Robocop (1987) - The Most Epic Entrance in Cinema

what makes an effective superhero or villain entrance is it always Flash and Pizzazz a glorious or bombastic reveal we all know them we have seen them before and they can be downright cool and memorable we all love them but are such heroic entrances in movies always so warranted or can understatement be even more effective in this video I argue understatement is a highly potent and underused method for introducing heroes or villains in film and a perfect example of this can be found in Paul verhoven's original RoboCop the character introduction is only one reason why the movie is so well done and an enduring classic you're gonna be a bad if you haven't seen the original RoboCop from 1987 then do yourself a favor and watch it when you get a chance the movie is famous for a reason and we may have more episodes on why it is such a brilliant and memorable creation but for today we will look at a brief sequence wherein RoboCop makes his initial appearance first some examples of typical superhero entrances for comparison [Music] now I'm not saying these entrances are bad or off-kilter from what they ought to be they suit their respective movies for instance in angli's Hulk the first emergence of Bruce into the green monster is very well executed and Suits the overall feel and character of the film rage to transformation it works this kind of reveal should be intense and scary and it is moreover it does take some time for Bruce to get to the point of being the Hulk but note how nearly all of the previous examples have the same kind of approach glamor and spectacle there is dramatic lighting there is an orchestral swell there's a brief pause where the hero seems to be standing for a photo shoot then goes off to rescue the world or to wreak havoc in it that may work fine and some of them are genuinely cool as stated but for RoboCop it's an entirely different game and that is what makes it so noteworthy the following sequence demonstrates this noteworthiness and is a true Gem of filmmaking why well let's take a look at it and then break it down it's about official ocp business so please get lost [Applause] [Music] [Music] what is this isn't that such a cool entrance let's break down why this works so well it starts with a Prelude to this scene first there's the setup to this emergence about five minutes prior to this verhoven shows us reality from RoboCop's point of view in a very static and contained manner we are fixed in place as Spectators we almost feel like we are a prisoner of the film itself [Applause] then bear Holden teases us with several cut scenes from this first person point of view indicating a kind of non-standard procedural collage finally we are treated to the first glimpse of robocars and it's done in such a clever and masterful way watch this it is my great pleasure to present to you RoboCop come on that's for you that's for you the Brilliance of the initial reveal that is the very first time we get a look at RoboCop is really only for about three seconds almost as an afterthought we barely get a partial shot of him and it's via a monitor within the scene itself I believe this to be a stroke of Genius in cinema really just brilliant this kind of device is hardly ever employed and I'm hard-pressed to think of instances where this visual Master stroke has been duplicated effectively in other films for most modern day moviegoers born after the 1980s this initial Glimpse may not seem like much or worthy of mention in fact it may strike some as underwhelming or flat after all it's not like the typical big Fanfare parade of modern day superhero entrances replete with glamor and swelling musical light motif I mean it's supposed to be exciting and this isn't right perhaps but for the people who watched this in the 80s theaters it was tremendously exciting if you were a kid like me and somehow snuck into the theater to see it don't tell my mom you would be jumping out of your seat at this small tease within the build up reveal for Hoven cleverly gives us an appetizer then switches immediately to another scene in another Locale it builds up even more excitement for the full reveal but it doesn't end there we are now in a police station full of disarrayed and frustrated cops RoboCop's appearance is both sudden and gradual the moment we hear him approaching everything goes dead silent and still [Music] in a contemporary and frankly lesser movie there would likely be a huge amount of noise or a musical cue something dramatic not here note the only sounds are a RoboCop's machinations which is dramatic in its own right without being bombastic and the accompanying shot of our hero is through translucent glass you can't even see him clearly more build up more excitement you have the perfect expression by an exasperated cop and onlookers they stop dead in their tracks I don't think I've ever seen anyone emote surprise and confusion so well while keeping a completely straight face then note how the camera pans so we only get a brief backside shot of the protagonist as he walks away the restraint here is brilliant because it further arouses our curiosity without being drawn out or pretentious summarily the movie takes its time without being boring verhoven holds back and is insightful enough to read the audience they will be eager to see more of this during the slow build so he clones this excitement in the reaction of the cops witnessing the entire thing we become the police eager to see what is going on who is RoboCop what is this what is happening show us already in a lesser film perhaps they would not have shown the entire Prelude of probacop in the lab or it would have been a far far shorter Exposition maybe just a couple of minutes in the lab some hazy collage of voices and then he's revealed dramatically blasting away at criminal scum as an Unstoppable force one or two scenes later but this Trope is something verhoven avoids entirely thank goodness instead of instant bombastic transformation we get to see and feel the potential and excitement of this formidable super Cop come to life expectancy once we follow the it's Christmas morning cops into the back room with our protagonist the movie Very cleverly keeps the mystery going although in a different way by placing a barrier between the audience and the action on screen in the form of a physical cage we are held at arm's length almost being told to wait I don't know if this was an intentional decision to create more isolation between the audience and RoboCop but in having the cage present it's almost as if the movie is telegraphing be patient wait tastes like baby food note again no bombastic musical cue nor heroic poses nor hard jawed battle ready stares into the camera none of that the subtext here is excitement curiosity and restraint RoboCop is a new exciting toy at an exposition at this point even though we want him to be much much more when he has finally set loose on the city to fight crime we get to see more of his superhero capabilities and frankly badassery if that's even a word the first is in an attempted robbery of a convenience store one two drop the gun you are under arrest at last we get to see some of the hero in action but I argue the true reveal occurs shortly after this event when a woman is being assaulted near an Alleyway by the way if you are enjoying this analysis feel free to like comment and subscribe and hit that notification Bell we're going to be publishing new content every week it's a brand new channel and I have a lot of content in the pipeline so be sure to hit that subscribe button and share it if you'd like it please like And subscribe you have 20 seconds to comply I think you'd better do what he says Mr internet user now watch the follow-ups the subtext here is magical and effortless It's Not Over the Top overbearing or extravagant nope again the lack of an orchestral cue there is no music or manipulation of emotions the only sounds are the foreboding buzz and Clank of RoboCop's machinery and the interaction between characters it's subdued ominous and absolutely thrilling let the woman go you are under arrest in addition to the wonderful sound shown his intimidating shadow on the wall growing larger sails this telegraphs an elemental Force towering above anything these Petty criminals can do as I was saying I argue this is the true reveal moment note how it's only at this point in which verhoven shows us a full body shot of Robocop it's an awesome shot that Arbor's so cool and stills holds up to even this day then it's followed by another beautifully framed cut of his hulking shadow on the wall and a perspective which makes the criminals look ridiculously underpowered keep in mind this is almost a full 10 minutes film run time after RoboCop was first activated what follows is brutal and hilarious and Justified but robocops shows us film Mastery with an understated entrance that takes its time building up this can be even more effective than typical sound the trumpets there's a photo shoot entrances of Heroes in contemporary film I think modern day filmmakers could learn a lot from the older Classics like RoboCop not everything needs to be loud or glamorous to be noteworthy sometimes the lack of a statement is the best one to make what do you think do you think this is an accurate analysis leave a comment below let me know your thoughts and remember to like And subscribe it'll really help the channel out thank you for your cooperation good night thank you [Music] in addition to the wonderful sounds we are shown this is by the way if you are enjoying this analyst analysis analysis we are now in a police station full of disarrayed and frustrated cops RoboCop Supply Appliance appearance RoboCop's appearance about Appliance although it could that kind of makes sense

Channel: Not All That Bad

Views: 411,409

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Id: HevURXM8im4

Length: 13min 47sec (827 seconds)

Published: Sat Jul 29 2023