Tag: RoboCop
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The Little-Known Connection Between ‘Blade Runner’ and ‘RoboCop’
The ’80s saw the dawn of many iconic science fiction films, with two of the most notable being Blade Runner and RoboCop. The former was a stirring meditation on identity, and it grew to be a cult classic over the years. The latter was a searing, blood-soaked satire that director Paul Verhoeven described as the…
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‘RoboDoc: The Creation of RoboCop’ Sneak Peek: Limited Budget Breeds Creativity
As film fans know, the ultimate testament to a movie’s importance is how it survives the test of time. RoboCop is a sci-fi masterpiece that it’s on its way to turning 40, and the themes presented by the movie are still relevant. This is what the four-part docuseries RoboDoc: The Creation of RoboCop will break…
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Neill Blomkamp Laments Shelved ‘Alien’ Sequel & Says He Isn’t A “Studio-Lackey Director”
Sadly, the list of high-profile projects almost made by Neill Blomkamp is starting to rival the list of high-profile projects he’s actually made. At one point or another, Blomkamp was attached to films such as “Halo,” an “Alien” sequel, a “RoboCop” reboot, and more. However, for whatever reason, those films never got made. And according…
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Samuel L. Jackson’s Funniest Role Was in This Underrated Crime Comedy
Samuel L. Jackson is such a great ensemble player, but his comedic talents are often utilized for the sake of expositional chunks in major blockbusters. There are certain filmmakers like Spike Lee and Quentin Tarantino who really know how to utilize Jackson’s comedic range. However, recent films like Robocop, The Legend of Tarzan, and a…
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‘Mars Express’ Director Jérémie Périn Mixes Mature Themes With Anime Influences in Noirish Sci-Fi Thriller
Playing in competition in Annecy after premiering in Cannes, Jérémie Périn’s sci-fi thriller “Mars Express” offers an uncommon spin on modern anxieties — particularly when it comes to AI.“We so often imagine that if robots became sentient, they’ll kill us,” Périn tells Variety. “Or we see many sci-fi films where robots want to become human.…
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‘RoboCop’: All the Failed Attempts to Adapt the Movie to TV
1987’s RoboCop is a sci-fi classic, hands down. It showcases the best of director Paul Verhoeven’s signature elements: over-the-top violence, blackly comic touches, and biting satire to deliver a memorable film that stands out from its peers. It would seemingly be something where sequels would practically write themselves: ass-kicking cyborg cop shooting up criminals. But…
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Michael Ironside Didn’t Understand Why Paul Verhoeven Would Direct Starship Troopers
Michael Ironside’s strong jaw lost him the role of Robocop in Paul Verhoeven’s sci-fi classic — he tells BFI that “Robocop” special effects creator Rob Bottin said, “If we were to do [the Robocop look] on Michael, he’d look like a Mack truck.” But his stern look has gained the Canadian actor plenty of work…
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Animation Pioneer Phil Tippett On His 30-Year Quest To Bring Mad God To The Screen [Interview]
From co-developing the go motion process that brought the dreaded Imperial Walkers to life in “The Empire Strikes Back” to supervising the creation of the groundbreaking digital dinosaurs in Steven Spielberg’s “Jurassic Park,” Phil Tippett, now 70, has spent over four decades on the cutting edge of visual effects and animation. Tippett’s resume reads like…
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The RoboCop Scene That Had To Be Cut To Avoid An X-Rating
“RoboCop” is considered a classic of ’80s action cinema due to its high-concept story, the surprising emotional depths of said story, and the gobs of ultraviolence that are liberally sprinkled throughout that story. Peter Weller’s Alex Murphy is literally shot to pieces before being rebuilt as a cyborg, Bob Morton (Miguel Ferrer) has his kneecaps blown out…