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Robocop Retrospective

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Binge Movie Aftertaste – Robocop Retrospective w/ Batch & Matthew Goudreau: Robocop (2014)

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Just because he didn’t have another feature film in the interim between 1993 and 2014 doesn’t mean Robocop disappeared. Two TV shows, two cartoons, and four Prime Directive cable films filled the void, and we start this podcast off discussing their quote unquote quality.

But it doesn’t take long for us to get what we’re REALLY here for. And that is discussing one of the most polarizing remakes to have ever been made. With Alex Ancira favorite Joel Kinneman wearing the suit, studio executives felt it was time to unveil a new Robocop. While the majority of fans and critics alike agreed that it would have been the kiss of death to try and out extreme Paul Verhoeven, me, Matt, and Batch discuss whether the direction of Jose Padilha (Elite Squad) was enough to push this character into a successful new direction.

Listen below, and be sure to stay through the end, as we also discuss what retrospective series we have coming up.

 

Robocop (2014) (?/10, ?/10, ?/10)

 

 

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Binge Movie Aftertaste – Robocop Retrospective w/ Matthew Goudreau & Batch: Robocop 3 (1993)

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And we thought last week was going to be the lowest the doldrums of this franchise could go. It’s no secret that once Robocop 2 came and went, the franchise was in trouble. Yet, this same sentiment could be said for the studio housing it. Orion Pictures, a film studio which thrived on the artistry of forward thinking filmmakers such as Oliver Stone and James Cameron, was in financial ruin. Unable to back the franchise they pumped so much money into, the studio filmed Robocop‘s third sequel, with The Monster Squad‘s Fred Dekker behind the camera, in 1991. And then quickly stonewalled, leaving the film on the shelf until someone else could back its release.

Enter MGM. But could the fact that Robocop 3 was released in November of 1993 mean victory for its makers? That’s what me, Batch, and Matthew Goudreau discuss. Though do you REALLY need us here to answer that question for you?

Download below, and be sure to check next week, as we cover the 2014 remake, and also give major previews as to what to expect in this exciting year for the Aftertaste.

 

Robocop 3 (1993) (?/10, ?/10, ?/10)

 

 

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Binge Movie Aftertaste – Robocop Retrospective w/ Matthew Goudreau & Batch: Robocop 2 (1990)

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Who would have thought that the movie whose title no one wanted to touch would become such a hit that touched a nerve with so many action seekers. Well, hit may be pushing it, as 1987’s Robocop hit theaters in 1987 and while north of $50 million is a good chunk of change -especially in 1987 dollars- it wasn’t until it hit video store shelves and gained more of a following when the folks at Orion Pictures decided it was time to make a sequel.

In 1990, following harsh financial negotiations with star Peter Weller and facing a devastating Writer’s Strike, the fledgling film company did just that. With Irvin Kershner, the director of The Empire Strikes Back at the helm, and a scab script co-written by a hot comic book writer named Frank Miller, Orion thought it had the correct formula to create a Paul Verhoeven substitute.

Join me, Matt, and Batch as we dissect whether producers should have waited for their original director to finish filming Total Recall before embarking on a sequel to their satire hit, and if the meanness of this sequel is enough to justify its existence. We also try to answer questions such as what is up with Robocop’s walk and color in this one?

Download below, and be sure to check back as this marks the halfway point of this retrospective. Up next: Robocop 3.

Robocop 2 (1990) (?/10, ?/10, ?/10)

 

 

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Binge Movie Aftertaste – Robocop Retrospective w/ Matthew Goudreau & Batch: Robocop (1987)

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1987 was an interesting time to be an action/science fiction film fan. We were four years removed from the final installment of the Star Wars trilogy, and one year away from an action renaissance with Die Hard. Yet, Ah-nold and Sly Stallone were infecting our cineplexes with major action films at a rate of what seemed like one a week, and if your loud gun toting film did not star one of those two guys, it would disappear into obscurity forever. Remember Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins? Neither does anyone else.

But Orion Pictures was about to blow everyone away with a new kind of action film. With Dutch filmmaker Paul Verhoeven at the helm, a new type of action hero was born. One with a name that almost no studio wanted to touch. Even Verhoeven said no to the project a number of times before his wife finally convinced him to take it.

I am of course talking about, Robocop. Join Matthew Goudreau, Batch, and I as we start our look at the original three film series, as well as 2014’s remake. Why aren’t we covering the Prime Directives series, you ask? Well, I explain it in the podcast. Though the always game Batch MIGHT take that bullet for us. Stay tuned.

Here we begin on the 1987 original film starring a very unaction-esque Peter Weller and the Brian DePalma-less Nancy Allen. Do all the hosts agree that this favorite from the 80s deserves its reputation? Listen below to find out. And keep coming back, as we discuss each movie individually, leading up to the 2014 remake.

Note: For some reason, we were on a little delay while recording this one. So if it seems like I am ignoring Batch at times, I’m really not. Okay, maybe I was.

 

Robocop (1987) (?/10, ?/10, ?/10)

 

 

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