Spotlight: Dredd

Did you see this movie? No. No you didn't. Nobody did. That's why it bombed hard at the box office. That's why it may not get a sequel, and to put this in simplest terms... It desperately needs a sequel. Right now.

Batman eat your heart out.

Judge Dredd is a longer running comic book series in the UK and it's supposedly really good. It was made into a movie of the same name in the 90's starring the Italian Stallion himself; Sylvester Stallone. It was cheesy and had some major flaws, but it was a fun in a overblown kitchy action movie kind of way. Then this glorious beast was made.

They are coming for all the fools what didn't see this movie.

 It's the future, of course, and America is an irradiated wasteland. Though only inhabitable area? A massive city, stretching from New York to Boston. Inhabited by humans and mutants alike. Who keeps the peace in this Mega City? Judges. They are judge, jury, and executioner, and they're word is the law. Among them, stand Judge Dredd. The most respected and feared of the Judges. Cross his path, and you're going to need a new face.

Permanent scowl... Engage 

Director Pete Travis creates a great feel for this movie. The atmosphere of this post apocalyptic world is seeps out of every frame. It feels like a action movie straight out of the 80's as well it should. The writers do an equally excellent job with a simple yet effective story. The sound design is techno and futuristic and very brutal, which fits the tone perfectly. The visuals are beautiful which is impressive considering this movies low budget. Things are done practically where possible and cg is used sparingly yet effectively.

3-D was the most well done I've ever seen. Fat lot a good it does now eh?

The acting and characters are brutally well done. Karl Urban's Dredd is a stone cold killer with very little to smile about. Unlike most movies where the action hero ducks and dodges bullets and survives explosions due to main character status, in this movie the audience is given the impression that he's just that damned good and we as the audience believe it. Playing the mutant psychic recruit is Olivia Thirlby's Anderson. The movie introduces the idea of mutant's through her and explains it in a matter than fits along with everything else. Plus she actually gets a character arc. Dredd is set in his ways but Anderson is a Judge in training and her conflict is the heart of this story. Last but not least is Lena Headey's Ma-Ma. This is an awesome villain. Whacked out of her mind and completely psychotic. It takes talent to make an audience to feel uncomfortable as well as fill your pants terrified and she does a great job at both.

Oh ****! Cersei has a machine gun!

Why it was judged-This movie's marketing was fairly poor. There weren't many trailers for it and hardly any TV spots. Some theaters didn't even have a poster for it upon its release. Another reason could be the 90's Stallone movie. It wasn't a huge hit but it has been remembered. Perhaps audiences thought this would be another cheesy action movie? Whatever the reason, Dredd bombed to such an extent that it was announced a sequel was nigh on impossible.

Takes them all singlehandedly. That was a pun. Watch the movie, you'll get it.

Why you should see it...Now-We live in an age of R rated comedies and PG-13 action and horror. That's not the way things should be. Rants about the MPAA rating system and how utterly awful it is aside, there can be no question that there has been an influx of neutered movies in recent years. This is a brutal and very welcome return to form. One critic, who shall remain nameless said that if you wanted to see "new and interesting ways of shooting someone in the face" this was the movie for you. He said this in contempt. New and interesting ways of face mutilation is a point in this movies favor thank you very much! This movie held nothing back and was better for it. Just saying, sometime you need to see a homeless man crushed by a two ton metal door. This is an action movie of old, where people are shot and they bleed as a result. Why on earth is that not a given anymore? The movie is a rocking good time beginning to end with a concise story, interesting characters and action set pieces that blow away anything we've recently seen. It's a bloody good time all around and we need more of that.

The flames in the visor, yeah those are people.

Now as it stands, the movie made a killing when it came to DVD. Thankfully, it has found it's audience. A recent press release from the actors and filmmakers has said that a sequel is no longer off the table. There is so much left to explore in this world of Dredd that it would be a crime if it all ended up being a one off. So go, go and see it. Rent it buy it whatever just support this movie, and if what's been said hasn't swayed you, and if you think an R rated action movie is reprehensible then here's a goodbye from Dredd to you.

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Review is subject to Fair use