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Robocop Trilogy

Robocop Trilogy

List Price: $39.96
Your Price: $35.96
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: ahh...robocop
Review: He must have cost a bundle...plus, he bursts through a car roof, which costs good money, only to quip the line "No loitering" to thugs. That not-clever chip they put in his body must have cost a fortune alone.

I actually love these movies. Me and my dad used to rent them when I was little and I'd watch in amazement, then go back to my mom's house and repress my feelings. My 10 year old mind loved the plot, and the acting (thought my 10 year old mind) was superb. My favorite part in all of the movies is when Robocop fought the giant robot in the first one(?), and totally beat his ass...and the image that stuck with me out of the whole series was the part in the third where the thug falls into a barrel of toxic waste and comes out looking melted and buttery...yeesh.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Even better than that fantastic Criterion edition
Review: I was skeptical about this when I first saw it at the store, as I already owned the fantastic Criterion edition DVD. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the new MGM unrated version found in the Trilogy boxed set is well worth it. So here is a review for people who already own the Criterion disc and are wondering if they should shell out their hard earned cash for this newer DVD.

Here are the differences I found between the new disc and the Criterion one...

PLUSES:
a.. Anamorphic widescreen. The Criterion disc was not anamorphic. As a result, the picture on the MGM disc is a lot less pixellated than the Criterion one. The color is also more saturated.

b.. New sound mix. The Criterion disc was mixed in Dolby surround. The new mix is in Dolby 5.1, and they obviously had fun remixing it. The surrounds are split and very directional. The sound is really an improvement in every way (see (d)).

c.. It's the same unrated cut that was on the Criterion disc.

d.. They fixed some of the excrutiatingly bad sound edits that were on the Criterion disc. Although Criterion had re-edited the violent footage back into the movie, they neglected to remix the sound for those moments, ie. they didn't remix the sound to blend the new footage. On the new MGM disc, they FINALLY fixed this. Now the new footage sounds like it was SUPPOSED to be there.

e.. As one reviewer mentioned before, the director's commentary on the MGM disc is new and completely different than the one on the Criterion disc (ie. don't throw away your Criterion disc).

f.. We finally have the sequels in anamorphic widescreen and Dolby 5.1. This is a plus or a minus depending on if you enjoy them or not! Although it would have been nice to have a longer version of Robocop 2, as Frank Miller has alluded that huge chunks of that movie were edited out of the final version.

g.. The new MGM version of Robocop also has some good documentaries and other curiosities for you to peruse (only on the unrated cut). These are NOT available on the bare-bones theatrical DVD that MGM has out for individual sale.

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MINUSES:
a.. The picture is a bit darker on the MGM disc than on the Criterion disc.

b.. The director's commentary was recorded when they were watching the theatrical cut of the movie, so it is oddly funny (and a bit distracting) that they will be commenting, "remember how we had to cut out the more violent shot of...." when we at home are actually watching the footage that they are talking about.

c.. If you don't like the sequels, it sucks to be you, because the only way to get the unrated cut of the first movie is to buy the boxed set.

d.. Don't really know if this is a minus or not as I'm not 100% sure what Verhoeven's intention was. The Criterion disc is framed at 1.66:1, and the new MGM disc is framed at 1.85:1. As it is, Criterion tends not to mess around. I'd wager that it's supposed to be projected at 1.66:1. Either way, 1.85:1 still looks pleasing.

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All in all, more pluses than minuses I wager. I found that the new version has everything the Criterion one had, and it presents it in a more pleasing manner (sound, picture, extras, etc..). If you're a fan, I think this would be right up your alley.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: One movie too many
Review: If I were to review each movie individually: Robocop 1 would get 5 stars for the sci-fi story line and the use of comedy. Robocop 2 was a good attempt to recapture the fun in the first movie but falls short with the moral drum beating about the sins of drugs. Robocop 2 gets 4 stars. Robocop 3 is why I called this review - one movie too many. This movie at best is only a 2 star movie. That is why I give the box set only a 3. If it would have left the third movie out and instead gave a disc of more special features, this could have been easily a 5 star set

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: No More Criterion
Review: If you want the extended edition of Robocop don't buy the Criterion DVD. This edition has all the Criterion features, plus a new documentary.It has both sequels also in the package and costs less than the used Criterion DVD.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Don't forget THIS movie!
Review: It's been a while since I've seen Robocop, so I picked up this DVD set.
Robocop 1 is such a great movie! Watching it now is a lot better than it was when I watched it as a teenager. It was great back then, but there was so much that I didn't pick up. Watching it now from a man's prospective is a totally different experience.

The version of Robocop 1 in this set is the "un-rated" version. I would definitely keep it away from children. Some of the scenes are a lot more gory and grusome than they were in the "R" rated version (A LOT MORE!) and on it's own, this version is hard to find. Robocop 3, on the other hand, is more family oriented and only rated PG-13. The violence from the previous movies has been toned down quite a bit and there is no use of the "F" bomb. It's a nice movie, but it does not have the same feel of the other two(or actor. Peter Weller chose not to return.)

These movies have aged well because they were ahead of there time when they came out. A great DVD set and a purchase that I don't regret!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Don't throw that Criterion DVD out just yet...
Review: Since I've already reviewed the single-disc versions of RoboCop (Criterion Collection edition, dated July 18, 2002 at www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1559408898/qid%3D1090823802/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/002-5229942-8183256), RoboCop 2 (July 25, 2004 at www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0001VTPW2/ref=cm_aya_asin.title/002-5229942-8183256?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance) and RoboCop 3 (July 26, 2004 at www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0001VTPWC/ref=cm_aya_asin.title/002-5229942-8183256?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance), I'm gonna spend the vast majority of this review covering the RoboCop 1 extended edition disc and its extra features, and make comparisons and contrasts between it and the Criterion Collection version DVD.

And away we go...

While the picture in the MGM box set version of `Robo 1' is not quite as grainy as the Criterion edition, it's also a fair deal darker-- which doesn't help out the nighttime and low-lit scenes, `natch. The remastered 5.1 soundtrack mix adds a few new layers of sound to the movie that have never been heard before. I noticed the sound difference when I did a side-by-side comparison of the Murphy death scenes on both DVDs. The MGM box set version featured more screams of agony from our ill-fated hero than what could be heard in the Criterion rendition. And before you ask: yes, doing side-by-side comparisons of my fave DVD movies is something I consider "fun". Hey, you didn't think I attained my status as a Top 100 reviewer (as of this writing) by having any sort of social life, did'ja? Let's get real here, folks...


Anyway, let's get back on the track. The MGM version also contains a new secondary commentary track with most of the same guys who did the Criterion commentary track, including director Paul Verhoeven, executive producer John Davison, and co-writer Ed Neumeier. Most of the stuff covered in the new track was not discussed in the old one, which means you'll inundated with a whole new set of info and anecdotes that ya didn't hear on the old track. The weird thing is, the guys talk about the scenes that they had to shorten for the theatrical release-- which were restored to this DVD-- as if they hadn't been restored to the DVD at all. Kinda makes me wonder if MGM was originally going to include just the cut-down version of the movie to this box set, but then thought better of it without getting the guys to record a new commentary track. Eh, like it really matters all that much...

The MGM version also includes a wide array of special features that weren't on the Criterion release, such as deleted scenes like an extra vignette with Bix "I'd Buy THAT For A Dollar!" Snyder, a Q&A press conference with Bob Morton (Miguel Ferrer) about RoboCop, and a couple other excised bits that look like they were recorded on that film they use to film actors testing for screen roles. I think it's called "B-roll" film or something.

Also included is a slo-mo look at the initial ED-209 stop-motion scene and corresponding storyboards featuring commentary with stop-motion man Phil Tippett. I found myself zoning out about halfway through this piece out of sheer boredom, and bailed on it as soon as I could. Topping things off is a trio of behind-the-scenes/"Making-Of" featurettes that give ya a peek at the effects, stunts, and other things that went into the production of the movie. I found these featurettes reasonably interesting, but I'd get a bit wacky when the director and actors would talk a little too seriously about the "depth" and "significance" of the production and the characters they play. If I wanted to hear about that stuff, I'd have hit the local sci-fi con where Peter Weller is the keynote speaker, thank you very much. Oh yes, we mustn't forget the obligatory theatrical trailers and a fairly cool TV spot.

Unfortunately, the Criterion version of the DVD contains extra features that aren't available in the MGM release. Such Criterion-exclusive extras include film-to-storyboard comparisons, storyboards of unfilmed scenes, and a text article on the making of `RoboCop'. So needless to say, if you're a completist Robo-fan DVD-phile who's just GOT to have every single `RoboCop'-related bit of bonus material available on digital video, you're gonna hafta grab both this set AND the Criterion Collection DVD (available at www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1559408898/qid%3D1090823802/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/002-5229942-8183256) if ya wanna have it all...

`Late

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Robocop Trilogy is FIRST RATE!
Review: Some of the reviews of this film are superb and will tell you why this original directors cut of Robocop is so terrific. The Anamorphic Widescreen is clear, crisp and the sound is perfectly surround.

Robocop 2 is great and satisfying and has great action and truly horrid bad guys.

Robocop 3 is sappy and silly... but it's fun to see as a curiosity just the same... but the real treasure here are the first 2 films and the lush packaging and extras. This is well worth the price. LOVED IT!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: ROBO, ROBO, ROBO
Review: The director's cut of Paul Verhoeven's thrillingly original satire Robocop is included in the ROBOCOP TRILOGY (MGM). In Irv Kershner's sequel, the adventures of the cyborg are greatly intensified. Underrated and much criticized upon its theatrical release, this action-filled, morally-centered follow-up tale takes deadly aim at a society that sanctions the drugs and pop culture crap that's aimed at 12 year olds.

The third title in the series no longer stars Peter Weller and is borderline silly with a flying Robocop and none of the fierce satirical force of its predecessors.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: ROBO, ROBO, ROBO
Review: The director's cut of Paul Verhoeven's thrillingly original satire Robocop is included in the ROBOCOP TRILOGY (MGM). In Irv Kershner's sequel, the adventures of the cyborg are greatly intensified. Underrated and much criticized upon its theatrical release, this action-filled, morally-centered follow-up tale takes deadly aim at a society that sanctions the drugs and pop culture crap that's aimed at 12 year olds.

The third title in the series no longer stars Peter Weller and is borderline silly with a flying Robocop and none of the fierce satirical force of its predecessors.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Almost CRITERION, almost...
Review: The one thing that doesn't seem to be getting any fanfare, with the new release of this trilogy from MGM, is the fact that the first movie, is in fact, the UNCUT DIRECTOR's CUT, that was presently, till now, only available on the out of print (and pricey) Criterion version of this DVD.

Oddly enough, even the new trilogy packaging and extras, don't go out of their way to press, what you'd think would be a GREAT selling point, almost as if the decision to use the directors cut, was a last minute thing.

Funny enough, even the commentary (which, unfortunately, is NOT the commentary present on the Criterion disc) was made, with the director and crew, watching the theatrical version of the movie, as they keep referring to this fact, and discussing the deleted scenes, EVEN as we, the viewers, are watching the very scenes that they are saying are missing in this version. It also amazes me, as to how they managed to sync up the commentary to the cut film, over top of the uncut film, without any lag or dead spots, where the cut scenes are replaced, but they did it.

One thing that MGM did fail in though, is that they placed back in the cut scenes, but didn't bother to colour correct, or do anything, to make the scenes run seamlessly, as you can always spot the new scenes, by the sudden loss of quality in the picture, which, in itself, is another reason that you'd think that MGM would have indicated that this was the uncut version, and explained (as most movies that add in extra scenes, but don't bother trying to fix them up) that the extra scenes have not been cleaned up, so that the viewer doesn't think that the film has glitches, or that MGM's quality is inconsistent (as the overall picture quality is pretty descent, except for the extra scenes, that is).

Another complaint about the new set, is the stupidly constructed fold out packaging, as it boggles my mind, as to why they couldn't just use the new, slim DVD cases, in the box set slip cover, instead of the "Road Map-like" fold out, that you get.

You technically need a whole kitchen table to open the set up on, just to extract one disc from the set.

BUT, that said, for the money, this set is VERY good, and definitely worth getting.

Or is it just me? :)


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