TBJCSKCNRRQTreviews This has got stuff going for it. It ignores the two sequels, and uses the Verhoeven movie as the basis(it, in fact, appears to be in love with it, and uses it wherever possible, most noticeably in the spoken lines), that proves they had the right idea. The satire is also quite present(albeit it tries too hard, worst in the last credits, where it could not possibly be more obvious that they're talking directly to the audience, not to mention how it often underestimates their smarts, and spells it out, same as in the second flick). Moreover, there are plenty of gunfights, as well as some martial arts and car-chases(not all of these are fantastic, if they tend to stay above the level of passable). Each episode seems to start with a bang(there are those that would call them grabs for attention). On paper, this sounds an awful lot better than it is, which is not at all to say that it is all poor. It has several scattered things wrong with it, that unfortunately add together and make the whole less than excellent. For example, the plot is good, and remains so through the mini, but there are perhaps a subplot or a couple over the amount there should be, and not everything pays off(a shame, considering the concepts they at least begin to cover). The pacing can be uneven. While there among the characters are truly interesting ones, others are caricatures, and they get considerable screen time. I will say that this keeps getting even better and bigger, without losing anything, throughout, I didn't think they'd be able to top themselves, however, they went and did just that. The very ending, though parts formulaic and tough to swallow, had something great and well-thought out, in my opinion. The performances are so-so(I personally got a kick out of getting to see Geraint Wyn Davies again), and this is not devoid of screamy acting. This does hold a number of *really* awesome moments. There is unintentionally silly material herein. This is exciting sometimes, and certainly had me thrilled, although not constantly. Why do people continue to use small arms fire against RoboCop, and when will they realize it is utterly and completely ineffective? They cover up the limitations and constraints reasonably. There are repetitive actions(get used to seeing a certain individual storm out with determination). The effects are well-done, meanwhile, no one is going to be fooled and not be able to figure out what's CGI and what isn't. The music is... well, let me put it this way, either they saw the title role as a bit of a cowboy, or the composer is big on Ennio Morricone(hey, who could blame them?). Obviously I hope it's the former, but it didn't always seem staged or filmed to fit that. There are marvelous developments and situations found in this. The writing is a mixed bag, both dialog and story. There is violence, and it could be called excessive, in tone and volume. This I would say is genuinely disturbing a handful times, whether or not that is positive is up to the viewer. I recommend this series to any fan of the first of the cinema-releases, and/or of the iron-clad law-man... be aware that there are areas of this that are going to underwhelm; if you can stand those, you're in for multiple cool, fun sequences and not half bad science fiction. 5/10

Rautus "RoboCop: Prime Directives" (2000) Directed by: Julian Grant Screenplay by: Joseph O'Brien & Brad Abraham Based on Characters created by: Edward Neumeier & Michael Miner Review: With RoboCop 3 the franchise went into a more family friendly direction, this style was followed with RoboCop: The Series which was a short lived TV show made in 1994. As with RoboCop 3 the violence was toned down to be more family friendly and the character was aimed to appeal with children.In 2000 Fireworks Entertainment wanted to make good use of the rights to RoboCop before they would expire so they decided to make RoboCop: Prime Directives and return the franchise to it's roots by making it dark, violent and satirical like the original 1987 Sci-fi classic.The 4 part mini-series is a mixed bag, it's got it's good points and bad points. One of the good points is that the RoboCop franchise is back to it's old roots again meaning that the violence and satire isn't toned down.Another thing I liked about RoboCop: Prime Directives was RoboCable, I thought the character was great. It was interesting to see RoboCop meeting his match.The action was pretty good, it was violent and gritty like RoboCop and RoboCop 2.The acting was okay, it's what you'd expect with a made for TV movie.The music was okay but at times it didn't fit in with RoboCop, the overture theme is definitely catchy and I do like it but it feels like it belongs in a Western and not a Sci-fi.One of the main problems with RoboCop: Prime Directives is the low budget, because of it the RoboCop suit does look like kind of rubbery. The visual effects also suffer because of the lack of money, it doesn't bother me too much since RoboCop: Prime Directives was a made for TV movie so you're going to expect effects like that.Another flaw with RoboCop: Prime Directives is that at times it doesn't feel like RoboCop. The whole computer virus plot doesn't feel like it's part of RoboCop.A minor flaw is that the actor playing RoboCop, Page Flecther is a little short for the role. Plot:Dark Justice: It's been ten years after RoboCop's creation and now Delta City has became the safest place on Earth. RoboCop now considered unnecessary is feeling tired, obsolete and quasi-suicidal. His son James now an adult is working for OCP, the mega corporation that's on the verge of bankruptcy. One night RoboCop is called in to deal with a hostage situation, there he meets John T. Cable. His old partner in Metro South before he was transferred. Whilst dealing with the incident a mysterious masked vigilante called the Bone Machine shows up, damaging RoboCop and killing the leader he escapes before the police can get him. Once repaired RoboCop discovers that the Bone Machine is working for OCP, enlisting the help of Cable they try to find out the secret behind the Bone Machine which costs Cable his life.Meltdown:Cable is resurrected as the latest crime prevention unit, RoboCop now a fugitive is hunted down by RoboCable and a band of Robohunters.Taking shelter in old Detroit RoboCop meets a young girl who's Mother and friends are tech thieves. RoboCable eventually meets up with RoboCop and the battle of the machines rages again as RoboCop tries to make RoboCable remember who he really is. Meanwhile in OCP company executive Damian Lowe kills the entire board of directors taking over the company where he plans to use his new computer program SAINT to take control of the city's systems.Resurrection:After changing sides RoboCable and RoboCop are both fugitives, badly damaged after the encounter with the Robohunters RoboCop is found by the tech thieves who decide to repair him. Meanwhile RoboCable sweeps the streets eliminating the Robohunters, while being overwhelmed by a surprise attack RoboCable is saved by another tech thief named Dr. David Kaydick. Taking him to his hideout he repairs RoboCable as well as implanting a chip in his head forcing him to do what he says otherwise he'll activate it. RoboCop now repaired wants to find Cable, following a signal RoboCable finds the hideout and attacks them. The battle is interrupted by the Robohunters now lead by RoboCop's son, Kaydick kidnaps the girl who happens to be his daughter. Using her he plans to activate a powerful virus called LEGION to destroy all technology and life in the entire planet. Crash & BurnRoboCop, his son and the last remaining tech thief go to Delta City in an attempt to stop Kaydick from unleashing his super virus by transferring it into SANIT. Once there the ultimate battle begins as RoboCop and RoboCable fight for the final time. Overall:RoboCop: Prime Directives has it's flaws but it's still an alright mini-series. Check this out, it's worth a look.

schzistvan I think, unlike some people that this TV series is good in its category: low budget TV film with more or less unknown actors and actresses, who are not absolutely bad here. for example page fletcher is surprisingly good especially in those few scenes, where Murphy's previous life is shown, before being killed. the action sequences are correct, I like in them the simplicity: no overemphasized visuality, just shooting, chasing etc. The only problem with the story, that I could have missed the saint-mad scientist elements. Having the other conflicts ( two robocops against each other, the family drama between alex and jimmy murphy, a wanted robocop, etc) would have been enough. and the very very few visual effects were unnecessary: they made people notice the cheapness of the film. that's all what I think...

Shawn Watson You've not seen much worse than this! The RoboCop franchise once held so much promise, so much potential. It quickly disintegrated into cheap kiddie garbage.The first RoboCop movie was awesome and is no doubt a cult classic. Almost immediately this was followed by a crudely animated cartoon show in 1988 and then, RoboCop 2, the under-rated sequel was totally misunderstood on release but by the time RoboCop 3 came out Orion Pictures had long gone out of business and it was unceremoniously dumped into cinemas without any kind of ad campaign or publicity. Quite appropriate too as it's a moronic pile of crap aimed at the kids.And it got worse after that! An uber-cheap, live-action TV-series came and went within a single season and yet another animated show 1998 (selling RoboCop to the kids is like making Bratz dolls based on House of 1000 Corpses!) and one of the worst video-games ever in 2003. If you think this franchise couldn't get any worse wait until you get a load of Prime Directives. It stomps what's left of Robo right into the maggot-infested mud.The story is hardly worth mentioning but if you're that interested it involves Robo feeling old and obsolete, Delta City politics (now located in Canada, a poor substitute for the real Detroit) and some crazed employee at OCP (the company went out of business in RoboCop 3!) trying to take over with his ultimate doomsday device. Robo's kid is now a fully-grown exec and his ex-partner (a man with a very, very dodgy moustache) has been killed and made into a new RoboCop. They drag this crap out over 375 minutes and you feel every precious second of it.I could forgive the cheapness if the makers were enthusiastic or spirited or if the actors weren't so bored they are about to keel over and die. The Robo suits look terrible and could fall apart at any minute. The nobody playing him makes Robert John Burke's performance in RoboCop 3 look Oscar-worthy. Instead of striding with a heaving titanium chest he kind of stumbles and bumbles like an old man without a zimmer-frame and has as much trouble ascending stairs as ED-209 did descending them. It's as if he was mimicking C-3PO. Say what you want about the declining quality of the films. At least they all had great music. Prime Directives has noise that is painful to the ears and lethal to the soul and mind. Goddamn, I want to erase this horrid mini-series from my memory but I can't. I need a shrink!This junk should be scrapped and left to rust. Not even the most dedicated and forgiving RoboCop fan should suffer this guff. Wise people such as myself will realise this has as much to do with the TRUE RoboCop as Supergran does with Clark Kent.