Detroit Bronzes Giant RoboCop Statue

BangStyle ^ | May 17, 2013 | Danny De Maio

[Alex Murphy]

Whoever thought a film that was rated “X” would inspire a city so much that it would feel the need to build a statue in its honor? As much as I’m a fan of the original Robocop (and am eagerly awaiting the upcoming reboot), I never in a million years would have believed that things would get so dire in Detroit that the city would go to a fictional character for hope. Needless to say, this is what has happened in one of the most dangerous cities in the United States.

Two years ago there was a grassroots initiative to have Detroit mayor Dave Bing fund a bronze statue of the pop culture icon, but the city wouldn’t fund it. However, through a Kickstarter campaign (I feel like this thing is growing in popularity by the week) the funding for the $60,000 statue came through and now the project has come to fruition. Two years of planning, constructing, scanning, and fabrication has finally led to the nearly finished project that will sit in the city of Detroit.

In case you’re not aware of the controversy that the first Robocop film conjured up, allow me to give you the cliff notes. When the first cut was sent to the MPAA for a rating, the violence was so over the top that it was slapped with a firm “X” rating (this is before the NC-17 that we have now). Today, you can buy the unrated version of the film, but anyone that has seen the “R” rated version of the film knows how gory it is. We’re talking close-ups of blown-off hands, bullet-riddled bodies, and a toxic liquid spill that produces some disturbing results, even if it does happen to one of the villains.

At 10-feet tall, the massive RoboCop statue is about to be bronzed before finding its resting place by 2014 in a city that is in need of some hope. Despite my surprise, I think this is awesome and hopefully it is a way to begin turning a once-great city back to prosperity.

[Alex Murphy]

[montag813]

What does the “unrated” version have that the theatrical release doesn’t?

[Alex Murphy]

What does the “unrated” version have that the theatrical release doesn’t?

Longer, gorier deaths.

[cripplecreek]

There is actually some beautiful sculpture in Detroit.

Spirit of Detroit is just one example.



The Joe Louis Monument is pretty decent as "modern art" goes.



The underground railroad monument is pretty cool.



The civil war sailors and soldiers monument is great too.



Lots of great sports statues in Detroit too. Ty Cobb, Bobby Orr, Ernie Harwell.

[V_TWIN]

https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/3128312320/h40909135/

[BO Stinkss]

I saw the R rated version when it first came out. I like a good “shoot-em-up” but this movie was disturbing. They introduce you to the main character, get you to like him, then they slowly and graphically mutilate him. Nauseating.

[cripplecreek]

The fact that Red Farmer does the mutilating makes it even more disturbing.

[KSCITYBOY]

Pride in the fact that the movie accurately depicted what Detroit would be come.

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

—— Pride in the fact that the movie accurately depicted what Detroit would be come. ——

Woooowwww..... This could become The Statue of Irony.

[Orangedog]

Old dude had some of the best lines in the movie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o97uNzbBfis

[Gay State Conservative]

There are a number of pretty impressive monuments in Central Park in NYC.One of these days I’m gonna take a couple of hours and look at all of them at some length.

[cripplecreek]

I'm not a fan of cities but I do love good statues.

[who knows what evil?]

Clarence was one of the nastiest villains in the history of cinema...

[WayneS]

Robocop was rated X?

I did not know that.

[GeronL]

like Japanese pervy anime they must have edited it heavily.

I do not think it was made in Detroit BTW

[Gay State Conservative]

I'm not a fan of cities but I do love good statues.

I'm a suburban kinda guy myself but,if you've never been there,I can assure you that NYC is a city unlike any other on earth...regardless of what you might think of the residents.I can also assure you that Central Park is unlike any public park *I've* ever seen.and the statues seen there are interesting to say the least...and at least some of them are truly historic.

[dfwgator]

"I'll Buy that for a Dollar!"

[where's_the_Outrage?]

I was trying to find a link for where the spirit of Detroit footprints were found going to the Naked Lady Statue (I think for Gas), but my google searches failed to find it.

Too bad, it was funny.

From my feeble memory. One morning there were painted footprints for the Spirit of Detroit statue (Man) to a the Gas Lady (naked woman) just across the street (I think Woodward). No one was was ever charged but understand a bunch of students helped the police clean it up.

Wow, that is way to do a prank, and the correct non response from the city.

[cripplecreek]

Wow, that is way to do a prank, and the correct non response from the city.

Agreed, police responses should be proportional to the threat. Personally I think the Detroit riot of 67 could have been prevented if police had ignored the party in the blind pig for that one night and taken it up with the owner the next day. That's not to blame the police, as I recall the owner admitted that he was at least partially responsible because he incited the growing crowd and threw the first bottle.

[where's_the_Outrage?]

While I know nothing of the Blind Pig, I think I have to disagree with you.

I was in Cincinnati in 67, my dad was CDR of AFEES there. I remember the riots happening and going through the city seeing signs in windows saying “Soul Brother”, I had to ask my parents what that meant as I was only 12.

These riots happened around the country, it was more that just a one place incident.