The Demolitionist (1995)

the audience applauded

A lot more amusing than I thought it would be.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

My interest in The Demolitionist was aroused on discovering that the UK BBFC had cut nearly four minutes from this film before granting its 18 certificate. What were the scenes that were too outrageous for British sensibilities? What were the cinematic threats to civilisation as we know it? In eager anticipation I pressed the 'Play' button.Comparisons with Robocop are inevitable. Both films are about cops who die and are re-animated by the use of modern technology although Nicole Eggert's Alyssa Lloyd is kept going by regular doses of Prof. Jack Crowley's (Bruce Abbott) blood-substitute plasma. With her high-tech armour and armoury, she pursues Mad Dog Burne (Richard Grieco) and his criminal biker gang, engaging in the requisite shoot-outs and explosions. There is humour in this film but of the unintentional kind; her guns never run out of ammunition and despite the film being set in the future, the police cars look as if they came out of the 1950s.I think that the BBFC cuts are as follows (but cannot confirm). There is a torture scene when Alyssa's cover is blown but it doesn't compare with Reservoir Dogs. Mention is made by one of the gang members about "ripping her tits off" but dubbing over this would solve that problem. A young girl is menaced by Mad Dog Burne in a bank raid but comes to no harm. I would guess that the cuts would be re-instated if the film was to be resubmitted but you can never tell with the BBFC.This film was entertaining and fun but not a patch on the original Robocop. The acting by some of the cast was a bit over-the-top and the special effects left a lot to be desired. A few squirts of tomato ketchup would have been more convincing as blood than the red powder. Finally I disagree with the run time. The cover of my USA-R rated VHS says 100 minutes but the film actually runs for only 93 minutes. I give it 3 stars.

Oh yes, I remember long ago when I starred in this film, as my portrayal of the dastardly Swamp Rat surely won the praise of many fellow actors on the set. Yes indeed, it was this cameo appearance that would lead me on to great, great things in the future. Yet I digress, as far as the quality of this film goes... I would have to say it is no less than brilliant. The acting? Superb! The plot? Simply magnificent! And the special effects? They will blow your mind! I wont reveal the clever twists this movie entails, but I can say there are many unexpected surprises involved, believe me, I was on the set! But let me just say this: if you thought Robocop was good, wait until you've seen "The Demolitionist"!

Decent B-scifi/actioner with a fast pace and definite comic book sense about it. The most fascinating thing about it is that nearly every single scene has a well-known face from the late 70s/early 80s horror genre. Kurtzman called in a number of favors from actors he had worked make-up on in various films for this one. Nicole Eggert is in top physical form and rather pleasing on the eye as the heroine, and Richard Grieco is gloriously hammy as the villain.The flaw that really got me was that "The Demolitionist" (a title which is never actually used in the movie to describe the "Lazarus project") had a pair of guns that fired hundreds of rounds per minute, yet the bad guys only got a few wounds even at point-blank range. I suppose if you can get past this minor detail, it's worth a quick viewing.

Yeeesh...a rating of 4!? What's with *that*? This is one of the most hilariously terrible action sci-fi movies ever made, my friends and brothers. Lets talk about effects. Yes..the blood is actually *smoke powder* which seems to leak from the villains once they're shot. Terrible explosions and pyrotechnics, including inexcusably horrible gunfire effects. The acting is terrible, and will haunt your nightmares. You have been forewarned, comrades. Be wary!