So it looks like the original sequence that gave birth to Peter Weller’s RoboCop, the one that featured a vicious gang led by Kurtwood Smith executing Weller’s Officer Murphy with barrage of shotgun fire, didn’t make the cut. The results of that particular scene were brutal and gory, and to many who have the stomach for this kind of entertainment, it also represents one of the high watermarks of the original movie. Considering the polished, blockbuster look of the 2014 remake, not to mention its distinct PG-13 feel, it appears as if the execution scene, and many others that helped the original version earn its R rating, have been re-imagined.
That said, the second trailer gives the appearance the creators are trying to offer their own spin, much like Zach Snyder’s Dawn of the Dead re-imagining, and in a world where unnecessary movie remakes are the norm, that’s about the best you can hope for.
In this case, seeing the ED-209s in service outside of the OmniCorp headquarters is pretty cool, as is seeing the exoskeletons the hybrid design is based on. The remake also boasts an impressive cast, including Gary Oldham, Samuel L. Jackson, and Michael Keaton, something the trailer is not shy in demonstrating. Will this be enough to counteract any stain the idea of remaking such a great predecessor brings? Time will tell.
For those who may not be aware, RoboCob tells the following story:
In RoboCop, the year is 2028 and multinational conglomerate OmniCorp is at the center of robot technology. Overseas, their drones have been used by the military for years – and it’s meant billions for OmniCorp’s bottom line. Now OmniCorp wants to bring their controversial technology to the home front, and they see a golden opportunity to do it. When Alex Murphy (Joel Kinnaman) – a loving husband, father and good cop doing his best to stem the tide of crime and corruption in Detroit – is critically injured in the line of duty, OmniCorp sees their chance for a part-man, part-robot police officer. OmniCorp envisions a RoboCop in every city and even more billions for their shareholders, but they never counted on one thing: there is still a man inside the machine pursuing justice.
The RoboCop remake hits theaters on February 12, 2014.
[Lead image courtesy of the official RoboCop Facebook page]