Demolition Man

I like this movie.  Hailing from that long time ago era, the early '90s, this is not the first time I've seen this 1993 film, though, surprisingly, it's only the second.  I first watched it when one of my college roommates proclaimed it to be one of his favorites.  Recently I convinced my wife that she would enjoy it too so, via the joy of streaming Netflix, we had ourselves a good time.

Starring action aficionados Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes at the top of their game, this is a science fiction comedy masquerading as an action flick.  Demolition Man tells the story of bad-ass cop, Sergeant John Spartan (Stallone) - who is known as the Demolition Man because when he gets involved, things tend to get demolished - and his arch nemesis, insanely violent and cruel crime lord, Simon Phoenix (Snipes).

Through a series of events that have to do with the plot, both Spartan and Phoenix are frozen in CryoPrison until further events have them at each other's throats once again in 2032.  Because by 1996, when this movie starts, we apparently have cryo prisons.

California in 2032 is a perfect society, though a dystopian one to anyone who knows better.  Anything "bad" is illegal, including salt, swearing, and the swapping of bodily fluids.  Half the fun of the movie is the constant references to the '90s, but in bizarre ways, like what they consider "oldies."  One of my favorite quotes is when they mention Arnold Schwarzenegger having been President of the United States - in a time long before anyone had even suspected he would become the "Governator" of California.

The aptly named Spartan teams up with Lieutenant Lenina Huxley (Sandra Bullock) who, though something of a nutcase herself, seems to be one of the only people left with any sense at all.  Much witty banter, unbelievable action, and akward moments ensue.

The plot to this film is utterly ridiculous - something that will usually turn me against a movie.  It is preposterous that people will have the technology, as well as the attitude that they have a mere 22 years from now.  Even in '93 this movie made no sense.  To enjoy it though you just have to accept that fact, realize that it is all a farce and tells the story of an alternate reality where those things happen.  It helps that the movie never really takes itself seriously enough for you to get upset with it.

One of the most impressive things about this movie is that for the most part it stays consistent within it's own world.  There are very few "shh, ignore this blatant contradiction to an earlier plot point" moments that so often plague this type of film.  Above all, this movie is just plain fun - it's hard not to enjoy it.

**** (4/5 stars)