Looking around the internet at the various reviews one would be forgiven for thinking that the new Robocop reboot is an unwatchable flop. Reviews are almost invariably unkind with direct, negative comparisons to Paul Verhoeven's 80's masterpiece. But this is not a remake in the strict sense, this is what they call a reboot, or reimagining. These are Hollywood terms that have become more prevalent in recent years, with many more projects in the works at this moment. So what is it about these reboots that make them so popular? Reviews are rarely positive and fans react vociferously before the film has even been made, yet takings often justify the investment. There is something at the core of our psyche that enjoys being told the same story. Look at children; they love hearing the same bed-time story or watching the same movie over and over (and over) again, look at your own collection of BluRay, DVD, or digital movies. How many times have you seen the original Robocop film? In the theatre world remakes, re-imagining's, new adaptations of old stories and straight out copies are commonplace. Shakespeare, Chekov, even Homer's tales are told and retold, themes are copied and altered, characters, or pieces of them, appear again. Why should film be any different? But there are rules. Stick too close to the original and it's just the same play with different players, stray too far and you can't justify keeping the title. Robocop 2014 absolutely nails the balance with similar themes being explored from a new angle. Let's have a look at 10 ways the team got it right.
I.T. Consultant, technophile and Doctor Who fan. I like to talk about tech, take films apart and make excuses for Doctor Who's continuity errors. No other show has the power to make me feel like a big kid.
