroo Banzi will never have
	a sequel becauses the actors are too embarrassed about their 
	roles.

508.23What next? Action figures?JETSAM::WILBURTue Nov 15 1988 11:116
    
    
    
    Anyone see that Robocop is now a saturday morning Cartoon?
    
    
508.24TARKIN::WISMARTue Nov 15 1988 12:273
	No, No, No....  The next logical step is a nauseatingly sweet
    breakfast cereal....   B^)
                                                             -John.
508.25AAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHSKETCH::GROSSHuman Factors and much, much more.Tue Nov 15 1988 15:315
    I'm sorry, my mind cannot stand the idea of a ROBOCOP cartoon. 
    No.  Like all the Christmas things people say they see in the stores
    nowadays, that does not exist in my universe.  I deny it. 
    
    	Merryl-who-sees-what-she-wants-to-see-and-hears-what-she-wants-to-hear
508.26I know, it's just too wierd.JETSAM::WILBURTue Nov 15 1988 16:327
    
    
    
    And it's not full of unhealthy adult violence.
    
    Not much anyways.
    
508.27What's left?ATSE::WAJENBERGIsn't stress exhilarating?Tue Nov 15 1988 17:056
    Re .26
    
    "Robocop" without violence would be a little like water without
    hydrogen or oxygen.
    
    Earl Wajenberg
508.28Cartoon figures...BMT::MENDESAI is better than no I at allTue Nov 15 1988 21:103
    A cartoon? Seems rather appropriate.
    
    - Richard
508.29;^)DRUMS::FEHSKENSWed Nov 16 1988 19:514
    re .26 et seq.:  I.e., it's full of "healthy" adult violence?
    
    len.
    
508.30Robocop good movie..Cartoon is bad taste.JETSAM::WILBURThu Nov 17 1988 12:0811
    
    
    
    Well, yes.. He TARGETS on the bodies of the villians and SHOOTS
    their weapons.
    
    The adults don't die. That's healthy. ;)
    
    The whole idea of it being a cartoon is just to twisted for my
    mind.                                                  
    
508.31Better late than never.SED750::PARKERReality is for people who can't handle FantasyFri Dec 02 1988 14:3615
Robocop was released on video on January 29 over there? Jeez, it's only just been
released over here, thus the late reply..

I thought the scene when they were testing the ED droid was rather amusing, 
but one thing that struck me as stupid, was 'why would they use live rounds 
whilst testing it?', but the question was answered later on in the film.

I never thought it was extreemly violent, as some of you have been saying, 
what was it certificate was it rated over there?

But on the whole, it was a very enjoyable film, and i would deffinately 
like to see a sequel.

A.
 
508.32oops! missed that explanation.STAR::KOHLSMy life is a 'B' movieFri Dec 02 1988 18:3410
    
    	Why *did* they use live rounds in ED-209?  I must have missed
    the reason the couple of times I saw the movie.
    
    	The bits from the news, and ads for new games (Nuke Em!) were
    great!!  I about died when the little kid says "You crossed my line
    of death!"
    
    						-SK
    
508.33...SED750::PARKERReality is for people who can't handle FantasyMon Dec 05 1988 08:3812
>    	Why *did* they use live rounds in ED-209?  I must have missed
>      the reason the couple of times I saw the movie.

If i'm not mistaken, just before murphy/robocop was about to arrest that 
bloke who made ED 209, he said that it was no accident, and was intentional 
because they wanted him out. Not sure tho'. Anyone else know?

Yeah..those adverts were quite good..i liked the bit in the toilets, where 
they had those scolling  displays above the loos...original, i must say..

A.

508.34wrong murderRBW::WICKERTMAA DIS ConsultantWed Dec 14 1988 20:2913
    
    I'm afraid you have your murders mixed up. The poor guy wasted by
    the ED 209 just happened to be in the wrong place and was on the
    wrong end of the totem pole...
    
    The introduction in the board room wasn't a test, it was the roll-out.
    I'd say it was equipped with live rounds because it was already
    "tested" and it's designers/engineers (you know how engineers and
    programmers are about their products :-) thought it was solid. Also
    the low regard Dick Jones had for lower orders of life (ie non-VP)
    might have had something to do with it...
    
    Ray
508.35Board room murder by ED209 planned.JETSAM::WILBURThu Dec 15 1988 11:1611
    
    
    
    Negative. The board romm murder was planned.
    
    Just before the young v.p. was killed the older guy said on the
    video tape that he had Ed 209 kill him.
    
    Pay attention next time you see the movie there will be a pop
    quiz at the end. ;)
    
508.36Not planned, bug in programOASS::MDILLSONI was better, but I got over it.Thu Dec 15 1988 12:2011
    Oh, contraire Mssr. Dennis.
    
    The only time the "older guy" said that he had someone killed was
    during the time he was having ED209 try and nuke Robocop.  This
    was taped by Robocop and played back over the video monitor.  The
    gentleman Ed Jones refered to as having killed was the VP wh had
    insulted him in the bathroom (his name escapes me) who he had Clarence
    Brodiker (sp) kill with the photon grenade.  
    
    The boardroom killing was an error caused by a foulup in the ED209's
    circuitry/programming.
508.37Both in Ed209 and in my mind.JETSAM::WILBURThu Dec 15 1988 12:498
    
    
    Now I can see how I made a mistake.
    
    I'm also wise enough not to question your memory Mike.
    
    Ok...Program bug.
    
508.38high-tech toysSNDCSL::SMITHIEEE-696Thu Dec 15 1988 17:505
    Speaking of the grenade, that was one of my favorite pieces of
    hardware in the movie, kind of neat how they added the LCD display
    and such....
    
    Willie
508.39!SED750::PARKER47.45.54.20.42.41.43.48.20.54.4F.20.57.4F.52.48.21Tue Dec 20 1988 15:285
Okay, so I was wrong! But, I did only see the film once, and I was just 
guessing that the poor bloke was murdered. Ah well..was a good guess tho 
don't-ya-think?

A.
508.40Peter Weller query....VINO::JMCGREALJane McGrealSun Jan 08 1989 13:385
                                                                         
    
    
    	Has Peter Weller been in any other movies besides Buckaroo Banzai
    	and Robocop?
508.41ASABET::BOYAJIANMillrat in trainingTue Jan 10 1989 06:415
    At least one comes immediately to mind: FIRST BORN. I'm sure there
    are others, but I don't have the right reference books with me to
    check.
    
    --- jerry
508.42Sixels on the netSNDCSL::SMITHThis page intentionally blankThu Apr 20 1989 21:528
    Dunno if I mentioned it, but there are a few sixels at:
    
    	SNDUNE::DUA1:[sixels.robocop]
    
    Where *.SVT is (S)ixels for (V)ideo (T)erminals and *.SPR is (S)ixels
    for (PR)inters.
    
    Willie