Wow – there’s an X-rated cut of this? I saw the film when it first came out in the movie theatre. At the time, I was a big fan of Paul Verhoeven, and expected the film to be more along the lines of Fourth Man or Soldiers of Orange. Imagine my disappointment when it turned out to be just another well-made Hollywood action picture. But if there are some added sex scenes (not just more graphic violence), I may give the Criterion release a try.
The X rated cut is just with the gratuitous amount of violence they had to cut out to drop it to an R. It fills in the film much better when included but I have only found it in the Criterion release so far.
Phat M: Oh well, that’s what I was afraid of…I’ll checkout the Criterion, in any case, as the film did have some amazing video footage. I am probably one of the few that wanted something closer to Fourth Man, as no one ever seems to mention it here.
I haven’t heard much about Fourth Man, I assume you recommend it but any comparisons or synopsis?
It has been a long time since I saw Fourth Man. It is a totally different film than RoboCop – much more ‘existential’ with a sort of metaphysical subplot. It plays around with time and is very arty. The title is a take-off on The Third Man, of course, but totally different storyline. It reminded me a lot of Kenneth’s Branagh’s Dead Again, for some reason, when I saw it. It is a type of mystery with some heavy over-tones. I really need to see it again, but I thought it a great film to reflect on, at the time. Any synopsis of the story would just make it sound silly, but it was very stylish, which was the reason I liked it – not because of the ‘story’.
I’m intrigued, I’ll look into this one for sure.
hello,
the Criterion dvd of Robocop is the “x-rated” version (uncut). it is also o.o.p. – has been for some time. a few years back (about the time when Criterion lost the distribution rights, circa ‘04), MGM re-released the Robocop trilogy in a blue colored boxset. it is the same “x-rated”, uncut version as Criterion’s. It is also an anamorphic transfer.
Ive seen the “X-Rated Cut”. The best missing scene from it being one where a man is covered in toxic goo and then hit by a car creating an explosion de cabeza.
In Hollywood heads explode for no reason at all.
The 20th anniversary DVD released a couple of years ago includes both cuts. The aspect ratio is 1.85:1 rather than the 1.66:1 of the Criterion disc, though.
Excellent information. I almost forgot about this thread. Here’s hoping this edition comes out on blu-ray.
Amazon shows it as being available on blu-ray.
Weird, my comment from a few hours ago must not have posted. Yes, the x-rated version is now widely available…you can get it at Target for $5 or something close, listed as the unrated.
I think the material amounts to about 30 seconds of added violent shots in pre-existing scenes. Definitely in a)ED209’s opening malfunction and b)Murphy’s execution. And maybe in c)the toxic waste explosion. But all the stuff is already in the movie. The extra shots just make you feel more like crying.
The Criterion also had (a) killer commentary track(s) with Neumeier and Verhoeven. Doubt that’s what’s been ported over to the current disc.
CJ Roy
Is it a Criterion only feature? I’ve looked around on other RoboCop versions but I can’t find it anywhere. just looking for some confirmation.