Fuck Yes! This is the sort of a grimy, pure action film that deserved to be seen by way more people than it got. Dredd 3D, while it didn’t make my end of the year list, it certainly was one of the better action films of the year, right next to The Raid: Redemption. In fact, those two movies are basically the same fucking thing, but one does more shooting and the other is more foot fist action. All I know is, if you are an action fan, this is a must.
The future America is an irradiated waste land. On its East Coast, running from Boston to Washington DC, lies Mega City One- a vast, violent metropolis where criminals rule the chaotic streets. The only force of order lies with the urban cops called “Judges” who possess the combined powers of judge, jury and instant executioner. Known and feared throughout the city, Dredd (Karl Urban) is the ultimate Judge, challenged with ridding the city of its latest scourge – a dangerous drug epidemic that has users of “Slo-Mo” experiencing reality at a fraction of its normal speed. — (C) Lionsgate
Thank whatever deity you want for the remake that is Dredd. We needed this so badly because of the terribleness of Judge Dredd and Stalone’s horrific movie. Who thought that a comic book about a one man court system that dispenses death with extreme prejudice would turn into the bomb, buddy comedy movie that was Judge Dredd? Christ man, at least this remake knew what the material was and just assaulted us with a bombastic visual effects array and hardcore violence. Really makes you appreciate when Hollywood does a remake that actually is better than the original.
I was stoked to see this movie in 3D, one of the few times I would ever pay the premium, and mainly I wanted to see what they would do with the slow-mo drugs and 3D. Well to say the least, it was a visual buffet of gore and crowning glory kill shots. The deaths and action in the movie are the sort of things that would be at the end of an action flick and not the beginning or middle part of it. This movie took no prisoners with the violence and I appreciate that.
But it wasn’t just the violence and action that was enjoyable, Dredd managed to be filled with dry, dark humor and reveling in what the material was. It also happened to be finely acted for a shoot em up movie and Karl Urban was the utter shit as Dredd. Never once taking off his helmet, all you see is a gnarled grin on his face that conveys more emotion that most actors could. He is the anti-hero you want to see kick a lot of ass and not bat an eye. He speaks in such a way that you think he is chewing on bullets instead of gum and the intensity Urban shows in the action sequences wants me to have this guy show up in a lot more sequels to this movie cause I would watch them.
I could go on about this and I almost gave it a perfect score, save for a few issues with the pacing and some of the acting/plot issues I had. Whatever, getting a 4.5 warrants repeat viewing and since it is on blu-ray now, I will certainly be doing that. Check out my full review for the breakdown.
This version of Dredd takes the old 1995 version out to the woodshed and puts two in skull. Never have I seen a movie start off dark, gritty, violent, twistedly satisfying, and maintain that entire momentum through the entire movie. Even when there are moments of useless exposition to set up a scene or character, the movie manages to constantly keep a snarl plastered across the mug of Dredd or making a gallows humor joke to keep the air of volatility at a heightened level. Dredd never lets up on the full auto barrage of violence, darkly humorous quips, slow motion explosions and the sort of gore you only find in horror movies.
Click here for full review.