In 1996 Los Angeles, psychopathic criminal Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes) has taken 30 hostages inside an abandoned building and it is up to police sergeant John Spartan (Sylvester Stallone) to save the day. But before Spartan can get his man, Phoenix detonates the building, presumably killing the hostages. Phoenix is captured, but at the same time, Spartan is charged with manslaughter. Both are sentenced to an experimental new form of rehabilitation: cryogenically frozen while being exposed to subliminal messages.

Decades later, with help from an unknown source, Phoenix is unthawed, breaks out of prison, and begins to run amok. The newly formed city, now known as San Angeles, is strikingly different and is a society in which pacifism and docility is strictly enforced, so much so that the police now have zero experience with violent criminals. The San Angeles police chief approves the unthawing of John Spartan with the orders to stop Phoenix once and for all.

Demolition Man isn't a great, or even good movie, but the script contains some eliminates of thought with its social commentary. Snipes' outlandishly played Phoenix character is a scene stealer. The film isn't all kicks and punches, though, as its witty one-liners have its tongue planted firmly in its cheek.

• Release Year: 1993
• Genre: Action
• Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Wesley Snipes, and Sandra Bullock.
• Trailer
• Summary: A police officer is brought out of suspended animation in prison to pursue an old ultra-violent nemesis who is loose in a non-violent future society.

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