Robocop

Review by Pete Roche

I was barely old enough to catch Paul Verhoeven’s ROBOCOP in theatres back in 1987.  Shocking for its violence, the offbeat sci-fi flick was a surprise blockbuster and warranted frequent rental on VHS in my neck of the woods.

It took a while to appreciate the Dutch director’s dark satire.  Yes, the movie was true to Edward Neumeier’s story of a human policeman turned into a technological crime-fighting machine—but Verhoeven was also concerned with what it meant to be human in a dystopia where corrupt corporations make backroom deals with crooked politicians and constituent / consumers numb themselves with narcotics and schlock television.

Hot Fuzz (April 7th at the CWRU Film Society, Strosacker Auditorium)

[HOT FUZZ screens April 7th at 7:00 pm and 9:30 pm at the CWRU Film Society, Strosacker Auditorium)

Review by Charles Cassady, Jr.

Usually it's the worst cultural offense whatever, to my way of thinking, but you know...if they did an okay but unnecessary Americanized remake of the Britcom DEATH AT A FUNERAL, maybe a Yankee refilming of 2007's HOT FUZZ wouldn't be so bad either. Mainly because more American viewers in this probably-would-be-smarter-if-they-hadn't-revolted-in-1776 country might finally get UK director Edgar Wright's high-concept joke, one which (even with Wright and cast members coming red-hot off the success of SHAUN OF THE DEAD) seemed to elude some audiences and even critics here, when the schtick happened with British actors and English locations.