Robocop Returns

Robocop is even better than you remember it, trust me. This one genuinely undervalued film. Same goes for Starship Troopers. Of all of Verhoeven's work, these are two most ridiculously underappreciated. Edward Neumeier's angry, hilarious scripts are a good part of the reason why they succeed so much - just indeed as Joe the Hungarian Bear's scripts were the central reason for Basic Instinct and Showgirls to turn out so dreadfully.

You'll get another chance for Robo reappraisal soon enough, it seems. Twentieth Century Fox seem to be working on a new DVD of the film, for the UK at least. No idea of the full spec so far but some features from previous releases - the 1987 featurettes, Phil Tippet providing commentary on storyboards - remain while others do not - MGM's Flesh and Steel documentary appears to be gone, for example.

The 'making-of' doc this time around is called Creating a Legend. It runs about twenty minutes and features Peter Weller, Nancy Allen, Verhoeven and all the usual suspects.

I'm hoping there's more to this release to make it really worth the new purchase. As soon as I find out anymore, I'll let you know. A low price point and pristine transfer would be a good start, however.

On Again, Off Again Robocop Again

TMZ are reporting that Fox Atomic will be remaking Robocop. This might be the very reason that the proposed remake with much of the same cast was recently canned. I find it likely that Fox Atomic will go for a new line up, yoof things up a little. Besides, they must be looking at starting a new franchise - why do that with actors who aren't going to be supple stunt and fx material in just a few years time?

There's no reason this remake couldn't turn out be a good film, of course - I just wonder how likely that prospect honestly is. I expect the blogosphere to throw up their arms in disdain any second now.