DEMOLITION MAN
US, 1993, 115 minutes, Colour.
Sylvester Stallone, Wesley Snipes, Nigel Hawthorne, Sandra Bullock, Bob Gunton, Denis Leary, Benjamin Bratt.
Directed by Marco Brambilla.
Demolition Man and Cliffhanger were both star vehicles for Sylvester Stallone during 1993 - bringing him back to box office success after his attempts at comedy (Oscar, Stop Or My Mom Will Shoot). This is a slam-bang action film - almost too violent at times. However, this is partly the purpose of the film, a parody on futuristic stories (like Blade Runner) and a mocking of those who advocate absolute non-violence. LA society of 1997 is ultraviolent. 37 years later it is wimpish, with hypocrites in charge advocating non-violence while using it to destroy underground enemies. Ordinary citizens do not know assertiveness, but some of the police have an overveneration and nostalgia for the trash culture of the 20th century, especially with its movies.
The satiric underlying theme is particularly strong and often very funny. (One of the writers of Demolition Man was Daniel Waters, writer of Heathers and contributor to such films as Batman.)
Wesley Snipes, dyed blond hair, chews the scenery as the ultraviolent villain. Surprisingly, Nigel Hawthorn appears as the academic hypocritical ruler.
A lot of what you might expect from a Stallone action movie. However, the subtext, while dubious in its morality, is nevertheless an amusing attempt at parodying the pillars of righteousness.
1. A popular Sylvester Stallone movie, the world of the future, the issues of violence and non-violence? Serious/comic?
2. Technology, the world of 1997, the world of the 21st century? The city, the underground movement? Stunts and special effects? The musical score?
3. The popularity of Sylvester Stallone? His image?
4. Science fiction and fantasy, the film's reliance on the genre and its conventions, the chaos of 20th century urban cities, the growing technology, its use in violence, the use of technology in order and control? The future and the contrast with the 20th century? Taking non-violence to an extreme in society?
5. Violence, non-violence, an effete non-violent society? Yearning for violence? Having to cope? Insights into human nature and basic drives? The parody of people who advocate the elimination of violence in information and entertainment? The quoting of films, the slang, action, the parody names of the characters (Lenina Huxley as the heroine)?
6. The plausibility of the plot, the future, the academic in control, non-violence hypocrisy?
7. John Spartan, police work in Los Angeles, crime, the siege and the hostages, the antagonism towards Simon Phoenix, the explosions and the massacre, the accusations, his trial, the authorities, sentenced to the cryoprison? The techniques of preserving life? Justice? The audience sharing Spartan's experience?
8. The contrast with Phoenix, his appearance and style, cruelty, igniting the fuel, the massacre, prison? His reappearance, murdering the guards, ruthlessness in escape, the new Los Angeles? His bewilderment at his knowledge of the computerised Utopia? Police pursuit, Lenina Huxley and her tracking him, the suggestion about Spartan?
9. Spartan and his awakening? The contrast with Phoenix? Mind training? The irony of his ability to knit - and his gift? Rehabilitation? His work with Lenina Huxley? Her slang and his correcting her? The tracking of Phoenix? The meeting with Dr Cocteau and his assistant? The discovery of the truth, going underground, Edgar Friendly? The dangers, the death of Dr Cocteau? Action? The build-up to the spectacular confrontation with Phoenix?
10. Themes and symbols of the struggle between good and evil? Spartan and Phoenix, Friendly and Cocteau? Cocteau's hypocrisy, manner of speaking, style? His yes-man assistant, on the television, revealing the truth to Spartan? His death? The betrayal of the assistant?
11. Lenina Huxley, heroine, tough, her nostalgia of the trash culture of the past, the films, the martial arts action, the slang? Her work with Spartan, the visual heroism for this kind of comic strip film?
12. Edgar Friendly, the underground, the visuals of the underground, the images of 20th century Los Angeles? The racial and class issues?
13. The variety of characters, the young wardens and their older selves, the police, the officials? Authority figures, the trials?
14. An example of 1990s pop, comic culture?
