RoboCop Blu-ray Review

Arrow Video’s Limited Edition release of "RoboCop" delivers a visually compelling presentation, drawing from a 4K scan of the original camera negatives. Presented in its original 1.85:1 aspect ratio, both the theatrical and unrated Director’s Cut versions showcase thorough restoration work approved by director Paul Verhoeven. The transfer boasts robust film grain that retains the texture of the '80s film stock, providing a palpable, filmic experience. Notably, fine details such as facial textures and the intricate paint flecks on RoboCop’s suit are vividly rendered.

Brightness levels have been modestly enhanced compared to previous releases, providing improved clarity in darker scenes without inducing issues like blooming. The contrast remains strong, supplying solid black levels that, while occasionally approaching crush during some sequences in the Director's Cut, generally preserve depth and dimension well. Color is faithfully reproduced with clean flesh tones and the suit's metallics glistening authentically under varying lighting conditions. The restoration also mitigates visual artifacts such as tears and scratches, ensuring a consistent visual quality throughout.

Overall, this edition provides slight bitrate improvements over the 2014 release, maintaining steadier rates around 31-32 Mbps and peaking at 35 Mbps in more complex scenes. This subtle enhancement results in a more refined presentation, making it one of the best home video transfers available for "RoboCop" until a potential Ultra HD release. Despite minor quality shifts due to sourcing from lower-generation positive elements for additional Director's Cut scenes, this Blu-ray sets a high bar for consistency and visual fidelity.

The audio presentation of the Arrow release of "RoboCop" offers a significant enhancement over prior versions, providing distinctly advanced options in DTS-HD Master Audio across 2.0, 4.0, and 5.1 channels. While the previous MGM releases included a lossy Dolby Digital 4.0 track and a single DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track for English, this new release expands the auditory experience with three meticulously crafted mixes. The 5.1 and 4.0 tracks deliver immersive engagement with surround channels, employing discrete channelization of sound effects rather than extravagant panning, thus creating a dynamic auditory environment. Dialogue clarity is impeccable across all tracks, with Basil Poledouris’ score effectively supporting the film’s atmosphere, retaining its full-bodied integrity without any fidelity issues.

Particularly noteworthy is the distinction between each audio option. The 4.0 DTS-HD track serves as an organic enhancement from the 2.0 track, avoiding the artificial boldness noted in the 5.1 mix, although the latter offers extensive surround performance. Intricate details, such as the sound of technicians assembling RoboCop or gunfire emanating from varied speakers, underscore the meticulous sound design. Explosions and effects may lack some expected impact but remain true to the original audio aesthetic without modern alterations or enhancements. The stereo mix is robust but inevitably loses dimensionality when compared to the multi-channel options, making the 4.0 and 5.1 mixes the preferred choices for an optimal home viewing experience.

Collectively, these audio tracks exhibit no distortion, crackling, or other forms of damage, ensuring that this release stands as the paramount auditory presentation of "RoboCop" on home media to date. The added fidelity and ambiance present across all tracks reflect meticulous engineering that heightens both Poledouris’ score and overall sound clarity, offering a pristine listening experience that surpasses previous editions.

Arrow's Blu-ray release of "RoboCop" offers an abundance of meticulously curated extra features, appealing to both new fans and longtime aficionados. The director’s cut commentary by Paul Verhoeven, Jon Davison, and Ed Neumeier is seamlessly re-edited for the Director’s Cut, while newly recorded commentaries from Paul M. Sammon and a trio of fans provide fresh perspectives. The disc aims at thoroughness with a series of new interviews and roundtables involving key contributors like Michael Miner, Ed Neumeier, and Nancy Allen. Archival featurettes delve into the enduring legacy of "RoboCop", making this release incredibly comprehensive.

Extras included in this disc:

Director's Cut Commentary by Paul Verhoeven, Jon Davison, Ed Neumeier: Re-edited for the Director’s Cut.

Commentary by Paul M. Sammon: Newly recorded.

Commentary by Christopher Griffiths, Gary Smart & Eastwood Allen: Newly recorded.

The Future of Law Enforcement: Interview with co-writer Michael Miner.

RoboTalk: Roundtable discussion with Ed Neumeier, David Birke, and Nicholas McCarthy.

Truth of Character: Interview with Nancy Allen.

Casting Old Detroit: Interview with casting director Julie Selzer.

Connecting the Shots: Interview with second unit director Mark Goldblatt.

Analog: Featurette with visual effects artists Peter Kuran and Kevin Kutchaver.

More Man Than Machine: Composing RoboCop: Piece on composer Basil Poledouris with interviews.

RoboProps: Tour of Julien Dumont’s memorabilia collection.

2012 Filmmaker Q&A: Panel discussion featuring key cast and crew.

RoboCop: Creating a Legend: Archival featurette on the genesis of "RoboCop".

Villains of Old Detroit: Archival featurette focused on the film's antagonists.

Special Effects: Then & Now: Archival look at the movie's special effects.

Paul Verhoeven Easter Egg: Brief archival with Paul Verhoeven.

Deleted Scenes

The Boardroom: Storyboard with Commentary by Phil Tippett

Director's Cut Production Footage: Raw dailies.

Trailers and TV Spots

Image Galleries: Production Stills, Behind the Scenes, Poster & Video Art.

Paul Verhoeven’s "RoboCop" remains a fundamental piece of 1980s cinema, melding biting satire with visceral action. The plot centers on Alex Murphy (Peter Weller), a Detroit cop brutally murdered and resurrected as a cyborg law enforcer. This transformation, however, leaves Murphy grappling with remnants of his humanity amid his robotic directives. The film explores societal issues through its stark, yet darkly comedic lens, touching upon corporate greed, media sensationalism, and the erosion of human empathy. RoboCop deftly satirizes Reagan-era ideologies and foresees the implications of corporate control over public services, cementing its relevance even in modern discourse.

The narrative structure of "RoboCop" is profoundly intricate, juxtaposing haunting violence with astute social commentary. The unceremonious death and rebirth of Murphy set an intense, almost philosophical examination of identity and autonomy in an age of rampant commercialization. OCP, the mega-corporation behind Murphy's transformation, embodies unchecked corporate power, manipulating society’s weakest for profit. Noteworthy is Directive 4, programming RoboCop to be unable to arrest any OCP board member, a grim foresight into corporate legal safeguards. This is gracefully punctuated by the film's hyper-violent sequences that highlight a critique of media desensitization to brutality, exemplified in RoboCop’s mechanized yet shockingly indifferent operations.

Weller's portrayal of Murphy/RoboCop delivers a nuanced performance, balanced by Nancy Allen’s solid depiction of his partner, Anne Lewis. Kurtwood Smith’s turn as the malevolent Clarence Boddicker and Ronny Cox's against-type portrayal as the cutthroat OCP executive add layers to the antagonistic landscape of the film. Verhoeven's direction ensures a seamless blend of practical effects and narrative momentum. Moreover, the special effects and set designs articulate the decrepit futurism of Detroit vividly, grounding the story’s satirical ambitions. "RoboCop" stands not just as a cult classic but also as an unflinchingly honest commentary on societal follies, making it a timeless cinematic experience.

Arrow Video’s Limited Edition release of "RoboCop" delivers a definitive home video experience that fans of the film should not miss. This set shines with excellent technical merits, featuring a great video transfer and three audio tracks to choose from. Picture and sound quality are both given high marks, ensuring that this iconic 1980s film can be enjoyed in all its visually and aurally dynamic glory.

Beyond the impressive technical aspects, Arrow Video includes a wealth of additional value through a comprehensive array of bonus materials. These extras include multiple cuts of the film, hours of supplementary content, and a beautifully designed package that includes a booklet full of insightful essays and interviews. The inclusion of both theatrical and Director’s Cut versions significantly enhances the replay value for collectors and new viewers alike.

A lot of people have pointed out that "RoboCop" had at least a few ostensible precursors, like the original comic series version of Judge Dredd, but "RoboCop" still has its own distinctive flavor, one that mixes a surprising amount of heart and even some relatively cheeky humor into its tale of out-of-control hooligans and rampant crime in a supposedly futuristic Detroit. This new Arrow release offers solid technical merits and a really engaging array of supplements, along with some very handsome packaging. Highly recommended.

In conclusion, Arrow Video has set a new standard for home video releases with this edition of "RoboCop". The meticulous care taken with image and sound restoration, combined with a plethora of bonus features, makes this release indispensable for any serious collector. Whether you are upgrading from a previous version or adding it for the first time, this "RoboCop" release is undoubtedly the best available on Blu-ray and comes highly recommended.