Gone is Criterion’s audio commentary that was a bit scholarly in nature but very informative and entertaining (especially Verhoeven’s comments). MGM has gotten all three men back to do another commentary, this time together in one room! They recount all kinds of amusing anecdotes about making the movie. Neumeier feels that many of the faux newscasts are now dated. As always, Verhoeven is candid and claims that when he first read the script, he thought it was a piece of crap but his wife convinced him otherwise. Strangely, they seem to be watching the rated version of the movie. This is a very funny, spirited track as the three men joke and talk over each other like old friends.

This commentary is a freak show. They put Verhoeven behind a mic, a Dutch prick who made quite a career in Hollywood without bothering to learn English. Screenwriter Neumeier, screaming frequently like he's high on drugs, basically just sucks up to Verhoeven. Producer Davidson doesn't seem to make much of a difference in the group. The speakers talk about the various subtexts in the movie (as if the audience were stupid and didn't notice or know them by now), make some stupid snarky political remarks and tell some productions anecdotes and trivia that are more or less interesting.

Shut up Ed Neumeier! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!
Verhoeven hardly gets a word in, Jon Davison poses him a few questions, but both are almost immediately cut of by Neumeier who clearly thinks he's the only person who has ever watched this film. He is constantly telling the other participants to 'watch this bit'. I didn't pay my money to have the commentators watching the film! Shut up Neumeier and let Verhoeven and Davison talk.
I like enthusiastic commentators, but Neumeier is either on crack or had way too much coffee, or maybe he's just this way? Either way, shut up, stop talking over everyone and let Verhoeven finish a sentence.

A very annoying commentary. I'll stick with the Superior Criterion.

Hard to believe we are approaching the 30-year Anniversary of "Robo-Cop." IMHO, it remains a masterpiece. Works as a genre "splatterfest," social satire, religious parable, you name it. For this commentary, I rather enjoy the group dynamic from Verhoeven, Ed Neumeier, and producer Jon Davison. From Neumeier's frequent political tangents, I would assume he's a rather conservative, perhaps libertarian, fellow. A perfect foil to Verhoeven, the staunch anti-fascist we know him to be. This would be my 5th or 6th visit to this track, and I'm always surprised to learn more trivia with each listen. Like, for example, Armand Assante's initial reading for the part of "Murphy," or Stephanie Zimbalist being the early choice for "Lewis." One key contributor turned out to be Barbara Boyle, second in command at "Orion," who suggested that the two key villains meet-up in the 3rd act. Sort of gives some insight into the workings of that "mini-major" as a creative outlier in the spectacle decade of the '80s. I appreciate Ed's enthusiasm, and don't feel it takes away from important scenes, or bludgeons the listener with obvious metaphors. The man loves his guns, and obviously drew from his own experiences in the corporate world for some of the more delightful scenes at "OCP." Much respect is given to the score by Basil Poledouris, his musical influences, and contribution to the most heart-wrenching scene of the film. The return of "Murphy" to his old home on Primrose Lane remains one of the great scenes in genre film, and the score certainly helps cinch that. I will continue to re-watch this film in the future, with the group track on. I only hope the forthcoming Blu rays of "Robocop 2 & 3" can match tracks like this effort and the Criterion commentary. 9/10