Superhero Rewind: Robocop Review

"Robocop," (1987). Peter Weller, Ronny Cox. Directed by Paul Verhoeven.

[@brianbyars3086]

I interpreted "I can feel them but I can't remember them" as the same as what I experience in dreams sometimes. I sometimes dream that I'm back in high school or college and still dating. All the while I have this fuzzy memory that I'm actually already married and have kids. I think that makes sense for Murphy, since his reality has been re-programmed.

[@nahte123456]

From what I remember they chose Murphy is because they own police, literally, they own the body, his body just happened to be he one they picked I suppose. As for his memory, they erased it but they couldn't erase EVERYTHING or else he wouldn't be able to move, and he used the links of memories to remember more and more as time went on and links were found.

[@chumpey]

The "I can feel them, bit I can't remember them" line sums up the character's experience for me. It gives him his usp. His memory is gone, but his feelings are not and they return to him in segmented memories that he can't piece together. And he doesn't understand them.

[@egodrive]

Finally another rewind! Been waiting for forever for this. Please don't keep us waiting this long anymore. Thank you!

[@KiramidHead]

Another Iron Man parallel is that Tony Stark was actually trapped in his suit in the early issues.

[@Geekvolution]

That's a fantastic point! I forgot about that!

[@KiramidHead]

Geekvolution I only just barely remembered it myself.

[@TheGeekKnight4]

Cap, I think that this is one of your best Rewinds.

[@BigDVulturous]

If you are still questioning how Robo's memories start coming back after his "mind has been wiped", look up the interview Peter Weller had on Kevin Pollak's Chat Show. He talks about this and how this was Paul Verhoeven's direct influence on the narrative. It's a great interview and the explanation is powerful.

[@7833ana]

Hallelujah! You finally reviewed this!

[@samkeller5823]

Makes it interesting how Peter Weller went on to voice Bruce Wayne/Batman in The Dark Knight Returns movies.

[@Guernicaman]

Excellent review & deconstruction of one of my generations greatest films!

[@AverageAsianMe]

This was my first movie that I remember seeing in theathers. I was 3 or 4.

[@MysticalGreenBeanie]

LUCKY!!! the first movie i remember seeing in theatres was batman and robin

[@VierthalerStudios]

The first movie I ever saw was Aladdin, but I was just a baby seeing it at the theater with my parents, so of course I don't remember seeing it. My memory only goes as far as remembering seeing A Bugs Life at the theater.

[@SuperWillHatch]

+AverageAsianMe My first was Troll 2. Not kidding.

[@StevenErnest]

Wow, I was 29 when I saw this film... I'm an old geezer, lol. Cool to be the first film you remember seeing! ^_^

[@Director_Bison]

in the part were robocop is fighting ed 209 and he pushes its arm in to blowing off the other right before when the camera zooms in on his human eye is my favorite peace of cinematography ever it says so much

[@below61]

Cap I'm currently writing a review for a twelve episode series I'm watching and I just want to say... oh my god the work you put into these is astounding. Analyzing and taking notes on each episode and the content as a whole is exhausting, and then having to turn that into a coherent written review is going to be killer. I can't imagine doing it on the level you do where the review is nearly an hour long and then recording yourself talking it, and editing it into a video.

[@PhilTheIssuesGuy]

Great review and thank-you. The Demolition Man reference at the end made me laugh really loud!

[@williamozier918]

I SOOOOO wish Paul Verhoeven had directed the Stallone Judge Dredd! Now that would've been awesome!

[@briannicholson4357]

20:45 I Think it can be taken that OCP used a police officer for the Robocop project because he was an employee of OCP and, given the damning indictment of the capitalist society, probably considered their "property". Also, It is well established that the recipe for Robocop calls for one part cop with equal parts robot. Loved the review

[@DogoHalibar]

I just noticed an issure of Rom hidden in the foreground. It makes me wonder if it was there on purpose since it tackles similar personal themes about loss of humanity... Though Rom volunteered for what was done for him while Murphy, obviously, didn't.

[@alucardleashed]

Captain Logan, thank you. Watched Robocop again immediately after watching your review, and it felt much deeper than before. Thank you for bringing us greater appreciation and understanding through this review/analysis video!

[@JoeChillton]

43 minutes of one of my favorite films ever?? I'm in Heaven, thank you Cap. You made my day a littlele brighter

[@santos8468]

The use of the phrase "knuckle sandwich" may be the funniest part of this review.

[@KetwunsGamingPad]

Love Satirical news gags. Some of the favourite features of animated sitcoms for me.

[@alliesilver9050]

Great review! All the captions kept cracking me up whenever they popped up :)

[@Aeon2Flux]

This is one of the best analysis videos on youtube. This is the reason I subscribed to Geekvolution. The Cap is in top form here and I always come back to listen to this every so often.

[@BooshmanLee]

Great review Cap. I answer your question as to why they used Murphy, there is a bit of dialogue from Bob Morton that explains it. He mentions that his company have "restructured the police force to place prime candidates according to risk factor". The program was always going to use a cop as they are part of OCP who have the release forms they need to use the body. They just needed someone with a suitable psychological profile to die in order to get the body parts they wanted. This explains Murphy's transfer from Metro South to Metro West.

[@santos8468]

30:00 Too bad that they turned the Old Man into an outright villain in the sequels.

[@DeepEye1994]

I also noticed that the movie "Darkman" has a lot of things in common with RoboCop: both films are about a good man (Alex Murphy here and Peyton Westlake in "Darkman") who get horribly disfigured by a merciless mobster (Clarence Boddicker here and Robert Durant in "Darkman") who's allied with an evil business man (Dick Jones here and Strack in "Darkman") who plans to take over the slums of the city to erect a complex of modern buildings, kinda like what OCP wants with the Delta City project. ...And both Darkman and RoboCop got two godawful sequels...

[@chrisv3338]

Dick... Jones XD that was the most awesome pause in the history of the world haha great review Cap

[@MegaKittyCyute]

i think the "i can feel them but i cant remember them" line is interpreted as he knows they exists but can't remember fully who they are as people. if they movie is showing us all we need to know then that would mean that the only memories of his family that he has after the memory wipe, are they ones we saw through Murphy. just become he is remembering bits of his family doesn't mean he can remember everything about them. look at Murphy in the perspective that he is an amnesiac trying to remember something that is lost. He is reliving the emotions of those memories, but doesn't remember the people. that's how i see it Cap. what do you think?

[@J1P2K]

I hear from E-Rod, aka the Blockbuster Buster, explained that Robocop was orginially a Judge Dredd script. It was worked around and bounced, that it ended up becoming Robocop. You can learn this from his Honest Review of Dredd.

[@boooRatt1]

If it wasn't for the remake of RoboCop I'd love to see them revisit this continuity of RoboCop like how one of the short lived animated series did with RoboCop being offline for like 50-100 years and being re-awoken to help fight crime in an even worse off lawless future!

[@llgcomics3018]

awesome review man, you are definetly my favorite comic book and reviewing channel on youtube. keep up the great work man ;)

[@Geekvolution]

:)

[@The_Husband_of_Jane_Lane]

6000 Sux, An American Tradition. Love that ad from the film.

[@slashandbones13]

I knew this film was deep but, this review has pointed out ideas I never noticed before, amazing job

[@Geekvolution]

:)

[@JoeChillton]

Also ironic this is Shatner's birthday. Lol

[@carolynfrancis5375]

I love the fact his review is like he's Robocop if Robocop was a film critic.

[@COMICFILMEXPERT]

Yep. This is the one I wrote in as my request when I signed up for my Geeks United membership and it didn't disappoint at all. Well done, Cap!!! Now here's hoping you're a completionist because even though they're nowhere near the level of the first, I think both "Robocop 2" and "Robocop 3" should be analyzed at some point.

[@Geekvolution]

Really glad you liked it! Glad I could finally fulfill your request! I will most likely get to the sequels later on.

[@therealmanos]

43 minutes??? Holy crap!

[@WoodstockProd]

please, man's had longer videos about shorter subjects

[@BarronBrothersFilms]

Its almost half the length of the movie.

[@mcboomguy2850]

Ah Superhero Rewind! I'd buy that for a dollar.

[@damianstarks3338]

Love your in-depth analysis of this film.

[@starsiegeplayer]

Smart and thorough analysis.

[@tthomaselli2]

6:52-7:03.; I, personally wouldn't go that far as it pertains to labeling Robocop a vigilante because I just don't see it... He's a police officer.

[@AdamGall]

Finally lol, I can't wait to see your next reviews. Movie reviews are some of my favorite things in the world. I absolutely love the world of cinema and love the in-depth analysis of them. It shows that movies are more than just mindless pictures put to sound, and your reviews have got to be some of the best. I cannot wait for your reviews of the Marvel movies of 2012 through 2014. I know you said that you like to wait about two years to do an in-depth analysis, so I know I'm putting myself really far into the future but that just shows that I'll be here watching them for a while. Since you are a movie fanatic (I assume) there are 2 other reviewers that, if you haven't already, you might enjoy to check out, The Nostalgia Critic, and, JeremyJahns. Two of my personal favorites, and are two of the people who have inspired me to pursue a career in film. I think it goes without saying but you are also very high on that list of people who have inspired me.

[@Geekvolution]

Thanks for the kind words! -CL

[@egodrive]

I've read some of the comments and a lot of people are questioning if Robocop is actually a superhero. I'd say yes, because he is a hero that fights for what's right, he's more than just human (superhuman strength and durability), but is human enough to still be counted as a human or at least semi-human (he still has feelings), unlike the terminator for example. Just my two cents.

[@TheMantaBluRay]

Robocop. I don't know what else to say except I'm really happy that you reviewed this. This movie is such relentless entertainment.

[@ryanhaack4017]

Captain Logan, you need to review the inFamous games!

[@nigeldonaldson1647]

no coincedence Morton said at the board room scene "weve scheduled candidates according to risk factor" Murphy came at the ideal time.

[@tenakakhan1985]

I really enjoyed this review. Point of interest, though, when you were talking about Dick confronting Bob in the bathroom, I was expecting you to make a "pants down" analogy about Dick from before, and this time referring to Bob, but that scene pretty much spoke for itself.

[@williamozier918]

I also want to see someone make an authentic to what we saw on the screen episode of TJ Lazer! with commercials.

[@mrdecepticonleader]

Great review and analysis as per.

[@asaka616]

Love it! Love superhero rewind! It's what got me into Geekvolution in the first place. Fantastic review! Can't wait for Captain America : The First Avenger Super Hero Rewind. That being said, please don't take too long!

[@nicholasliacone]

great review of an often overlooked work of art. definitely my favorite movie of all time

[@abelinkinpark]

This movie is such a gem, and part of my love of the 80's.

[@redbaron932]

love these reviews, so much depth to them

[@boooRatt1]

Awesome review as always! Loved this movie ever since i was a kid! Hopefully you can do the other 2 theatrical films and maybe that one made-for-TV movie! Can't wait for the Captain America review!

[@miggizle85]

Very well done and in depth review so far (stopped at 11 minute mark) however I have a few disagreements 1. Didn't make any mention of the Terminator being a driving factor for why Orion took a chance with a Cyborg based movie titled "Robocop" -You compared Robo Batman in that a life tragedy changed their mission in life and both then, "Pledged to focus on stopping injustice and corruption". While it may be vaguely similar, there are enough differences that direct comparison of the two doesn't hold up. Firstly Bruce experiences the trauma as child and watches someone get murdered before his eyes. Murphy experiences the tragedy as an adult, and his character already seems determined to fight against injustice. Secondly Murphy's ordeal results in his actual death. This is important because we can't really say the tragedy led to him pledging to fight evil.No it led to his death. OCP is the ones who resurrect him and its THEY who program him (as a robot now) to fight against crime. Murphy the man had little say in the matter anymore as he's already dead and his human memories haven't even come back to him at the time of his resurrection Finally... Batman is a human who identifies more with the dark brooding crime fighting monster that creates to fight crime. RoboCop however is the story about a Robot who fights crime who then struggles against very own programming in order to find the humanity that he lost when he became a cyborg. By the end of the movie he is triumphant as he no longer refers to Murphy as another separate person (ie, "Murphy had a wife and son... what happened to them"). By the end he now believes in his heart and mind (robotic heart lol) that HE IS Alex Murphy. -My final disagreement was with your assessment of the failed Star Wars strikes. You imply that it was an example of obvious corruption flying over peoples heads. However I personally don't feel it was meant that way at all. My understanding of that scene is that report is accurate. The satellite malfunctioned and killed 1000 people including 2 former presidents. I think it was meant to be ironic that a defense system that WE created to protect US from foreign strikes on our own soil (the Star Wars satellite) actually became a weapon that struck us on our own soil. Made even more ironic when you think of 2 presidents being killed because a US president (not necessarily them) was most likely instrumental in having the satellites built. At least that's the way I saw the scene

[@miggizle85]

watched the rest of the video and I was thoroughly entertained. Great video. Loved everything you said and how u said it.

[@MarioUcomics]

IMO i never doubted that Murphy and Robocop was the same person. Even more so then he keep visiting his lost family in future sequels

[@DeepEye1994]

What? In RoboCop 2 Murphy wishes to see his wife again to then just stupidly lie to her when she visits him and in RoboCop 3 he never EVER brings his family up. In the Reboot, like it or not, he actually interacts with his family and his wife actually get flashed out as characters.

[@johanjohansson3973]

Best superhero film ever

[@sebastiangomezletelier1367]

"We look up to him more, because he is challenged by a world that doesn't apreciate him" That's what Man of Steel and BvS tried to do, but failed

[@spencermalley10]

Indeed

[@nigeldonaldson1647]

Theyve taken his memory & body BUT quote peter weller- They havent taken his soul" that makes him human, this is why when he gains all of his humanity he overcomes Jones's Directive 4., he could not kill Bodikker earlier because not enough of his soulfull memory had returned yet, & so has to settle for arresting him . its interesting that Robocop is only a name, when he is more like some peace keeping urban patrol Soldier who has to quickly clear the streets for the rushed & doomed Delta city

[@TheSololobo]

Long review and enjoyed every minute of it. I was going to suggest making them shorter but none of it felt superfluous or irrelevant. Great job.

[@Rabbitearsblog]

Awesome review! I really enjoyed this movie also!! I can't wait to see your Captain America review!!!

[@blaze556922]

Great review but you missed the point about Murphy being a cyborg instead of fully robotic like the ED209. The public wouldn't trust a robot but since he had vocal cords he could be seen as an officer of peace that deserves respect.

[@JoaqMan]

"Not everybody is a Dick....Jones" I see what you did there, Cap

[@chasblankenship697]

Even though they don't necessarily compare to the first film, I'd still like to see Rewinds for "RoboCop 2" and "RoboCop 3" at some point. I guess it's just the completionist in me, seeing Rewinds for all three "Blade" films, all the "Spider-Man" and "Batman" films, etc. I think there's just as much to analyze and dissect about "RoboCop 2" as there is "RoboCop," albeit for wholly different reasons; the nature and trajectory of sequels, how "RoboCop 2" arguably set the precedent for the prototypical comic book movie sequel prior to the "Batman" sequels of the 90s...how where "RoboCop" has so much in common with superheroes as a concept, the second and third film make statements, whether successful or not, on superheroes as products given how the OCP board takes an opportunity to rebuild RoboCop as a corporate mandated version loaded with ridiculous Prime Directives in "2" and then his accessorizing with the gun arm and flight pack in "3." Sure they're not on the level of the original and that's a given, but there's plenty to be found and talked about in the sequels.

[@AngusStewart01]

When i watched this review at the time i hadn't seen the film i had seen the new 2014 robocop but a few months later i saw this one much better film the old one great film great analysis of the film its similar to cap where he wants be a hero but ends up making a sacrifice to become that hero great movie.

[@NerdilyDone]

20:40 I would suggest that they need the man's brain as an understanding of morality. Morals are subtle and difficult to program, and also because Murphy was familiar with life before his conversion, there is a lot that doesn't need to be explained to him that one would have to program an understanding of in a robot. I always took his mechanical personality to be sort of a frame or narrowing of his true self. Like the all night mask in Majora's Mask (I know, strange comparison), it doesn't make Link who he is, but manipulates how Link behaves. That, and Robocop 2 suggests that Murphy's mentality is what makes him a better robocop than just any guy in a metal suit.

[@MarkyMatey]

Great review Cap , can't wait for the next on Captain America. Will ever review V for Vendetta ?

[@nathanhickman1723]

Cap- I'm incredibly psyched for your Captain America review! Any chance you'll get it out before the American release of 'Winter Soldier'? Your Rewinds are quite literally my favorite thing on KZbin, so thank you so much for putting out another one! Your analysis is pointed and insightful as always!

[@Geekvolution]

I'm really gonna try! Really cool of you to say that, thanks so much for watching :)

[@nathanhickman1723]

Geekvolution Good luck in meeting that goal! I know you've got a lot on your plate video-wise, I just wish that it were all Rewinds all the time. I'm kind of like a kid who wants to eat pizza every day- wait, I _am_ an adult who wants to eat nothing but pizza!

[@MercerCreate]

Looking forward to this

[@bluedragonfive]

very nice captain

[@CRocketSlim]

Liked just for the opening 4 directives bit

[@TheKeyser94]

It a good thing a modern comics, cartoons and TV Shows had expanded Lex Luthor motivations than a villain that want conquer the world, showing a much more complex character than a cartoonish villain. And Superman idealism was the very thing that nearly make him instinct in the late eighties and beginning of the 90', because the character was to idealist, naïve and dumb to be take it seriously, when they change the character to a more serious approach then Superman had become a more complex character that isn't blinded by his dumb idealism, I personally love some gate takes of Superman, even that aren't canon, for example Injustice God Among Us comics, show a more gritty and dark Superman, much more complex than his dumb and idealistic counterpart of most of the media (discounting comics).

[@shadowmax889]

and the Car every body wants in RoboCop is a car that has an alternative spelling of the word Suck (SUX)

[@edmonddantes563]

I'd love to see a starship troopers review !

[@5keeper7ful]

Super job as always Cap! I just have a minor complaint. You gave this a 4/4, but in your review of Terminator 2, you gave that a 3.5. I always felt it absolutely deserved a 4, just saying.

[@gamestation2690]

I kind of feel bad asking this, but will you please try to pick up the pace with the Superhero Rewinds this year?

[@caseykelderman]

Hey Cap just wondering when we'll get a rewind on the Marvel films leading up to and after The Avengers?

[@charliesieben5695]

The yellow small strips of horror!!!!

[@tthomaselli2]

What word did Captain Logan use at 10:25 to describe Robocop?

[@sproy1]

+tthomaselli2 Hubris. It means you're overestimating the power of your enemies and/or the difficulty of the task in front of you, and underestimating your own skill. It was coined from the Greek word "hybris," which was basically their equivalent to heresy. Hybris was when you tried to boast about your skills by claiming them equal, or even greater, than those of the gods. Arachnia, the weaver who got turned into a spider when she said she was a better weaver than Aphrodite, is the most famous story from greek mythology involving hybris.

[@thedcreader4749]

great review as always if you want can you review the remake

[@hostilehostile5073]

Excellent

[@RedRyder180]

Hey Cap, are you going to do a trailer review video for the new X-Men trailer like you did with the Guardians of the Galaxy trailer?

[@ShmooRay]

Excellent job!

[@nigeldonaldson1647]

Murphy is an irish American catholic police officer

[@bertinouellet]

great video! thanks

[@comicbookfan2297]

Hey Cap where is comic book acquisitions and Arrow Discussions is everything alright ?

[@PopCultureguy]

hey Captain logan great amazing review on Robocop you are great on Analysis films on longer or short films exited to see new videos from you captain just wondering you's going to be in your Captain America: winter Solider spoiler podcast so Captain Logan have nice day and always looking forward to videos from geekvolution so Live Long and prosper

[@AngusStewart01]

Yes thank you re finally gonna do a Superhero Rewind on Captain America First Avengers that's my favorite in Phase 1 that and Iron Man

[@parkerpshebnisky1051]

One of the best movies ever made!

[@tristanblack9034]

I think you should review super and megamind and Chronicle and matrix

[@tj88able]

Since you're doing a super hero rewind review for Robocop do you think there is any chance for a super hero rewind review for Ghostbusters ?*

[@DeepEye1994]

Looking foward to Captain America, Captain Logan! I hope you review "Super" when "Guardians of the Galaxy" comes out. Since it's a superhero movie by James Gunn...

[@Geekvolution]

That's a great idea-- thanks for suggesting it. Also great points about Darkman!

[@DeepEye1994]

Geekvolution ^^ Thanks for responding!

[@santos8468]

I'm in the minority in that I've never found the boardroom killing funny. I found it terrifying. Of course, I first saw this when I was a little kid, so there is that.

[@RaoulDuke789]

I understand. I felt pretty disturbed by it myself when I was 9. Then there was alot more as the film progressed.

[@budwhite9591]

2:15. He had to make sacrifices? No, he had no choice. Not looking good so far

[@brandbatproductions]

to be fair, Clarence did stab Robocop in an already open hole in his chestplate caused by the earlier fight with ED-209.

[@Geekvolution]

Oh is that the deal? I never caught that and scratched my head like crazy trying to figure it out. I'll watch for that next time.

[@Optimegatrongodzilla]

Geekvolution 11:43-11:56 That has me thinking how interesting it would be to see a Batman story done with the tone of this film and that has the visual aesthetics of this film, "Batman[1966]", "Batman: The Animated Series", and the "Batman: Arkham" franchise.

[@tthomaselli2]

+Geekvolution 9:59-10:10.; I've watched 'Robocop', a bunch of times & still didn't catch the references in all of the news head-lines--like at that part, for example... Would you mind explaining to me, please? I could be going about it wrong, but, I asked my dad, a long time ago about these parts with the newscasts & the way he figured it, the newscasters are making mountains out of mole-hills & they make small issues seem more important than what they really are, or, they down-play & make fun of tragic events.

[@tylerdurden5555555]

Would you ever review The Matrix? (Just the first one). Surely that qualifies as a superhero movie.

[@ChristofMitchell]

have you done a superhero rewind on "The Crow" ?

[@Geekvolution]

I have indeed! Superhero Rewind: The Crow Review

[@nigeldonaldson1647]

youve made many comparisons with similar films & i agree (although im uncomfortable attaching the name Superhero to Robocop) as he has more in common with Dirty Harry & Dearh wish (i dont know if youve seen them). i also see parallels with 1971s A clockwork Orange which is also about mind conditioning & the fight for free will, shot in the same style its no coincidence that both films lead characters christian/first names are Alex and of course our Judge Dredd set in a distopian future punk rock England

[@MrSecretSentai]

Are you going to review the second movie?

[@willgeary6086]

You know it's really something that I like this film yet I so hate it's politics, yet again the personal stuff with Murphy is so good I can forgive it.