"Ma-Ma is not the law... I am the law." - Dredd.
Judge Dredd. A popular comic-book character. An unpopular character in cinema as a result of the 1995 adaptation starring Sylvester Stallone as the fearless enforcer. 17 years later, Hollywood had another crack at bringing the infamous judge, jury and executioner to life. The result was Dredd (or Dredd 3D as it was titled in the trailers), and not only did it earn the respect of critics, fans of the comic instantly declared it a more faithful representation of the character. Having not read the comics, I'll have to take their word for it. However, having also seen the 1995 version, I share the opinion that Dredd is the superior film. This was going to be another entry in my Original vs. Remake series, but Dredd beats Judge Dredd in every aspect, and so a review is the more appropriate medium to sing its praises.
Set in the crime infested Mega City One, the film shows us just another average day for Dredd (Karl Urban): stopping criminals and handing out their sentence on the spot. As you can imagine, the sentence is commonly death. On what should be a routine mission to take out a drug dealer by the name of Ma-Ma (Lena Headey), Dredd and rookie Anderson (Olivia Thirlby) find themselves locked inside the mega complex Ma-Ma controls. With the inhabitants of the building caught in the middle, the two judges must make their way all the way to the top floor to get to Ma-Ma and hand out her death sentence. This simple plot works to the film's advantage, as it is set during one day, so we need to see just how dangerous the city is and how tough the life of a judge is. The plot opens up all sorts of possibilities for action and suspense, and the film satisfies on both fronts, thanks largely down to the pacing. The film could easily have become overblown with action, but instead delivers enough at the right time, allowing us to become invested in the characters and their plight.
Karl Urban is the perfect choice for Dredd. His harsh sounding voice and no-nonsense attitude make for an intimidating presence, enough to strike fear into the criminals of Mega City One. Despite being the title character, it is through the character of Anderson that the emotional investment comes from. Dredd is a veteran judge and fears absolutely nothing, but this is Anderson's first time out on duty. Despite her psychic abilities, we feel nervous for her, as she proves throughout the film that she is a kinder soul than Dredd. This is shown after they clear a room full of armed men out, and has her gun pointing to the last man. He has been disarmed, but despite this Dredd orders the man's execution. Anderson hesitates, but realises she has to comply with the law and shoots the man dead. Opposite our heroes, Lena Headey turns in a chilling performance as Ma-Ma. In what could have been approached in an over-the-top manner, Headey portrays Ma-Ma with an unsettling calmness, which makes her all the more intimidating when she has to scorn her men for their failings. For a film with so much action, its nice to see the character's emotions and personalities take centre stage.
Sadly, the film didn't do so well at the box-office. Perhaps the release of the film brought back memories of the other version, and so people weren't prepared to give this one a chance. It was also released in 3D, which while I think works for certain scenes, probably isn't the best move when your audience is restricted to adults only. Supposedly, ideas for sequels were already in place, but the box-office performance doesn't scream demand for more. Dredd has, however, been more successful in the home video market, with strong DVD and Blu-Ray sales. Despite the plethora of action films being released, I'd say Dredd is a standout for its characters, gritty look and pacing. So, if you're up for something that's a cut above most recent action films, check this one out.
Pros:
+ Developed characters, in particular Anderson.
+ Never a dull moment with plenty of action to satisfy.
+ Strong performances, Karl Urban being the standout.
Cons:
- Ending felt slightly rushed. Spending more time with the characters after the ordeal would have rounded the film off better.
Sadly, the film didn't do so well at the box-office. Perhaps the release of the film brought back memories of the other version, and so people weren't prepared to give this one a chance. It was also released in 3D, which while I think works for certain scenes, probably isn't the best move when your audience is restricted to adults only. Supposedly, ideas for sequels were already in place, but the box-office performance doesn't scream demand for more. Dredd has, however, been more successful in the home video market, with strong DVD and Blu-Ray sales. Despite the plethora of action films being released, I'd say Dredd is a standout for its characters, gritty look and pacing. So, if you're up for something that's a cut above most recent action films, check this one out.
Pros:
+ Developed characters, in particular Anderson.
+ Never a dull moment with plenty of action to satisfy.
+ Strong performances, Karl Urban being the standout.
Cons:
- Ending felt slightly rushed. Spending more time with the characters after the ordeal would have rounded the film off better.
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