Demolition Man (1993)

"He really met his meat. You really licked his as$." Officer Huxley
"That's "He really met his match," and "kicked - - kicked his as$."" Officer Spartan

Sylvester Stallone really made an excellent splash with his fish out of water performance in 1993's Demolition Man, one of the few sci-fi movies I've seen that is well adjusted enough to poke merciless fun at its own genre and provide wry social insights, as well. Other notable movies of this nature are Starship Troopers and Robocop are two of the few that actually put across a credible sci-fi movie that can also be enjoyed as a witty social satire. Both, incidentally, were directed by Paul Verhoeven, who has proved that he can make a sci-fi movie as well as anyone can, but has chosen to move on to other types of films.

Sylvester Stallone is a cop in the near future (1996 according to the 1993 film) whose unorthodox methods earn him the title "Demolition Man;" they also earn him a berth in the cryo-cooler when he is framed by master criminal Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes) for killing hostages during an arrest. Both men have been frozen some four decades as the movie begins.

At a parole hearing, the thawed out Snipes goes on a rampage and kills the board and everyone in the area. The police are flummoxed watching everything on video but unprepared to deal with actual violence, since the last violent crime had occurred 20 years before, in 2010.

Snipes has been reprogrammed during his cryo-sleep to be a super criminal brain, able to pick any lock or crack any computer code, and is totally familiar with the modern technology he meets after his long hibernation. When he single-handedly defeats a half dozen police officers, the chief decides to re-animate John Spartan, the Demolition Man.

Spartan (Stallone) is very much the fish out of water in the ultra modern society he finds himself in. Since he was not reprogrammed, everything is new to him and we have much mirth watching his reactions to the technology that restricts almost everything that comes naturally to Spartan. Cigarettes, cursing, fatty foods, in short everything he requests has been ruled illegal and off limits to the "utopian" society created by Dr. Cocteau, who also (surprise) rules in San Angeles, the vast metropolis that covers the territory of old Lost Angeles, San Diego, and the rest of Southern California. There is an on-going joke about toilet paper that I think you'll enjoy, also.

He is teamed up with Officer Lenina Huxley (Sandra Bullock) a fan of the 1980s with just a slightly skewed remembrance of all the cute sayings she remembers from all the movies she watched. "Let’s go blow this guy," she says. "away - blow this guy away," corrects Sly. "Whatever," counters Sandra. Much of the humor follows this format but it never fails to get me laughing. There are also on-going send-ups of familiar products integrated into the screenplay.

When Stallone proves too hot on his trail, Snipes persuades his secret controller to get him six more career criminals out of the deep freeze. There are a couple of intertwined plots that get played out in the well-staged action sequences but above all the challenge to political correctness is ever at the forefront of the script.

Both Stallone and Snipes are excellent in their performances with Snipes probably a career best. Sandra Bullock as the unconsciously funny bimbo officer is definitely her career best. Several up and coming actors like Bob Gunton Shawshank Redemption, Benjamin Bratt, and Dennis Leary add significant support.

The Warner Bros DVD is supplied on a double-sided disk with both 2.35:1 and television format versions on the same disk. The 115-minute movie is in well-preserved color and a full-length director’s commentary with director Marco Brambilla is provided as an extra feature.

Oh, you wanted to know about the three sea shells? You have to watch Demolition Man. :>

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Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for Groups