4K Ultra HD – UK Edition – Arrow Films – 103 min (Director
Video format
• Intermediate Master: 4K
• Standard HDR: Dolby Vision
• Ratio: 1.85
Soundtrack
• English Dolby Atmos
• English DTS-HD MA 5.1
• English DTS-HD MA 4.0
• English DTS-HD MA 2.0
Subtitles
• English
It is brought to the attention of our dear readers as well as the viewing equipment specified and used by each tester of the MaG team, the rendering may differ from one installation to another, whether or not it is calibrated, as well as personal preferences and expectations may influence the rating. Moreover, the images in the article are not representative of the edition tested.
WORK – 50% man, 50% machine, 100% cop
At the dawn of 2000, Detroit was the victim of crime and corruption. To remedy this terrible state, the police invent a new infallible weapon, Robocop, half-man, half-robot, electronic policeman of flesh and steel whose mission is to safeguard the tranquility of the city...
In the heart of a dystopic Detroit plagued by crime and corruption, this visceral spectacle, where deliciously offbeat humour contrasts with the great-guignolesque violence of action scenes, puts itself at the service of a satire of the Reagan administration (from the greed of companies to authoritarian drifts through capitalist marketing). As enjoyable in the background as in the form, RoboCop has lost nothing of its relevance and avant-garde charm.
IMAGE – A brand new armor?
Approved by Paul Verhoeven and presented in Dolby Vision, this 4K restoration from a previous scan of the original negatives (dated 2013) seems to be the definitive upgrade of a more beautiful Robocop than ever!
Revealing a previously unknown level of detail (the pores of the skin, the vast greasy urban landscape) and sprinkled with organic granularity with controlled density (a hint of DNR had to be applied), it maintains a constant clarity well supported by an encoding holding on.
Obviously, the image is « Boosted » (without revisionism) by WCG and HDR technologies, so that the colors display with more vibrance (the red light of the nightclub, the blue-violet shades of the titan alloy of the title hero) where the contrasts, which take advantage of a subtle boost, deliver denser shadows and brighter lights (the neon signs, the reflections on metal surfaces).
SON – In the name of the law, I'm arresting you!
Vintage in its sounds (the sound of weapons) but modern in its treatment, this new Dolby Atmos track (a first in this publisher) that preserves the integrity of the source (faithful to its frontal design) does not abuse its « Toy » 3D... The verticality of the sound is limited to raising rare atmospheres and the (generally enterprising) score of Basil Poledouris.
More powerful than its counterpart DTS-HD MA 5.1 (cf. explosions) and less artificial (more in restraint in short), it is quite wide (at the front) and of great purity with measured rear activity (the music of the club, the crowd, the resonance of the shots), precise dialogues and basses better supported (the first steps of the ED-209), even though always moderate.
For purists, the disc also features a 2.0 mixing as well as a 4.0 soundtrack (the natural enlargement of its stereo consœur), both carefully balanced and of certain authenticity.
CONCLUSION – You have 15 seconds to buy...
Even better armed than the previous Blu-ray remastered in 4K, this UHD edition, which features state-of-the-art equipment (the Dolby combo) ensures grain... Bad businessmen like scumbags can only stand up!
Artistic note
9
Video quality
9
Audio quality
8
0
Paul Verhoeven arrived in the United States and showed the world with Robocop that he was a dirty kid. Robocop is a cult work with more than one title, a film as one dares to do more. To see and see again without moderation while thinking that this disgusting remake of 2014 never existed.
In any case, the works of the 80s-90s are terribly lacking in the current production. 🙁
[...] of the animatronic behind the unforgettable creatures of the original trilogy Star Wars, Robocop or Starship Troopers, pushes the limits of imagination even as the ruins [...]
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