In a violent, futuristic city where the police have the authority to act as judge, jury and executioner, a cop teams with a trainee to take down a gang that deals the reality-altering drug, SLO-MO.
Director: Pete Travis (Endgame, Vantage Point)
Starring: Karl Urban, Olivia Thirlby, Lena Headey, Domhnall Gleeson
Dredd is set in future America, a complete and utter wasteland of degenerates and lowlife scum where crime is at a high. The film is set in a city called Mega City One, a crazy, municipal area with 200 million inhabitants and eyesore sky-rises. Dredd and the other Judges are the only peacekeepers attempting to keep the city under control. They are the judge, jury, and executioners.
Judge Dredd is partnered up with Cassandra Anderson, a rookie on assessment with powerful psychic abilities. 'Are you ready? You don't look ready' says Dredd to Anderson, as he evaluates and trains her on what's supposed to be a routine job.
They end up at Peach Trees, a 200 story slum to investigate a triple homicide but end up with more than they bargained for. The neighbourhood is controlled by Ma-Ma and her clan. As soon as Ma-Ma finds out that the Judges have one of her 'perps', she quickly locks down Peach Trees and the Judges have to fight for their survival.
See this in 3D, it's sublime. This is a film made for 3D, rather than pushing on 3D during post-production, just to make a quick buck. It's success was minimal, only making $40m when the budget was $35m. Dredd's 3D aspect endorses every frame, every slow motion. The new drug Slo-Mo makes the brain function at 1% its normal speed, allowing the 3D and CGI to sheen, complimented with vibrant colours, standout water droplets, smoke and blood from a shootout.
Dredd's storyline is light but tight. Its 95 minutes running time is jam packed with action and gore. Its not just easy to follow, its gripping... and to top it off, Karl Urban's plays a worthy Judge, with chin protruding and frown to boot. A contender for the best chin in Hollywood. Lena Headey is unrecognisable as Ma-Ma, known very well as Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones. Her demeanour is often laughable, but sometimes cold as ice.
Dredd's was shadowed by the incredibly successful Indonesian film The Raid. The release dates of both were close to each other and the narratives are very similar.
Overview: Dredd doesn't get the credit it deserves. Packs a hard punch and keeps the heart pumping.
5/5
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