Directed by: Jose Padiha
Rating: I Really Liked It
I have to start off by saying that it's been a few years since I most recently watched the original Robocop, but I've still got a pretty good idea of how it all went down in that movie. Still, I'm going to try and avoid a lot of comparisons, because I don't really remember the details well. This will be more of a straight up review of the remake, with just a little comparison to the original on a few key points.
First, I think that Kinnaman did a great job as the title character. Whether he was trying to portray his more human side or was dealing with the machine taking over, you believed his actions, facial expressions, and demeanor. It's hard to see some characters portrayed by new blood, but this one was an easy transition. His supporting cast, particularly Oldman and Keaton, did an excellent job in their respective roles.
Outside of casting, the pace of the movie felt good. It kicks off right away with a broadcast from The Novak Element, a fictional TV program hosted by Pat Novak (Samuel L. Jackson), offering a political commentary piece on the use of drones in American law enforcement. This fight is what kicks off the entire "robocop" program, seeking a way to put a machine on the streets of the US despite the laws that are in the way. It presents the loophole needed. From there, we jump right into the action that leads Det. Alex Murphy to a near-death explosion, creating the perfect candidate for the program. We quickly pick up the information we need to get into the rest of his story as Robocop, and the pace never slows.
Despite the explosions and gunfire, the side of the story that appeals most to me is the internal struggle between man and machine. Dr. Norton (Oldman) initially leaves all that makes Murphy human in his mind, but is later convinced by Sellars (Keaton), the man funding the project, to do whatever it takes to make Murphy a more efficient machine. It's then that Norton removes all of Murphy's humanity, only to find later that the soul will find a way back to him.
Another aspect of the movie that jumped out at me was the visual aspect. From the on-screen views of Murphy's computer display, to the sleep black color of his armor and motorcycle, to the completely beliveable, everyday future technologies, the filmmakers did a great job with the movie's look. It really all came to a head when we see Murphy stripped down to what little bit is left of his human side, a brain and a set of lungs with a heart, basically. All the rest of him we see is machine.
To wind everything together, we do get a few direct throwbacks to the source material. The drug, Nuke, that makes a large appearance in the original makes a cameo in this remake, but doesn't take a center role like the original. We also get the classic "dead or alive, you're coming with me" line from Murphy. It's almost like a "yippe ki-yay" from John McClane.
Overall, I say this is a great action flick. It kept me interested the entire run time, and I can't wait to see what else may come from the series to surely follow. I'd even recommend seeing this one in theaters. Not many movies out there deserve the money you have to spend to see it on the big screen, but if you're looking for a good shoot-em-up, this one is a good pick for it.
No comments:
Post a Comment