RoboCop 3

Director - Fred Dekker (Night of the Creeps, The Monster Squad)
Starring - Robert John Burke (Witchblade, Nightmare Weekend), Remy Ryan (Beauty and the Beast, The Shield), and Nancy Allen (Carrie, RoboCop)
Release Date - 1993
Genre - Action/Sci-Fi
Tagline - "He's back.  Back online. Back on duty"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I was an avid RoboCop fan when I was younger.  I could never deny my love for that film.  The sequel was never a top priority for me but after revisiting it years later I can really appreciate the movie.  Sadly, part 3 was never one I could get into.  It just didn't feel like a RoboCop film when Peter Weller's name was absent from the cast and crew.  To me he was RoboCop.  I also found it strange that the film didn't have the charm that director Fred Dekker was known for.  His films Night of the Creeps and The Monster Squad of two of my favorite films and saying I don't like a Dekker flick really upsets me.  RoboCop 3 was recently released by Scream Factory in conjunction with RoboCop 2.  I thought that I could at least revisit it and see if I could appreciate it as a film like I did RoboCop 3.  Thank you Scream Factory for sending it my way!

     The film picks up after the events of the last film.  OCP has went belly up and a Japanese company has took over.  They plan on evicting people out of certain parts of Old Detroit so they can rebuild the city.  The bring in rehabilitation teams to relocate the citizens of Detroit but many or forcefully removed or murdered.  A rebellion breaks out and when RoboCop and his partner Officer Lewis see how wrong this is they join the rebellion.  With RoboCop going awol the Japanese company sends in a robotic samurai to bring him back and help move the replacement of the people along.  RoboCop and a rogue scientist must work with the rebellion to stop the evil corporation.

     The first two Robocop films are essential for any movie fan regardless of what genre you favor.  They have action, science fiction elements, gore, and so much more to offer so it is not surprise that a third film was produced.  Sadly, it feels as if the studio had more of a say in the film than the director did because this one is nothing like the other two films.  The acting in this one is good.  It is the same quality of acting as the other two entries.  The films surprise star is Remy Ryan who does an outstanding job considering her age.  I'm honestly shocked we haven't heard more from her as her career moved forward.  We also get another great performance from CCH Pounder who has had one hell of a career.  She does a great job and showed why she was cast.  Other than that, no one else really stands out.  The cast isn't bad but they all do an outstanding job.  No one really outshines the others.  The story for this one takes what was established in the other two films but instead of making it more grounded and down to Earth the story flips it around and makes it very absurd.  The robot samurai could have been pretty fucking epic but the film fails to follow through with the story we are given.  The film lays a lot of interesting ideas down for the viewer but fails to properly follow through with them.  This makes the film feel cheaper and lacking.  Finally, this one is not a bloodfest like the first film.  The film does have a few on screen kills and a few funny deaths but that is it.   The practical effects for these kills are great along with the samurai robots but some scenes are supplemented  with some pretty bad visual effects.  Overall, RoboCop 3 does not go the distance.  The film feels cheap and it is obvious that director Fred Dekker had this one walked out from underneath him.