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RTTP: Demolition Man

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Sephzilla

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The best Stallone movie that doesn't involve Rocky.

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I watched this movie again with a few of my buddies, and man, I still love this movie. For a 90s popcorn flick the writing in this movie is way better than it has any right being. The jokes are funny, the action segments are well done, the acting is good in the sense that everybody seems into the movie and nobody phones in performances, all of the main characters have pretty clear motivations and driving forces, the plot is fairly simple and straight forward which in my opinion is a plus because it doesn't bog itself down trying to be something more complicated than it needs to be. I'm probably over-analyzing a summer Stallone movie, but I'd say its a movie that pretty much accomplishes everything it sets out to do.

What I enjoy about Demolition Man most is that, despite being an action movie first, it seems to 100% commit to its comedy aspects as well. When it introduces something funny about the San Angeles world it never lets up or forgets about that funny thing it introduces. For example, every sound effect that would normally be a vivid attention-grabbing sound in the "normal" world is replaced with a very passive non-offending sound in the future. Alarms are now very soft sounding, the police's stun batons make a very un-threatening sound when used, the computer voice for the police says "Murder Death Kill" in a very calm soothing voice. The only harsh sound effect present in that world is the profanity alarm, which is a joke in itself. Speaking of going all-in on jokes, I love that once they introduce that silly profanity alarm anytime someone swears you always hear it in the background somewhere (except for the sewers and the finale).

Great movie, will obviously watch again. Maybe I'll check out a copy from the Schwarzenegger Library.

Be well.
 
Agree with pretty much everything said. It's not often that a movie gets the right balance of comedy, action and chemistry.

I was happy to see Taco Bell in the future, even if it looked bad.
And someone will probably mention the sea shells, so:
89xNY.jpg
 
I really rate Demolition Man because of:

The excellent stunt work and action scenes, especially coming at the tail end of the trend for blowing up real buildings.

Sandra Bullock showing a great touch for action comedy.

The quotability of the film.

Wesley Snipes really hamming up the bad guy role and loving it.
 
This film had the coolest names ever.

John Spartan

Simon Phoenix

Lenina Huxley

Raymond Cocteau

Also I watched it in Europe so my version had Pizza Hut instead of Taco Bell.
 
I think I wore out the vhs copy we had at home. Snipes is just ridiculous.

The whole Taco Bell thing always made me laugh.

"Fuckin-A!"
 
That rat burger looked like the best thing ever. Just looking at Spartan enjoying it with a beer... definitely worth a Rolex. :P
 
Also I watched it in Europe so my version had Pizza Hut instead of Taco Bell.

I just recently found out about this. It messes up the gag, IMO, because Taco Bell sits on a lower tier of food quality all by itself- and this was in the 90s when Taco Bell wasn't even trying to elevate itself with novelty food, it was just straight-up lousy food.

Pizza Hut isn't great, either, but the joke is completely changed with that as the punch line.
 
But nobody in Europe knows what Taco Bell is, so the joke would have been lost in translation anyway. The only other brand that would have worked instead of Pizza Hut would be McDonald's.
 
Definitely still a fun movie and I love Snipes playing such an over the top villain. Sad thing is this was Stallone's last good action movie until Rambo...which was a good 15 years later. =/
 
A quick read of Brave New World which is related. Dahmer was killed so that blows that scene on ice.
Why don't we have inflatable foam in cars yet?
 
It didn't seem to me like the Taco Bell joke was the only joke in the movie that was specific to America.

I guess I just wonder if the change was motivated by the writers of the movie, or the owners of Taco Bell/Pizza Hut requesting that the branding change for the region (because marketing).
 
One of the most hilarious and awesome performances in an action movie from Wesley Snipes. Simon Phoenix is a top tier action villain.
 
I'm also going to post the rules my friends and I used for a Demolition Man drinking game;

The Demolition Man Drinking Game
Take a drink every time:
  • Someone is fined for swearing
  • Huxley screws up a 90s idiom (example: you really licked his ass)
  • Stallone does a "manly run" to survive an explosion

That scene where Stallone gets toilet paper is brutal

*Please adhere to all local drinking laws and please drink responsibly*
 
A quick read of Brave New World which is related. Dahmer was killed so that blows that scene on ice.
Why don't we have inflatable foam in cars yet?

It probably catches fire, or there's too high of a chance it goes into your lungs and hardens, or it blinds you, etc.

But hey, we have self driving cars! One thing to have joy-joy thoughts about!
 
Demolition Man is my favorite movie of all time. I've probably seen it 200 times.
 
One of my favourite films as a kid. I watched the hell out of the VHS growing up. I haven't actually seen it in years so I wonder if its as amazing as I remember.

Be well.
Be fucked.
 
I just recently found out about this. It messes up the gag, IMO, because Taco Bell sits on a lower tier of food quality all by itself- and this was in the 90s when Taco Bell wasn't even trying to elevate itself with novelty food, it was just straight-up lousy food.

Pizza Hut isn't great, either, but the joke is completely changed with that as the punch line.
What's weird is that when I first watched it (UK) it was Taco Bell, although I can't remember how I first watched it. I only realised within the last couple of years that it's now been dubbed to Pizza Hut. :/
 
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