Possibly one of the best comic book adaptations of the 1980s wasn't even based on a comic property. Although he didn't get involved with the franchise until the second and third installments, comic legend Frank Miller's influence is smeared all over the first Robocop. Borrowing a heavy handed anti-establishment vibe, nacho cheesy looked-better-on-paper dialog, enough gratuitous violence to make a Troma flick turn away in shock and stereotypical corporate bigwigs around every corner, I wouldn't be surprised to learn Miller had more than a passing investment in Paul Verhoeven's original futurist nightmare. Of course, it could also be that Miller's influence on the comic medium as a whole was responsible for many of these parallels.

Either way, it's a dream come true for fans of the dark, gritty graphic novels that made their mark in this era. Unfortunately, it’s also far from the most expertly crafted picture, with a carefree, cavalier attitude that seeps into the acting, cinematography, special effects and storyline. Arms are blown off just for the fun of it. Speeding automobiles barrel over evildoers in lieu of a more coherent way to write them out. Strongholds erupt into geysers of fire. As with Rambo before it, the lesson of the day is wanton brutality and the titular hero is your celebrated instructor.

Despite its immeasurable shortcomings as a motion picture, that blunt approach to both villain and viewer alike makes it tough to turn off. A night with Robocop is like eating an entire bag of candies in one sitting; there's more nourishing, appetizing stuff out there and we know it's wrong... but sometimes it's impossible to fight that compulsion.