After all these years, I still can't get that pronunciation of "Taco Bellll" out of my head. I've always felt this film had so much to unpack, so many levels that were prescient and warm and cuddly terrifying. Great job on this analysis.
if you strip away the action-comedy aspect of it and purely look at the social commentary it's not much different from Babylon Bee or other crappy anti-woke writing... this is why looking at it as an action-comedy is probably your best bet.
"Warm and fuzzy totalitarianism" is the scariest kind of totalitarianism, if only because of the large percentage of the population who would eagerly embrace it. I had no idea how many until a discussion of Iain Banks's Culture novels several years ago, when I found I was the only person in the group who had any objection to the idea of living as, effectively, a pet of the AI "Minds" in the setting. Every other person thought the idea of a life of endless drug-fueled orgies, with no responsibilities and no consequences, ever, sounded like an absolute utopia.
I worry that I'm in the group that would never choose such an existence, but if I found myself already in that situation would never be able to find the initiative to do anything about it.
The willingness to deliberately ignore the deductive conclusion and keep working oneself into circular logic to maintain invalid ideas has become so prevalent today, it’s near impossible to have an intelligent conversation with anyone. There are days Stalin’s Purges sound like the best, only solution to a population so broken, it can’t think.
Not sure why having a utopian universe is somehow a bad thing. Oh, right you probably think humans are somehow special and stuff even though there is not one iota of evidence that is true. Plus, look at how many people are fine with being pets for gods, how exactly is it a stretch that people might be okay with having a truly benevolent superior who happens to be an inorganic intelligence?
@@Philistine47 you say that like having all your basic needs taken care of was a bad thing and not the goal of human civilization. Pretty sure that people like you haven’t had enough trauma in their lives because you do not appreciate how wonderful a utopia would be. A world without suffering, disease, a world where you can change up your body if the one you born to isn’t right for you, where you can live a life of leisure and where you are safe from dying of starvation or being homeless, unclothed, or uneducated. Yeah, I really don’t get you people and your dislike of fully automated luxury gay space communism. :) Meanwhile, pass the Soma would ya? :p
Hey, I think you’re channel has gone super critical; in two years we’ll be congratulating you on reaching 100k subscribers. And, as always, I appreciate the longer format that you’ve invested in recently.
something that i liked about demolition man is the fact is that it showcased the undercity as an unhinged but terrible place to live, despite their inhabitants being able to endure and comprehend the flaws humanity and its creation ; they were begginning to become pretty apathic about their situation, i wish the movie had touched more on that.
In my opinion, the horror at the core of dystopian/utopia is not the absolute anarchy or comfort from their respective genres but the lack of ludens (play) within them. Not in the basic sense of chess or soccer or political intrigue, but homo ludens (human games) in competition. The same paradigms our parents would introduce to us through "tag"/ "hide and seek" would later become the framework of actionable skills like "hunting"/ "escape/evasion." This childish play is not exclusive to ourselves but incorporates all of society. Competition in which everyone participates, no matter how little. Creating an environment in which there is no need for competition or it is useless to compete has ramifications on culture, ethics, morals, and society. I think that there is a "goldilocks zone" for this homo ludens that inspires and encourages competition and individuality without the complete stratification of society into isolated systems. An equilibrium akin to that of a biosphere, and when one entity (dystopian/utopian) does not allow the random yet cyclical renewal of competition, the game (society) more or less stops. There is either no development at all or no innovation at all. The ebb and flow of all (participants, ideas, inventions) is essential. I believe the most important thing is for us as a society is to constantly interrogate and open ourselves to discourse to be both strong and vulnerable (ebb and flow) in an academic manner in order to prevent this stagnation. A fair ludens of discourse.
I agree, exactly right. It’s like the search for “stability” in society or government, we don’t want true stability so much as manageable tension. A little bit of discord is good. I haven't encountered a reference to "Homo Ludens" since around the time Demolition Man was in theaters.
One shell is used to insert another shell that acts as a barrier to prevent any waste from contacting your skin altogether, then the 3rd shell is used to remove.. Makes Spartan being laughed at and mocked so much more ironically funny 👍
The shells are the names for the shell shaped buttons which control the wash, dry and flush functions for the built in bidet. It's the only possibility that works in the built world and I'll die on this hill.
@@kennethschlegel870 Mick Dundee: "'Ey, Sue! Some nitwit went and put in two 'dunnies'! Sue Charlton: "One 'dunny', one bidet." Mick: "Bidet?" Sue: "It's for...AFTER the bidet...(hesitates)...YOU figure it out!" (disappears, then reappears, rather coyly:) "See you at Six..." (Mick fiddles around with the bidet, then observing the water jet that shoots out from it, finally realizes how it works, and calls out the window to Sue, getting into her limo...) "for washing your back side!"
You always pick such great locations for your videos! I cannot even count how many times I have seen this movie! I think it works well as a Double Feature with the Stallone version of Judge Dredd!
Cool! A lot of people hate on that movie due its divergence from the source material... But then, how many Americans read British Comics?!? @@feralhistorian
I'm really glad you brought up _The Dispossessed_ as an example. Le Guin was a master at setting up a seemingly simplistic fable, then showing how every part of it falls into complexity and contradictions as soon as you start questioning your assumptions. Her writing feels almost Socratic, like it's guiding you toward asking the right questions and trying to answer them for yourself.
The thing about all these proposed "perfect" societies is that they require absolute perfection all the time. Like you said about one good kick bringing the whole system down, if you implant a single imperfection into a perfect world, it must be expunged immediately or everything will collapse like a house of cards.
It wasn't even threatened with collapse, just that guy wanting to change everything because he accomplished what he set out to do and now change must occur. The guy is an arch-Liberal, but the police are inert with no authority.
I ask you this... when as that idiom actually proven correct? "One good kick and the whole rotten structure comes falling down"? Because that is not how any society works, has worked or ever will work.
@@adam346 When has a society ever been perfect enough for this to apply? I was referring to the dystopias you find in sci-fi; so far no real life attempts at building a perfect society have succeeded in doing so. Although, many dictatorships like to pretend that theirs is not only perfect, but the best possible thing in history--North Korea under the Kims is an obvious example.
@@terrorcop101 yeah.. not 100% sure you realize what you mean with NK or the Kim's... if they do go down it's taking Seoul with them and if the populace has not rebelled after 60-somthing years, they are not going to. Fictional utopias are always kind of stupid... even this guys entire reading into it is more conjecture than anything else. He is taking concepts from this movie, using another more in-depth example to further explain what this movie is trying to say... which is not how that works. We don't know how family treat each other, people still choose to have kids, yes you are fined a credit for swearing but you can be fined in public for causing a nuisance even if its just swearing at random people. Like, for however much this guy tries to dumb down this supposed dystopia, I'd rather live there than many other versions of dystopias where corporations run everything. It may be weird and quant and violence is looked down upon and old jingles are the biggest sensation right now (as though popular music isn't always just the same crap regurgitated) it doesn't actually reek of anything overtly nefarious.
@adam346 what is with the frantic questioning? The "perfect" society is what he meant like Germany, soviet union and China where nobody was ever allowed.to bad.mouth the fearless leader and everyone was forced to repeat all the propaganda. We experienced this during covid where some parasitic swine dog functionary would hound you if your mask slipped an inch below your nose. There is no length or amount of treasure too great to do this cleansing of society is the point of the op. The ruling class are so maniacal and egotistical that their words must become reality even if that means turning the whole place into a horror
“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. They may be more likely to go to Heaven yet at the same time likelier to make a Hell of earth. This very kindness stings with intolerable insult. To be "cured" against one's will and cured of states which we may not regard as disease is to be put on a level of those who have not yet reached the age of reason or those who never will; to be classed with infants, imbeciles, and domestic animals.” - God in the Dock, by C.S. Lewis.
@@adamlove3295I’ll save you some time, you’re looking for *whale* skin hubcaps. You need the baby seal eyes(big and brown) for *headlights*. Let me know if that helps!
I've seen a view videos in a row just now and still cannot stop, awesome take on this one! Great channel, subbed! TBH I like this movie even more than I liked it back then because - it's not just smart, self-aware and full of sarcasm, it still loughs you in the face after decades - but with a different spin. It is quite a product of its own time (having Stallone and Snipes parodying themselves and an entire genre), while being eerily close to our reality today in certain ways, kinda reflecting back and forth like mirrors standing infront of each other. - But besides, I really love the references to literature you make, it completes this review really nicely.
There must have been a period of great political upheaval to bring about THIRT-FOUR more Constitutional Amendments in what was then but 39 years. Considering that we haven't had ONE since (the last being in 1992, restricting Congressional ability to give itself a pay raise), with but eight years to go, probably not gonna happen, and even IF Arnold's eligibility to be POTUS was possible, his political future is, well...not too good.
You sir have swiftly become one of my favorite thinkers on RUclips. I have the distinct feeling you have some published material purchasable in actual book form. Where can I find that?
Imagine how tough it was for me! I just finished watching Feral Historians commentary on Judge Dredd less than 30 minutes before watching this video! 😂
"...ultimately collapse under the weight of their own hubris." I'd say this statement is prophetic, but it's not: it's observable, and we are about there now.
@@badfoody Many first world countries in europe too. I guess america too. Disposition of identity through media, Because if no one knows who they are, they are easier to control Disconnection of community and people through division of all kinds of things. Today you need an opinion of everything. "Choice" of either work, pay tons of bills, maybe take debt to make you dependent, Or just rot on the streets.
What I will always remember about Demolition Man is the range of Dan Cortez. So much more than just a pretty face, a criminal, a guard, and a highbrow entertainer.
One thing that always stuck with me in this silly movie, (when i learned the context since iam not American) was Simon saying " I know what you remind me about, you are an evil Mr Rogers". Simon says specifically "evil" because hes lucid and recognizes between both and chooses to embrace evil. Even Simon is perplexed by the narcissism and pure undiluted vanity infused evil Cocteau represents. He needs to unlock that phrase in his mind before getting someone else to kill him. Its funny how the distopias where everyone is happy is usually, the like other ones really, built on top of sacrifice and scapegoating. Thats what I believe is nagging in our consciousness at night in bed, iam safe, at what cost.
Excellent analysis! I enjoyed this movie back in the day as a teenager, and since then I've enjoyed it more with each viewing every ten or so years. Each time noticing something new and seeing things differently, drawing parallels to our society and current events. This one definitely ended up being a lot more than a mindless action movie.
Got a chuckle out of the parody of Dennis Leary's John Wayne rant at the end there. In some aspects, I've felt Demolition Man is like Idiocracy in having predicted how society has ended up.
I guess I need to go back and reread all those books. I was ateen when I read them, they meant a lot to me, and I thought I understood them, but clearly a lot was missing from my understanding. There are probably a lot of books I should reread. Yet I have so many books yet to read for the first time. But I know, from experience. I read Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn (these are 2 separate books, and I got the names wrong) first when I was 10 years old, again when I was 16 and last at 23 years old. They were very different books at these different ages. I remember that I came to detest Tom Sawyer much more with each reading.
Thanks. I love this movie. It's a rare example of an action flick that has deeper layers & more thought behind it than at first appears. It's more than the sum of its parts. tavi.
Very interesting! This kind of reminds me of the movie "Prayer of the Rollerboys". Can I please ask that you make a video about "Prayer of the Rollerboys". I feel like the movie has been largely forgotten, not to mention that it's criminally underrated. I am very curious to hear your take on it.
@@feralhistorian Wow! I'm surprised! I think it's very hard to find it anywhere legally to watch, but it's such an old movie that no one seems to care that it's uploaded on RUclips in it's entirety.
yeah, they call it disturbing the peace, is usually a fine. People can file noise complaints if you have parties and the police can fine you for playing music too loud late at night or having a muffler that is too loud on your car. You can be charged with making threats, utterances of death or even stalking and aggressive behavior... peace orders and restraining orders can be placed on people should they decide that being an a**hole is more important than being civil to a particular individual and go out of their way to be one. They can kick you out of restaurants for being an ass to the wait-staff or the work-force or even another customer... and then can get you arrested for trespassing on the property if you don't leave. You have freedom of speech but not freedom from consequences.
This was insanely good video. The way you organized it all and presented it was really on point. You gave me a bunch of books I never heard of and now want to read so thanks for that especially. Liked and subscribed, keep it Feral big dog.
Having just watched your vid on Dune, I recall a line from God Emperor something along the lines of "If you're the sort of person who loves sitting on the shore and fishing, I've created a utopia."
I've said before that BNW is unique among dystopias in that it recruits its top leaders from among its most strident opponents via the simple expedient of... rationally arguing for continuing the status quo. Even citing the many failed experimental stabs at alternative social models. As totalitarian regimes go, that's about as benign as you can get.
BNW also gets around that "over-production of elites" problem by centrally planning demographics. From outside it's a totalitarian eugenics nightmare, but viewed from within . . . yeah, everyone just fits right into the role they were made for just as if it were the other way around.
After hearing your dissertation of Demolition Man (which, honestly I would have never thought about in that depth )it’s actually closer to the world in general. Follow your dream, ideas, passions etc (basically individuality)with no garantee of success or even a living wage or stay in your comfort zone, get paid and have a stress free life. I have lived that less travelled path and It is very hard. (Seasonal work. Living in other countries where you don’t have the same freedom,ease of gettting products not getting shook down by the locals) Living outside the collective of society is shunned upon hard. Most people are already in that collective without even a safety net. Man! I have never thought this deeply about that movie. Who are you!?
Sheer genius! Another book you might consider is "The Giver" by Lois Lowry (but NOT the movie, a pitiful sham, in no way resembling the book). Written as a young adult novel, it is an excellent intro into "sameness" and language control.
This was one of my favorite movies ever. It was just so on point about everything and that was before 9/11 and the rise of the security state in the US. I particularly liked the cursing in order to get the paper fines to literally wipe his butt with since he didn't know how to use the 3 shells. (Admittedly, it does seem a bit odd that they'd have shells rather than just standardizing on bidets)
the literal point of the shells is to confuse and anger him... literally nothing else. I have seen and heard the commentaries and there was no proper way to use the shells or logic to why it's three sea-shells, it was just for a bit.
Since its adolescent myelination and reading /1984/ in 1984 (which seemed appropriate), my frontal cortex has always really enjoyed contemplating these sort of things from the same constellation of various manifestations of media pieces--thanks!
The best dystopian is one where you believe and are happy in it. The reason Demolition Man works is because it's not oppressive. Overall people, humanity in a greater whole, is happy. They find purpose, they find meaning, they have little to no fears. Who wouldn't want to live in that world if you are damned honest?
I like your criticism of cinema. I wish you had joined me and my buddies in the 80’s watching movies and then going to Denny’s and discussing it 😂. This is a close second.👍
Potential counterpoint to an assumption here - it is possible that we only value things like 'family', 'culture', and 'tradition' because they are the status quo, the thing that we have been raised to value. Merely stating that they are ad-hoc things of value to a society is reductive, and does not interrogate whether that assumption is accurate - it simply takes it as assumed that the audience is on board with the idea that some arbitrary list of things is necessary for some quality the presenter decides to call 'humanity', with the explicit connotation that its antithesis is 'inhuman' and thus bad a priori. Which is not to say that those things *aren't* good or valuable. It is merely to say that the simple acceptance of the value of those things as axiomatic is something that ought to be interrogated in the context of utopian/dystopian literature. As pointed out in the video, one person's dystopia can be another's utopia, and vice versa. It feels worthwhile to try to understand whether such 'human values' are inherent, or simply bestowed by the society that holds them so deeply that they feel intrinsic, and whether those things have independent value beyond that formative indoctrination (indoctrinating someone from a formative age with ideas that happen to be true, good, or valuable is still indoctrination). It's the idea of Chesterfield's Fence. The dystopic reading claims that the fence was necessary all along, and that people were foolish for tearing it down for their own design. The utopic reading claims that the fence was in the way and that everyone is better now that it is gone. But neither position seems to truly look at the fence itself and why it was put up and what purpose it actually serves - they simply assert. The parallel I recall most strongly in the movie to this, a thing that sort of 'represents' the whole by a part, is the Three Seashells. To John Spartan, the Three Seashells are nonsensical: a fundamental part of the world he knows has been removed and replaced with something absurd. To Huxley, the Three Seashells are obvious: such a basic part of the world they live in that the idea that someone wouldn't understand it is what is absurd. But nobody stops to explain what the Three Seashells are for, why they exist, what they do - and yes, I am aware that that is in fact the joke, but it is also a strong metaphor for the lack of interrogation by society of the true value and purpose of the things within it. are the Three Seashells bad? Are they actually better than the old way of doing things, or are they worse, and in what tangible way? Or are they only 'worse' because they are strange, unfamiliar, and seem absurd compared to a previous way that, in and of itself, had its own problems and may or may not have been the best way to do things? We never find out, and nobody in-world seems to care about those questions.
Double Gold Loop Earing Sweley Snipes was cool. Actually the dyspoia is very weak, friendly even. Capable of being conquered by none other than Arnold Swasarnegger, or Wesley Snipes in a matter of hours lol. It was a story to me about society forgetting traditions and reintroducing them with time travelers, very 80s, very futuristic retro.
hey Feral Historian do you know about the youtuber Noah Caldwell-Gervais he is somewhat similar to you he used video games (and also travel logs) to talk about philosophy
Nice. Brave New World is the best dystopian book, and Demolition Man is, oddly, becoming the one of the best dystopian movies, both for how they take bourgeois values of prosperity and safety and ramps them up into a complete social ethic that slashes our balls off as it cuts away any possible threat to serenity. I doubt these visions could ever become real, as serenity creates boredom and probably ends up being self-correcting. You have to experience a lot of chaos to appreciate calm, and maybe vice versa. But where 1984 presents directly oppressive authority as forever the threat, it's different with either of these stories. You could imagine, given the state of real world moralizing, this kind of thing coming about from popular opinion. The people might be the problem. I'm fairly sure they are. The Woman on the Edge of Time passage about culture says more than it thinks about who they really are. Anyway, I also find myself laughing more and more at the guy in the phone booth trying to get the machine to validate him: "you are an incredibly sensitive man, who inspires joy-joy feeling in everyone around you." It seemed so absurd when I watched it, but now people are spending time with AI girlfriends. The entire planet should facepalm all at once.
I’ve watched the movie and read the book. But never put the two together, and now that you pointed it out I can’t un see how on the nose it is at times
In a world where it's illegal to put salt on your food, I doubt they still have cola. The Pepsi brand name might have survived to be put on bottled water or something, though.
Battletech also has the trueborn of the Clans: vat-raised sibkos (sibling companies) of children of eugenically-chosen genetic material from certain bloodline ancestors. Society is tightly controlled and extremely communal/group-focused. Advancement is meritocratic to the nth degree. However the purpose is not utopian (except by the trueborn's own lights) but to create the most perfect warriors possible. The trueborn also generally treat the freeborn (natural humans and the bulk of the Clans' population) like crap. It's Homer's "perfect" society, except with big stompy robots.
"Your liberty is a hostage I love dearly. As long as it lives, I will not do as I like. Empathy is my chains, brother, but soon I will be free." Can't remember who said it, but...
I always thought this movie more accurately reflected Herbert George's The Time Machine with it's description of Eloi and Morlocks than Brave New World.
T.V. Reporter : [to John Spartan] How can you justify destroying a $7 million dollar mini mall to rescue a girl whose ransom was only $25,000 dollars? Little Girl : F*CK YOU, LADY! John Spartan : Ha! Good answer!
5:05 TBF Huxley specifically set her radio to the "Oldies" station for Spartan's benefit. I have no doubt new music is being made the San Angeles but much like Current Year a lot of it will be bland, edgeless corporate paint-by-numbers drek that will still be very consumable to the masses. Probably expressing the need to conform to the Cocteau's Rules.
Hey man! By the blessing if the almighty algorithm, I've just found your channel. Your videos clearly deserve more recognition. I hope you'll find success on youtube and don't give up. I also have a small... suggestion I guess. I grew up on Soviet movies and scifi books. Some of them are great and truly unique, and they hold up even today. However, I know that western audience is usually totally unaware of it. They might know some older Korean or French movies, but Soviet ones are never mentioned. I just thought it might be interesting for you to look into something unknown for an average American. That's merely a suggestion though. Keep up the good work. I'd wish you good luck, but luck is for losers and you're a professional.
I definitely plan on giving more attention to Soviet sci-fi. The timetable is uncertain, (and my terrible grasp of Russian narrows the field to translations) but some good old ComSciFi is on the agenda.
Yes its" brave new world" John Spartan is just JOHN by a different means. Here is the pitch they could have used "Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.” C.S. Lewis
Funnily enough, I was thinking about male reproductive rights just a few months back, and the solution I came to was a registry for couples. Basically, single men would need to apply for their paternal rights. Otherwise the child would be the sole responsibility of the mother. It sounds more dystopian after watching this video but I think it still makes sense and respects and preserves both parents' rights.
fun fact. Taco Bell changed their logo to a more modern look after that tie in. I guess pizza hut makes sense they are both owned by pepsico or were at the time
I've honestly come to despise dystopian fiction (the genre, not the Aviators song. _never_ the Aviators song) for a distinctly different reason: Peasants _might_ take it as a warning (for all the worth _that's_ shown), but the Suits _invariably_ take it as instructions, even while they pound the Peasants over the heads with it either as warning or as threats _wrapped_ in warnings.
When Dennis Leary uses a public restroom he pee's on the seat and in the summertime he walks around asking "how 'bout this heat?" I always forget that he's in this movie until I watch it again lol. Funny guy.
I liked how John called people Fascists because he disagreed with them, but refused to actually fix anything until the ending. The police could only probe tap your head and none of them will get close to him and live. He also liked how much better society was.
The authorial voice of the film advocates, in the denouncement, that the “liberal” society only needs to loosen up a little and the rebels need to clean up a lot. The axis of the messaging here does not really fall along contemporary cliche lines between far-right reactionary politics and well, basically everyone left of that. The Brave New World aesthetic of the socal society is largely just that; an aesthetic that was chosen to be recognizable. But the film is anything but, as the modern “anti woke” clique is trying to assimilate it, a screed against things like feminism.
After all these years, I still can't get that pronunciation of "Taco Bellll" out of my head. I've always felt this film had so much to unpack, so many levels that were prescient and warm and cuddly terrifying. Great job on this analysis.
if you strip away the action-comedy aspect of it and purely look at the social commentary it's not much different from Babylon Bee or other crappy anti-woke writing... this is why looking at it as an action-comedy is probably your best bet.
@@adam346 wah.
"Warm and fuzzy totalitarianism" is the scariest kind of totalitarianism, if only because of the large percentage of the population who would eagerly embrace it. I had no idea how many until a discussion of Iain Banks's Culture novels several years ago, when I found I was the only person in the group who had any objection to the idea of living as, effectively, a pet of the AI "Minds" in the setting. Every other person thought the idea of a life of endless drug-fueled orgies, with no responsibilities and no consequences, ever, sounded like an absolute utopia.
I worry that I'm in the group that would never choose such an existence, but if I found myself already in that situation would never be able to find the initiative to do anything about it.
The willingness to deliberately ignore the deductive conclusion and keep working oneself into circular logic to maintain invalid ideas has become so prevalent today, it’s near impossible to have an intelligent conversation with anyone.
There are days Stalin’s Purges sound like the best, only solution to a population so broken, it can’t think.
Not sure why having a utopian universe is somehow a bad thing. Oh, right you probably think humans are somehow special and stuff even though there is not one iota of evidence that is true. Plus, look at how many people are fine with being pets for gods, how exactly is it a stretch that people might be okay with having a truly benevolent superior who happens to be an inorganic intelligence?
@@craig.a.glesner "Utopia"? It's just _Brave New World_ with better PR.
@@Philistine47 you say that like having all your basic needs taken care of was a bad thing and not the goal of human civilization. Pretty sure that people like you haven’t had enough trauma in their lives because you do not appreciate how wonderful a utopia would be. A world without suffering, disease, a world where you can change up your body if the one you born to isn’t right for you, where you can live a life of leisure and where you are safe from dying of starvation or being homeless, unclothed, or uneducated. Yeah, I really don’t get you people and your dislike of fully automated luxury gay space communism. :)
Meanwhile, pass the Soma would ya? :p
Hey, I think you’re channel has gone super critical; in two years we’ll be congratulating you on reaching 100k subscribers. And, as always, I appreciate the longer format that you’ve invested in recently.
It's definitely reached the point where I have to start planning instead of just doing things.
something that i liked about demolition man is the fact is that it showcased the undercity as an unhinged but terrible place to live, despite their inhabitants being able to endure and comprehend the flaws humanity and its creation ; they were begginning to become pretty apathic about their situation, i wish the movie had touched more on that.
In my opinion, the horror at the core of dystopian/utopia is not the absolute anarchy or comfort from their respective genres but the lack of ludens (play) within them.
Not in the basic sense of chess or soccer or political intrigue, but homo ludens (human games) in competition. The same paradigms our parents would introduce to us through "tag"/ "hide and seek" would later become the framework of actionable skills like "hunting"/ "escape/evasion."
This childish play is not exclusive to ourselves but incorporates all of society. Competition in which everyone participates, no matter how little. Creating an environment in which there is no need for competition or it is useless to compete has ramifications on culture, ethics, morals, and society.
I think that there is a "goldilocks zone" for this homo ludens that inspires and encourages competition and individuality without the complete stratification of society into isolated systems. An equilibrium akin to that of a biosphere, and when one entity (dystopian/utopian) does not allow the random yet cyclical renewal of competition, the game (society) more or less stops. There is either no development at all or no innovation at all. The ebb and flow of all (participants, ideas, inventions) is essential.
I believe the most important thing is for us as a society is to constantly interrogate and open ourselves to discourse to be both strong and vulnerable (ebb and flow) in an academic manner in order to prevent this stagnation. A fair ludens of discourse.
I agree, exactly right. It’s like the search for “stability” in society or government, we don’t want true stability so much as manageable tension. A little bit of discord is good.
I haven't encountered a reference to "Homo Ludens" since around the time Demolition Man was in theaters.
Time to learn how to use the shells...
One shell is used to insert another shell that acts as a barrier to prevent any waste from contacting your skin altogether, then the 3rd shell is used to remove..
Makes Spartan being laughed at and mocked so much more ironically funny 👍
You don't know how to use the shells? 🤭
The shells are the names for the shell shaped buttons which control the wash, dry and flush functions for the built in bidet. It's the only possibility that works in the built world and I'll die on this hill.
2 to spread'em, 1 to scrape
@@kennethschlegel870 Mick Dundee: "'Ey, Sue! Some nitwit went and put in two 'dunnies'!
Sue Charlton: "One 'dunny', one bidet."
Mick: "Bidet?"
Sue: "It's for...AFTER the bidet...(hesitates)...YOU figure it out!" (disappears, then reappears, rather coyly:) "See you at Six..."
(Mick fiddles around with the bidet, then observing the water jet that shoots out from it, finally realizes how it works, and calls out the window to Sue, getting into her limo...) "for washing your back side!"
Nice D&D reference *Lawful Evil can't control Chaotic Evil"
and yet the 9 hells are the only thing holding back the abyss. the blood war is to keep the demons busy.
@@kingmasterlord I...guess?
@@robertlehnert4148 look into Asmodeus lore, thats canon. demons would overrun reality if their numbers weren't kept in check.
@@kingmasterlord Control is not the same thing as destroy.
@@dubuyajay9964 where did i make that claim?
You always pick such great locations for your videos! I cannot even count how many times I have seen this movie! I think it works well as a Double Feature with the Stallone version of Judge Dredd!
I'm planning to watch Judge Dredd again this weekend.
Cool! A lot of people hate on that movie due its divergence from the source material... But then, how many Americans read British Comics?!? @@feralhistorian
@@feralhistorian Would love to hear your thoughts on the Carl Urban version in a video.
It's coming.
And both have schneider being schneider
One of the greatest quotes ever!
"You can't take away people's right to be assholes" - Simon Phoenix
So Simon "says" (another movie pun) to the "EVIL Mister Rogers".
Yet Silicon Valley is doing that now.
I'm really glad you brought up _The Dispossessed_ as an example. Le Guin was a master at setting up a seemingly simplistic fable, then showing how every part of it falls into complexity and contradictions as soon as you start questioning your assumptions. Her writing feels almost Socratic, like it's guiding you toward asking the right questions and trying to answer them for yourself.
Pain is the anwser...also it fells more xvl century anabaptist that xx century anarchism
Your closing line cracked me up lol great video
The thing about all these proposed "perfect" societies is that they require absolute perfection all the time. Like you said about one good kick bringing the whole system down, if you implant a single imperfection into a perfect world, it must be expunged immediately or everything will collapse like a house of cards.
It wasn't even threatened with collapse, just that guy wanting to change everything because he accomplished what he set out to do and now change must occur. The guy is an arch-Liberal, but the police are inert with no authority.
I ask you this... when as that idiom actually proven correct? "One good kick and the whole rotten structure comes falling down"? Because that is not how any society works, has worked or ever will work.
@@adam346 When has a society ever been perfect enough for this to apply? I was referring to the dystopias you find in sci-fi; so far no real life attempts at building a perfect society have succeeded in doing so. Although, many dictatorships like to pretend that theirs is not only perfect, but the best possible thing in history--North Korea under the Kims is an obvious example.
@@terrorcop101 yeah.. not 100% sure you realize what you mean with NK or the Kim's... if they do go down it's taking Seoul with them and if the populace has not rebelled after 60-somthing years, they are not going to. Fictional utopias are always kind of stupid... even this guys entire reading into it is more conjecture than anything else. He is taking concepts from this movie, using another more in-depth example to further explain what this movie is trying to say... which is not how that works. We don't know how family treat each other, people still choose to have kids, yes you are fined a credit for swearing but you can be fined in public for causing a nuisance even if its just swearing at random people. Like, for however much this guy tries to dumb down this supposed dystopia, I'd rather live there than many other versions of dystopias where corporations run everything. It may be weird and quant and violence is looked down upon and old jingles are the biggest sensation right now (as though popular music isn't always just the same crap regurgitated) it doesn't actually reek of anything overtly nefarious.
@adam346 what is with the frantic questioning?
The "perfect" society is what he meant like Germany, soviet union and China where nobody was ever allowed.to bad.mouth the fearless leader and everyone was forced to repeat all the propaganda.
We experienced this during covid where some parasitic swine dog functionary would hound you if your mask slipped an inch below your nose.
There is no length or amount of treasure too great to do this cleansing of society is the point of the op.
The ruling class are so maniacal and egotistical that their words must become reality even if that means turning the whole place into a horror
Huxley was aware that he was writing a dystopia. Read "Island," also by Huxley to see his antithetical world.
“Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. They may be more likely to go to Heaven yet at the same time likelier to make a Hell of earth. This very kindness stings with intolerable insult. To be "cured" against one's will and cured of states which we may not regard as disease is to be put on a level of those who have not yet reached the age of reason or those who never will; to be classed with infants, imbeciles, and domestic animals.”
- God in the Dock, by C.S. Lewis.
Democracy is the worst system afterall.
Great Denis Leary "Asshole" reference at the end!
It's a classic.
@@feralhistorian I'm still annoyed I can't find after-market baby seal eye hubcaps for my car.
Stolen from Louis CK.
@@Emanon... No Cure For Cancer is from 1992. When do you believe Louis CK predated this?
@@adamlove3295I’ll save you some time, you’re looking for *whale* skin hubcaps. You need the baby seal eyes(big and brown) for *headlights*. Let me know if that helps!
Such a great movie. I didn't recognize a couple of those scenes though. Guess I'll have to hunt down the deleted scenes!
I would love if you talked about Blake's 7.
I want to talk about Blakes 7, but it's been so long I really need to watch the entire series first.
I've seen a view videos in a row just now and still cannot stop, awesome take on this one! Great channel, subbed! TBH I like this movie even more than I liked it back then because - it's not just smart, self-aware and full of sarcasm, it still loughs you in the face after decades - but with a different spin. It is quite a product of its own time (having Stallone and Snipes parodying themselves and an entire genre), while being eerily close to our reality today in certain ways, kinda reflecting back and forth like mirrors standing infront of each other. - But besides, I really love the references to literature you make, it completes this review really nicely.
Great commentary as always! Not to mention the President Schwarzenegger reference, which in hindsight may explain a lot about their society.
There must have been a period of great political upheaval to bring about THIRT-FOUR more Constitutional Amendments in what was then but 39 years. Considering that we haven't had ONE since (the last being in 1992, restricting Congressional ability to give itself a pay raise), with but eight years to go, probably not gonna happen, and even IF Arnold's eligibility to be POTUS was possible, his political future is, well...not too good.
The moral of the story in Demolition Man. All things in moderation.
At the end... I see what you did there! Good job.
You sir have swiftly become one of my favorite thinkers on RUclips.
I have the distinct feeling you have some published material purchasable in actual book form. Where can I find that?
My few publications are both obscure and long out of print. But I'm working on something . . .
@@feralhistorian looking forward to it, nice reference to Dennis Leary's musical catalog by the way
And Taco Bell rolled with the idea during promos lol
Personally I love the irony that it takes a few minutes to tell if it's Judge Dredd or Demolition Man if I randomly happen upon either on tv.
Imagine how tough it was for me! I just finished watching Feral Historians commentary on Judge Dredd less than 30 minutes before watching this video! 😂
"...ultimately collapse under the weight of their own hubris." I'd say this statement is prophetic, but it's not: it's observable, and we are about there now.
You can watch it in many countries
third world countries
Heck even China
Lol South Korean scionism too
Lots and lots
@@badfoody Many first world countries in europe too. I guess america too.
Disposition of identity through media,
Because if no one knows who they are, they are easier to control
Disconnection of community and people through division of all kinds of things.
Today you need an opinion of everything.
"Choice" of either work, pay tons of bills, maybe take debt to make you dependent,
Or just rot on the streets.
Dude, you may be my favorite creator now
What I will always remember about Demolition Man is the range of Dan Cortez. So much more than just a pretty face, a criminal, a guard, and a highbrow entertainer.
One thing that always stuck with me in this silly movie, (when i learned the context since iam not American) was Simon saying " I know what you remind me about, you are an evil Mr Rogers". Simon says specifically "evil" because hes lucid and recognizes between both and chooses to embrace evil. Even Simon is perplexed by the narcissism and pure undiluted vanity infused evil Cocteau represents. He needs to unlock that phrase in his mind before getting someone else to kill him. Its funny how the distopias where everyone is happy is usually, the like other ones really, built on top of sacrifice and scapegoating. Thats what I believe is nagging in our consciousness at night in bed, iam safe, at what cost.
Holy shit, keep making these. You're really good at it
Excellent analysis! I enjoyed this movie back in the day as a teenager, and since then I've enjoyed it more with each viewing every ten or so years. Each time noticing something new and seeing things differently, drawing parallels to our society and current events. This one definitely ended up being a lot more than a mindless action movie.
Then the ad following this examination of a comforting dystopia is for an employment service that offers “fair and equitable DEI hiring”.
Got a chuckle out of the parody of Dennis Leary's John Wayne rant at the end there.
In some aspects, I've felt Demolition Man is like Idiocracy in having predicted how society has ended up.
Just found you today, this is my second video of yours. I love these types of discussions
I guess I need to go back and reread all those books. I was ateen when I read them, they meant a lot to me, and I thought I understood them, but clearly a lot was missing from my understanding.
There are probably a lot of books I should reread. Yet I have so many books yet to read for the first time. But I know, from experience. I read Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn (these are 2 separate books, and I got the names wrong) first when I was 10 years old, again when I was 16 and last at 23 years old. They were very different books at these different ages. I remember that I came to detest Tom Sawyer much more with each reading.
Thanks. I love this movie. It's a rare example of an action flick that has deeper layers & more thought behind it than at first appears. It's more than the sum of its parts. tavi.
Very interesting! This kind of reminds me of the movie "Prayer of the Rollerboys". Can I please ask that you make a video about "Prayer of the Rollerboys". I feel like the movie has been largely forgotten, not to mention that it's criminally underrated. I am very curious to hear your take on it.
I've never seen it, but I'll give it a look.
@@feralhistorian Wow! I'm surprised! I think it's very hard to find it anywhere legally to watch, but it's such an old movie that no one seems to care that it's uploaded on RUclips in it's entirety.
"Look. You cant take away pepoles right to be assholes."
Simon phoenix.
yeah, they call it disturbing the peace, is usually a fine. People can file noise complaints if you have parties and the police can fine you for playing music too loud late at night or having a muffler that is too loud on your car. You can be charged with making threats, utterances of death or even stalking and aggressive behavior... peace orders and restraining orders can be placed on people should they decide that being an a**hole is more important than being civil to a particular individual and go out of their way to be one. They can kick you out of restaurants for being an ass to the wait-staff or the work-force or even another customer... and then can get you arrested for trespassing on the property if you don't leave. You have freedom of speech but not freedom from consequences.
Watched this many times back on VHS. Quality content.
The last line. Lifted straight from Denis Leary's No Cure For Cancer.
This was insanely good video. The way you organized it all and presented it was really on point. You gave me a bunch of books I never heard of and now want to read so thanks for that especially. Liked and subscribed, keep it Feral big dog.
I wish I had this channel 10 years ago.
I liked the scene of Sandra Bullock and Benjamin Bratt singing the Armour Hot Dogs jingle.
"Somebody put me back in the fridge."
Having just watched your vid on Dune, I recall a line from God Emperor something along the lines of "If you're the sort of person who loves sitting on the shore and fishing, I've created a utopia."
Excellent!!!
5:15 -- Uh-oh. I just occurred to me just how much I like the earlier rendition of the Skyrizi commercial jingle, "Nothing is Everything".
I'm a first time viewer, this is pretty solid video dude! I like the outdoor vibe of the video!
I've said before that BNW is unique among dystopias in that it recruits its top leaders from among its most strident opponents via the simple expedient of... rationally arguing for continuing the status quo. Even citing the many failed experimental stabs at alternative social models. As totalitarian regimes go, that's about as benign as you can get.
BNW also gets around that "over-production of elites" problem by centrally planning demographics. From outside it's a totalitarian eugenics nightmare, but viewed from within . . . yeah, everyone just fits right into the role they were made for just as if it were the other way around.
This movie was way ahead of its time.
After hearing your dissertation of Demolition Man (which, honestly I would have never thought about in that depth )it’s actually closer to the world in general. Follow your dream, ideas, passions etc (basically individuality)with no garantee of success or even a living wage or stay in your comfort zone, get paid and have a stress free life. I have lived that less travelled path and It is very hard. (Seasonal work. Living in other countries where you don’t have the same freedom,ease of gettting products not getting shook down by the locals) Living outside the collective of society is shunned upon hard. Most people are already in that collective without even a safety net. Man! I have never thought this deeply about that movie. Who are you!?
When you talk about cosplaying culture I can't help but think of Meatball Fulton's (Tom Lopez's) radio plays at ZBS.
Sheer genius! Another book you might consider is "The Giver" by Lois Lowry (but NOT the movie, a pitiful sham, in no way resembling the book). Written as a young adult novel, it is an excellent intro into "sameness" and language control.
This was one of my favorite movies ever. It was just so on point about everything and that was before 9/11 and the rise of the security state in the US.
I particularly liked the cursing in order to get the paper fines to literally wipe his butt with since he didn't know how to use the 3 shells. (Admittedly, it does seem a bit odd that they'd have shells rather than just standardizing on bidets)
the literal point of the shells is to confuse and anger him... literally nothing else. I have seen and heard the commentaries and there was no proper way to use the shells or logic to why it's three sea-shells, it was just for a bit.
I am glad RUclips recommended this to me
Since its adolescent myelination and reading /1984/ in 1984 (which seemed appropriate), my frontal cortex has always really enjoyed contemplating these sort of things from the same constellation of various manifestations of media pieces--thanks!
Love this movie Simon Phenix was one of the best 90s villains.
The best dystopian is one where you believe and are happy in it. The reason Demolition Man works is because it's not oppressive. Overall people, humanity in a greater whole, is happy. They find purpose, they find meaning, they have little to no fears. Who wouldn't want to live in that world if you are damned honest?
Rarely do we address how subjective the distinction between utopia and dystopia can be.
Considering how bad today is, it is utopian. Cops are worthless and laws have no real punishment.
Lore of Demolition Man and Dystopian Literature momentum 100
I like your criticism of cinema. I wish you had joined me and my buddies in the 80’s watching movies and then going to Denny’s and discussing it 😂.
This is a close second.👍
Potential counterpoint to an assumption here - it is possible that we only value things like 'family', 'culture', and 'tradition' because they are the status quo, the thing that we have been raised to value. Merely stating that they are ad-hoc things of value to a society is reductive, and does not interrogate whether that assumption is accurate - it simply takes it as assumed that the audience is on board with the idea that some arbitrary list of things is necessary for some quality the presenter decides to call 'humanity', with the explicit connotation that its antithesis is 'inhuman' and thus bad a priori.
Which is not to say that those things *aren't* good or valuable. It is merely to say that the simple acceptance of the value of those things as axiomatic is something that ought to be interrogated in the context of utopian/dystopian literature. As pointed out in the video, one person's dystopia can be another's utopia, and vice versa. It feels worthwhile to try to understand whether such 'human values' are inherent, or simply bestowed by the society that holds them so deeply that they feel intrinsic, and whether those things have independent value beyond that formative indoctrination (indoctrinating someone from a formative age with ideas that happen to be true, good, or valuable is still indoctrination).
It's the idea of Chesterfield's Fence. The dystopic reading claims that the fence was necessary all along, and that people were foolish for tearing it down for their own design. The utopic reading claims that the fence was in the way and that everyone is better now that it is gone. But neither position seems to truly look at the fence itself and why it was put up and what purpose it actually serves - they simply assert.
The parallel I recall most strongly in the movie to this, a thing that sort of 'represents' the whole by a part, is the Three Seashells. To John Spartan, the Three Seashells are nonsensical: a fundamental part of the world he knows has been removed and replaced with something absurd. To Huxley, the Three Seashells are obvious: such a basic part of the world they live in that the idea that someone wouldn't understand it is what is absurd. But nobody stops to explain what the Three Seashells are for, why they exist, what they do - and yes, I am aware that that is in fact the joke, but it is also a strong metaphor for the lack of interrogation by society of the true value and purpose of the things within it. are the Three Seashells bad? Are they actually better than the old way of doing things, or are they worse, and in what tangible way? Or are they only 'worse' because they are strange, unfamiliar, and seem absurd compared to a previous way that, in and of itself, had its own problems and may or may not have been the best way to do things? We never find out, and nobody in-world seems to care about those questions.
Double Gold Loop Earing Sweley Snipes was cool. Actually the dyspoia is very weak, friendly even. Capable of being conquered by none other than Arnold Swasarnegger, or Wesley Snipes in a matter of hours lol. It was a story to me about society forgetting traditions and reintroducing them with time travelers, very 80s, very futuristic retro.
One of the few dystopian movies with a good ending, instead of the Godless ending often potrayed
And avoid another riot ..i mean protest they did
Always remember the soviet experiment with dogs and electrified floors. They make you want to give up the choice.
Excellent video bathrobe man. Id wear mine to work but it makes my goats a tad bit frisky.
hey Feral Historian do you know about the youtuber Noah Caldwell-Gervais he is somewhat similar to you he used video games (and also travel logs) to talk about philosophy
I have watched some of Noah's stuff. More listened to actually, he has some interesting deep-dives.
@@kingmclaughlin5988 I suspect we'd get along alright.
This film is basically "Metropolis " updated.
Nice. Brave New World is the best dystopian book, and Demolition Man is, oddly, becoming the one of the best dystopian movies, both for how they take bourgeois values of prosperity and safety and ramps them up into a complete social ethic that slashes our balls off as it cuts away any possible threat to serenity. I doubt these visions could ever become real, as serenity creates boredom and probably ends up being self-correcting. You have to experience a lot of chaos to appreciate calm, and maybe vice versa. But where 1984 presents directly oppressive authority as forever the threat, it's different with either of these stories. You could imagine, given the state of real world moralizing, this kind of thing coming about from popular opinion. The people might be the problem.
I'm fairly sure they are. The Woman on the Edge of Time passage about culture says more than it thinks about who they really are.
Anyway, I also find myself laughing more and more at the guy in the phone booth trying to get the machine to validate him: "you are an incredibly sensitive man, who inspires joy-joy feeling in everyone around you." It seemed so absurd when I watched it, but now people are spending time with AI girlfriends. The entire planet should facepalm all at once.
I’ve watched the movie and read the book. But never put the two together, and now that you pointed it out I can’t un see how on the nose it is at times
Taco Bell and Pizza Hut we're both owned by the same Corporation I bet there's Pepsi in that Universe too
In a world where it's illegal to put salt on your food, I doubt they still have cola. The Pepsi brand name might have survived to be put on bottled water or something, though.
Battletech also has the trueborn of the Clans: vat-raised sibkos (sibling companies) of children of eugenically-chosen genetic material from certain bloodline ancestors. Society is tightly controlled and extremely communal/group-focused. Advancement is meritocratic to the nth degree.
However the purpose is not utopian (except by the trueborn's own lights) but to create the most perfect warriors possible. The trueborn also generally treat the freeborn (natural humans and the bulk of the Clans' population) like crap. It's Homer's "perfect" society, except with big stompy robots.
"Your liberty is a hostage I love dearly. As long as it lives, I will not do as I like. Empathy is my chains, brother, but soon I will be free."
Can't remember who said it, but...
What a video. Fantastic job
sick jinbei dude!
New Sub. You're gonna explode. Binging great content.
I always thought this movie more accurately reflected Herbert George's The Time Machine with it's description of Eloi and Morlocks than Brave New World.
Demolition Man or life in 2024 is an excellent bit of dystopian fiction
T.V. Reporter : [to John Spartan] How can you justify destroying a $7 million dollar mini mall to rescue a girl whose ransom was only $25,000 dollars?
Little Girl : F*CK YOU, LADY!
John Spartan : Ha! Good answer!
This movie made me think of California Über Alles when i first watched it.
Crazy how i was thinking of this movie this morning and was trying yo remember the name of it.. the algorithm is in my head now 😅
Everyone was rooting for Simon Phoenix back in the day.
5:05 TBF Huxley specifically set her radio to the "Oldies" station for Spartan's benefit. I have no doubt new music is being made the San Angeles but much like Current Year a lot of it will be bland, edgeless corporate paint-by-numbers drek that will still be very consumable to the masses. Probably expressing the need to conform to the Cocteau's Rules.
Hey man! By the blessing if the almighty algorithm, I've just found your channel. Your videos clearly deserve more recognition. I hope you'll find success on youtube and don't give up.
I also have a small... suggestion I guess. I grew up on Soviet movies and scifi books. Some of them are great and truly unique, and they hold up even today. However, I know that western audience is usually totally unaware of it. They might know some older Korean or French movies, but Soviet ones are never mentioned. I just thought it might be interesting for you to look into something unknown for an average American. That's merely a suggestion though. Keep up the good work. I'd wish you good luck, but luck is for losers and you're a professional.
I definitely plan on giving more attention to Soviet sci-fi. The timetable is uncertain, (and my terrible grasp of Russian narrows the field to translations) but some good old ComSciFi is on the agenda.
@@feralhistorian I really hope to see you reviewing "Monday Begins on Saturday" one day, although I understand that time is a finite resource
We love a Denis Leary callback
This is really good stuff........really good..
“Dennis Learys rant wasn’t even in the script, he just started talking on set one day and we decided to film it!”
That's the deepest brainless action flic I've ever seen. A masterwork.
Robocop is competitive.
Yes its" brave new world" John Spartan is just JOHN by a different means. Here is the pitch they could have used
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.” C.S. Lewis
Very interesting analysis.
Funnily enough, I was thinking about male reproductive rights just a few months back, and the solution I came to was a registry for couples. Basically, single men would need to apply for their paternal rights. Otherwise the child would be the sole responsibility of the mother.
It sounds more dystopian after watching this video but I think it still makes sense and respects and preserves both parents' rights.
This is good channel
fun fact. Taco Bell changed their logo to a more modern look after that tie in. I guess pizza hut makes sense they are both owned by pepsico or were at the time
I've honestly come to despise dystopian fiction (the genre, not the Aviators song. _never_ the Aviators song) for a distinctly different reason:
Peasants _might_ take it as a warning (for all the worth _that's_ shown), but the Suits _invariably_ take it as instructions, even while they pound the Peasants over the heads with it either as warning or as threats _wrapped_ in warnings.
It does seem that the plutocrats have been going through those stories with a highlighter. "Oh, that's good. Gotta make sure we do that . . ."
Great video, but what type of shirt is he waring at 6:30 ? I want one, looks comfortable.
When Dennis Leary uses a public restroom he pee's on the seat and in the summertime he walks around asking "how 'bout this heat?"
I always forget that he's in this movie until I watch it again lol. Funny guy.
I still think it's a funny idea that the movie may have been only a step or two away from predicting vaporwave.
John Spartan isn't dead, he's just missing in action. I'm 4 years Cortana will wake him up so they can fight the Didact on Requiem!
One of the best movies ever
5:18 has me thinking about yt shorts and tik tok
The only unbelievable part is cops are somehow not even more heavily armed in the future😂
1:52 is probably the most iconic line from the movie! (That and the reference to Jeff Dahmer later on . . . .)
683rd Like.
I liked how John called people Fascists because he disagreed with them, but refused to actually fix anything until the ending. The police could only probe tap your head and none of them will get close to him and live. He also liked how much better society was.
The authorial voice of the film advocates, in the denouncement, that the “liberal” society only needs to loosen up a little and the rebels need to clean up a lot. The axis of the messaging here does not really fall along contemporary cliche lines between far-right reactionary politics and well, basically everyone left of that. The Brave New World aesthetic of the socal society is largely just that; an aesthetic that was chosen to be recognizable.
But the film is anything but, as the modern “anti woke” clique is trying to assimilate it, a screed against things like feminism.