Once we arrive at the future, a lot of viewers might misjudge the performances of the principal cast besides Stallone and Snipes. At least until we realize that there's not going to be a happy ending for the hostages that Spartan is trying to save. The opening scene feels like a typical late 1980s/early 1990s action sequence. There are other films with somewhat similar aims, such as Total Recall (1990) and Starship Troopers (1997), which are perhaps just as good as Demolition Man, but they certainly can't top it, and they have aims other than the purely satirical. It's not necessarily the easiest film to appreciate, as it makes its points through extremely over-the-top 'mindless' action and tongue-in-cheek, purposefully cheesy plot and dialogue, but it's well worth trying to acclimate oneself to the style if you're not an action or sci-fi fan, as the satire cuts deep.

Demolition Man is one of the funniest, most action-packed and most poignant social satires of at least the last 30 years. Chief Earle makes a decision to revive Spartan, reasoning that an out of control but effective cop mired in the ways of the late 20th Century may be the only one who can capture the out of control criminal, but he, and the future society, may be in for a lot more than they bargained for by reawakening the Demolition Man. The film's 21st Century society is extremely different (worsening cultural chaos, exacerbated by a huge earthquake, precipitated the change), and the 'San Angeles' police cannot capture Phoenix or keep him in check. Phoenix is up for an obligatory parole hearing when he escapes. Prisons are quite a bit different, and there's a new policy of cryogenically freezing inmates. The film begins in a not-too-distant future (relative to its 1992/1993 production date) of 1996. After a particularly ruthless criminal, Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes), sets him up by making it appear that Spartan wantonly caused the deaths of a bus load of hostages, Spartan is sentenced to 60 years or so in prison.

John Spartan (Sylvester Stallone) is a reckless Los Angeles policeman, known as the 'demolition man' for the destruction he routinely engenders while apprehending big baddies.

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