Filmmaker reacts to Robocop (1987) for the FIRST TIME!

[@maxxgraber]

Verhoeven has the best trifecta of sci-fi movies. Robocop, Total Recall and Starship Troopers are great. Very different stories that are connected on how the media explains on what's happening in their time. His social criticism and concept of the future was ahead of it's time. IMO

[@oaf-77]

His Dutch movies are also really good

[@maxxgraber]

@@offspringfan1288 Ok. That's really true also, but completely different.

[@diegovillaruiz2431]

@@offspringfan1288 Cameron in the 80s was masterful, but compared to Verhoeven I think he wins by an inch for the extra point of social satire and criticism of the system.

[@bronzewand]

There's something else those movies have in common.. he didn't write any of them

[@maxxgraber]

@@diegovillaruiz2431 and blood squibs! Lots and lots.

[@chaost4544]

"I'd buy that for a dollar!" One of the most classic lines ever.

[@_nauticaldisaster_]

That line was actually in reference to the short-story The March of Morons.

[@Retrovorious]

Back when A dollar used to be worth more… back when a Big Mac was only a dollar sixty.

[@gamleoslo]

@@Retrovorious Inflation has changed meaning of the phrase. Must only be used at 80's parties.

[@traceyreid4585]

Along with "can you Flyyyy Bobbi!"

[@jeffthompson9622]

@@_nauticaldisaster_ I think you mean, "The Marching Morons," by C.M. Kornbluth. A very memorable story that had to be the source for the plot of "Idiocracy."

[@davevannatta985]

Everyone should give a huge thank you to Paul Verhoeven's wife. When he was sent the script to this film. He threw it in the trash. But she retrieved it looked at it and convinced Paul to give it another look.

[@danballe]

I read that over Wikipedia or IMDb just moments ago.

[@morganalabeille5004]

Same thing happened with Stephen King and the first few pages of the first draft of Carrie. His wife wanted to know how the story ended and offered to help him accurately write teenage girls

[@postersandstuff]

@@morganalabeille5004 i hid under the OCP building (right next to the elevator where the robot came out to get Robo) when it started thundering in Dallas , lol (it was also seen on the Dallas TV show)

[@vidiveniviciDCLXVI]

Behind every great man is a great woman.

[@mariom6368]

I appreciate her!

[@robwalsh9843]

"I can feel them....but I can't remember them" One of the most depressing lines in any sci fi movie.

[@danballe]

I am trying almost to the point to dig into my memory of other characters that had their bodies/lives destroyed so that they had to rebuild it from pretty much scratch and reclaim their core, cool story this is a pretty thought provoking piece of satire and badassery savage action flick from the 80s!

[@mariom6368]

That pause in between those lines was epic.

[@primetime8336]

@@danballe Ellen Ripley from the “Alien” franchise is pretty depressing. In “Aliens” when she wakes up from her pod she is informed that she spent so much time in her pod after surviving the alien attack in the first movie that her daughter lived her entire life without her and died an elderly unwed woman who had no children that ripley could meet and have a relationship with ao her legacy is gone. Then she builds a bond with a motherless child in newt only for her to die after ripley risked her life to save her in her pod. Then died pregnant not with a child, but with the very alien that ripped her life apart.😢

[@freyathewanderer6359]

The sequels should have focused on his humanity, on the human side gradually taking over the robotic side. Also, he should have gained a girlfriend - not a fellow cop, but a technician who worked at OCP. She would bring out his human side - but because of the milieu, something horrible would have to happen to her to prove that RoboCop/Murphy was capable of not just love, but grief.

[@gallendugall8913]

The actor did serious prep work for the role. He trained with and spent a month developing the character's mechanical motions with the help of a master of mime. Really pays off as it elevates the suit from a bunch of fiberglass.

[@ericbilly]

thats super cool to know! i always took it for granted that his suit is this like, some half-ton metal thing and you just made me realize i never really questioned it, so to me it was well worth his extra effort. such a great movie.

[@extantsanity]

Yeah, it seems there are conflicting reports on how Peter Weller got that motion going. In the Netflix series "The Movies That Made Us", they said his work with the mime is what held up production for a long time because he was trying to be too fluid and the director didn't like it. But if you watch Peter's interviews elsewhere, he says that's where he got the good motion from. Not sure who's right or who's remembering the situation correctly, but it certainly turned out great on film!

[@tennopalder2276]

@@extantsanity The story that I heard was that the Robocop suit was really heavy and stiff. Peter Weller was practicing smooth movement with the mime until he put on the suit and had to totally change his movement from fluid to robotic.

[@kalofkrypton]

To expand on this. The movement was designed to be fast, sharp and almost birdlike. The suit as delivered and first tried left Weller almost motionless. He came close to quitting and the production was nearly stopped. They continued filming the non suit scenes while working out what to do. Weller kept on working with the mime coach and the prop-masters, the former who suggested keeping the aesthetic of their movement work, but slowing it all down with a slightly faster stopping movement - and the latter to rip apart the suit. There were far more solid connections in the suit originally, mostly the under-suit, but stuff like the gloves and elbows being connected were changed.

[@AntonioCardenasT]

The mime and Weller made a sleek fluid motion, but the suit was too cumbersome for that, so I think they flew the mime down and then worked on a new motion style so they leaned on the cumbersome suit and made it super robotic and stiff with stuff like the head moving first and then the body following, similar to Schwarzenegger in terminator 1 where he moves the eyes first and once needed the head.

[@DanJackson1977]

This is actually the "less brutal" version.. the Directors Cut has about 5 to 10 seconds more gore. It doesnt sound like much, but it really is.

[@Buggins]

Almost all of it in the opening Ed209 scene. As I recall Verhoeven thought that the cut (imposed by the studio and censor) had the effect of making it less funny and more traumatic and having seen both versions I pretty much agree. It goes on so long in his first cut it's darkly comedic.

[@DanJackson1977]

@@Buggins it's that and Murphys death is super juicy. And I think they linger on Boddikers death a bit more.

[@HowManyRobot]

"It doesnt sound like much, but it really is." This is somehow an understatement.

[@PriceFamPrime]

I saw this movie in the theater when it first came out. I was 12. Neither my parents nor the theater gave a crap. The 80s certainly were a different time.

[@_nauticaldisaster_]

Yeah I remember seeing Tango & Cash in theatre at 12 and no one gave af. I miss those times.

[@deadso]

I was 10 or so and my parents rented it and whatched it with me, then again, I was watching Tales from the Crypt with my mom weekly by then. Still some scenes freaked me out. Watching RoboCop as an adult, I could now really see why this is such a great movie besides the action.

[@MrMongoose221]

Same and they blame violent movies and games for violence, yet I'm far from any of that and watched all of these films as a kid lol

[@escapingreality3306]

My mate next door invited me to watch his pirated VHS tape Robocop when we were kids.. Me being naive at the time thought it would just be a fun cybocop action movie because the cyborg is a cop. His parents didn't give a crap either. The scene with the acid gave me nightmares for weeks 😓

[@antonm_]

Saw it on VHS, I was 5 or 6 yrs old then. It was my favorite movie, had the toys and all. 😅 Yup, 80's did not give a crap about violence. LOL

[@petrgalko4152]

One thing about this specific movie that I always found so beautiful is that the more Murphy is getting damaged the more humanity he shows! The moment ED 209 nearly blew off his head, revealing Murphys eye was like seeing a ressurection. From that Mechanical, empty, lifeless stare you suddenly see a frightened human being trying to survive! Than when the cops are trying to destroy him, some of the hydraulics in his legs is damaged and he starts to crawl like an injured human, his movement is suddenly more responsive, more fluid and finally the face reveal where not only do we see Murphy once more but most importantly his voice losses that robotic tune to it! A complete ressurection of a dead man grasping for life. Not to mention the iconic walk in the water where Murphy is literally depicted as resurrected christ! Ah... I love this movie! (PS: sry if its too long... :D )

[@TehCream]

Legendary film. Love Robocops robotic voice as he’s talking to criminals and giving orders. Then by the end when he says his name it’s his real human voice. It’s great how a satirical movie like this can give us such a beautiful moment. Great pay off.

[@tumbleheart4664]

"What's your name son?" "Murphy." -Music hits and cuts to black. What an ending!

[@slowswimmer9169]

An iconic one

[@clearsmashdrop5829]

People clapped and cheered in the theater when I saw it.

[@euanandchels]

Absolutely! one of the best.

[@ericzeller9730]

So hard to convince someone who has never seen Robocop that it’s one of the best movies ever, bust satisfying when they finally watch it.

[@HellBrYnger]

because they just hear the name and think of it like some "haha a robot cop" movie. to me robocop isnt just an action movie, it's a psychothriller if you think about it.

[@keychainere]

Man speaks the truth

[@system0fadowner251]

Yep, it never should've been as good as it was, but it definitely holds up so well.

[@pushitlpvo]

Watched it as a ten year old 87. LOVED it. Transformers The Movie same year

[@freyathewanderer6359]

Friends don't let friends watch the so-called sequels - or the remake.

[@krisfrederick5001]

As a kid from Detroit I grew up LOVING this movie...I just didn't realize how messed up it was for a kid to be watching until much later. There's some dark shit going on here.

[@JamesVSCinema]

Oh yeah! Found it really dope it took place in Detroit!

[@MrMongoose221]

Haha same man. I remember watching this as a kid and equally loving it and being traumatised, but it will always hold a weird amount of nostalgia for that reason

[@kevinwall6529]

Yea watched this at 8 and learned you can snort coke off a tit. Came in handy later in life

[@kinslayermds]

There was a short lived cartoon series complete with a toy line back in the day. This was when Hollywood started to catch flak for marketing violent movies towards children, and it was awesome.

[@hempchimp]

@@JamesVSCinema It was Filmed in Dallas.

[@PixelatedH2O]

The 80s were a crazy time. I've seen it said that while the violence level in media has gone up since, the amounts of overall gore have actually gone down. Fun fact: the scene of the gas station blown up was actually done. The film legitimately blew up a gas station for the film. It got their permit to film revoked and they had to change filming cities.

[@GaryHodgesDVSM]

To me Robocop is a perfect example of how execution is everything - this movie has no right to be so good, it easily could've been a straight to VHS b-movie and instead it's f-ing amazing.

[@chrisbfreelance]

This is a fantastic summary.

[@pssthpok]

The sequels arguably prove your point. I try to pretend they don't exist, like the Highlander ones.

[@jbelisle1986]

@@pssthpok I have love for Robocop 2, but it is definitely a different feel. It's more of a straight action movie than the layers of the first one, but I still love it.

[@dash4800]

Old action in movies looks so good because its real. Actual vehicles on real streets with real squibs will always look better than the cgi composite crap most movies use today.

[@bobkilla430]

Plus most new action movies look sterile vs 80s. I'd argue not being shot on film helps too.

[@postersandstuff]

@@bobkilla430 old 007 films , just watched YOLT the other day , the attack on Blofelds volcano......i think they used almost all stuntmen in UK for that scene , lol

[@SirPaladin]

as a Detroit native I can only say their depiction of the city is far too nice.

[@Cabelstudios]

Murphy walking through his old house always gets to me. Part of it’s the restrictions of the suit, but you really feel the tragedy when it looks like the human is literally trying to fight out of the metal shell. Great physical acting from Weller.

[@traceyreid4585]

Love how much fun you had watching this, the 80's was another world sadly missed! The stunning score by Basil Poledouris is almost as good as his score for Conan the Barbarian

[@Itstwofourteen]

Yoooo, the score for Conan the Barbarian is fucking incredible!! That shit is timeless!

[@namelessjedi2242]

Basil never disappoints. One of the greats, and sorely missed! I also love his score for Flesh+Blood, a lesser known Verhoeven film with Rutger Hauer.

[@awesomereviews1561]

Conan score is untouchable

[@postersandstuff]

@@awesomereviews1561 wish i had his autograph , vhtf

[@karlsmith2570]

RIP Basil Poledouris

[@orlandoruizjr3834]

I love how you just broke this movie down perfectly. I'm glad to see you're watching all the classics. Thanks.

[@marcuseriksson2871]

James, I gotta be honest. First time I ever clicked a like before I even began to see your video because I knew you wouldn´t dissapoint. And boy you really did a homerun on this! Love your reaction on this and why you excel above everybody else doing reaction videos is your technical cinematic inteprations. This really made me smile and that´s one of twenty. :)

[@JamesVSCinema]

Wow, this entire comment right here lit my night up. Thank you for taking the time to say this!

[@Swampthing86]

@@JamesVSCinema if you like this & Starship Troopers then you would like Total Recall (1990) directed by Paul Verhoeven who directed RoboCop & Starship Troopers. It stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sharon Stone, Michael Ironside, & Ronny Cox. It's based on the Philip K. Dick Sci Fi novel We Can Remember for you Wholesale

[@Aldridge517]

My favorite line in Robocop: "Bitches leave!"

[@rogermorris9696]

I love the dark humor of this movies, and l also love Peter Weller's acting as Robocop..

[@teresaluz975]

I saw this movie when I was 6yro. My mom let me watch lots of movies I wasn't supposed too, I love her for that. I remember rooting for Murphy, he was my first hero. Then through the years, when I got older I saw the deeper meaning. It was all about the human soul, the man trapped in the machine. And also about big corporations that think they can own someone, corporations that are psychos, with no morals whatsoever. RoboCop is my comfort movie, my favorite 80s movie, and it's on my top 5 favorite movies. I adore it. Loved your reaction, you get it. Your commentary was on point.

[@evilalex87]

One of my favorite films, love the Story, the Main Character, the suit, the Action, the gore and the soundtrack

[@snorpenbass4196]

There's a ton of sneaky little narrative tricks - when RoboCop is first seen, it's from a frog's eye view. This view then slowly moves up in every scene he's in, until at the end where it's often at eye-height on Murphy, or even bird's eye view. Just a sneaky little method to make the viewer see him with the same awe as the characters on film, and then humanize him as he becomes more human. *Edit:* Also, Emil dies more horribly than the others because he's shown to be a worse individual than even Boddicker. Boddicker is an a-hole and a mass murderer, but he's *professional.* He only kills anyone getting in his way or failing him through stupidity. Whereas Emil starts threatening a random gas station clerk for being a college student - probably because of an inferiority complex. So as a narrative result, he gets the most torturous death of all of them.

[@danballe]

Too bad I am not over the patron for our homeboy James at least not currently, most probably in the future, I type the past lines since he may or may not mention those techniques over his in depth commentary. They have names but I can only remember their names in Spanish from an introductory class about cinema I took during my first days over college (Movie appreciation 101 or something like that) It was a class under a filmmaker in my country that had done 100 of short films, I only watched one of his work, that I cannot recall. but I digress... The name of the filming technique from a lower point of view to make the spectator have an "Awed" reaction is called contrapicado in spanish, what it means is the opposite of the from above shot. I would have to google the translation for that...

[@davidr1050]

Actor Peter Weller was just absolutely phenomenal in this.

[@jamiesucie2685]

When the memories start flashing back, this is actually a good display of PTSD and how something can trigger traumatic events. They were showing PTSD before PTSD was the thing we know of today. The music is terrific too

[@larryparks1520]

PTSD was a thing since Vietnam. Heros, and Coming Home are a few 1970's film examples. Or, even Apocalypse Now.

[@jamiesucie2685]

@@larryparks1520 it was never called PTSD, it was “shell shock”then something else I’m forgetting; then PTS. It was never the PTSD that we associate today and are much more aware of

[@cobbycaputo3332]

@@jamiesucie2685 they called it "battle fatigue" in WW2 I believe.

[@jamiesucie2685]

@@cobbycaputo3332 I do believe you are right

[@pssthpok]

@@cobbycaputo3332 George Carlin did a great bit on these terms: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKaogpyup6d-ecU

[@TrojanRabbit521]

Loved this movie at theater. Even by 80’s standards the violence was shocking. However like Starship Troopers there is a lot of depth and social commentary even philosophy. I always linked it to Metallica’s song One for being trapped inside your body kept alive by machines with no self control. “I want a car that gets really crappy gas mileage like 6000 SUXs!”

[@melthebell33]

One of, if not THE BEST 80s film

[@zachthura8437]

Fav movie right here Always get excited when people see it for the first time :)

[@JamesVSCinema]

Had a blast with this!

[@bigneon_glitter]

If you dig _Robocop,_ 1962's _The Manchurian Candidate_ and 1976's _Network_ are worth adding to the list. A perfect film & masterpiece, no one in the '80s could have foreseen a hyperviolent robot man movie would be the decade's most articulate criticism of Reagan's America & our current corporate state.

[@Scallycowell]

Also, A Face In The Crowd from 1957 and Bamboozled from 2000

[@bigneon_glitter]

@@Scallycowell *Definitely* _A Face In The Crowd._ One of the best American films ever made. James needs to hit _Malcolm X_ too.

[@davidmichaelson1092]

Network is a masterpiece. The "mad as hell scene" of course, but I think the "meddling with the fundamental forces of nature" scene is even more powerful. Underrated.

[@JohnBham]

I give HUGE second for 'Manchurian Candidate' (has to be the '62 Sinatra version) any day of the week.

[@Dystopia1111]

@@davidmichaelson1092 "I have seen the face of God!" That might be 1 of the greatest mind-blowing scenes ever filmed. As for film critiques of the excesses of the 80s I would put They Live right at the top of the list as well.

[@magicbrownie1357]

I applaud your vision. You saw what so many fail to see with this oft-derided (by critics) film. People love it. They get it.

[@kareningram6093]

Your reactions and enthusiasm are a real treat. So glad movies I grew up on still hold up to younger people like you. And I also love that I always learn new things from you, scene or plot details I missed, technical info about camera work and whatnot. You bring great, fresh insight to the viewing experience. Keep being awesome.

[@thrawn5k]

My favorite line: - Nice shooting, son. What's your name? - Murphy. Roll credits. Chills.

[@coryH420]

This is another great classic keep them coming James 👌👌

[@JamesVSCinema]

Always Cory!

[@Jedimichael]

This was a really fun reaction watch. I love how in the beginning from when he becomes Robocop, he has a very digitized type voice, but little by little, as he becomes more human again, the sound designers tone down the digitized robot part, to where at the end, when he says he is Murphy, its pretty much his normal human voice again. I also love the little things like that. I wish Paul Verhoeven had directed the 2nd one.

[@kingfield99]

"Think you're pretty smart? Think you could outsmart a bullet?"

[@JamesVSCinema]

Dude got wrecked

[@ganjiblobflankis6581]

When we first got a VCR and my mum asked what video I wanted to rent, I asked for this. I was not disappointed. I was about half the 18 years rating it had.

[@JamesVSCinema]

Clever kid!

[@AlanDunkin]

The scene where you see his eye is so stunning because it shows his human intelligence and willpower to survive. He's beyond Robocop at that point.

[@anthonyholmes1060]

The best part about this reaction was when Robo was throwing Clarence through the windows because of how you weren't expecting him to keep getting thrown through all the glass after you made a joke about it after the first glass he got thrown though. I honestly hurt from laughing

[@awesomereviews1561]

The soundtrack is also top tier. When Murphy first becomes Robocop, Basil Poledouris uses a lot of electronic instruments, and as Robocop reclaims is humanity, the instruments become more and more organic.

[@shotsofpadron]

Ayyy, Peter Weller (Murphy) went to the same college I graduated from (UNT). Also some shots were filmed in Dallas, which is near where I live. Love this movie

[@alexa.english174]

One of the most satisfying villain deaths in my opinion!

[@ianh6845]

Saw this as a kid, and it's still one of my favorite movies today.

[@nrgspike]

You've gotta add Verhoven's 1990 Total Recall to the list now. It's more of a straight violent-action film and doesn't quite have the biting satire of Robocop or Starship Troopers, but they make tonally satisfying trilogy.

[@SuperTigger1999]

absolutely love the sfx make up for Murphy when he takes off the head visor, all of its just really good

[@JSLeeds]

I feel like it’s structured similarly to an anime (at least in the layering of backstory into the main timeline of the story). Netflix recently released a short documentary about the making of robocop in the “ movies that made us” series.

[@JamesVSCinema]

Great point!

[@JSLeeds]

Thank you sir. Take care James.

[@danballe]

I was meaning to catch some of those XYZ that made us, kept wondering if they are any good. Maybe now is the time.

[@JSLeeds]

@@danballe tbh, I think the narrator of the “ movies that made us” was a little grating and a little too “americas funniest home videos-esque” but the information they have is stuff I had not heard before and also is interesting at very least.

[@SephzillaDZX]

This is one of the rare movies I'd argue is actually perfect. This movie hits home runs with everything it attempts to do and this movie works on so many levels.

[@mnemonic1363]

Love you man! Watching you legitimately helps me on my bad days, keep it up!

[@JamesVSCinema]

That’s what it’s all about 🙏🏽🖤

[@Gavrev]

I can remember seeing this at the cinema.. it was unrelenting and uncompromising in its delivery of the world and the characters it wanted to portray. The subtext was very clear, but the levels of brutality Verhoeven pushed to get audience sympathy for Murphy as this man turned cyborg product, who ironically goes from model cop to rebel to survive and complete his mission.. it was a thing to behold at a time when you really didn't have a movie quite like it that fused satire, violence and philosophical elements so well. The most powerful character moment for me was when Murphy finally took his mask off and confronts his lament at the loss of his life in spite of his resurrection.. amazing stuff from Weller.. the way he did this.

[@fointnikfraudulant]

Did you notice that how robotic Robocop’s voice was. And the more he remembers that he was human, the more the robotics leave his voice, and it finally just becomes a normal human voice.

[@JamesVSCinema]

Great note!

[@_nauticaldisaster_]

If you like Peter Weller you need to check out the severely underrated "The Adventures of Buckaroo Bonzai: Across The 8th Dimension". One of the funniest and clever sci-fi movies I've seen. Amazing cast too with John Lithgow, Ellen Barkin, Jeff Goldblum, Christopher Lloyd and Lewis Smith from the Heavenly Kid (also a pretty good movie)

[@logandarklighter]

And also - that movie kinda requires a rewatch almost immediately once you're done watching it the first time. There's a LOT going on that you may miss the first time. Plus it's just one of the most "WTF did I just watch? It was GREAT!" Films you'll ever see. Right up there with Big Trouble in Little China in that regard! :D :D :D

[@snowfort77]

“No matter where you go, there you are.”

[@michaelriddick7116]

Can recommend "Screamers" with Weller :) great scifi movie :)

[@logandarklighter]

"What's that Watermelon doing there?" "I'll tell you later." (spoiler - he never does)

[@_nauticaldisaster_]

@@logandarklighter You got me curious about the similarities between Big Trouble and Buckaroo and ended up going down the rabbit hole. Didn't realize Big Trouble In Little China was written as a 1890's western. They called in veteran "script doctor" W.D Richter in for a rewrite who directed Buckaroo to modernize it so the connection to the two is there. He apparently used Rosemary's Baby as a guide...to modernize the story and make it more relatable to moviegoers, attracting more of an audience. I was reading too about The Golden Child contending with Big Trouble at the box office. That was another film in retrospect that has a similar vibe. Man the mid 80s is where it's at for great movies.

[@jbelisle1986]

This is tied for my all time favorite movie along with Batman '89. It's so cool to see someone see this for the first time but also to pick up on the multiple nuances of it. As a kid I loved it for the action, as an adult I love it for the themes... and the action!

[@namelessjedi2242]

Robocop is one of my favorite movies ever, glad you enjoyed and appreciated it! If you’ve never seen Sam Raimi’s stylistic action/revenge film “Darkman”, with Liam Neeson, I’d be curious to see your take on it. 👍

[@extantsanity]

Glad you enjoyed this, James! First time viewers sometimes don't really get this movie, so it's great when someone does and also gets to appreciate it like we do! The sequel is pretty decent from my recollection, but I'll admit it's been some years. The recent remake was panned by a lot of critics, but I think it's pretty underrated. It's a different feel, for sure, but I felt like they hit the right emotional notes and made some admirably unique and interesting decisions with the plot and character design.

[@jimtatro6550]

“Bitches leave!” Best line delivery ever. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@jp3813]

Funny thing is you actually watched the toned down theatrical release. The uncut version is more violent.

[@michaeldorsey1394]

I never noticed that the sound of Ed-209 powering down was the same sound as the millennium falcon losing power from the empire strikes back.

[@shanejupp8699]

Man I love your reactions so much, your a great human being. Robocop scared the life out of me not going to lie. The face reveal was a massive scene and still makes me hold my breath when I see it now. Total recall the original would be a great reaction 👌. I enjoy you and appreciate you my man

[@blytheguy7510]

This is over the top 80s cinema at it's finest. And it still holds up so well all this time later. I was a kid when I fell in love with this film. This cut was actually the X-rated cut at the time. It's now the beloved Director's Cut. They had to cut back some scenes in order to get an R rating at the time. You gotta give much love to Peter Weller's performance in this movie. He worked his ass off for this film. He started working with a mime/motion coach early on and started out wanting to move very fluid and serpentine at first. Thing was, the suit design wasn't even done yet, and by the time he got a look at early designs and saw what it would look like and knew his original concept was out the door. So he had to start over working on moving roboticly. I believe he didn't get the suit until they started early shooting, so he had to work overtime in the suit to get his movements down. Funny enough, any shots of Robo driving, he's only wearing the top half of the suit. I remember an interview with the actor that played Clarence when he said he felt drained and worn out from the film, due to playing such an intense role, he would watch Peter working his ass off sweating in the suit between takes, and he felt that maybe he didn't have so much to complain about. Lol. The makeup effects were done by Rob Bottin who did the makeup effects on THE THING. And this movie was one of the last times stop motion effects were used in film by the incredible Phil Tippet, who managed to change with the times and evolve with movies like JURASSIC PARK, remaining a pioneer in movie FX. Also, the ER doctors were not actors. They were an actual ER unit. They just got told to go through the normal motions they normally would with cases like that. I feel that it worked very well. There was just so much thought, care, precision, and a heaping spoonful of over the top violence put into this film. It's great. Also also, you can catch the director making a cameo in this movie too. He's in the nightclub scene, he's the one shot of the dude dancing crazy in the camera. I'd buy that for a dollar!!!

[@bronzewand]

This is probably one of my favourite films of all time, truly a perfect movie. The sequel is also pretty damn good.. it's absolutely insane.. but great in it's own way. Talking of old action movies you'd certainly enjoy John Woo's "Hard Boiled" if you haven't seen it already.

[@simonwright9501]

Cant beat a bit of Chow Yun Fat great movie

[@Jar0fMay0]

Ah the first John woo film I saw before he came to the States. Love it

[@thesmithdeep]

We don't speak of the third one .... JFC

[@JnEricsonx]

Aka one of the :::Kanye::: greatest OF ALL TIME!

[@JnEricsonx]

@@Jar0fMay0 Funny because he re-used a lot of bits from Hard Boiled in Hard Target. The man should have been left alone in Hollywood. I liked Broken Arrow and Face-Off, but ABT 1 and 2, Hard Boiled and The Killer beat his hollywood stuff.

[@mysticsaxophone4181]

One of my favorite films ever. And that main score, Basil you mad genius

[@stormcrowlu]

Glad you enjoyed this so much. It's one of my all time favorites. When it came on TV in the late 80s/early 90s, my older brother and I secretly woke up after my parents went to sleep and watched it. That was the first time I saw it and I was way too young. The violence and gore was shocking, but since then I've come to love it even more. It was also cool being the only kid my age in school who had seen it. :-D

[@jshakseby2279]

I got this on VHS for Christmas in 1988 when I was 11! The 80s was amazing and best movies for kids 🤣

[@Sara_Feingold]

One of my favorite movies. I watched this sooooo many times as a kid XD (mostly because I came from a poor family and this was one of the only movies we had on VHS, but it's just a ton of fun, too). Considering I'm very anti-corporate and Emil's death helped motivate me to care about waste management and environmental protection (which is what I do as a professional now), it had a pretty big influence on my life :)

[@codyt821]

This is in my top ten favorite films. Smarter than it has any right to be, a perfect example of satire, a perfect example of a sci-fi action movie, and brilliant costume, and set design, with wonderful cinematography and a brilliant score. And the way Peter Weller plays RoboCop and the turmoil he goes through to regain his humanity is perfect. It never fails to entertain, insanely rewatchable.

[@jamiesucie2685]

If you’ve never seen it, I would recommend Karl Urban’s Judge Dread; there are a lot of similarities and the violence is just as brutal.

[@jamiesucie2685]

@@johnplaysgames3120 Urban’s version is far closer to the comic book than Stallone’s by a mile and a big part of that is with the helmet never coming off. It may seem like a small thing but that was one of the major criticisms toward Stallone’s Dread

[@poeticnation6251]

Great analysis and commentary. Side note, a lot of people don't realize it, but this movie actually won an Oscar - An Academy Award, when it came out back in the day (That just cements it even more as an iconic action movie).

[@Gregor_Von_DOOM]

Even though the sequel isn't as iconic as the first I would still recommend it. Especially if you watch it as a satire of action movies written like a dark comic. It's a lot closer to Starship Troopers in how over the top it is. The special effects of Robocop 2 are still pretty incredible today and it has really great moments in it. It might have one of the best openings/character reveal in action history.

[@bobafeet1234]

RoboCop was such an amazing and unique film. It's an 80s action movie on the surface, but is really about the power and resilience of the human soul. Peter Weller gave a discussion where he explained how Verhoeven wanted to show how the soul "wakes up" on its own, to finish the work it had to do. It put Robo in the places he needed to be, to solve and avenge his murder. Deep stuff.

[@carlitosd.9699]

One of my favorite all-time movies… as a kid ‘cus I loved the “action” and Robocop’ s look, and as an adult, I love it because it’s such a brilliant satire and critique of ‘Murcas love of ‘violence porn”! Robocop 2 is worth a watch too… not as good as the original, but it was written by Frank Miller (Sin City, 300, Dark Knight returns ) it has some really great robot designs as well!

[@tdegrddeehjgd]

He doesn't need to watch RoboCop 2. He can just turn on the news and look at any current major American city as they're living it.

[@gordonfreeman1396]

I will love every robocop reaction but this is my favorite. You saw all the stuff i saw when i was small that made me admire that cop

[@YorkshireLen]

The satire is heavily influenced by the Judge Dredd comics. Hell, the entire film really. Verhoeven has a weirdly eclectic filmography.

[@Trilaan]

That's because they originally wanted to make a Judge Dredd movie.

[@system0fadowner251]

@@Trilaan the Dredd remake was criminally underrated. Even the one with Stallone is a guilty pleasure despite it not holding up well.

[@Eidlones]

Him walking away from the gas station explosion is probly one of my favorite stunts in movies. Just the casual walking as he's practically inside it

[@DougWilliams06]

There's a great presentation that Peter Weller gives where he talks about moving in the suit. It's very interesting how they ended up approaching Robocop's movements on screen.

[@jeffperdue5106]

So my parents took me to every movie growing up as a kid in the 80s. I have sooooo much fun watching you enjoy the movies I loved back then. I remember Robocop stood out to me because it was one the few action movies my mom liked, she said the satire was great. Something I of course appreciate more as I get older.

[@Krnhlm]

when we got this in Finland back in the day, it was cut so hard it even had plot holes. so happy u got this as it was. good job once again my friend!

[@theoriginalspur]

"Dead or alive you're coming with me". Every great action movie has an iconic line or two.

[@donovandelaney3171]

There are four RoboCop movies and a spinoff called Lady Battle Cop.

[@EdgyNumber1]

Hi James. Notice his voice change after he has his dream and speaks to Lewis. Its a representation of Murphy gradually rediscovering his humanity. The machine behind the mask, with the metallic voice, to a more natural voice, and eventually, the removal of his helmet to reveal his face. A journey, mapped out incredibly well be those subtle cues. As for the theme music, from the first section (intro), its a mixture of the sound of technology and corporatism. Then the next section goes onto the idea of the 'birth' of the 'monster' as if Frankenstein's creation has come alive. The next section - which everyone knows - has a 'Lone Ranger' kind of vibe to it. Then it carries onto the softer part which represents Murphy's humanity. It finally closes off with the drama and danger of having to deal with it. Its a very, very clever score.

[@mikemartell365]

I still remember seeing this in the theater when I was in high school. The effects, the story it was all just fantastic.

[@peccatumDei]

I was living in Dallas, Texas when this film came out, so I immediately recognized the lower floors of the corporate office tower was really Dallas City Hall. The upper floors were just some FX.

[@pierrek848]

I love to see your excitement about the action and how you also interpret deeper meanings behind all of this.

[@SierraSierraFoxtrot]

The bit where the politician has taken people hostage is a reference to the real murder of representative Harvey Milk and mayor George Moscone in San Francisco 10 years before this movie came out.

[@S.E.Walker]

This reaction brings me so much joy… I revisit it on rainy days.

[@abemrofchak]

Murphy gets killed 30 minutes in, he has 30 minutes of pure Robocop, and then thirty minutes of regaining his humanity.

[@luweez1935]

Thank you so much for this. Your enjoyment was the best thing I've seen in a long time.

[@JamesVSCinema]

[@dAdpool-lt2zh]

James keeping putting a smile on our faces. GOD BLESS YA BROTHER !

[@ste.6026]

Not only is this a 100% classic but it has aged really, really well... I saw this at the cinema upon release, to be honest I did not think it was that impressive but my taste and understanding of movies changed massively over the years, looking forward to more of your reactions...

[@system0fadowner251]

The only thing that hasn't aged too well was the robot at the beginning, but everything else production wise was and is incredible. From his suit to the prosthetics and violence, this was fantastic work. Watch the robocop remake if you want to see what's wrong in a lot of modern action flicks. Its full proof that shiny cgi can never beat good costume and set design. It can enhance it when used well, but full cgi has never given me the same adrenaline as watching action pieces from this era.

[@MattKayser]

So happy to see a reactor that "gets" this movie, one of my top 3 of all time.

[@DonMontoya721]

man I haven't watched this in a WHILE, what a throwback, awesome video as always much love

[@neonpop80]

My favorite movie growing up. It has so many angles to view it. You can see it as the story of a robot who has a dream of being once a man as he goes for his redemption

[@Paul_1971]

An all-time classic & one of my favourite movies of all time, saw it 4 times on its original theatrical run. Fantastic cinematography, score and cast - not an ounce of flab, every scene serves a purpose. Just works on so many levels - brilliant!

[@JoshuaC0rbit]

This movie never gets old. I grew up watching it as a kid and ended up working in one of The office buildings you can see in the film.

[@timriggs08]

One of my personal favorites here. Glad you enjoyed it big man.

[@weepingscorpion8739]

I love this movie so much. It was on one evening back in the old days when some countries only had 1 TV station but it was so late that I had to go to bed because school so I had my parents record it on VHS for me. I watched that VHS so often and, and, get this, I had my mother sit with me watching it as well. And she absolutely loved it too. It's one of a handful of classic action movies that she and I still watch together from time to time. Terminator and Alien belong to this list too.

[@me5969]

This was the first movie I ever seen and it’s been my favourite ever since but I’ve literally only just noticed watching this that he still has the blood on his spike at the end. That’s a pretty good little detail that that most would have forgotten.

[@PraxizC]

I think I was maybe 9 or 10 years old when I first watched this movie, and I've watched it at least a 100 times since then. In 30 years, I never thought about the fact that they keep him in a cage, that he is a prisoner. Watching this video actually made me realize something new about a movie I've watched a 100 times. Thank you so much for sharing your brilliant mind with us :)

[@schnubbel76]

5:33 I've seen this movie multiple times but only now when you talk about the camera movement i realized you can see the reflections of the camera team in the lower right TV screens here

[@JamesVSCinema]

THATS GREAT 😂

[@Gabbeler_]

Thank you for this! It's one of my favourite films. Glad you enjoyed it!