Review of Dredd (2012) by Rhynal R — 25 Jun 2014

In 1995, for those of you that remember, there was an adaptation of Judge Dredd played by Stallone. The movie is a cultural gem, but mainly on reference, not on quality. It wasn't a proper portrayal of what Megacity and its inhabitants were really like. Luckily, this iteration serves as a reboot and not only is it loyal to the lore, it's a fantastic action movie on its own.

Let me start off by saying this is an old fashioned action movie, much like Expendables, if you will. There's no major plot in here that's going to make your head spin or any plot twist you won't see coming; there's a predictable story which serves to set the stage for various action set pieces; and oh, set pieces there are. There are some interesting things in the story though; for example the drug, 'slow-mo' was an interesting theory but they never went anywhere with it which was a bit disappointing. Overall though, the plot's forgettable.

Dredd is played this time around by Karl Urban. After seeing his character in Star Trek, I was a bit worried, not because he was bad but because he played Bones' character so well. His transformation into Dredd is great; he's commandeering, tough, dark. ruthless and embodies all that he stands for in the dystopian future that he's put in; The Law. It's a testament to just exactly how good of an actor he is as you only see half his face for the entire movie and he never takes off the helmet, unlike Stallone, which is something fans hated in the original movie. He's got some cheesy lines but he's the movie's action protagonist. He's by no means a 'hero'; he's more like an anti-hero most times as he's not afraid to be ruthless and get his hands dirty. He shows no mercy and it makes the action sequences that much better but I'll soon get to that.

He's partnered up with the extremely likeable rookie, Anderson, played by the gorgeous Olivia Thirlby. It's a good pairing as she serves to be a contrast to Dredd's personality; offering mercy where she sees fit. Don't get twisted though, she's strong and her character development by the end is decent. It's this contrast that brings out each character's strengths which makes for some good banter and chemistry. Sadly, in terms of performances, that's pretty much where it ends. There are tons of repetitive baddies who show no real threat and the main villain is a bit over-dramatic and the finale ends up being anti-climactic, but she's just there to push the plot along for more action.

Now the action; the interesting thing about Dredd is that there are no 'special' action sequences. All of these you've seen before; gunfights with a twist here and there. What is impressive about Dredd is the seamless flow into and out of action and the numerous action scenes that never get boring. They're very well done and the sheer brutality of them serves to compliment not just the movie's world, but makes the action more intense. There are a ton of slow-motion sections where you see bullets flying through brains, abdomens and blood splattering everywhere. It's very gruesome and enjoyable, if that's your thing. It's a good reprieve from the 1995 movie that I think played it safe. The director wanted to show that this is actually what Megacity is like and he succeeded. There are also themes of power, betrayal and pride in the movie; I don't want to spoil but I will say though superficial, it was still handled well.

Dredd is a good action movie and a great reboot to the franchise. The budget for this film was a bit low, and it's obvious, but that didn't stop them from delivering a great experience not just for the fans but for action junkies. Karl Urban is an assertive, ruthless Dredd and plays him well and the action scenes are great. Oh and that 'I am the Law' speech? Chills. Recommended. 8/10.