Blame the cable channel TNT for this next review – Demolition Man, an action packed movie starring Sylvester Stallone, Wesley Snipes, and Sandra Bullock has grown on me – simply because every time I turn on the TV, it’s there. When I first saw the movie many years ago, I thought it yet another piece of action packed trash with tons of explosions, horrible acting, and a story so thin and cheap – it could be written out and packed into one of those 25 cent egg contraptions you see just as you are heading out of the grocery store.

But still, time as proven, at least to me, that Demolition Man is not that bad. It won’t make any top ten lists – not even if you are making one based on Stallone’s career – but still it’s easy entertainment and not a bad way to unwind from a hard day’s work.

The movie goes something like this. Within the first few minutes of the movie – even before much of the titles – Stallone is a cop. A rugged, buffed cop with sharp instincts and an even sharper right hook. Much of his career has been spent tracking down a really bad guy with blond hair who like the Joker in Batman likes to laugh hysterically even when he knows he is caught and about to spend many years in jail. The movie takes place in a future – it doesn’t say “near future” but it definitely is a future since for one the jail is a place where you get freezed in this clear goo and your mind is fed happy thoughts until your parole.

Anyways – John Spartan/Sylvester Stallone tracks down Simon Phoenix/Wesley Snipes and unknown to Spartan ends up killing a few innocent hostages – thus, he, due to a public relations issue has to end up in jail along with the really guilty guy with blond hair. This allows of course allows us a few minutes to associate with Stallone’s character since we know he is the good guy – who made a small mistake and has to pay for it. And, this allows for us to see Stallone completely naked in all his buffed glory – because when you are freezed in this goo you have to be in your birthday suit.

The movie then flash forwards a few decades where the future has completely changed. Everyone drives really weird looking cars – and is cited a fine if they cuss in public. The 20th century is looked badly upon by everyone – even the old timers – who have traded in self expression – for public politeness. The cops are even completely unaware of harsh crimes – and talk day in and day out about the “big” cases which involve someone spraying paint on a fence.

Now of course we know what happens next – the really bad guy with blond hair gets out of prison by a freak twist in the story – and soon Stallone is released just because he’s the only one left around who is tough enough to capture this guy. Stallone is accompanied by Lenina Huxley/Sandra Bullock, a future cop who loves the history of the 20th century and jumps at the chance to work alongside a living breathing cop of the past.

Much of the movie from this point forward does one of two things. Showcases new technology left and right and/or showcases that technology as a hindrance to apprehend the villain. One interesting aspect that I loved throughout this movie is that whenever someone cusses you always hear the buzzer sound in the background notifying you that you have just been fined for doing so. I can just imagine the sound guy working in post production who’s sole purpose it was, was to mark each cuss word and make sure that the sound effect is heard in the background.

Tossing aside the technology for a second – the movie also highlights Stallone’s fairly bad (but it seems he’s not trying to be bad or better than bad – he’s just bad) acting skills as he says his lines in tough sentences meant of course to be the opposite of Bullock’s sweet sounds her lines her require.

Also, the movie throws into the mix a whole bunch of character actors who add flavor to the movie – but are of course forgotten for the most part since they only exist to move the movie forward. You’ll see Dennis Learey/Edgar Friendly in there, you’ll see Benjamin Bratt/Alfredo Garcia (from Law and Order – ex-Julia Roberts boyfriend, recently married to someone else) in there, and a few others that pop up only to disappear.

The special effects are adequate but more left on the floor replaced by actual explosions that would make a demolition crew salivate. There are also some nice combat scenes – especially the ones where Wesley Snipes and Stallone beat it out. This is pre-Blade era for Snipes, so his build is a little less bulky than Stallone’s, but he is still quick on his feet and able to give John Spartan a run for his money.

Other than that – I don’t really know why Demolition Man has grown on me, enough to warrant three stars. Maybe it is because, action movies these days (2002) are starting to either be Japanese imports where wires are used left and right – or starring some actor who has recently made a big name in Hollywood (is that Lucy Liu in a new action movie?!) Sometimes I long for the old days – but sometimes I do not (aka, Schwarzenegger’s Collateral Damage – read JackSommersby’s article to see just how bad one movie can be).

So if you ever find yourself watching cable and catch a glimpse of Demolition Man on TNT, give it a few – if you haven’t already done so. I wouldn’t and will not purchase this movie – maybe a rental whenever it leaves the TNT rotation – but it’s not as bad as I first thought. Then again, it is Friday night – and who knows what goes through the mind of a movie reviewer after a long day at work – and a few beers.




Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS