Dredd
- Director: Pete Travis
- Genre: Comic Book
- Details: US/ 95 / 18
Dredd has arrived with a lot of good buzz and although the feedback is saying 'Well, it's better than Stallone's'- which isn't saying much - it'll have to do for now. This Dredd is violent and takes itself seriously, which should keep the fans happy. What will disappoint them? There are few things, unfortunately.
Dredd's opening narration introduces us to the future and Mega City One - a vast metropolitan that stretches from Washington to Chicago - so I was more than a little disappointed when instead of getting lost in this maze of dark alleys and super highways, the action was condensed Raid-style to one building. This also renders Dredd's Lawmaster obsolete, but it looked a little naff anyway.
This building wherein much of the action takes place is controlled by a vicious drug clan, (headed up by the scarred Lena Headey) who are pushing a new drug called Slo-Mo. Slo-Mo slows down time to such an extent that if you were to be thrown from the top of one of the two-kilometre high Mega Blocks that dominate Mega City One's bleak skyline, the fall would seem to last for hours. Headey's psycho demonstrates this by dispatching three underlings thusly, but not before skinning them alive first. Yeah, she's a bad 'un.
So in steps Karl Urban's chin and Olivia Thirlby's helmetless Anderson - a rookie with psychic powers. They're not in the place five minutes when Headey orders Domhnall Gleeson's twitchy techie to lock down the building and again, Raid-style, calls on all occupants to take out the two judges quick smart. Chaos quickly ensues.
This Dredd is meaner. When he walks, his leather creaks and his heavy footsteps thud. Urban might not have that chin, but he's got the downturned mouth, the surliness and the one-liners. Dredd was always the logical conclusion of vigilantism: a remorseless and mean judge, jury and executioner. He's Dirty Harry with a Lawgiver instead of a .44 Magnum, dispensing 'justice' from a moving bike. Director Pete Travis (Vantage Point), working from Alex Garland's (The Beach, Sunshine) script, isn't too worried about the right wing nature of the film; the bad guys are so irredeemably bad, they justify his actions. Robert Redford wouldn't be a fan. Rather, Travis is more concerned with splattering blood from exploding heads (there are a few) and his use of close ups and garish colours not only evoke the look of the comic but also create an unsettling atmosphere.
However, there are no BIG action sequences, at least not on the scale you'd expect from a Hollywood actioner. The plot might be mirrored with The Raid, but the action doesn't measure up. Sure, there are sporadic outbursts of violence - shootouts that are over too quickly - but most of the time Dredd and Anderson skulk about looking to avoid trouble; Travis never gives the feeling that it's building to one kick-ass showdown. There's never a feeling that they're cut off or that they're on their own. The cavalry, one feels, is only a phone call away.
Roll on a sequel, but one that utilises the potential of Mega City One and gets Dredd on a chase down a super highway on a proper Lawmaster. It's not a big ask.
Review by Gavin Burke | 16:38 | Friday 7th September 2012 | Movie Review
Comments
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alan
he must go!
Posted 23:29 | Thu 5th Jul 2012 -
Darren Maher
"However, there are no BIG action sequences, at least not on the scale you'd expect from a big budget blockbuster": In fairness to Dredd, it's actually an independant film made for a relatively low-budget. As for the Raid comparisons, well... both were made at more-or-less the same time, (Dredd a fraction earlier) and you have to wonder how the comparisons might have been had they been released the-other-way round. Personally, I think Dredd compares really quite favourably with the indonesian chop-socky: the violence is less of a repetitive ballet, and the characters, well... there aren't really any characters in the Raid are there? The fighting in the indonesian film, while prettily choreographed, has all the involvement and tension of a wrestling match and even you must admit that the soap-opera conclusion is just risible. Ultimately, like Dredd, it has weaknesses and strength but it's hard to see the point of any comparisons when nobody would claim that a strength of either film was the originality of the plot, ( and some of the plotting is really all they have in common ) .
Posted 15:20 | Sun 9th Sep 2012 -
Bren
grew up with Dredd and it does it justice in fairness. As the review says roll on the sequel and lets see more Mega City One, Preferably the angel gang and Mean machine will make an appearance.
Posted 21:58 | Tue 11th Sep 2012 -
Dom Brown
I think ur being too harsh on this Film. It was great. Tough titties that you didnt get to see more of Mega City One. I agree I would like to see more but its a Limited budget remember. Thats Hollywoods fault for forcing a terrible movie on us 17 short years ago. Everyone involved in the film did a tremendous job on their mediocre budget. The Raid, unfortuantely came out at a time there was a similar themed (but still very different) film. Mama (Lena Headey) was great and beleivable as the psychotic clan leader. Urban did well to protray emotions using only body language and his chin. The rest of the class acted very well too. And you are missing the point about Dredd. Hes a normal (sort of) cop doing the best he can in a world thats broken society. A Future the Republicans would love as long as they have their own Bloc for the Elite which has vastly more stuff than everyone elses...I digress... Dredd is not a super hero, hes defnitley an anti-hero. Next you will be complaining there is no back story. Get over it. Slo Mo was a great excuse for some slow motion fight scenes. Yes some of the gun battles were repetitive but Dredd isnt a super strong mutant with any special powers. Hes just 1 man, trained to cope with the brutal harshness of his environment. Chatter about the sequels have mentioned The Dark Judges. I dont really care, as long as they keep the films style and themes as similar to this as possible, which is just like the Comic. Theres far too few dcecent fims out there. And i was overjoyed at this (which i admit has a few faults) after the recent disappointments of Batman and Prometheus. Fingers crossed Hollywoods manicured fingers will stay far away from this beautiful gem of a movie and hopfully the franchise will continue to please the true fans who get it and the unthinking masses.
Posted 12:55 | Wed 12th Sep 2012 -
Brian McSorley
The story is very faithful to the comics. Any fan of Dredd or 2000AD will get a huge kick watching this. The action sequences are very violent and very gory. Fingers crossed we,ll see a sequel.
Posted 18:11 | Wed 12th Sep 2012 -
spikeprint
As a massive fan of the comic this movie completely lived up to the source material. Gritty, full of action, quality acting. Better than The Raid or TDKR. And the 3D actually worked quite well.
Posted 23:36 | Wed 12th Sep 2012 -
b_plant01
It was a really good movie, loads and loads of violence and plenty of shooting and action, but i think it was lacking something.... maybe it was down to the fact that it was pretty much all shot in the housing block and meant they couldn't do as much as other movies. There were no twists in the storyline, it pretty much plays out to what you see in the trailers and the motor bikes were a bit of a let down, just looked like regular road bikes with a big body on it! There was a lot more humour in the first movie and more badass stuff! Dredd was a bit easy going on some of the criminals in this one!
Posted 21:04 | Thu 13th Sep 2012 -
2wired
Do not go to see this film in the Gate Screen 2, their speakers are *crocked*, and have an exceptionally loud crackling and popping noise that ruins the film. The projection is leaning to the right and the screen itself is filthy. Not the mention the price & quality of the snacks. Avoid this cinema at all costs.
Posted 12:04 | Mon 17th Sep 2012 -
King Lamb
Were the Hell is Sylvester Stalone this is a Joke i cant Believe his not in it this is a Joke he is Made it this Movie a Great Movie with out him the film is nothing more than a Insult and a Joke Seriously.
Posted 17:28 | Thu 20th Sep 2012 -
Were the Hell is Sylvester Stalone this is a Joke i cant Believe his not in it this is a Joke he is Made it this Movie a Great Movie with out him the film is nothing more than a Insult and a Joke Seriously.
Posted 17:28 | Thu 20th Sep 2012 -
andrewire
This movie deserved more than just 3 stars. It's immersing and fun in an unusual way. Not the typical superhero movie with cheesy dialogue and a super hot cast. I'd definitely recommend it.
Posted 12:13 | Fri 21st Sep 2012 -
Tura
Sylvester is about 120 years old, I really would not want to see him as Dredd - again! Even if in it is said original Dredd's chin was modeled after his.
Posted 17:48 | Mon 24th Sep 2012
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