pstevensondyolfknip Reviews

RoboCop 2 (1990)

Oh dear

[4/10 · 27 September 2007]

I was a huge fan of the original Robocop.

But to say I was disappointed by this first sequel would be an understatement.

The problems are many.

Glossy though the film may look there are plenty of bloopers on screen for all to see, wires, cameramen etc, something I find wholly unacceptable from someone of Irvin Kreshner's pedigree.

Robocop has become a robot. There is no spark of humanity to be found in the character here. A true disappointment when one considers that his "soul" had returned by the end of the first movie. Here his attitude shows no human side and makes him hard to sympathise with.

Caine is a poor villain. OK I know Boddiker from the first film was better than the average, mainly thanks to Kurtwood Smith's performance, but the usually solid Tom Noonan creates a character who you couldn't care less about one way or the other.

What's happened to the Old Man????. I appreciate that he didn't get to where he is by being "nice" but the change in his character here is nothing short of dumbfounding. In the first movie it's made clear he despises Dick Jone's tactics and attitude and yet here he's no better than Jones. It makes no sense.

Doctor Faxx is a poor replacement for Bob Morton's charismatic, if unpleasant, OCP resident genius.

The action sequences, save the sequence where Murphy is stuck to the side of Caine's truck, are harsh and nasty and repel rather than entertain.

And finally. What is with the musical score?. Don't tell me Poledouris couldn't have done it simply because he was working on Total Recall at the time. A series (TV or Movie) soundtrack is part of its personality. Part of its character. When you remove that it harms the familiarity of the characters we're watching. So it's bad enough but shame on Leonard Rosenman. His score here is lurid, camp and downright cringe worthy.

The story has its moments to be fair. There's a lot of originality in here. But it tries too many new things to take in with one film. Hob is a well realised villain and the only truly dis likable "villian" in the move, Thumbs up to Gabriel Damon there.

The final showdown between Robocop and Robocop 2 is fun as well.

But for the vast majority of its overlong running time this is a serious disappointment.

RoboCop 3 (1993)

Shows Potential

[6/10 · 27 September 2007]

Robocop was a brilliant movie. Action packed, satirical and with strong characters.

Robocop 2 was evidence that less is more. Not very good at all.

Robocop 3 is stuck in the middle. Whilst it's not up to scratch when compared to the first film it's a vast improvement on the second offering.

OCP taking their Delta City plans to almost Nazi like extremes makes for a strong emotional point and Burke makes a solid replacement for Weller in the lead role.

It's well directed and Basil Poledouris makes a more than welcome return to the musical score (after the camp effort that we were treated to in the second film).

Murphy shows some signs of the humanity he'd regained by the end of the first film and seemed to have completely lost throughout the second film. And McDaggart is a great foil for him to do battle with (he's still no Clarence Boddiker but a mile better than Caine) Perhaps the film gets a little too carried away with toys for Robocop such as the jet-pack (Clearly designed to be action figure merchandise) and the computer genius kid soon gets on the nerves.

But had the studio been aiming for yet another adult action movie and increased the gore and bad language this wouldn't be far from the heights reached by the original.

Even as "family" entertainment it's decent and has a strong storyline above all else.

The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)

Loyalty Pays Off In A BIG Way

[10/10 · 22 August 2007]

The third entry in the Bourne franchise has clearly been made with the established audience in mind.

If you haven't seen the first two films then forget it. You will have no chance of following this one with any real success.

But for those of us who came in at the start this is a better reward for our loyalty than we could ever have dreamed of.

Cleverly setting itself between the final two scenes of The Bourne Supremacy this is a nail biting, emotional final (well hopefully final) entry in the series.

With your emotions now firmly invested in several of the characters Director Greengrass put them firmly in harms way and keeps the tension levels cranked up to full throughout.

The lengthy cat and mouse sequence between Bourne and a Guardian reporter whilst they are pursued by assassins in Waterloo Station is a masterclass in how to put tension across on screen and the editing of the final few moments mergin into the closing music is simple but oh so effective.

If you've seen the first two films and not this then what are you waiting for?. If you haven't seen either of the very good first two films then get down to the video store so you can be blown away by this finale.

The law of diminishing returns has just been turned upside down!.

Battlestar Galactica (2004–2009)

Not just THE best sci-fi show on air currently but one of the best shows of the present time

[10/10 · 16 May 2007]

If you're looking for a Star Wars "action" packed extravaganza then forget it.

If you're a worshipper of the original show then forget it as well.

But if you're someone who appreciates strong writing that is well delivered by a solid cast then this is definitely one to check out.

The sci-fi/fantasy elements of this re-invention of Battlestar Galactica are not the primary issue here. It's far more interested in the dramatic elements and the special effects (though superb) are a secondary concern.

The show has it's nay-sayers but the proof is in the pudding. Other than Star Trek no other sci-fi show has ever won a Peabody. Well this has. And it's consistently done well at the HUGO's as well.

I can sympathise with those who haven't seen it and do not want to see it. I freely admit when I first heard about this I smirked at such an idea and made an intentional effort to avoid it. Then, purely by accident, I caught a repeat showing of the three hour pilot episode and was immediately hooked. Give it a shot. You might find you're surprised This is not only THE benchmark for sci-fi right now. It is one of the best drama series on television today!.