Starring: Joel Kinnaman, Gary Oldman, Michael Keaton, Abbie Cornish
Director: Jose Padilha
Rating: 3/5
It was back in 1988 when RoboCop first hit the big screen and we were introduced to the character of Alex Murphy. Now, over fifteen years later, a new director has updated the story for a film audience of 2014.
In RoboCop, the year is 2028 and multinational conglomerate OmniCorp is at the centre of robot technology. Overseas, their drones have been used by the military for years - and it's meant billions for OmniCorp's bottom line.
Now OmniCorp wants to bring their controversial technology to the home front, and they see a golden opportunity to do it. When Alex Murphy (Kinnaman) - a loving husband, father and good cop doing his best to stem the tide of crime and corruption in Detroit - is critically injured in the line of duty, OmniCorp sees their chance to build a part-man, part-robot police officer.
OmniCorp envisions a RoboCop in every city and even more billions for their shareholders, but they never counted on one thing: there is still a man inside the machine pursuing justice.
If you are expecting a movie that will rival the adult only, super violent eighties film, then you are going to be left disappointed. Rated a 12A this is definitely much milder than its predecessor - that may come as a major left down for many.
Having said that, thee is no denying that it is fast paced and super sleek - if you are looking for a blockbuster to just kick back and enjoy, then his really does tick all of the boxes.
This movie is packed with some terrific action sequences and they are really the highlight of the film; the battle between RoboCop and the drones at the end of the movie is a particular highlight.
While Padilha’s interpretation perhaps does lack the edginess of the original, this is a little more character driven and has more hear than the first film.
Joel Kinnaman is a great piece of casting as Alex Murphy; a family man who just wants to uphold the law and bring those who break it to justice. This is the biggest film role of Kinnaman’s career, and he handles the pressure of taking over this iconic role incredibly well.
The everyman hero quality that Murphy has makes an immediate connection with audiences, and you cannot help but root for him to succeed. The scenes between Murphy and his wife & son are some of the film’s best and most poignant moments.
Murphy’s love with his wife and child is what really drives him as he fights against what has been done to him.
Gary Oldman also gives a great performance as Dr Norton; a man who puts his medical integrity on the line to make Murphy into the ‘machine’ that everyone wants RoboCop to be. However, Norton builds up a great rapport and connection with Murphy, and it is one of the most interesting and complex relationships in the film.
RoboCop is the first English speaking film for director Padilha, as well as being the biggest movie of his directing career so far. He has delivered a solid action movie that really is quite enjoyable. It doesn’t bring anything new to this genre, but I did find myself getting swept along in what is as much a human story as it is an action flick.
RoboCop may have lacked that wow factor, but there is plenty to entertain and enjoy in this new take on iconic hero.
RoboCop is out now
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