A good mate of mine that I don't trust with movies said it was terribad. I just have to give it a go... at least there's ONE good review. That's my excuse.

are you insane, this was written to take a 13/14 year old along to see.

But you are right I have read other divergent reviews, which all seem to universally praise the 1980s movie, though at the time I don't recall the critics being quite so effusive. We seem to be in a Paul Verhoeven remake frenzy with Total Recall and now RoboCop - can Starship Troopers be far behind?

although the loss of officer Lewis in the new film is a shame, she was my son's favourite from the 1980s movies, though the actor had the good sense to demand her character be killed rather than appear in the family-friendly (WTF were they thinking) Robocop 3.

I just got back from seeing it.

No, there is none of the satirical snark of the original.

No, there is none of the cheeseball commercials.

Yes, there is a Glenn Beck analog in the form of Samuel L. Jackson.

Yes, there is a back to the future pacification program ala Iraq, this time set in Iran.

Yes, there is a cop named Murphy who gets is ass fucked up seven ways from Sunday.

Differences? Lewis is a black male who is devoted to his partner. His wife, who looks more like the original Louis, moves to save him via Omincorp's offer. And we have Gary Oldman who, unlike Robocop's original creators in 1987, had the most humanity of all.

The film's primary flaw is that the third act was fairly weak. It came to the right conclusion but there wasn't enough emotional resonance and power built into it to carry that punch. The relationship between Lewis and Murphy post ambush could have been better developed.

Strengths? Murphy's reaction to his condition is far more nuanced and balanced than in the original. His state is rather shocking and I won't spoil it. We also see a very troubled doctor/scientist who wants to help people being manipulated by a Steve Jobs style CEO in Michael Keaton.

There are many nods to the original material, to include the theme itself.

Overall, I liked it, flaws and all. In someways I think it has more emotional depth than the original. Is it better or worse? Nah.

Just different, and worth the price of admission.

My two cents.

Respects,

Murph

On the Outer Marches

Abby Cornish is in it, so it can't be all bad.
Is it possible to 'spoiler' a remake?

Tickets were purchased for me - so seeing it tomorrow - otherwise I probably would have waited until DVD.

While you are waiting Birmo - go buy Dredd on Blu-Ray. (though you may want to perform your own assessment as to whether or not Birmo Jr is ready for that level of violent splodey (and the splodey is violently awesome))

Excellent.

I wonder if they'll ever remake Hardware.

The Mark 13 scared the sh!it out of me.

With the Marvel and occasionally DC properties doing so well as movies I live in hope of more 2000AD sourced movies.

Like, in order of preference:

Nemesis the Warlock

Rogue Trooper

Slaine

ABC Warriors

and for pure balls out comedy

DR and Quinch

Here's the only review you need;

http://www.theonion.com/video/the-onion-reviews-robocop,35252/?playlist=recent-news

Haha! Better Half and others are in agreement with Angry Nerd re the jawline issue - that was the main criticism bandied about, in fact.

Went and saw it. Enjoyed it. Wasn't staggeringly great and not something, like Pacific Rim, that it pays to see in a cinema.

Different film from the original.

I suspect because parts of the dystopian humor of the first isn't as funny because we're either living it, or it's looking like its coming anyway. The cartoon capitalists of the original are more nuanced in this one. I suspect that's driving some of the negative reactions here - its hard to laugh at the idea of the government handing over the capacity to kill to drones when it's already happened.

Saw it today. Not bad, not nearly as good as the original, and soooooooo Hollywood-bubble-land in its general outlook.

If you want some more Dredd 'verse here's a fan film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aavS_XUITXU

Friggin awesome movie. Robocop.

We just went to see it this arvo.

Mixed feelings, we watched the original 1 & 2 yesterday on DVD. I'd agree with a lot of the other opinions here. Some interesting ideas, a bit weak on humour & in the final stage the writers got lazy & could have done better.

I missed the female Lewis character & Abbie Cornish didn't do much other than sniffled and parade around as a jeans model. I was trying to figure out WTF she was in there for & in the end decided it was probably just for product placement. Maybe I'm miffed because of the lack of strong female characters but given the number of other nerdy bespectacled womenfolk in the audience I'd say I'm not alone.

The original Lewis was a force to be reckoned with (remember the scene when Murphy first laid eyes on her in R1?) whereas Abbie Cornish looked like she spent her days applying eye shadow to her face & Mr Sheen to the coffee table.

Definitely worth seeing, but I'm left wondering what might have been if Joss Whedon had written it.

Incisive film-making. Wide open for a sequel. They're probably beavering away at it already. Etc.

Funny, I thought the film was something else. ;)

Respects,

Murph

On the Outer Marches

Seriously, only two comments?

Boylan, WTF????

The only question is which Oscar nomintion catagory?

I am shocked and disappointed not to see Myley Cyrus in the credits.

The obvious question is......

at the 30 sec mark, why does the beaver have a torch?

Oscar category?

Why, the beaver eatin' category.

Respects,

Murph

On the Outer Marches

I thought it was a different Bieber?

2014's sharknado...I'm excited.

Was it the seventies or eighties where we got a whole trailer trash full of schlock films? Has the genre been recreated/reinvented or did it never go away?

The pontoon bit reminds me of that Creepshow short - the raft (i think) by Stephen King? For some reason that freaked me out.

Looking forward to Asylum's version 'Zombieber'.

Wait a minute. This is clearly a rip off of the French silent classic Castors Faim (1926) directed by the great Albert Capellani and starring Alla Nazimova. I am not going to like this cheap, tasteless remake.

@Simon- Do Aussies have access to Netflix, Amazon video or the other online video services like CinemaNow, Vudu, Flixter and Viewster? Most tv shows go on Netflix or Amazon within a year of their debut, so pay tv isn't necessary anymore.

A woman's college in Pennsylvania got so annoyed with crude jokes at its expense that its name 'Beaver College' was changed to 'Arcadia University.'

where did this take place...BADGER FKN CREEEK in TASSIE..MAP OF THAT IS!...fkn hell JB. LIKE...WTF MAN, you smokin shit or fkn what!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And now I'm fkn OFF TER BED!..Standing on that fkn wall still ya muppoets......REMEMBER THAT!

i don't know why but this topic just won't get out of my head. I translated a review of this movie from a french site using the ol google translate. Results = hilarious

"In film, the zombie kitchen all the sauces. But if there is one that had never tasted, it is the special beaver. In Zombeavers our friends rodents literally fart a lead to become bloodthirsty beasts."

@Barnesm- Thanks for your response. Do you know why? I'm surprised since, AFAIK, these services are available outside the US. Was some law passed in Oz or the US? Wikipedia says Netflix is "available to viewers in North and South America, the Caribbean, and parts of Europe (Denmark, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom)"

Right up there with "Sharknado".

and there are spoof poster for the academy http://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/scifi/zombeavers-shoots-oscar-votes-selfmocking-parody-posters.html

Do I need to see Anchorman 1 beforehand?

JB said it's good, that's enough for me.

No, you don't need to. And it might put you off 2

You've convinced me. Please send me 25 bucks for the ticket and I'll need airfares, accommodation and popcorn too thanks.

Massive fan of Will Ferrell - Adam McKay movies

They might not make good movies but they're usually good for a laugh.

This is the big screen equivalent of a slow-roasted dog's asshole.

.. so you say, I say how good was Willie Fennell?

.. so you say, I say how good was Willie Fennell?

Ha... I watched Kentucky Fried Movie last night with the Mrs.

So its an 'Merica'n' comedy and its not full of bum poo wee fart jokes?

Really?

I bought Anchorman 1 for SWMBO for Christmas so we could watch it again before seeing Anchorman 2.(Don't tell me you don't do shit like that)

We saw it years ago but it didn't 'stick in our heads'.

There is so little comedy coming out of the US now or maybe that's just me.

Expose` and satire.

Okay, I'd been put off by the mediocre reviews, but seeing as reviewers are morons and you advise that the movie is actually a multi-layered narrative on the rise and decline of the American fourth-estate (or similar) that is also brilliantly funny, then I'll try to give it a go.

And thanks for dropping in the word shihan.

Saw it last night and loved it however I disagree about part 1. It's genius but it's one that takes time to grow on you. So many little details that creep out of the woodwork. I only watch will ferrel comedies when Adam mkay is involved, without him will is a directionless man child.

Ahhh Kentucky Fried Movie - indeed a high water mark. Catholic High School Girls in Trouble is etched in my memory.

The others guys is also pretty good (for that style) and did a nice message about white collar crime without it being forced. During the credits they had facts contrasting the money stolen and sentences for CEOs of Enron etc vs what a poor person gets for stealing a car.

Of the many things I genuinely do not understand, the appeal of Will Ferrell ranks Number 1. I'd rather shave a lion with a rusty razor than subject myself to one of his lame, by-the-numbers contributions to celluloid again. Let me guess - in Anchorman 2, he shouts/throws stuff/loses his temper/appears naked or topless at various points. Fkn spare me.

I saw this film and was deeply disappointed. I expected a drama, not a comedy, and much, much more in the way of CGI special effects.

Had a movie marathon at 'tight arse' Tuesday

2 movies including "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" which is nothing like the original with Danny Kaye. I will have to see that one again and read the story by James Thurber. Great Movie, we both agreed, SWMBO giving it slightly higher than I at an eight.

Anchorman 2 was better than the first(and worth a movie ticket). Lotsa laughs, lotsa cameos and lotsa thinky. I particularly enjoyed the last 'broadcast'. Made me think of Dan Rather and words to this effect, almost verbatim from this 37 second video-

http://rememberbuilding7.org/

Farrell can be hit and miss, but when he is good it is hilarious...

Pretty sure that my friend JB was smoking crack during the scene where Ferrell is smoking it because Mick's foreshadowing is pretty accurate. Instead of fart jokes they've graduated to some pretty low grade, tasteless jokes about race, among other things. It tries to channel the Blaxploitation vibe in a Tarantinoeseque manner and fails miserably.

My only regret during the film, aside from the frequent bathroom breaks in order to restrain the urge to pull an Office Space routine on the projector is that I didn't drink enough alcohol to pass out.

They could have improved it by focusing on the dude who has the condom bar and/or making a film where Harrison Ford's character is the lead.

Respects,

Murph

On the Outer Marches

And we're getting another Jack Reacher.

Respects,

Murph

On the Outer Marches

This movie is the 'Groundhog Day' for those that favour high-tech kill fests.

who's the old crusty dude in it? :P

First film I've wanted to see in a while. Ground Hog day meets Open your Eyes.

OMFG-

http://www.smh.com.au/world/scientology-officially-recognised-as-religion-20131212-hv5dj.html

Now I can finally marry TOM!

Legally!

Oh praise the Lord, or Lords in this case(Privy Council and all)

I liked Emily in 'Young Victoria' but she seems a little uptight in the flesh.

Oh and 'Looper' with Bruce.

Actually I think I will marry Bruce.

That is a fkn great movie.

Power suits & explosions means I can overlook Tom.

Looks pretty good, based off of a really enjoyable Japanese book (All You Need Is Kill) so here's hoping they don't bugger it up

I think Luke Plunkett over at Kotaku Australia made this observation

"It’s not actually based on a game, I know. But the face masks, the armour, the aliens, the dropships… this is the visual language of the last decade of video games, turned into a Tom Cruise movie."

Being an aged Hipster, I didn't like Tom Cruise before it was cool. Meh.

Outstanding....

actually Oblivion was pretty good too...

Girls in bikinis wearing Vader helmets always strikes me as a little *too* dark side for my taste.

Awsome

Didn't get the Shogan warrior reference though

The Waynes World nod was very subtle. Loved it

OT but Superman has arrived from Krypton http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn24718-icy-fortress-of-solitude-snapped-by-antarctic-survey.html

That is awesome, thanks for the heads up. I now have an interview with a Professor Paul DeNigris to talk about their epic geek program. :-)

This is the greatest thing ever to have been thinged in the history of all things.

It makes me feel bloody proud to be Australian.

I like the paint job on the ute speeder. It the same as an MFP pursuit car from the first Max Max.

Now go and play the Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures game and your week of geek indulgence shall be complete.

And your wallet empty. Just, you know, FYI.

I'm a bit disappointed they didn't exhume Bill Hunter for this. Although the rebel leader with the beard is a close substitute.

Beauty bottler bonza my boys will love this. Thanks Mayte

Oh, Disney. Never mind about Episode VII. Aussies got 'er done for you.

Even has English subtitles to help translate!

I am going to go to Apple.

Working on Microsift and Bill wants to replace the fkr who can't make my computrer work.

What is linux?

On the topic of interesting new videos, Bob Dylan has put out an interactive video for 'Like A Rolling Stone'.

You can change the channel. Fun.

I think, Drew Carey, host of 'Price is Right' is my favourite so far.

http://www.bobdylan.com/us/home

One of your 10000, Darthsiditious, work on this :)