RoboCop [4K Ultra-HD] [Limited Edition] [Blu-ray]

Product Information

This month, an all-time classic trilogy gets a lavish new box set, one of the pillars of science fiction cinema is shown in a whole new light, and one of horror’s gnarliest entries is given a scrub up and a fresh release. Composing RoboCop, a new tribute to composer Basil Poledouris featuring film music experts Jeff Bond, Lukas Kendall, Daniel Schweiger and Robert Townson Paul Verhoeven was considered a cutting edge filmmaker when RoboCop was originally released. With a line up that includes Flesh + Blood, Total Recall, Basic Instinct, and Starship Troopers, it’s difficult to argue with that. A terrific visualist with a penchant for over-the-top violence, he also nailed the action and science fiction genres over the head, while at the same time putting his own personal stamp on his work. It’s also difficult to overlook the satire running throughout RoboCop, particularly with the local newscasts, the commercials in between, and the generic TV show containing the famous catchphrase "I’d buy that for a dollar!" We get the best of both worlds. Onboard computer assisted memory and a lifetime of on the street law enforcement programming. On Disc Two, the audio commentary with Verhoeven, Davison, and Neumeier is the original version recorded in 2004 for the MGM DVD release. Both the original and final theatrical isolated scores are presented in 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio. The E dited-for-TV V ersion of the film has been assembled utilizing newly-restored 35mm elements in English 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio with optional subtitles in English SDH. RoboCop: Edited for Television examines takes from two TV versions of the film, as well as outtakes. The Split-Screen Comparisons take a look at the differences between all three versions.

The Villains of Old Detroit (SD, 17 min) — More recent interviews with Ray Wise, Kurtwood Smith, Ronny Cox and Miguel Ferrer sharing fond memories of playing the film's bad guys. Days later, David awakes in a London hospital to find his friend is dead – but that’s just the start of his problems. He recovers from his injuries, but soon begins to experience disturbing changes to his mind and body. And, when he hits the streets of London under a full moon, it’s carnage… Edited-for-television version of the film, featuring alternate dubs, takes and edits of several scenes (95 mins, SD only) I won’t run down the rest of the extras found on both discs. You can revisit my earlier review to see everything, since Arrow didn’t commission anything new for this set. Suffice it to say that there’s an enormous amount of bonus content found here, with a big batch of new extras that were created for the 2019 release along with a lot of legacy content that was ported over too. Archive commentary by director Paul Verhoeven, executive producer Jon Davison and co-writer Ed Neumeier (originally recorded for Theatrical version of the film)Arrow Video’s Limited Edition and Steelbook 4K Ultra HD releases of RoboCop give the film plenty of added value with a bevy of bonus materials and a great transfer. Besides a couple of missing extras, the breadth and quality of this release is worthy of an upgrade. It’s about as definitive as RoboCop gets on home video. Highly recommended! Casting Old Detroit, a newly filmed interview with casting director Julie Selzer on how the film's ensemble cast was assembled Branagh’s film has been restored using the original camera negatives in 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation and Dolby Vision. RoboCop: Creating A Legend, Villains of Old Detroit, Special Effects: Then & Now, three archive featurettes from 2007 featuring interviews with cast and crew the Cruikshank-Davison Collection at the Academy Film Archive in 2021 to restore the additional or alternate shots in the Unrated Director's Cut

Connecting the Shots, an interview with second unit director and frequent Verhoeven collaborator Mark Goldblatt The new release includes a 4K restoration of the film, which you can watch with both the original and alternate endings, all presented in 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray.

The Godfather Trilogy, Collector's Edition, on UHD Blu-Ray, the UK edition (Image credit: Paramount ) Sadly the sequels couldn't maintain quality, but in their own ways, they still manage to entertain. I admittedly am a RoboCop 2 defender and RoboCop 3 is a hoot in a so-bad-it's-amazing sort of way. I have a lot of love for this franchise. I've always hoped for another proper entry but after the earnest but less than amazing remake and Neil Blomkamp's recent departure from what was reported as a proper sequel to this original - I fear we'll never get something with this level of amazing detail, humor, and ultra-violence. At least not anything that stands alongside this original's quality. But that's okay - nothing can take away from this film's imprint on popular culture - and my childhood!"

Lastly, additional film elements of the TV Cut version supplied by MGM were scanned at EFILM and graded in 2K at R3Store Studios and are included It’s worth saying that 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs are region-free, so anyone with a 4K Blu-ray player can enjoy these films, wherever they are in the world. Sadly the sequels couldn't maintain quality, but in their own ways, they still manage to entertain. I admittedly am a RoboCop 2 defender and RoboCop 3 is a hoot in a so-bad-it's-amazing sort of way.I have a lot of love for this franchise. I've always hoped for another proper entry but after the earnest but less than amazing remake and Neil Blomkamp's recent departure from what was reported as a proper sequel to this original - I fear we'll never get something with this level of amazing detail, humor, and ultra-violence. At least not anything that stands alongside this original's quality. But that's okay - nothing can take away from this film's imprint on popular culture - and my childhood! For this UHD edition, Arrow Video ports over the same outstanding collection of supplements as their 2019 Blu-ray release and spread across both UHD discs.Kenneth Branagh’s 1994 take on Mary Shelley’s gothic masterpiece has been revamped and released by Arrow. Analog, a featurette focusing on the special photographic effects, including new interviews with Peter Kuran and Kevin Kutchaver shift in picture quality throughout these scenes, in keeping with the condition and generation of these materials. The release comes with a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Laz Marquez, and the re-release’s first pressing which also comes with an illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing by Jon Towlson and Amy C. Chambers

Flesh and Steel (SD, 37 min) — A straightforward making-of doc with interviews of the filmmakers, talking on the plot's origins, praising Verhoeven, the casting, special effects, cinematography, the musical score and touching on various themes within the story. Also included are two featurettes: Dissecting Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, in which Volk, Pirie and Rigby discuss on the differences between the novel and Kenneth Branagh’s screen adaptation, and Frankenstein: A Liberal Adaptation from Mrs. Shelley’s Famous Story for Edison Production (1910), which is the first screen adaptation of Shelley’s story – a 2K restoration by the Library of Congress, with music by Donald Sosin. Director’s Cut and Theatrical Cut of the film on two 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray discs with Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) Deleted Scenes (SD, 3 min) — Four exorcised scenes that don't add much to the story but interesting to watch nonetheless.Q&A with the Filmmakers, a panel discussion featuring Verhoeven, Davison, Neumeier, Miner, Allen, star Peter Weller and animator Phil Tippett