Plot: What’s it about?
At the time of creation, Robocop was a cutting edge instrument of justice, a device that never failed to uphold the laws. A dynamic blend of technology and humanity, Robocop served the citizens of Delta City with pride and dedication. After ten years on the force however, Robocop is starting to fall behind the times and over the course of his career, the robotic officer has endured countless battles and conflicts. So between the wear & tear of working in such a dangerous profession and the advancement of technology, Robocop isn’t quite the flawless, imposing threat to criminals he once was. On the streets, a vigilante force known as Bone Machine uses high end OCP technology to thwart crime, but it has no sense of true justice, unlike Robocop. Bone Machine tracks, kills, and maims all in its crosshairs and while brutal, it is effective and results count, even if they splattered in blood. The human side of Robocop, Alex Murphy (Page Fletcher) also has turmoil, as his son is now on the force, but has no idea of who his father is. In order to deal with the rise in trouble and the threat of Bone Machine, Murphy calls on his former partner John Cable (Maurice Dean Wint). But when the two begin to track Bone Machine, the OCP takes an interest and now, the two face opposition from every side…
This is not another sequel, but instead, it is the first of four feature length installments in Robocop: Prime Directives. This was a mini-series shown on The Sci/Fi Channel, so I don’t understand why all the volumes weren’t released at once, but in any case, its good to see this first installment on DVD. As we all know, the original Robocop was a smash hit and even dazzled critics, but the sequels couldn’t hold a candle. As such, I had some doubts about Robocop: Dark Justice, but as I love the character, I gave it a chance. While this movie isn’t able to equal the original, it has more edge than the previous two sequels and in terms of overall tone, this is the closest to the original picture the franchise has given us. The idea that Robocop has become outdated is a good premise and while you can tell resources were limited, the filmmakers are able to bring across the needed visuals & special effects. But this is no mindless sci/fi action flick, as the story is quite engrossing and touches on some interesting prospects. And since there’s a story behind it all, that makes the action more involving. As I said, some budget limitations hold this back at times, but all in all, this is a great start to the Robocop: Prime Directives mini-series. So if you’re a fan of the franchise, then you’ll want to give Dark Justice a look. I also hope Lions Gate releases the rest of the volumes soon, so fans won’t have to wait to experience the entire series.
Video: How does it look?
Robocop: Dark Justice is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is a clean, impressive visual effort that shows no serious flaws. The print used is in great condition, with minimal defects to mention. I found colors to be bold and vivid, while flesh tones come off as natural and consistent. At times the visuals are bathed in certain colors, like blue or green, but even then, the hues look terrific here. A lot of shadows and darkness are found in this feature, but they never slow down this transfer in the least. The black levels are crisp and accurate throughout, so contrast is always well balanced. At times, the project’s lower budget is evident, but this looks much better than the cable presentation. As such, I am giving this a solid score and of course, I am glad to see the intended widescreen format preserved.
Audio: How does it sound?
In a bit of a let down, this release only contains a 2.0 surround option. Although this soundtrack is solid, I have to think a Dolby Digital 5.1 option could offer a more dynamic, immersive experience. And since I’ve read that overseas releases of this title have 5.1 soundtracks, I am unsure why that isn’t the case here. Even so, this track sounds good and has solid presence, so no need to be that disappointed. The surrounds are used to add power to the action scenes and atmosphere to the more reserved sequences, so this is an active soundtrack. The dialogue sounds terrific also, while the music is as solid as can be. This disc also includes subtitles in English and Spanish, in case you’ll need those.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes a trailer for the Robocop: Prime Directives mini-series.
