Robocop
released 1987
remade in 2014
www.ink2quill

“Robocop” is an American, dystopian, action, scfi film produced by Arne Schmidt, Jon Davison and directed by Paul Verhoeven. The screenplay was written by Edward Neumeier and Michael Miner. It stars Peter Weller, Nancy Allen, Dan O Herlihy, Ronny Cox, Kurtwood Smith, Miguel Ferrer, Robert DoQui, Ray Wise, Felton Perry, Paul McCrane, Jesse D. Goins, Del Zamora, Diane Robin, Calvin Jung, Angie Bolling, Yolonda Williams, Tyrees Allen, John S. Davies and a cameo from the director himself on the disco dance floor. In 2014 there was a successful reboot of the film and I expect many more considering how relevant the topic and themes of the film are.

Robocop IMDb webpage

“Robocop” takes place in a Detroit of the not too distant future. On top of financial collapse and turmoil looms the the problem of high crime in the city. In this vision of the near future, Detroit is drowning in crime and chaos as the city´s resources are evaporating. I´m guessing the federal government is a mess too because no help whatsoever on the federal level comes. In an effort to slow the steep slide of the city into oblivion a company by the name of Omni Consumer Products is granted control over the entire police force of the city. With this new power the Omni Consumer Products Corporation takes aggressive action against crime through several projects. One of which is the use of cyborg called ED-209, used from the dead officer Murphy, played by Peter Weller. As it turns out, the ED-209 does his job well, too well, as the OCP Corporation ramps up its program with deadlier technologies and worse intentions at more civil liberties violations. The story of this Detroit in the near future is that of a train wreck that gets worse as the politicians and corporations get involved.

There is so much good to say about this film. Sure it´s a fun watch. It´s dopy and will have you laugh at the villain of the story but there is more to it than that. The themes and vision of the story are very relevant today. Yes, even after so many decades.

Think just how much more possible the thought of merging organic matter with technology has become today. It no longer seems impossible. But, but, but. The question is, under which circumstances will we use such technologies and for what purpose? Those are some mighty big questions to ponder with no obvious and morally clear answer. Take the hypothetical example of someone applying for a job that requires applicants to undergo “modifications” in order to get the job. Nowadays that is unconstitutional but who is to say how a future, dystopian society would view it. The question of cyborg technology is one that gives corporations and governments rights to our bodies. How much of us would a company own and what would be our debt toward the company if we were to get cyborg technology?

Now there is also the the question of when is it acceptable for a company to be more powerful than the government or its people? When is it OK to give powers to a company ot solve a problem and by doing so give up our freedoms? That question should be an easy one. I´ll give you a hint. It´s a one word answer. The problem is though that when things go to pot people don´t think straight, and systems put in place fall apart.

This is a fun watch and a good way to pass your time.

John Ink2Quill

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