Another reboot is upon us. Is this one better than the 1995 Sylvester Stallone version? “Star Trek’s” Karl Urban puts on the helmet as “Dredd 3D.”
DREDD 3D
LIONSGATE FILMS
Rating: R
Run Time: 98 Min.
Studio Synopsis
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.
J.P.’s Take:
“I am the law” growls Karl Urban, sounding like a grizzled cowboy as he plays the title character in the newly updated “Dredd 3D” movie. Here’s my “judgment”: Forget what you’ve seen in the 1995 Sylvester Stallone incarnation of “Judge Dredd,” because this retooling is superior to that film altogether.
First off, director Pete Travis (“Vantage Point,” “Endgame”) and writers Carlos Ezquerra (1995 “Judge Dredd”), Alex Garland (“28 Days Later,” “Sunshine”) and John Wagner (“A History of Violence,” “Judge Dredd”) went to the extent of recreating the Sci-Fi/Grindhouse atmosphere exploited in similar films of the late 70’s. Staying faithful to the graphic novels of that era, “Dredd” retains much of the ultra violent, bloody and gory depiction of Mega City One, with a few stylistic changes in direction. Utilizing slow motion shooting techniques, Travis puts emphasis on the more violent scenes. Watching moments where bullets pierce through flesh and bone like a knife through butter, can be a very trippy thing to watch in slo-mo.
Other tripped out scenes involve criminals using the drug aptly called “SLO MO,” where they are filmed in the similar fashion — adding an eerie blissfulness.
Story wise “Dredd” is also a cut above the ‘95 version, where the characters and scenarios are more developed with a slight change up in the plot line. Action wise, as I mentioned above, the violence is taken to the goriest degree. Other than these few changes, the main characters are still in place, along with their backgrounds.
Judge Joseph Dredd (this time is played by the very capable Urban) remains slightly mysterious as he keeps the helmet on through the entire movie. He’s paired with his original sidekick, the clairvoyant Cassandra Anderson (played by a spunky attractive Olivia Thirlby.) Also surprising to see is an unrecognizable Lena Headey ( TV’s “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles,” “Game of Thrones “) as a female drug queen pin, Madelaine Madrigal a.k.a MA-MA. Heady’s face is slashed, her hair is ratty and grimy, which gives her a grittier look. I thoroughly enjoy all their performances, which were all fitting of their roles.
On the down side — and it is minor — I didn’t care for the 3D added effect. Usually I enjoy viewing certain movie shot in this medium, however in this particular case, many scenes were jarring to watch. This, unfortunately, caused me to adjust my viewing angle several times. Yet, during the slow motion moments the 3D effect did provide nice depth.
By the end of the 3D blood letting I could see a blend of “RoboCop,” “Blade Runner,” with some elements of the “The Dark Knight” mixed in for good measure. As I look back on the cartoonish “Judge Dredd,” it’s obvious that these two films are worlds apart. Suffice it to say that “Dredd 3D” earns its R rating which stands testament to its gruesomeness. My “stance,” if you’re a true fan of the original readings, watch “Dredd 3D” instead and don’t look back on the other film. I got a kick out it.