Finally, a remake to get worked up over.
MGM is remaking “RoboCop,” a concept which initially drop kicked my ’80s-loving soul.
Today, the studio announced Darren Aronofsky (”The Fountain,” “Requiem for a Dream”) will direct, and David Self (”13 Days”) will write the screenplay. Right away, we’re being told the film won’t be a hackapalooza. Both Aronofsky and Self aren’t commercially safe bets. Their collective track record isn’t without blemishes, but they’ve consistently strived for higher cinematic ground.
Here’s the film’s original trailer:
The 1987 “RoboCop” remains a classic, a stinging satire mixed with grand blood ‘n bullets action. Peter Weller proved the ideal leading man, turning RoboCop’s every movement into a symphony of metal and flesh. The forthcoming announcement of who will play RoboCop should seal the deal for me. If it’s Keanu Reeves, run for cover. But if it’s someone who’s an actor first and a name second, we should be good to go.
(Photo: “RoboCop” remains one of the ’80s best exports, a smart, sophisticated action flick.)
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
James Frazier 07.25.08 at 6:57 pm
I always tell people that “Robocop” is my favorite left-wing film. I’ve watched it God knows how many times over the years and am engrossed every time.
Aronofsky trying his hand with the series is an interesting idea. I guess he probably figures that he needs a hit in order to justify his next cinematic experiment. “Robocop” will leave a lot of room for neat flourishes, I think.
cftoto 07.25.08 at 7:08 pm
Couldn’t agree more, James. It’s smart for maverick directors like Aronofsky to get the occasional hit under his belt. And I usually dig the results when an indie director goes Hollywood. Look no further than Christopher Nolan.
Sonny Bunch 07.26.08 at 12:57 am
I love how the trailer used the synth score from the original Terminator. What’s that piece of music called? I kind of dig it.
jic 07.26.08 at 1:33 am
Are they actually Remaking/Rebooting *RoboCop*, or are they just making a sequel?
cftoto 07.26.08 at 5:04 am
Not sure about the music … it’s funny how the hairstyles and synth music immediately scream ’80s’ … and take you out of the movie momentarily in retrospect.
JIC, I’m pretty sure it’s a remake, but I’ll try to find out more info about it. It might be too early to get much more info at this point.
dimitrios 07.28.08 at 2:49 am
Wow, I remember watching the original in the theatres all those years ago. We’ll see about the remake. I never would have picked the dude that gave us pi as the sort that could remake Robocop, but we’ll see.
Maybe they could get Josh Hartnett for the lead role…lol…that was sarcasm…
cftoto 07.28.08 at 1:03 pm
Please, don’t even joke about Hartnett playing Robo, Dimitrios!