Fast forward 30 years: a reality check for Demolition Man
11/10/2023
Translation: Elicia Payne
Demolition Man hit theatres in 1993, but for the most part is set in the year 2032. The film shows the audience a sometimes rather weird vision of the future. From childish jingles to virtual sex: which of these became reality?
«Mellow greetings sir. What seems to be your boggle?» Perhaps you know this iconic phrase from the movie Demolition Man starring Sylvester Stallone, Wesley Snipes and Sandra Bullock. It’s not a deep film. Rather, like many 90s films, it combines plenty of action with snappy banter. Let’s take a look at the technology and everyday life in the futuristic town San Angeles.
This is Demolition Man
In 1996, Los Angeles is in chaos: the crime rate is through the roof. John Spartan (Sylvester Stallone) is a muscle-bound cop who misjudges the situation while hunting down violent villain Simon Phoenix (Wesley Snipes). As a result of his actions a group of hostages die, so Spartan has to follow Phoenix into cryo-prison. The body is frozen and the inmate is locked away for many years.
In 2032, the two are prematurely unfrozen and confronted with a completely changed world in which crime no longer exists. Phoenix has an easy time of it here, while Spartan has trouble adjusting.
Futuristic technology
Virtual Conferences: for me, the meeting at the conference table is unforgettable. The faces of participants appear on clunky, rotating screens that stand like chairs at the table. Only the host can actually move around. The screens rotate like real heads would.
Reality Check: nowadays, it’s hard to imagine everyday office life without video calls.
Using computers: in the film, you operate computer terminals using a keyboard, a touch screen, and your voice. You can log into databases online, conduct research and activate systems via the Internet such as the automatic graffiti remover.
Reality Check: voice control and touch screens are rather the exception in normal computers. Ticket machines, on the other hand, resemble the terminals in the movie, and we don’t need to discuss smartphones, tablets and AI assistants like Alexa.
Voice control: as a teenager, I was amazed when a person in the movie turned the lights on and off with just a word.
Reality Check: now a reality thanks to smart homes. Even here, Alexa sends her regards.
Self-driving vehicles: in 2032, there’s no more pollution. As a result, combustion vehicles can only be found in museums. Electric cars drive autonomously by default. The radio only plays advertising jingles for children, which adults also passionately sing along to. Rock or even metal isn’t for the gentle soul.
Reality Check: internal combustion engines will eventually become obsolete here, too, and self-driving cars are already a reality to some extent. But I wouldn’t be happy just listening to advertising jingles.
Full surveillance, no sex, no meat
No crime: everyone has an implanted chip through which they can be located at any time. As a result, there’s no more crime and violence of any form also goes in the museum. Swearing is also considered a violation of the verbal morality statute and is immediately punishable by a fine.
Reality Check: data protection laws fortunately make extensive surveillance illegal in this country. Violence unfortunately still affects many people.
Body Contact: touching other people is frowned upon. Shaking hands no longer exists and the «exchange of bodily fluids» is considered disgusting and barbaric. For intimate moments, there’s a helmet that allows a virtual union.
Reality Check: the urge to shake hands has taken a hit in recent years because of Corona, but seems to be making a comeback.
Meat: in the San Angeles of 2032, only synthetic meat exists. If you want a burger made of real meat, you have to search underground for illegal barbecue stands. But careful: there’s only rat burgers.
Reality Check: we don’t have a meat ban. However, eating less meat is trendy and there are many vegan alternatives around.
But one thing is clear about these visions of the future: even today, probably no one in the audience knows how to use the famous three seashells.
Header image: Warner Bros.
Feels just as comfortable in front of a gaming PC as she does in a hammock in the garden. Likes the Roman Empire, container ships and science fiction books. Focuses mostly on unearthing news stories about IT and smart products.
