Macho robot guys with a lurking alternative character.
We finally watched the 2014 version of Robocop over the weekend.
Immediately afterwards, while the kids were bickering over who got to be which version of Robocop, suddenly the Arnold Schwarzenegger style Terminator seemed to be part of the game also. The robot guys with big guns were saying things like "I'll be back," and "Hasta la vista, baby."
At this point, I feel compelled to mention that the boys have not seen any more than a few snippets of any of the Terminator movies.... Although, since they have now seen Robocop, this is clearly not a parenting accomplishment on my part.
At any rate, Robocop and the Terminator obviously scratch the same itch in the 7 or 11 year old male mind. Our sons want to identify with them...Not for their troubled relationship to humanity of course, but because they are remorselessly powerful guys in cool outfits with big guns.
Interestingly enough, Robocop 2004 features Mr. Voice of Hiccup, Jay Baruchel, as a craven guy from marketing. The boys found him pretty compelling despite the fact that he is the antithesis of the powerful robots- ie, entirely gun less. I think he appealed mostly because he retains some of Hiccup's mannerisms and wimpy, snarky guy attitude despite being an amoral corporate man in a suit. They found his line, "Hey don't shoot, I'm just a guy from marketing" to be worth repeating multiple times.
While this does provide an alternative option to the macho robocarnage, I'm not sure it is entirely a good one.
No comments:
Post a Comment