Released in 2012, it was a remake of the Dredd-ful film Judge Dredd, which starred Sylvester Stallone. Whether you saw it or not, there is no doubt that you heard of it's cheesy dialog, over the top acting and Rob Schnider. But here, the film did poorly in the box-office due to the bad rep the character got. Well I can tell it is ten times better than the original. And if ever a movie needed a remake (and they usually don't), then this is it.
The story set in the post apocalyptic world called Cursed Earth. In Mega-city one, crime is everywhere and only one group can maintain order: they were the police, jury and executioner, they were the Judges. Judge Dredd, a veteran judge who knows the workings well and is a prime supporter of the Law, is called in to assess a rookie, Cassandra Anderson. Based on the character of Greek Mythology, she too has psychic powers. Taken to one of the many slum towers, they respond to a triple-homicide. They are soon trapped in the building during a lock down organised by ferocious gang leader MaMa. Carrying a suspect throughout the building, they have to battle armed thugs through floor after floor. All the while, Anderson is under assessment and has to keep the prisoner in check, as well as herself alive.
Now here's what I really like about the film, the story. Ever since Batman Begins, films like to try and make the Superhero more deep and realistic. That's not bad (in fact I dare say it's an improvement), but it can be tiring and the film can turn out negative results if done poorly. What we forget to do with Superhero's is just make it an enjoyable piece of fantasy and sci-fi without audiences bitching about it's unrealistic moments. The hero should be respectful and Badass, someone who tries to maintain order, but makes the sacrifice to be the scapegoat of the public's fear and anger. This is done to the nth degree, with Carl Urban as the most awesome hero in a long time. He's the hero who Hollywood execs should be looking at and say "Ya know what, he could make a good Batman". He has the voice, the attitude and the brawn. Carl Urban plays Dredd and you know what, he could be Batman/Bruce Wayne. I mean, dammit man he's an actor, not a poser (AFFLECK!!!). We also have Olivia Thirlby as Anderson and she starts out as the timid rookie who wants to make a difference, but man is she cool. Calculated, calm and secretly holding back a killer instinct. I recently saw JeremyJahns review of Megan Fox as April O'Neil and I agree, Olivia should play April. She's attractive, resourceful and tough, a great mix!
I didn't really think Mama was that great a villain (or a great movie while we are here, BAZING!), I mean she looked mean and she wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty, but I felt she was a bit underplayed. She does make for at least a memorable character and much better antagonist than Armande Assante of the other film. At first, the effects aren't anything great to look at (It's like they photo-shopped high rise buildings into Johannesburg, but then we see the practical sets of the slums and the slow motion effects. In the film, there is a narcotic that makes everything look like time is traveling at half a second and that allows for the inclusion of the most crystal clear, slowest moving and notice-everything-in-the-frame slow motion ever. We're at Matrix level CGI here guys, that good.
There is very little that pissed me off about this movie except that everyone agrees it was awesome. If it is so awesome, then why didn't you see it. I at least had an excuse not to see it, I wasn't that big into super-flicks. Everything was done right for a superhero flick, a little drama, lots of well done action and the main characters who were done right. It's just a lot of fun and action and it is very underrated in terms of films. I would say, get this movie as fast as you can, because it is awesome.
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