RoboCop 3 is a science fiction film, released in 1993, set in the near future in a dystopian metropolitan Detroit, Michigan, and filmed in Atlanta, Georgia. Most of the abandoned buildings seen in the film were slated for demolition to make way for facilities for the 1996 Olympics. It is the sequel to the 1990 film RoboCop 2.
Plot
The main plot of RoboCop 3 involves RoboCop finding a new family, as he has apparently given up hope of seeing his wife or son again. He forms a bond with an orphaned little Japanese-American computer whiz girl named Nikko, as well as coming into contact with an underground paramilitary resistance. The resistance, built up of underprivileged urban families, formed after Omni Consumer Products (OCP) began relocating them in order to build Delta City. RoboCop also finds one of the original scientists from the first two films, Dr. Marie Lazarus, who built and operated on him, and has left the organization after becoming disillusioned.
Meanwhile, OCP is on the verge of bankruptcy and creates an armed force called the Urban Rehabilitators ("Rehabs" for short), under the command of Paul McDaggett, to combat rising crime in Old Detroit and augment the ranks of Detroit Police in apprehending violent criminals, while in reality they are forcibly relocating the residents of Cadillac Heights, since it was selected for demolition and reconstruction, killing some of the residents (including Nikko's parents) in the process. The Police force is gradually superseded by the Rehab forces, and violent crime begins to spiral out of control once more. The Delta City dream of the former CEO and "Old Man" lives on through the help of a Japanese Zaibatsu, the Kanemitsu Corporation, who bought a controlling stake in OCP. Kanemitsu sees the potential in the citywide redevelopment, and moves forward with its own plans to remove the current citizens. The company develops and uses its own ninja robots (called "Otomo") to help McDaggett and the current OCP CEO overcome the resistance of the anti-OCP militia forces. When RoboCop tries to defend unarmed civilians from the Rehabs, his longtime partner, Anne Lewis, is killed by McDaggett, and RoboCop joins the resistance.
RoboCop is able to defeat the Japanese robots with help from his new allies and some new equipment designed by Dr. Lazarus, who joins him in the resistance. The rebels also receive the aid of the Detroit City police department after most of the officers defect to the resistance, due to their outrage of being used by OCP officials to clear out Cadillac Heights, when McDaggett decides on a final all-out strike using street punks as additional help, and Robocop ends up destroying OCP headquarters with McDaggett still in it. The company is finally driven into bankruptcy.
As Old Detroit is being cleaned up, Kanemitsu arrives and his assistant tells the OCP CEO that he's fired. Kanemitsu appears in front of RoboCop and his companions, bowing to RoboCop. When the OCP CEO asks RoboCop his name, he replies "My friends call me Murphy, you call me RoboCop."
Production
The film was directed by Fred Dekker, a director primarily known for cult horror films. Popular graphic novelist Frank Miller returned to write the screenplay for the film. Still optimistic that he could make an impression in Tinseltown, Miller accepted the job of writing RoboCop 3, hoping that some of his excised ideas would make it into the second sequel. Major themes of the plot were taken from Miller's original (rejected) draft of RoboCop 2. Disillusioned after finding that his work was even more drastically altered than before, Miller left Hollywood for good. “[Working on RoboCop 2 and 3] I learned the same lesson,” Miller said in 2005.[1] “Don’t be the writer. The director’s got the power. The screenplay is a fire hydrant, and there’s a row of dogs around the block waiting for it.” (It’s worth noting that Miller’s time in Los Angeles inspired him to create Sin City and his urge to maintain creative control in film eventually led to the Sin City motion picture.)
The star of the previous films, Peter Weller, did not reprise the role, as he was starring in Naked Lunch[2]. Robert John Burke was signed to play the cyborg character instead. The RoboCop suit worn in the movie was originally built for RoboCop 2 (1990). Since Robert John Burke is taller than Peter Weller, he complained that wearing it was painful after a short time.[3] Other important casting changes had to be made for the third film. The actor who played the OCP CEO from the previous two films, Dan O'Herlihy, and his successor are both absent from this film. The cast changes meant that Nancy Allen, Robert DoQui, and Felton Perry are the only three actors to appear in all three films.
Pre-production problems continued, with the film aiming for a PG-13 rating; even after the success of the first two films which had been rated R. The profanity, graphic violence, and references to illicit drugs and prostitution were all reduced, or taken out altogether, causing the gritty environment of the first two films to be severely diluted.
RoboCop 3 went into production soon after RoboCop 2 was complete. Initially scheduled for release in the summer of 1992, RoboCop 3 would languish on the shelf until the following year as Orion Pictures went through bankruptcy[4] and was bought out. RoboCop 3 earned $4.3 million on its opening weekend, ending its run with $10.6 million domestically, far short of recouping its estimated $22 million production budget.
Cast
Soundtrack
After RoboCop 2's score which was composed by Leonard Rosenman, the RoboCop original composer Basil Poledouris returned to do the soundtrack score[5] and brought back many of the RoboCop themes that were missing from RoboCop 2.[6]
Sequel / Remake
A press release from MGM Studios which listed a bunch of potential upcoming projects included a possible remake of RoboCop or a fourth film in the series[7]. Ed Neumeier and Paul Verhoeven have pitched around ideas for such a film, says producer Jon Davison: "There's been discussions at Screen Gems about a RoboCop picture ever since negotiations began to acquire MGM several years ago. As yet no writer has been hired but things are inching forward in that direction".[8]
At The Licensing International Expo 2008 in New York City, several displays were shown, one including a teaser poster for RoboCop, with a 2010 release date.[9]
Critical reception
RoboCop 3 received mostly negative reviews by critics and fans of the previous two films, and is widely considered to be the worst of the series. Rotten Tomatoes lists RoboCop 3 at a 5% rating (Rotten) across 20 reviews, and only lists 4 Cream of the Crop reviews (not enough to allow a Cream of the Crop rating). Richard Harrington from the Washington Post says, "...it's hardly riveting and often it's downright silly. The sets and effects betray their downsized budget."[10]
Chicago Sun Times critic, Roger Ebert gives the film 1 1/2 Stars, disputing the characters' longevity and comparing the series to the Detroit car manufacturing industry, "Why do they persist in making these retreads? Because "RoboCop" is a brand name, I guess, and this is this year's new model. It's an old tradition in Detroit to take an old design and slap on some fresh chrome."[11]
David Nusair from Reel Film Reviews, however, rates the film as 2 1/2 stars, stating "The best one could hope for is a movie that's not an ordeal to sit through, and on that level, Robocop 3 certainly excels. When placed side-by-side with the original, the film doesn't quite hold up. But, at the very least, Robocop 3 works as a popcorn movie - something part two couldn't even manage."[12]
Other points of criticism in this movie include curtailing the graphic violence of the first two films, less humour and the absence of Peter Weller in the title role (replaced by Robert John Burke).
Critics Review
See also
References
External links
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