The removal of Dredd's helmet has to be by far the biggest error in the film. The reasoning that they wanted to humanise the character is laughable. Dredd is the law, unyielding, unsympathetic, hard. He doesn't do sentiment or romance.
Rob Schneider creates 'the sidekick'. A character we will have to endure forever more. For those who haven't seen it, think Shia LaBeouf in I, Robot or Constantine. Thanks Rob....thanks a lot.
17 years, 1 month and 17 days later.....
(that's a long time by the way)
Dredd is back on our screens, under the guise of Karl Urban. Needless to say I was very excited about this, and whilst for previous big releases (Avengers Assemble for example) I have been nervous about how good a job will have been done, this time I was not. Nothing could be worse than the Dredd of 1995, and the wait was finally over to have something to replace it.
The film is spectacular. Action packed, dark, gruesome, unapologetically brutal, and fun throughout. When leaving the cinema my first thought was how well it worked as a complete and self contained film. Whilst Alex Garland (screen writer) has gone on record saying that they have worked on, and would like to do multiple films, nothing was left in reserve. No 'you're going to have to wait until next time' bits. That is the stand out point of this film that makes it not just good, but great.
***Here come the SPOILERS***
They do this with the angle of it just being another day in Mega City One. Just a day on patrol for the Judges. It just so happens on this day they run in to Ma Ma Madrigal and a Mega Block full of drug crazed cronies. The main elements are introduced, The Cursed Earth, Mega City One, The Hall of Justice, Dredd, Anderson, and then their day unfolds. There is no drawn out attempt to give needless back story to try and score points with the fans, they just get down to business.
Then they walk away. Maybe for another day, maybe not. I hope they do, but that's because I'm a huge fan. But not because I need a sequel to explain some part of the film, or fill in any blanks.
Then there's Dredd the character. First of all, bravo Karl Urban. The man is a hero and a legend. Through his portrayal of Dredd, we get one of the best realisations of a comic book that has ever been released. The biggest compliment that I could pay to Karl is that he does such a good job, it could be anyone under that helmet. You get 100% Dredd. No bullshit, no softening of the edges, no sentiment, and definitely no romance. Karl Urban's Dredd kicks ass, dispenses justice, and delivers great one liners. All with the signature grimace.
Even walking out of Peach Trees at the end of the film, ragged, shot and bloody, all Dredd has to say about the experience is "the perps were uncooperative".
Bad....ass.....
Dredd was always going to get a small fanfare in the UK cinemas. When I went to see it on opening weekend it was only on one of the cinema's smaller screens. Unfortunately, it has had an equally poor reception in the US. Having only has a modest $50 Million budget, it has only grossed $10 Million (ish) worldwide at the cinema so far. I sincerely hope that things pick up, and it also has a surge once it gets it's DVD/BluRay release. We need more films like this.
Whether you have seen Dredd yet or not. Spread the word. This is a great film, a type of which you very rarely see at the cinema anymore. Great, solid, action packed and fun throughout, and aimed unapologetically at adults. We need to get behind it.
WATCH IT....THEN TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW ABOUT IT!
