Rent Dredd (2012)

Super-violent - just one day in the life of Judge Dredd. No wimpish Hollywood 'superheroes' here :) - Dredd review by RP

At last - a 'proper' comic-book film, rather than the wimpish so-called 'superhero' Hollywood Marvel comic characters. And it's 18 rated, not some cleaned up version for the kiddies market.

Based on the character from the British comic 2000 AD, a British-South African production, a NZ actor (Karl Urban) playing the deadpan Dredd. Super-violent, lots of blood and killing, in other words, just an ordinary day in the life of Judge Dredd.

Vastly better than the mediocre 1995 film with Sylvester Stallone, I enjoyed this - I think it got the character about right. And no, he certainly doesn't take his helmet off. If I have one criticism it's that the Peach Trees tower block scenario isn't futuristic enough. Also there's a little too much f-ing and blinding from the 'perps' for my taste.

I understand that possibly because of poor marketing and an insistence on releasing the film in 3D to most screens so missing out on the bigger 2D market, the film lost money at the box office. Let's hope its video release recovers some of the cash, because I for one would like to see more of the same.

5/5 stars - highly recommended to those who like the genre.

Violent Dystopian Action Thriller - Dredd review by GI

Based on the character from the long running British comic series 2000AD this is a violent action thriller set in a dystopian future where the world is a vast desert and people live in gigantic cities overrun with crime. The law is represented by the 'Judges', tough police officers who have the power to act as judge, jury and executioner. After arresting a murder suspect the uncompromising Judge Dredd (Karl Urban) and his trainee, Anderson (Olivia Thirlby) become trapped inside a massive skyscraper run by the criminal warlord Ma-Ma (Len Headey) who is desperate to to get her man back before he talks and reveals her drug manufacturing operation. This cues plenty of shooting! It's certainly exciting stuff and originally released as a 3D film it has the telltale scenes designed to heighten that experience but viewed today it is still a highly entertaining and bloody action fest that really rocks. Clearly influenced by Blade Runner (1982) Robocop (1987) and Death Race 2000 (1975) it paints a picture of a neo-facist future where state violence is the order of the day to suppress uncontrolled crime and life is little valued. Urban is great in the role, all mood and serious grimaces and he's clearly doing a solid Clint Eastwood Dirty Harry impression. The film doesn't offer much in the way of visuals of this future as the narrative is mostly confined to inside the skyscraper where the very bloody battle takes place but it doesn't really matter because this is a shoot em up on a grand scale with gut wrenching slow motion violence. It's a real treat actually and I'm surprised there's not been a sequel. Interestingly this was written and edited by Alex Garland and rumoured to have been mostly directed by him although Pete Travis is credited.