As far as I know, there are three new featurettes, the steelbook cover and the fact that the theatrical cut is on the first disc and the DC is on the second disc--no seamless branching issues to worry about. No word on whether the same transfer that was on the previous MGM discs being used.

Just for completeness's sake, let's do this once and for all:


CRITERION
- 1:66:1 ratio, letterbox format
- Director's cut ONLY
- Audio commentary by Verhoeven, Ed Neumier and Jon Davison
- Cinefex "interactive" article on the film
- Film-to-storyboard comparisons
- Storyboard galleries
- Teaser trailer
- Theatrical trailer

Exclusive to this release: Audio commentary, interactive article, 1:66:1 ratio, DP-approved transfer


1st MGM SE
- 1:78:1 ratio, enhanced for widescreen TVs
- Theatrical and director's cut via seamless branching
- Audio commentary by Verhoeven, Ed Neumier and Jon Davison (NOTE: this is different from the Criterion version)
- Flesh and Steel: The Making of Robocop documentary
- Shooting Robocop and Making Robocop featurettes
- Deleted scenes
- Photo galleries
- Film-to-storyboard comparisons
- Theatrical trailers for all three Robo movies
- TV spot

New to this release: new audio commentary, theatrical cut, making-of documentary and featurettes, deleted scenes, photo galleries, trailers to Robo 2 and Robo 3, TV spot


MGM Reissue w/ Creepy Lenticular Cover
- 1:78:1 ratio, enhanced for widescreen TVs
- Theatrical cut
- Theatrical trailer

Exclusive to this release: the cover


2nd MGM SE
- 1:78:1 ratio, enhanced for widescreen TVs
- Spiffy new steelbook case
- Theatrical cut on Disc 1, Director's Cut on Disc 2
- Audio commentary by Verhoeven, Ed Neumier and Jon Davison (NOTE: this is different from the Criterion version)
- Flesh and Steel: The Making of Robocop documentary
- Shooting Robocop and Making Robocop featurettes
- Deleted scenes
- Photo galleries
- Film-to-storyboard comparisons
- Theatrical trailers for all three Robo movies
- TV spot
- NEW featurettes: Villains of Old Detroit, Creating a Legend and Special Effects: Then and Now

New to this release: theatrical cut on Disc 1 and DC on Disc 2, three new featurettes

I know, but...I saw this film at U.S. cinemas, exhibited in 1.85:1 and on VHS 1.33:1, so 1.85:1 is fine with me. The OAR side of me laments that only the Criterion has the 1.66:1, but if it was exhibited here at 1.85:1, I'll live with it.

Looks like the trilogy version is still the overall best one.

Is this really new to this release? The trilogy release had both the theatrical cut and the director's cut, just because they were displayed via seamless branching, it is the same to me. Unless you are saying that they are even different version(s) than the trilogy release?

P.S. THANK YOU for the simplified comparison.

I meant it's new because they're on seperate discs, not sharing one. And I think some people complained about it slightly pausing on the trilogy disc when they watched the DC (or maybe that was the R2 set, can't remember).

wait - no commentaries on the new release?

Thanks for the recap. Don't forget the Robocop / Terminator (Double Feature).

I hope the steelbox contains two DVD-9's.

Heh, whoops. Made a mistake there; commentary is indeed on the upcoming set. I've made the correction.

Sweet, I was hoping the commentary was on there. Well looks like this release and the Criterion (to get both commentaries) are the definitive releases.

Thanks Vulture. Definately picking up the new release especially since I missed out on the Criterion

why the hell would an eviscerated R-rated version be included in the new SE?

I prefer the R-rated cut.

I don't know anyone who'd give a toss about the MPAA scissored version - Verhoeven meant this movie to be violent and over the top, the R-rated cut waters down the 'death' of Murphy so much so, it loses it's intended impact.

Did the trilogy edition of the DC slightly pause before the X-rated footage? I don't recall it doing so but if that's the case I might decide to upgrade to the new steelbook. Although I guess if I didn't notice it's not that much of a big deal. I would say I'm upgrading for the DTS track, but something tells me that's only going to be on the theatrical version and not the DC.

Because that's what was released to U.S. cinemas and home video.

Me and I disagree.

why???

For one thing, I've seen the cinema cut countless times. I've seen the unrated cut once, and I thought the ED-209 went on into ridiculousness, and the editing of the engineers messing with the wires was pure cheese. I appreciate Rob Bottin's work in Murphy's death scene but I still prefer the original.
Am I blaspheming or something?

IMO, yes.

have you heard Verhoeven's comments on the scene, he specifically states the scene was supposed to be overkill, and yes you're supposed to laugh at the executives blood splattering demise.

Well then I'll blaspheme away.

but at the request and demands of the MPAA - regardless if Verhoeven's contractually had to deliver an R-rated cut to the theatres. It was Criterion's release that made it possible for Verhoeven to restore the offending footage - it was the biggest 'fuck you' from Verhoeven to the MPAA (who he holds complete disdain to) - he'd later also get this priviledge for Showgirls and Basic Instinct - but no director really likes his vision or completed film tampered and mandated cut by the MPAA. You're entitled to your opinion in preferring the R-rated cut, but I think you've been suckered into the powers and influence of the MPAA and film censorship in general.

Uh, wrong.

Just because I like something better one way doesn't mean that I was suckered by anybody. I'm usually a big fan of ultra-violence in films like this, but I feel that both scenes in the unrated version last to long and throw the pacing off. And I think the boardroom scene is funnier in the shortened version.

I know 'better' is a subjective term, but 'unrated' does not always mean better. And neither does 'director's original cut'.

Take a movie like "From Beyond". That movie was hurt badly by the editing process and the unrated version is far superior, IMO. Not so with this movie.

Completeness' sake?

1) funnier, you hardly see half the footage in the R-rated cut.

2) how so? if a director has to bow to the pressure/needs of the MPAA - the parents of the board have prevailed and said their demands and preception on how a film's quotent of sex/violence is allowed - they aren't filmmakers. You're entitled to favour the MPAA R cut, but I really doubt you'd find too many director's favouring a censored version over an uncensored version of their films.

3) I disagree.

So the commentary on the upcoming steelbook release is the same commentary as the one from the robocop trilogy release from a couple years back.

Do I have this right?

Yes.