| Certificate | Running Time | Screen Ratios | Video Format | Sides | Layers |
| Unrated | 103 Minutes | 1.66:1 | Non-Anamorphic NTSC | 1 | 2 |
| Soundtracks | |||||
| English Dolby Pro-Logic | |||||
| Notable Extras | |||||
| Audio Commentary (Paul Verhoeven, Edward Neumeier, Jon Davison and Paul M. Sammon), Film to Storyboard Comparison, Storyboards, Illustrated Essay, Theatrical and Teaser Trailers. | |||||
When Robocop was first released in 1987, most people probably thought it was just another futuristic science fiction movie. However, in the decade since its release it has achieved cult status and is considered to be one of the film masterpieces of the Eighties.It spawned two sequels - the second was enjoyable, but the third was pretty heavily slated by critics - and a short lived and ill-advised TV series aimed at a much younger audience.
While on first watching the film seems excesivelly violent, subsequent viewings reveal it to be a darkly comic experience which has far more depth than it first appears.
Criterion
To quote from the marketing blurb, the "Criterion Collection" is "a continuing series of classic and important contemporary films". Criterion first made a name for themselves on LaserDisc with numerous critically acclaimed special editions of some classic films.
Unfortunately, some of these special editions will emerge on to the DVD market due to the fact the the rights for these films no longer sit with Criterion. Luckily, those discs which have made it out are excellent examples of what can be done with the DVD format.
Every Criterion release is packed with Extras and Robocop is no exception. The Audio Commetary is excellent, the film to storyboard comparison is interesting and the illustrated essay goes into reasonable depth.
One claim on the back of the box is that the disc features 'Optimal image quality'... However, the transfer is Non-Anamorphic so to be honest it really is far from being optimal! The picture is also fairly grainy, but this is more down to the age of the film more than anything else.
The DPL soundtrack is pretty good, but a DD5.1 remix would have been nice to have.
One other thing of note is that this version of the film contains 'excessively violent' footage not seen in the theatrical release. Basically this amounts to more blood and detail in the gory bits!
I'd buy that for a dollar
There are people out there who think Robocop is a load of old pap... If you're one of them then there's not really any reason for you to buy this disc. On the other hand, if you are one of those people who appreciate the intricacies of the movie and rated as highly as I do then this is pretty much a must-buy.
The picture and sound quality to distract somewhat, but they aren't really what matters here. It would have been nice to see a new remastered Anamorphic transfer and pin-point accurate DD5.1 sound, but they aren't here so there's not much point complaining.
The film itself and the numerous Extras are more than enough to justify buying this disc.