RoboCop's New Threads.

[Enigma]

I don't remember the movies much but at least in the series, U.S. was in a war against Brazil.

[Flagg]

I dont think they mean a civil war, more war on crime, they want to introduce the same general technology used in overseas wars to law enforcement.

Suppose the UK government decided that, in order to cut the crime rate, Predator UCAVs would now patrol British skies. Furthermore, these UCAVs were armed with Hellfire missiles, and the pilots had authorization to shoot criminals in the progress of committing a crime. Do you feel safe when there's a very real possibility you will become collateral damage if some trigger-happy UCAV pilot launches an ANTI-ARMOR WEAPON in your neighborhood?

The American public may be willing to tolerate a drone campaign being fought FAR, FAR AWAY, in Waziristan or some other place with an unpronounceable name. But one being fought on American soil, where they're in danger of becoming collateral damage? HELL NO.

Google "drones on mexican border" some time.

[Stark]

The absurdity of complaining about robots or drones authorised to kill when talking about Robocop is pretty extreme. WHY WOULD DETROIT ALLOW A MACHINE TO KILL PEOPLE??!?!?!?!?

Maybe Sidewinder just missed the central social theme of the story.

[amigocabal]

“In RoboCop, the year is 2029 and multinational conglomerate OmniCorp is at the center of robot technology. Their drones are winning American wars around the globe and now they want to bring this technology to the home front,” reads the official plot synopsis.

Is the US fighting a second Civil War? Are terrorists using Cheyenne Mountain as a base of operations? Is Canada and/or Mexico invading? If these conditions do not apply, I don't see how an American public that believes their nation is militarily victorious, tolerate having a drone war fought on their own front yard.

My guess is that the technology is going to be used to capture domestic criminals.

[Sea Skimmer]

You guys might recall in the original robocop movies the criminals were killing cops like crazy, had access to explosives and generally were running amok. In Robocop 2 Cain was portrayed more like a Columbian drug lord then typical US mafia. So basically, borderline civil war in some areas. At that point people will tolerate a damn lot if it holds a hope for a restoration of order, and I doubt this movie aims to be different. If it does they really fucked up.

[amigocabal]

You guys might recall in the original robocop movies the criminals were killing cops like crazy, had access to explosives and generally were running amok. In Robocop 2 Cain was portrayed more like a Columbian drug lord then typical US mafia. So basically, borderline civil war in some areas. At that point people will tolerate a damn lot if it holds a hope for a restoration of order, and I doubt this movie aims to be different. If it does they really fucked up.

Well, the original-movie did take place in Detroit. Given the condition of present-day Detroit...

[Grumman]

The all-black colour scheme doesn't seem right for a RoboCop. You should be able to tell just by looking at him that this is the police you're dealing with - even SWAT teams have insignia identifying themselves as such.

[Cykeisme]

I'm pretty sure the law enforcement drones they're referring to are UAVs, not UCAVs.

Of course, 24/7 near-100% UAV monitoring of urban centers is certainly safe, but brings to mind a whole host of invasion of privacy issues.

[Sidewinder]

I'm pretty sure the law enforcement drones they're referring to are UAVs, not UCAVs.

Was ED-209 ever armed with non-lethal weapons in the original movie? No, Dick Jones had it loaded with LIVE AMMO for the demonstration at the movie's beginning. THAT was what OCP was going to use on Detroit's streets. They're not going to stun or otherwise restrain a criminal, for imprisonment and trial; they're going to shoot first, ask questions (or answer those about Miranda rights, proper procedures, etc.) later.

[aussiemuscle308]

I dont think they mean a civil war, more war on crime, they want to introduce the same general technology used in overseas wars to law enforcement.

so... sorta like Blue Thunder, where Murphy is abhorred at a military weapon being used on American civilians.

[ryacko]

I don't have high expectations for the film, it'll be like remaking the Planet of the Apes, you can't remake a classic.

It looks like a CGI suit, but it still seems a bit skinny and not bulky enough.

Finally, these drones are apparently more durable then an Abrams and more powerful as well.
Seriously, wtf.

[amigocabal]

I don't have high expectations for the film, it'll be like remaking the Planet of the Apes, you can't remake a classic.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes was pretty awesome, though.

Maybe someone will make a live action Jem movie. Or remake Mr. Limpet.

[ryacko]

I don't have high expectations for the film, it'll be like remaking the Planet of the Apes, you can't remake a classic.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes was pretty awesome, though.

Maybe someone will make a live action Jem movie. Or remake Mr. Limpet.

No.
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes was better.

[Zaune]

Does this mean Murphy VOLUNTARILY submitted to the processes that turned him into RoboCop? If so, there goes the source of much of the original's drama and character development.

It also, in all fairness, corrects a fairly major example of contrived stupidity in the original. I mean, what the hell did OCP think was going to happen when the superhuman cyborg killing machine found out that not only had they fucked around with his memory, but the wife and child they tried to make him forget he had believe he was dead? Forget the cliched old Roaring Rampage Of Revenge, Police Officer Gravely Wounded In The Line Of Duty: "I Was Used As A Human Guinea Pig" and his photo on the front page of the New York Times would bury them.