The early 1990’s weren’t particularly kind to Sylvester Stallone. Rocky V (1990) received lukewarm reviews and underperformed at the box office. Sly then starred in a couple of poorly received comedies—Oscar (1991) and Stop or My Mom Will Shoot (1992)—before returning to the action genre with Cliffhanger, (1993), finally, a relative box office success.
A modest box office success released in 1993, Demolition Man gives Stallone the chance to play a kind of fish out of water—not only a character awoken thirty-five years after being cryogenically frozen in a big clear-goo hockey puck, but an action star surrounded by wimps and wanna be’s.
The plot is simple enough: in apocalyptic Los Angeles, 1996 John Spartan (Stallone) is an LAPD Sergeant nicknamed “Demolition Man” for the collateral damage he often causes. His bosses are tired of making excuses for Spartan, but he’s also the one they turn to when results are a necessity. There’s only one criminal who has been able to escape Spartan repeatedly—Simon Phoenix. So, when Phoenix takes a busload of passenger’s hostage, Spartan resolves to bring the villain to justice once and for all. But there is no redemption for Spartan, who is blamed for the death of the twenty hostages. Both cop and criminal end up frozen in the California Cryo-Penitentiary as punishment.
Phoenix is unfrozen for a parole hearing in 2032. Things go wrong, and the criminal mastermind is unleased on a future where the city of San Angeles—a megalopolis formed from the merger of Los Angeles, San Diego, and Santa Barbara—is a heavily regulated utopia. Phoenix easily kills several police officers who have never had to deal with violent crime. Desperate for help, the San Angeles Police Department thaws John Spartan, and pairs him with a young, naïve Lieutenant (played by Sandra Bullock) to apprehend Phoenix the only way he knows how—utter chaos and old-fashioned butt kicking’s.
Set in a futuristic backdrop, Demolition Man is little more than an excuse for high octane action sequences. Of course, things are easier said than done, so Spartan must overcome several obstacles. We know he will, but the fun is in getting there. While the science fiction angle is interesting, there’s little to differentiate it from the action flicks that made Stallone a top box office draw in the 1980’s. It was fun seeing Sandra Bullock early in her movie career.
Presented in the 2.35:1 aspect ratio, Arrow has delivered a solid 4K transfer. A few shots show their age, but Dolby Vision is largely effective. Sharpness is good for the most part, though interiors look soft on occasion. Colors look warm and natural. Flames and explosions are perfectly rendered. Blacks are deep and inky throughout. There’s a nice level of grain. No image anomalies are apparent.
Demolition Man offers Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 options. Designed for the action heavy film it is, surrounds are almost always present. Fully immersive, the Atmos track is everything you expect of an action film. Loud and bombastic, explosions sound like they’re right in the room with you. Other effects are well mixed. Dialogue is clean, clear and concise throughout.
English SDH subtitles are included.
The following extras are available:
- US Version (1:55:08) and International Version (1:55:02) are easily reached under the Choose Version Menu.
Audio Commentaries:
- Director Marco Brambilla and Screenwriter Daniel Waters (2024)
- Film critic Mike White (2024)
- Director Marco Brambilla and Producer Joel Silver
Featurettes and More:
- Somewhere over the Rambo (HD, 17:01) A visual essay by Josh Nelson.
- Demolition Design (HD, 14:14) A new interview with production designer David L. Snyder.
- Cryo Action (HD, 5:53) A new interview with stunt coordinator Charles Percini.
- Biggs’ Body Shop (HD, 5:46) A new interview with special make-up effects artist Chris Biggs.
- Tacos and Hockey Pucks (HD, 9:55) A new interview with body effects set coordinator Jeff Farley.
- Theatrical Trailer (HD, 2:06)
- Image Gallery (HD)
- Book: A sixty-page book featuring several essays, and an assortment of stills, etc.
- Poster: Double sided fold out
- Stickers
