RoboCop: The Future Of Law Enforcement Image

The future of law enforcement has arrived! From the original RoboCop movie, the Enforcement Droid 209 Series stands nearly 10 inches tall and is totally in movie-accurate scale with NECA's 7-inch RoboCop figures!

To bring the remake up to modern standards regarding the ethics of robotics, the plot now features a future piece of legislation known as the Dreyfuss Act, a publicly supported initiative to disallow the combination of droids and firearms on US soil. That law forms the very basis for why the callous executives of OmniCorp put their faith in RoboCop to humanize robotic law enforcement.

Unfortunately we are not there yet. Says William Baker, a manager at the Federal Highway Administration who is helping to design this law enforcement system of the future: "We don't have the networks or the databases or the search software in place. But the technology is available, and we are working to bring it all together."

RoboCop is a Cyberpunk film, TV, comic and video game franchise. Set in an eerily-prescient version of Detroit, the over-burdened and under-staffed police force is privatized and given to Omni Consumer Products (OCP), who effectively own the city. OCP builds a Cyborg from the remains of Officer Alex Murphy, a hero cop who was murdered in the line of duty. Armed with bulletproof armor, an impossibly-steady hand, and a computerized brain, RoboCop is touted as "the future of law enforcement" and dispatched to the warzone of "Old Detroit". But he is ultimately a tool for public-relations, and the soul of Murphy remains restless.

Tropes J-R Knight in Shining Armor: Kevlar/Titanium laminated armour, to be precise. With nifty purple-on-blue highlights. Law Enforcement, Inc.: The Detroit police force has been privatized, which is why OCP wields such an incredible degree of control over them. Licensed Game: Many, including a Crossover: RoboCop Versus The Terminator (loosely based on the comic). The original Data East arcade game is considered to be an exception to The Problem with Licensed Games. Licensed Pinball Table: Also from Data East. Click here. Lock-and-Load Montage: Murphy does this a few times, including before the climactic fight with Boddicker's gang in the first film. Ludd Was Right: Averted considering that while there is some momentary concern he was going to replace them, RoboCop is soon accepted as simply a tougher comrade who can be invaluable against really dangerous stuff. Mighty Glacier: RoboCop is slow, but can take most of the things thrown at his way. Miranda Rights: When arresting Clarence, Murphy informs him that he has the right to remain silent, the right to an attorney, and that anything he says may be used against him. In the sequel he reads Miranda to a corpse. More Dakka The ED-209 series in general. Autocannon and anti-tank rockets on a police robot: seemingly excessive, until we get to know this future Detroit. note The ED-209 was going to be marketed to the military after the police trial. In RoboCop 2, Robo's Auto-9 relative to the standard-issue DPD service pistols. Nerd Glasses: Many of OCP's staff, as well as the gas station attendant RoboCop saves from a criminal in the first film. Nice Day, Deadly Night: The world of RoboCop is pretty horrible at any time of day, but night is when the roving street gangs are at their most active. No-Holds-Barred Beatdown: RoboCop is always on the receiving end of these, putting him out of commission for awhile in every movie. Obstructive Code of Conduct: The first three play it straight, the others are more of a Restraining Bolt. The first film's initially unknown fourth directive is a plot point. One-Man Army: Being impervious to small arms fire and wielding some incredible firepower of his own, RoboCop can just walk into a drug den and gun everyone down without breaking stride. One of Our Own: What the police eventually come to see Murphy as by RoboCop 2. Sgt. Reed practically says it word for word when he's brought in after he's more or less ripped apart by Cain and his gang. Sgt. Reed: "He's one'a mine. I want him back on his feet. Only Known by Their Nickname: Daniel O'Herlihy's character in the first two movies is only known as "the Old Man". Likewise, Tedde Moore's character in Prime Directivesis referred to only as "The Old Woman". Orphaned Punchline: "I'd buy that for a dollar!" We only hear it in isolation, but the characters are familiar with the show: to them it's hilarious. Outside-Context Problem: After Murphy is rebuilt into a cyborg, he spends most of the first film relentlessly haunting and taking down criminals in Old Detroit. Robo Cop is so beyond anything they have ever experience that they're completely helpless before him and he takes down the drug lords who murdered him without taking any damage. A newscaster in the movie compared it to a comic book hero coming to life. It takes the criminals gaining access to military weapons and help from the big number two at OCP just to slow Robo Cop down. He's still somewhat this in the latter films since the common thug, gang banger, drug trafficker, rapist, or murderer can't harm him, although smart criminals like Cain from RoboCop 2 and the hired mercenaries led by Mc Daggett in RoboCop 3 can take him down. However, that is only if they're expecting him. If they're not, Robo Cop completely curb stomps them. Privately Owned Society: Everything from the police and hospitals to space exploration has been privatized, most of it being run by a Mega-Corp. Propaganda Hero: Spoofed with the propaganda-cartoon hero "Johnny Rehab", the friendly face of ethnic cleansing. Commander Cash. Bringing the credit crisis to a super-fight near you! Protagonist Title: RoboCop is named after the main character of every film. The Real Heroes: Implies with the cops depicted as brave working stiffs who have to manage a future urban war zone. As for the title character, Alex Murphy always regards himself as one of them and his comrades come to accept him as simply a tougher comrade who can safely take on the really dangerous stuff and draw their fire as his fellows maneuver for position. Reasonable Authority Figure: The Old Man in the first movie, the only OCP bigwig with any sort of moral standard, especially if compared to young upstarts. In the sequels, he inexplicably becomes a typical corporate douchebag. Resurrected for a Job: After being for all intents and purposes murdered, officer Alex Murphy is resurrected by OCP as "the future of law enforcement," RoboCop! Robo Cam: Numerous scenes are shown from RoboCop's POV, complete with scanlines, subtle pixelation, HUD messages and when Robo is hurt, interference. The HUD is justified, since RoboCop is technically still human and would need some information displayed to help him make decisions.

The vision of robotic looking law enforcement officers rushing to a crime scene without any crimes having been committed yet may seem like something out of a sci-fi movie. The reality of this is however not very far away. Technological developments are playing an increasingly important role in law enforcement of the future as they help improve efficiency and police officer safety. Police department personnel also enjoy working with state-of-the-art technology, which can have a positive effect on morale and productivity. Some of these technologies can already be seen on the streets, while others are still on the horizon. One thing is certain: technology is helping the police turn sci-fi into fact.

The "RoboCop" franchise has spawned more than one television series, but the Canadian cult favorite that aired in 1994 after the original film trilogy wrapped up is coming to Blu-ray and DVD in North America for the very first time in a new box set. Over 17 hours of entertainment centered on "the future of law enforcement, part man, part machine," await you in the "RoboCop: The Series" set.

Unsurpassably thrilling, unexpectedly moving and unforgettably hilarious in equal measure, the future of law enforcement is back in a definitive 4K UHD Blu-ray presentation packed with hours of brand new bonus features and exclusive collectable packaging. 781b155fdc