Three Seashells & Taco Bell – Demolition Man

Intro: 0:00

Take a time machine back to before the world went to hell, around the year 2000.

Adam Wintz: 0:07

The 80s and 90s were so rad. The movies, the music, the TV, the games, that's what I want to talk about.

Intro: 0:14

Like can subscribe on your favorite podcast app and continue the conversation on Facebook and Instagram. And if you're cool enough, join the show on Patreon for exclusive bonus content and now Less Than 2000 with Adam Wintz, and Chad Bishoff.

Adam Wintz: 0:38

Less than 2000

Chad Bishoff: 0:40

Now part of the hyperX Podcast Network.

Adam Wintz: 0:43

Greetings and salutations, I formally convey my presence

Chad Bishoff: 0:53

$#@#!@$(%)^%$@_@#_@!#$(!!

Adam Wintz: 0:53

Chad Bishoff, you have been fined one credit for the violation of the verbal morality statute.

Chad Bishoff: 1:01

Never thought we'd be starting out the Demolition Man conversation this way. Just a string of profanity.

Adam Wintz: 1:08

What seems to be your boggle?

Chad Bishoff: 1:10

He doesn't know how to use the three seashells.

Adam Wintz: 1:15

This movie Demolition Man, I did no research at all. I just watched the movie like a fanboy and made notes and surprised myself about how many things like I for how many great moments of this movie that I had forgotten over the years.

Chad Bishoff: 1:32

So this is one of those things that I this is one of those movies that I feel if you were a fan, there were so many great moments in this movie that you almost can't forget them. Which is why you probably have no notes. I'm glad you got the recap. I'm glad you get the enjoyment out of rewatching this film, but it's iconic.

Adam Wintz: 1:55

It's so dated, but it's it's it's timeless in the way that it's dated. I mean, let's start from the standpoint, the opening sequence is set in 1996. This movie came out and was at 91.

Chad Bishoff: 2:09

And yeah, that was the future back then. Yeah, we're gonna set this in advance to a dystopian LA in five years down the road.

Adam Wintz: 2:19

Oh, no. Okay, Demolition Man was actually 1993. So we're talking three years later, and this, and it was this dystopian future where like the gangs have completely taken over portions of LA.

Chad Bishoff: 2:34

But actually, now that you're saying that, now that I think about it, isn't that sort of like in a weird way the gangs were rampid in the 90s so in a weird way, you can't set it too far in the future you have to take the fear of what's going on cause cinema represents what's really happening in the world if done right. And and so you're not going to set that this is where like the filmmakers are like, gangs are really bad right now. So I already three years when they're when they've taken over everything when they're trapping hostages and buildings and LA is on fire. Yes, that's perfect three years from now. 1993 Yes, it is.

Adam Wintz: 3:13

What an entrance what an amazing entrance to a film where your main character jumps out of the helicopter bungees out of a helicopter. Like with anti aircraft fire surrounding it, cuts the thing loose and then goes in and just shoots people, punches people, kicks people, hits people in the face around the corner, because he's just that cool. He knows they're coming.

Chad Bishoff: 3:40

Yeah, yeah. He has the sense that they're around the corner

Adam Wintz: 3:44

and he's wearing that baray and just shooting everybody. what a great video game let's just jump straight ahead to the the Sega game like that was done very well. Like he jumps out of the helicopter and he just shooting people all over this future dystopian LA and oh, man, what a great start to the movie. And and and the they blow up. I know you're always going on about special effects being too much. And I agree with you. But like this opening sequence five minutes in, they actually blow up a building. And he's running out of there with Phoenix on his shoulders going[screaming]. As the buildings blowing up behind him like this is going to be an awesome movie.

Chad Bishoff: 4:34

But really, it was really like fire. There's really special effects and there was really things going on and that's that's what made it awesome. It wasn't like, you know, in movies where you just see the little, the little fake little like, you know, CG you know, the VFX are just kind of poof and you see the fire and you like that's not real fire. They were really they were really flying choppers and, you know, diving down and doing this

Adam Wintz: 4:59

it makes work great shot. It makes for great shots with the exploding building. You can't get that any other way. especially in 93. So it was it was just a great opening to the movie now I will say. So the premise of this movie is John Spartan the cop gets put on ice just like Wesley Snipes gets cryogenically frozen, because remember, in 1993, they thought they were only three years away from being able to do that. Cryogenically freeze people alive and they'd be fine, you know? And so,

Chad Bishoff: 5:31

how do you believe how do you believe you're that close to successfully being able to do something like that, only to end up still not having it 25 years later? Like, who who comes out and goes, you know, we're really close. We're probably within three years of being in like, cryogenically freeze a human being from now until we can solve world hunger and disease and cancer. Yeah, really missed that mark. It's been 25 years and still, we don't have anything close to this.

Adam Wintz: 6:05

So the the only the only major nitpick I have on a plot level is like the whole so the the, everybody died in that explosion. They think the 30 hostages died in the explosion. And and and, and so they they put, they put the cop on ice too he it's the same exact punishment as the murderous gangster. And just like, you know, yeah, I just put him on a like he, he was it was conviction of manslaughter for 30 people, and he just Yeah, cryogenically freeze the cop. And like, they never did any like investigation about like, whether those hostages were already dead

Chad Bishoff: 6:45

you could cryogenically we've learned how to freeze a human being. But we don't have enough sense to tell at what point the hostages died. No, clearly they just did it. I mean, they just read just killed me. No, no, don't look. He's he obviously killed everybody.

Adam Wintz: 7:05

Take take the word of the murderous crime boss who's like I told him they were still alive. "He said he didn't care." Like as he's been taken off, like, well, his words good for it. Right?

Chad Bishoff: 7:17

Yeah. and the judges in 96 are like, Well, I believe him. Okay.

Adam Wintz: 7:24

But the movie has to happen. So that's how we get there. This futuristic society where there's no crime, there's no, everybody is super politically correct. Nobody swears nobody eats red meat. Non educational toys are not a thing. And he just and Phoenix comes back to he gets thought out and comes back into this world that's completely ill ill prepared to handle him whatsoever. It's a hilarious premise.

Chad Bishoff: 7:56

It's not I mean, it's not just hilarious. It's an amazing premise. I mean, let's I'm sorry. I don't mean to like geek out here a little bit over this. But like, this really is a great premise. And now you have a badass cop with one of the worst murderous villains, gang leaders, mob bosses, whatever of all time. And they have to fight each other in a world where nobody knows how to shake hands.

Adam Wintz: 8:26

Which is, I love the non contact...

Chad Bishoff: 8:29

Do you really want the "greetings and salutations" guy being like, Yeah, send him to go kill Phoenix. See, see how that works out. They haven't even touched each other in decades as a as a human race.

Adam Wintz: 8:43

Yeah. And the response is, he goes, and the cop that meets him on the scene is like getting pointers. And the the computer or whatever is telling him tell the suspect to lie down on the ground with his hand behind his back.

Chad Bishoff: 8:59

He has that little thing in his hand a "lie down with your hands behind your head".

Adam Wintz: 9:07

"He made a crude remark and was not responsive. Tell him to do it again firmly and add the words or else" it's so funny. And he has great line by Rob Schneider is like "We're police officers. We're not fit to handle this kind of violence". Kicking everybody's ass.

Chad Bishoff: 9:26

We're not trained for this stuff. Like

Adam Wintz: 9:30

I love how they call it a murder. They don't know what a 187 is.

Chad Bishoff: 9:35

Yeah, as soon as it's popping up. Everyone's looking around going what's a 187 and then of course Sandra Bullock's character is like, oh my god, it's a murder death kill like she's. We haven't seen one of these ever. She's all giddy about it. I get to see some real action.

Adam Wintz: 9:53

The three seashells oh my god, what a great. What a great joke. What? recurring joke Oh,

Chad Bishoff: 10:00

To never reveal it like I still want to know like I walked through this to my head I would even when I'm on vacation I'm walking the beach I'm frolicking at sunset, I'm looking at all the seas, seashells, and I go, how the#$%!@#$ do they use the three she's seashells like the

Adam Wintz: 10:17

Chad Bishoff, you are now find another one credit,

Chad Bishoff: 10:22

so but how I mean like, I love all they don't answer it, but I mean, it's just because

Adam Wintz: 10:26

I love that that's that's the most brilliant part of never answering it and that people had fan theories about it and have postulated over the years like some people get really upset that they never answered. I think that's part of the brilliance

Chad Bishoff: 10:38

that is part of the brilliance. I mean, there's nothing greater than then when when Rob Schneider [laughs], "he doesn't have to use the three seashells". It's like laughing at him like this guy, like what

Adam Wintz: 10:51

did you just say"toilet paper" and Sandra Bullock has this great delivery of the lines "like they used to use wadded up handfuls of paper to whip" and

Chad Bishoff: 11:04

they're all snickering it's a no, I actually, I want to go on record. I want everybody This has to make the main podcast and everything no matter what. I think we will look back and laugh at the fact that the dirtiest place in our body gets cleaned with just a handful of wadded up toilet paper, when you really break it down. There's going to be come a time and it's not going to be the three seashells. But you know what I mean? Like, I proudly have a bidet and I use the the hell out of it. Because to me, it just makes sense to clean yourself better than a handful of wadded up toilet paper. Like, like if you really think about it. We're gonna look back in 100 years and go what were they thinking?

Adam Wintz: 11:57

My theory was always like, it's, it's it is like a bidet day. And the first seashell you twist it and that like, you know waters it and you know, suds it up or whatever the second one rinses it. And the third one dries it

Chad Bishoff: 12:12

Oh you think the three seashells are like fixed to the actual toilet. And it's three seashells and each one controls a different thing.

Adam Wintz: 12:21

Yeah, yeah. And he says it's where where the toilet paper should be. There's a shelf with three seashells so so it's not on the toilet. It's right next to it like where your toilet paper roll would be on the counter or on the wall right.

Chad Bishoff: 12:33

I gotta be honest, I you know what I've I have thought about this many a night. And I think you just came closest to the answer. It wasn't that you were like using the three seashells on your body, you were using them in a combination of, of tweaking and turnage to do something, you know, that that would essentially just take care of all of your unpleasant needs.

AD: 13:04

Hi, it's me, Jeremy Parrish, co host of the retro knots podcast, the only video game history podcast that's been around so long. It's also a part of video game history. Every week one of the Motley rabble who hosts the show leads a deep dive into the past whether it's to break down a classic franchise, learn more about a timeless game from its creator, or just wallow in nostalgia. Relive history with retro dots here on the hyper X Podcast Network.

Unknown: 13:29

Previously on chat of the wild good to know I wanted to use this time to impart some words of wisdom from as low straighten up your hair once I'm gone. You gotta style all over the ladies. La La, la, la la la la are the words to his new hit single live long, love long and also he woke up from a dream where he forgot to study for the test. So really say oh, yeah, these are all things that that I discussed that he discussed with me. Magical channel the wild breaking down Zelda and Zelda like games one dungeon at a time, Wednesdays on the hyper X Podcast Network. Live long love long baby.

AD: 14:48

It's time to tap in with the hyper X quad cast as microphones. The stunning hyper X quad cast S features dynamic customizable RGB lighting, a convenient tap to mute sensor and four selectable polar patterns. So we can broadcast crystal clear audio, whether you're gaming, streaming, podcasting, or impressing your remote colleagues and classmates. So what are you waiting for? Join the quad squad and tap in today with the hyper X quad cast as microphones

Adam Wintz: 15:21

In addition to the the swearing fines and the three seashells this had a couple this movie had a couple other great, really memorable things about it. The product placement specifically Taco Bell I think they handled that so well and so funny. I just think it's so overt product placement, but they made it funny and they made it serve the story, the way he's like, "I would like to take you out to a fancy dinner at Taco Bell." Now all restaurants are Taco Bell. And I just think that was such a funny way of presenting the product placement so blatantly but like acknowledging it and winking to the camera, and and just the Can you believe this ^&%^$ quality to it all.

Chad Bishoff: 16:04

BEEP, you've been fined with one credit

Adam Wintz: 16:07

the couple of funny things about it in the international release, it was Pizza Hut. So in the version I watched, it had Pizza Hut. And so but they didn't redo the scenes. So it's just really bad ADR voiceover it's just like. I just see them say Taco Bell, but it says you hear the words Pizza Hut. And the coolest thing about it. I would love to see a spin off to this movie. A prequel to this called the franchise wars. Because that's what Sandra Bullock says Taco Bell was the only restaurant to survive the franchise wars. So now all restaurants are Taco Bell, how awesome would it be see Burger King versus Taco Bell versus Pizza Hut? There's this is McDonald's

Chad Bishoff: 16:54

All vying to be number one and which is what they're all doing now anyway, but like to have it be to where you know, there is no limitation somebody will win. Yes, who wins out is a Taco Bell Is it is it pizza... Because sadly with the amount of money in fast food, you know and be pathetic fast food shade that would win out in humanity, unfortunately.

Adam Wintz: 17:19

Yeah. And I love the idea of it starting out like ruthless monopoly kinda you know, like business type war, but then turning into actual warfare.

Chad Bishoff: 17:31

Yeah, you can it could go from like business warfare, to like, complete brainwashing sabotage, gaslighting, the all of all human beings that don't know on the rest of the planet. So they're all being fed information that's like brainwashing them to believe that like Taco Bell is it? And then but then it but then there's this group of outcasts that are like no, F you in your face man, big company Corporation %$#@, and then all of a sudden incomes like military style warfare by the fast food industry. so you got like Chick fil A being like, No, I'm coming after you.

Adam Wintz: 18:19

Killing like invading villages and taking babies away from mothers wearing a Taco Bell

Chad Bishoff: 18:25

Pizza Hut just invaded Afghanistan. Pizza Hut is now in control of the Taliban.

Adam Wintz: 18:34

You know, another great thing about the future. Another super memorable thing is that sex like actual sex has been outlawed. And she's like,"do you want to have sex?" he's like "right here?" Like, "yes, right now." "With you?" Uh huh." Oh, yeah." I'm gonna go get ready and she comes out with the the head the virtual reality, like brain thing. They're having sex virtually. And and he breaks the connection and she's like, goes after her and she's like,"I would you like I would, I would like you to leave my domicile right now." Like bodily exchanges, fluid exchanges. You have to apply to have sex. Apply to have children. And it's part of that future like, friendly fascism dystopia.

Chad Bishoff: 19:28

That's the one thing that made me really happy with where it went. was at the end. It's it kind of proves the point of like, people want their red meat. Like, you know, like, come on. Like there's a world where everybody can live together. You don't have to hide in the in the shadows of the of the underground. And you don't have to be such a self indulgent, you know, I'm trying not to curse, but I don't know what else to say. But %$##&^% you know what I mean? Who's literally like, you know, the good guys were the ones that were bringing chaos to the community. And it's just proof that not one person should have too much power.

Adam Wintz: 20:08

Wesley Snipes was of course he was the inspiration for Dennis Rodman to color his hair. I always wonder which one came first. It was Wesley Snipes came first. And that is what inspired Dennis Rodman to do his hair like in multi different colors and all that stuff. And he started with the with the blonde, but Wesley Snipes is having fun. You can tell he enjoyed playing this role.

Chad Bishoff: 20:32

Oh, I feel like this was the role that was that he was made to play. It may not have been commercially successful, but he had so much fun. And and every time he comes on screen, you you kind of love hate him. You know what I mean? Because you enjoy watching kind of the evil, because you're like, you know what? It feels weird to be in a society that's so clean. You have to use three seashells for your butt, you know

Adam Wintz: 21:02

he's got so much charisma. Yeah, so, so much charisma and so much personality, that it's when he's on screen. He's electric. And how do you not? How do you not like that?

Chad Bishoff: 21:14

Now how about Dennis Leary bringing some of his stand up, you know, into a very memorable role. Did that bother you?

Adam Wintz: 21:25

I have mixed feelings on it. And and I love Dennis Leary, especially back then a huge fan of his stand up No Cure For Cancer came out right around this time, a couple maybe a year or two before? And I really I liked that Dennis Leary liked his stick. It is like looking back on it. It is it is out of place. I mean, he's straight up does his stand up.

Chad Bishoff: 21:51

Yo, Adam, can you believe that less than 2000 has a sponsor now. Chad, this

Adam Wintz: 21:56

is the moment we've been waiting for hyper X's and just our new network sponsor, the maker of the acclaimed quad cast and Quantcast s microphones.

Chad Bishoff: 22:05

That's dope, because the quad cast USB mics look and sound amazing, and they're packed with features. With four selectable polar patterns, you'll get great sound no matter what you're recording,

Adam Wintz: 22:15

you know that sound you get on other podcasts the included shock mountain pop filter mean you won't have to show extra cash for a great setup.

Chad Bishoff: 22:24

Plus, there's the eye catching LED indicator and tap to mute sensor. So you can tap in and tap out to stop broadcast accidents from happening.

Adam Wintz: 22:32

It's time for you to tap in with a hyper X quad cast

Chad Bishoff: 22:35

and the quad cast s

Adam Wintz: 22:37

"I like to think I like to read I mean the freedom of speech, the freedom of choice. I'm the kind of guy who likes to sit in the greasy spoon and wonder Gee, should I have a T bone steak or a jumbo rack of barbecue ribs with a side order or gravy fries? I want high cholesterol. I want to eat bacon and butter and buckets of cheese. Okay, I want to smoke a Cuban cigar the size of Cincinnati and in the non smoking section. I want to run through the streets naked and green jello all over my body reading Playboy magazine. Why? Because I suddenly might feel the need to Okay, pal." I mean, that is his stand up.

Chad Bishoff: 23:08

And that was literally the movie it gets. It's almost like they were like, it was almost like Dennis was like, I'll do the movie. But I get to just do this line that I already know. And we'll call it good, and then everything else they're just feeding him in a prompter for his one word one line answers.

Adam Wintz: 23:28

Okay, Rob Schneider. I can't stand Rob Schneider like as a leading man like Deuce Bigalow Male Gigolo I can't stand his his his stand up. I don't really like Rob Schneider. But he is excellent in very small doses and was perfect pitch casting for this particular role. And [laugh] laugh that he does. I have a question for you as we as we wrap this up as we round third and come home. This goes back to a conversation we had in season 1, season 1.5 Chad Demolition Man or True Lies?

Chad Bishoff: 24:15

Oh, come on. How dare you ask me this question because I ah, I don't know how to answer this question because they're two different movies.

Adam Wintz: 24:29

They're action comedy made one year apart with the sort of beginning to become a little past they're not past their prime but no longer the IT guys Schwarzenegger and Stallone, action comedies with good premise.

Chad Bishoff: 24:45

I'm...

Adam Wintz: 24:47

you were told you were all True Lies when we recorded that episode

Chad Bishoff: 24:50

I know and i got I.... I'm leaning towards True Lies, I'm leaning towards True Lies because it took itself very seriously. And I love I love the spy stuff. I love the future stuff too. That's the problem. See, I always considered them to be separate. I always thought Demolition Man was like the perfect, futuristic action comedy. And True Lies is about one of the best, like comedy or action comedies like taking place as if it's real. I don't know it's it's hard for me to answer that because Demolition Man is way more fun And has way more comedy to it and True Lies has way better action to it.

Adam Wintz: 25:35

...your your analyze. It's funny when you started this. Oh, come on. I really thought you were going to be like it's not even close. It's True Lies like that's when you were exasperated at the beginning of this. I thought you were going to be like it's not even close don't even ask me that question. I'm glad to see that it's closer than that. I think you broke it down exactly right. I mean, True Lies has way better action. It costs way more money to make and it was been done by James Cameron. And there's nobody better that sort of thing. I mean, it was top notch action all the way through it looked great Demolition Man... it had some nice explosions but it did look kind of cheap.

Chad Bishoff: 26:15

there's a few studio lot shots where you're like ehhhh...

Adam Wintz: 26:20

exactly. But but but then, you know, and True Lies has tremendous comedy. I mean some...

Chad Bishoff: 26:26

I mean, Tom Arnold, and Bill Paxton. I mean, but Demolition Man was like a was like a more fun, comedic ride that didn't take yourself seriously.

Adam Wintz: 26:39

It is such a close. I think you can put them in the same category and we did a poll on it. I think we'll do another poll because I want to know what people think it seemed to me like more people. I would say that if I had to guess I would say that Demolition Man's probably more well remembered. I think True Lies a lot of people kind of, kind of forget about that one in the pantheon of of, of Schwarzenegger films. I think some people might not really have that on the radar, but everybody remembers three seashells. Taco Bell won the franchise war, the virtual sex, the safe foam the swearing machine like people remember Demolition Man... Let's just end this episode with saying thank you for listening and be well. Swear something we can go out with that

Chad Bishoff: 27:32

I can't... be well, that's how you want to end the episode.

Adam Wintz: 27:36

That's how that's what they say. Alright, thank you for listening in. Be well.

Chad Bishoff: 27:40

Oh, go ^%#%$@ yourself.

Adam Wintz: 27:42

BEEP, Chad Bishoff. You have fined...