Dredd Review

I went to see this film in 3D and I was presently surprised. Not at the film itself I always had a lot of faith that it would be good but I thought the 3D wouldn't work on this film and actually it's one of the best films I've seen in 3D. It is also the pound for pound best comic book film out this year as it only cost $45 million whereas The Amazing Spider-Man, The Dark Knight Rises and The Avengers all cost over $200 million and this film about the same level of quality.

Plot

SPOILER FREE

Set in the futuristic city of Mega-City One the only form of law and order is in the Judges, a futuristic police force who possess the combined powers of judge, jury and executioner. Dredd one of the most feared and famed Judge's is assigned with assessing a rookie Judge called Cassandra Anderson who has psychic abilities due to her genetic mutation. Elsewhere in a tower block called Peach Tree's a drug lord called Ma-Ma has three men who have been given Slow-Mo (a drug which makes the user experience reality at a fraction of its normal speed) skinned and thrown of the top of the tower block. Whilst reporting to this Dredd and Anderson capture Kay (a henchman of Ma-Ma's) who Anderson believes is responsible for the murders. As they try to leave with Kay, Ma-Ma shuts down the tower block to prevent Kay from leaving and being interrogated and tortured into revealing her operation. The two Judges now have too fight through the gigantic tower block with all the residents are trying to kill them to get to Ma-Ma.

Review

The film itself was 100% better than the Stallone version. Although I didn't mind the Stallone version (it is better than a lot of other comics book films) this version surpasses it in every way. It has a lot more violence and is a lot more serious than the Stallone version which was trying to be too much of a comedy in my opinion. I also thought Karl Urban did a much better job as Dredd than Stallone did. Urban's Dredd was also a lot more moody and controlling than Stallone's was. I think it was a good choice getting an actor who has been in a lot of big films but isn't often the lead and isn't as big a name as Stallone was. I also liked how they went into a lot more detail with the Lawgiver showing off all the different capabilities it has. I was happy to find out in this film that (like stated in other reviews around the internet) Dredd never removes his helmet. Although I understood they had to show Stallone's face in the last one as that's where all the money would have went it just made the film feel less like Dredd. I was happy that we didn't see the council this time as it would have made the film feel too political.

Final Verdict

This was a brilliant film and sticks fairly close to the comic. It has a lot of action, a lot of blood and violence and above all else it has a great story. It doesn't try to be more than it is and with the story being in an enclosed environment it gives more chance to show the characteristics of both Dredd and Anderson. I would highly recommend this film and it isn't far behind the the other comic book films this year.

Rating: 4.5/5