I agree on all accounts except the assertion that the original is better. I recently watched both movies, both for the first time, and though I thought the first was cool, though I found it sloppy and thin. I much preferred the new one.

I felt like the social and political commentary of the original was stapled, as opposed to being woven into the narrative and character motivations. The characters in the first were more caricatures - maniacal evil laughter, over-enthusiasm for random violence etc... It's all fun, its part of the genre, but the new Robocop is far more subtle, believable, and, I think, incisive. I think it's better sci-fi.

The new Robocop at least dives into the conflict of the human in the suit and the tragedy of the dissolution of his humanity at the hands of the technology and the money/power corrupt businessmen. Whereas in the original, I feel like it begins with that, then ditches it for the entire movie until the very end.

For example, throughout the new Robocop he struggles against the suit when he tries to take an action against the company or against the coding of the tech. It's something he tries again and again and fails, and in the end there's a lot of tension surrounding the moment where he finally does it. His success is then a testament to the power of the human will, and the possibility of humanity to crawl out from under the weight of it's own tech, etc... There's a lot being said, and the movie supports it, for the most part.

In the first Robocop, the same thing can be said, but the in-movie support for it is thin. And I feel like that's true for every assessment I've heard about the sub-text of the first Robocop.

The revenge story in the new Robocop was also more present. A lot of time passes in the first movie before the human in Robocop surfaces and seeks revenge. In the new one, it's the first thing he does, and then they dial back his humanity because he was stirring the pot to much, and that sets tension and interesting conflict for the entire movie, as opposed to waiting until the end.

I enjoyed both movies, but don't think either is brilliant. I think the new one falls apart a bit at the end, and I thought the action was boring in both. But, in terms of sci-fi writing, and humanity at odds with technology, I think the new one is stronger.

I've only seen each one once, though. I'd love to hear a detailed rebuttal, if someone feels strongly about it.