At long last, 'RoboCop' is here! After nearly two years of technical complications, copyright clearances and who-knows what else, the Criterion Collection edition of Paul Verhoeven’s dark, comic, ultra-violent sci-fi/action classic has finally seen the light of day. And as usual for a deluxe treatment of any film, the over-long wait was well worth it!
There’re a handful of points that are deserving of my best, most enthusiastic raves, so it’s difficult to know exactly where to begin.
To start off, the newly remastered transfer (this is Criterion’s second THX-produced title) is amazing! Orion Home Video has never produced a tape or disc that didn’t look murky, fuzzy or that didn’t sound less than it should have. 'RoboCop' was no exception: Orion’s previous tape and disc editions were as appalling as some of Orion’s worst releases. When you consider this unfortunate fact and then factor in the current defunct status of Orion Pictures, it’s that much more amazing that Criterion was able to locate such a pristine print of the film!
The image has been mildly letterboxed (roughly at 1.66:1). Compared to the previous panned-and-scanned editions, there is slightly more picture information on this disc, with just a bit of picture information cropped off at the top by the black border. The picture is consistently razor-sharp and the colors and contrasts best the theatrical presentation (I saw 'RoboCop' five times in theatres in 1987, and I’ve never seen the movie look so good than on this disc!)
It goes without saying that the sound on this disc blows all previous versions away. Basil Poledouris’ Wagnerian score really jumps out now, and the sound effects - from whizzing bullets and bombastic explosions to the powerful rumblings of RoboCop’s footsteps to the subtle hydraulic noises RoboCop makes when he moves a joint - are much clearer and more realistic than ever before.
What will attract fans of this movie the most is that Criterion has restored roughly 30 seconds of footage to 'RoboCop' that had to be removed to prevent an "X" rating by the MPAA in 1987. And while I agree that the graphic carnage that had to be cut does indeed push the threshold of "stomachable" violence, I can see the point of the filmmakers when they defend this ultra-violence as a point of black comedy. When the MPAA forced the edits, the movie was robbed of some of its over-the-top comic flavor, inadvertently lending the edited film a more serious not-so-funny-after-all feeling. This is talked about during the audio commentary that runs throughout the film on the analog tracks.
The audio essay features director Paul Verhoeven, producer Jon Davison, co-writer Ed Neumeier and "’RoboCop’ expert" Paul Sammon; all contribute fascinating tidbits about the making of the film that will enhance your continued enjoyment without spoiling the movie’s mystique by revealing too much how-they-did-it stuff.
The 2-disc set is mastered in CAV mode and the side and platter breaks are fine (though the timing on the break between Sides 1 and 2 could have been bumped up to prevent the current inturruption of a music cue).
A supplementary section follows the film on Side 4. Sadly, this under-stuffed section is the disc’s weakest area. Criterion has included a chapter devoted to storyboards, and a still-frame archive of text and pictures detailing the film’s production (using the "play" button rather than the "step" function, this chapter is cleverly animated to appear as if the pages actually "flip" or "spin" into frame). A few posters and ads are then included as Chapter 31, but they are far too few (there are also some blank frames that are probably the result of some sort of technical error or omission). But as with Criterion’s treatment of Orion’s "The Silence of the Lambs", the theatrical trailer has not been included on the program, though there was plenty of room for it. I also think that the unattributed closing chapter titled ‘RoboCop’ In 2 Minutes" (more than a dozen frames display various scenes of the film simultaneously at a rapid speed until all scenes of the film have been shown) is a waste of valuable disc space.
But despite the lack of other behind-the-scenes material, the superb quality of the picture and sound of this new edition of 'RoboCop' are alone worth the price. The artwork design on the jacket is bold and handsome and there’s a terrific written essay inside the gatefold by one of my fellow Philadelphia film critics.
I never had any doubts that Criterion would deliver a fantastic edition of 'RoboCop'. It may have taken a while to actually hit the streets, but what they’ve finally produced will forever remain one of their finest titles.
Vital statistics: The Criterion Collection, 4 sides, CAV, THX, Digital Dolby Stereo Surround, Chapter stops, Widescreen (1.66:1), $99.95.
S. Damien Segal.
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