Dead or alive, you’re coming with me… To a brand new Movie and a Beer feature! This week our team of bloggers is back to take on the classic action film Robocop! Join us as we collectively talk about and pair a craft beer with this awesome action film! You’re move, creep.
I am excited to be a part of this collaboration series between myself, and some of my favorite blog writers Dr. Gonzalo Quintero of Craft Beer Tasters LLC and Eugene Abano of Reviews Galore. Please click their respective links to read their write up, as well as read their craft beer and soda pairing for the film.
As in previous Movie and a Beer features (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9) I will be pairing a craft beer that matches one or more of the themes of the film, as well as keeping it a local pick to represent Three B Zine’s daily motto- Live Local.
I have known for a while now that Robocop was on the horizon for myself, and the rest of the blog writing team, so I have put a lot of thought into which beer would be the perfect fit. Robocop has held a special place in my heart since I was a child, so I wanted to do it right. During some deep contemplation over which of the movie’s themes that would pair with a craft beer, I was reminded just how wicked and evil the villains are in this iconic film.
This thought lead me to consider beers that contain a similar element of wicked, while not going over board, to stay away from becoming true evil. Just the right amount of sin, get my drift? The amount that even the girl next door who leads a study group at her church might dip her toe in every once in awhile when no one else is looking…
With that I present to you my perfect craft beer pairing for Robocop – Wicked as Sin Rye IPA from Helm’s Brewing Company.
Wicked as Sin Rye IPA is a San Diego style IPA, otherwise known and considered “West Coast” IPA. What does this mean? It means that you could feel the deepest pit of Hell with the hops that go into San Diego’s IPAs. San Diego IPAs, including this offering from Helm’s, are wickedly hopped and sinfully delicious. Wicked as Sin IPA is categorized as an “untraditional” San Diego IPA due to the rye used.
This beer is oozing with fresh hop character and bold spiciness from the rye malts, with just enough malt presence to balance everything out as to not tip the scale into pure evil. Piney hops kick the beer off in style, followed by the earthy spice contributed by the rye, with a lingering resinous hop flavors that keeps you reaching for more. This beer is a perfect pairing for Robocop, something that if you lived in crime ridden, hellish future Detroit, it just might keep you company while you stayed home away from the diseased world.
Besides, a little sin never hurt anyone, am I right?
I first saw Robocop as a very young child. I now realize, as an adult, that is somewhat shocking. Due to the intense subject matter, graphic violence and gore, it is surprising that I was allowed to watch the movie and play with Robocop toys. Especially when I was told never to watch Old Yeller. But because of this, the film is now one of my all time favorites and my heart will always be in the Robocop vice grip.
Directed by Paul Verhoeven, Robocop takes place in a sort of futuristic Detroit, where crime is completely out of control and cops are nothing more than a laughing stock to the city’s villains. The city brings in mega-corporation Omni Consumer Products aka OCP to take over the struggling police force and OCP plans to build their idea of perfection – Delta City.
OCP Senior President Dick Jones presents the next level in law enforcement – the ED-209. A Massive tank with legs equipped with firepower that can tear someone to ribbons. Which it in fact does when it malfunctions during its initial run through presentation. Because of this, OCP decides to run with the idea for a human like cyborg called Robocop. Only problem, they need a dead cop to fill the role. Enter poor Alex Murphy.
Murphy and his new partner Anne Lewis go after the vicious criminal Clarence Boddicker and his gang of wicked thugs. Murphy and Lewis chase them to a steel mill, where Murphy is eventually caught and brutally murdered by Boddicker and his gang of maniacs, blown into oblivion by shotgun blasts.
Because Murphy was now pronounced dead, lucky him, he was top of the list candidate for the Robocop program. Scientists bring to life this brand new crime-fighting machine and he is given three directives – Serve the public trust, protect the innocent and uphold the law. Robocop goes on a rampage to clean up this disgusting world of Detroit that at this point made Batman’s Gotham City look like Beaver Cleaver’s hometown by comparison.
Murphy soon tracks down the leader of the gang that killed him, Boddicker, at a local cocaine factory. Because of his programming, Robocop AKA Murphy cannot kill Boddicker but must arrest him instead. Robocop learns of the affiliation between Boddicker and Jones over at OCP. Robocop shows up at OCP ready to kick down doors and throw the book of law all over the place, only to find out his was actually programmed with four main directives. The fourth being he cannot take any action against an OCP executive. An ED-209 attempts to destroy Robocop once and for all, but Anne Lewis helps him to escape to the steel mill where he was murdered.
Boddicker, with the help of Jones and a tracking device, goes after Robocop to put an end to their problem and the Robocop program altogether. During this fight between the gang and Murphy we are graced with the most excellent/most gruesome scene – one of Boddicker’s idiot gang members drives a delivery truck into a vat of toxic waste which mutilates and melts him. Then the goon walks in the way of Boddicker’s car only to be ripped limb from limb and explode like an old water balloon. A prime example of the brutality that makes this great film bad news for kids.
Will Robocop make it out of this alive? Will Detroit be saved from OCP and Jones who as it stands will stop at nothing to be in control of the city? Or will Robocop prevail and regain order in Detroit and with the police force? Grab one of my perfectly paired craft beers and find out for yourself.
The Good – Tons of nostalgia for me personally but all that aside, it is Verhoeven at his absolute gruesome best. He shares tons of graphic violence and wicked characters living in an unimaginable world. We get a hero that is so beyond badass and out of this world, it seems nearly impossible not to love every second of this film. When he’s losing you want to fight with him with he’s winning you want to cheer with him. An all around timeless hero that I don’t think will ever lose his appeal. This is a classic film…one of my all time favorites.
The Bad – The fact that someone decided this movie wasn’t don’t properly the first time and they decided to re-create some form of newer, more stylized version. Have yet to watch it and doubt I ever will. I WON’T buy that for a dollar.
Overall – This movie will hold its place in time and my heart for as long as I live. I own this movie on VHS, DVD and Blu-Ray so I can always have a way to watch. Again, it is Verhoeven at his repugnant best and the movie regardless of how many years pass since it has been released it will never lose its overall awesome factor. Two very law abiding thumbs up. Stay out of trouble.
