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Robocop 2 is another movie which adds weight to the argument that sequels basically suck. Few sequels work, those that do are usually radical rethinks of the movie whih came before and have very few elements of the original in them, or make use of more modern technology to blow the predecessor away with flashy special effects and the like. Robocop 2 followed on too closely to its predecessor for that to ever be a viability and went for the highly obvious 'evil robot' plot for its main focus rather than coming up with a surprising take on the old idea. Basically they made a movie which took the ideas of the original and threw away half the good parts, adding another robot and some ultra-violence to draw a visuals hungry audience.
What they came up with is a movie which sucks.
Well, ok that is too harsh but frankly its not very good. The original Robocop, directed by Paul Verhoeven had a cast of characters who you could empathise with. Peter Weller was introduced to us as the very human, family man cop
before being shot to pieces in a warehouse by a gang of psychos. His Robocop character was all programmed robot - cold and mechanised in direct comparison. We liked the characters, empathising with his plight and with his partner having to see him like this, wanting revenge for him against the thugs and for him to find some of the humanity which she knows is burried in his brain somewhere. Robocop 2 features the same pairing but its not the same - both appear to be delivering their lines in a daydream rather than putting any feeling behind them. Not surprising when the makers have decided to add 'comedy' to the proceedings which really does NOT work at all. OCP have operated on Robocop after a botched raid at a drug warehouse, making him a much more touchy-feely crime fighter. He drives the speed limit at all times, turns off a fire hydrant which some kids are playing under to conserve water...and its all VERY annoying and pathetic. Behind all this LA is still falling apart and now a career criminal by the name of Kane is selling a new, highy addictive drug called Nuke on the streets. Nuke kills and the police force are determined to eradicate it. Robocop is their main weapon but his circuits are fried but eventually he takes matters into his own hands to solve that problem. Kane basically gets ass-whupped and ends up in a hospital bed...OCP seeing a perfect chance to build a newer better robot using his brain stem, controlling him more effectively than they could Robocop I(they name him Robocop II..gawd) by using his own addiction to Nuke. Things backfire of course and Kane goes on the rampage, the seemingly impervious robot gunning down everything in sight in the final excellent 10 minutes. Robocop has to go up against the new model...who will win...
Well considering there was a Robocop III this is perhaps a question already answered...but then you know the good guys always win anyway :oP~~. Well anyway, is it worth watching. Yes and no(helpful aren't I). The makers obviously decided to take the humour of the original which was very definitely there, but oh so tongue in cheek and bring it to the forefront. They paint a bleak vision of the future of the world and pack the movie with cruel social commentary which is fun and has its place but perhaps not here. This movie is too violent to be funny, the two do not mix - or at least they damn well shouldn't. It makes the violence cartoonish and takes away from the overall 'action feel' of the movie. The violence detracts from the comedy aspect in turn so you get a movie which misses both marks. Giving Robocop a human side in the first part of the movie turns him into little more than a guy in a sardine can so you can't take the movie seriously from then on. His partner seems like she couldn't give a damn and really the only one who comes across well is the guy who plays Kane and he's not that great. You would think then that the special effects would be good, because the movie would have to have some major selling point. Well actually they aren't - this movies major selling point is the name 'Robocop'. Weller's costume looks decidedly plastic here which was something the original managed to avoid. The 'Kane' robot is big and menacing, but ultimately rather unimpressive in its animation - highly unrealistic. The action is ok, but rather limited other than the opening drug bust and the closing carnage which is rather good but still not good enough to rescue the movie.
Its all distinctly average I'm afraid and only worth of a 3 star rating...and thats being generous.
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Production Year: 2007 - Science Fiction - Director: Francis Lawrence - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, Dash Mihok, Will Smith, Salli Richardson, Willow Smith
Production Year: 2007 - Science Fiction - Director: Francis Lawrence - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Willow Smith, Dash Mihok, Will Smith, Charlie Tahan, Salli Richardson, Alice Braga
Advantages: Fast-paced, spectacular, fairly enjoyable if your in the mood Disadvantages: Dodgy acting, weak script, little credibility and zero tension
Howiemon 01.02.2001 (11.04.2001)
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![Robocop 2 [DVD] [1990] [US Import]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/83410244.jpg "Robocop 2 [DVD] [1990] [US Import]")
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