Contributor: Andy Spencer
Written by Alex Garland
Directed by Pete Travis
I haven’t seen the original “Judge Dredd”, but it’s apparently awful. Stallone isn’t wearing the helmet on the cover of the DVD, it’s not very violent, and is just overall absurd. Apparently. “Dredd” is the polar opposite. It’s one of the most violent films I have ever seen, doesn’t pretend to be what is isn’t, can be truly funny when it wants to be, and is extremely impressive visually. This is a film meant to entertain, and, as long as you can stomach it, will do exactly that for each of its ninety-six minutes.
Dredd (portrayed by Karl Urban’s chin wearing the iconic helmet), couldn’t embody totalitarianism any more if he tried. The first criminal he “tries,” he gives two choices: life in jail or a bullet to the head. He cannot be negotiated with, does not show pity or remorse, and and can kill scores of men without hesitation in the name of the law. This, of course, never changes throughout the film, so it is down to a young psychic (Olivia Thirlby) to be the arc-worthy character. While it is somewhat interesting to see her go from guilt-ridden young girl to killing machine, that’s not what this movie is here for.
What it’s here for is to provide audiences with some of the most brutally spectacular action ever seen in cinema. The plot is as follows: Dredd and co. vs. an entire skyscraper’s worth of bad guys. Said bad guys are in the business of distributing a drug called “slow-mo,” which does exactly as its name suggests. This provides a good excuse for some absolutely beautiful slow-mo shots of everything from water splashing to heads exploding. After the first half-hour or so, the film becomes little more than a visually arresting ballet of blood and bullets. This is an action film in the truest sense, and nothing more.
There’s really not that much left to say about it. If you can’t stomach gore, don’t even consider going. If you don’t find spectacular violence entertaining, don’t consider going. If neither of these apply to you, you won’t be disappointed.
Score: 9/10
