STAR RATING: ***** Brilliant **** Very Good *** Okay ** Poor * Awful
In the early 1980's, after the success of films like Blade Runner and The Terminator, writer Edward Neumeier was inspired to write his own science fiction piece, moving away from the 'humanoid' robots portrayed in those films, and attempting to craft something more traditionally robotic, but still in human form. And so Robocop was born, with eccentric, renowned Dutch director Paul Verhoeven attached to helm the project. And so followed a blistering shoot in the Dallas heat, numourous ups and downs with the prosthetics and 'stop motion' effects, and on-set dramas, all in the name of creating one of the most iconic sci-fi films of all time, that has a lasting fan base to this day.
Following the success of 2022's Pennywise: The Story of It, director Christopher Griffiths here teams up with former producer Eastwood Allen to depict the production of the greatest sci-fi action film of all time. Rather than overwhelming the viewer as a feature length film, the production is considerately condensed into four separate episodes, each detailing the various stages of production, as the project gained momentum and everything came together. And everyone involved seems as eager as the makers to make RoboDoc shine.
This is possibly the most in-depth documentary you are ever likely to see, with seemingly no stone left unturned in detailing the efforts in creating the film's distinctive visuals, stand-out blood splattered special effects, avant garde production design, and the toll wearing the iconic 'Robocop' suit took on lead actor Peter Weller, as well as director Verhoeven's legendary temper making things hard to deal with. But when the whole film's been explored, there's time to examine the film's lasting cultural impact, from the spin-off comics and TV series, as well as exploring the themes of Reaganism and corporate corruption.
In setting out to document a stone cold classic of a film, Griffiths and Allen have created something as great in its own way as the film that inspired it, with most of the surviving cast reunited, and visibly loving recounting the film many of them are still best known for. An incredible achievement. *****
