“Simon says bleed!”
I’ve always remembered Demolition Man fondly. From Taco Bell to the three seashells, it’s a memorable bit of early nineties action with strong performances from Stallone and Snipes.
Phew. It’s still great! Five minutes in I was struck by how expensive it looks. Huge scenes with real locations and even bigger stunts. The opening scene could easily be the big third act. It’s all very fast and intense, with a decent stand-off. What the opening also does is set things up well. Stallone’s Spartan is a badass cop doesn’t follow the rules in his pursuit of justice! Snipes’ Phoenix an OTT villain who doesn’t care about anything!
They’re confrontation leads both of them into cryostasis, a new form of prison. But when Phoenix escapes from a parole hearing to cause havoc in an ultra-pacifist future, who can take him down? You need a maniac to take down a maniac!
The sets, the clothes, the vehicles. Demolition Man feels extremely tactile. It might look silly, and nowadays outdated. But it feels real and makes sense within itself. I can really get onboard when a film commits to it’s aesthetic and feel. When L.A. looks like a warzone, I believe it. So when it zooms forward forty-odd years and we see the pristine San Angeles, I believe that too.
Stallone and Snipes seem very into this. They’re essentially playing comic book characters. There’s a glee when Spartan swears into a machine to get some toilet paper, plus the exasperation as he gets to grips with the 21st Century. Snipes gets to show off his martial arts whilst dressing like Mad Max. Then you’ve got a pre Speed Sandra Bullock. Her vim and naivety juxtaposes well with Stallone’s ruggedness. A real strong trio backed up a great cast.
I’ve not seen all of Stallone’s films, but when I think of his filmography, it’s Rocky IV, First Blood, Cop Land, and this. Give it a go if you haven’t. And be well.
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