Dredd Sequel.....please....

So it looks like the speculative talk has started again following an interview in which Karl Urban said talks were happening about bringing a Dredd sequel to production.

Much has been made of the hash job that was the marketing prior to the films cinematic release, which was the films ultimate downfall.  Then came the fans, who propelled the film up the DVD sales and download charts.  Something that I'm sure would give any potential investors pause for thought.  DVD and Blu Ray sales alone have brought in half of what the film made at the box office....worldwide!

It's no surprise then that talks are ongoing.  What is important is that the people with the money, who make the decisions see that the strong following isn't going anywhere.  There are several ways you can do this:

1. If you haven't already, buy a copy of the film! Blu-Ray, DVD, Digital, whichever.
2. Buy a copy of the one-shot follow up comic.  Let's send a clear message that we want to see more Dredd.  Go to your local comic book store, or pick up a digital copy from Amazon.
3. Sign the petition: http://2000adonline.us5.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=a6e40236aa24d482cfff600d2&id=62906ebdcc  Let the decision makers see just how many people want to see a sequel get made.

I don't want to live in a world where rubbish franchise after rubbish franchise can get churned out at the cinema.

I want to live in a world where the public can speak up, the fans can be heard, and we can see a great character brought back to the big screen where he belongs!!

If you haven't bought a copy of Dredd...

The theatrical release of Dredd was met with a lukewarm reception at the box office.  It didn't recoup it's $45 million budget, making only $36.4 million.  Many who have seen it were left scratching their heads.  How could such a good film pull in such poor box office numbers?  Many speculated that it was the hard boiled, unyielding nature of it's action.  Gruesome, ultra violent, in an age where more and more films water down to achieve box office acceptance (Taken 2 is the most recent, and notable example of this), Dredd took off the gloves and swung away with knuckles bared.

Mistake?...

Most certainly not.  Doing anything but what they did would have been a disservice to the source material.  What Pete Travis and Alex Garland (with the help of many others) have created is, in my opinion, the most faithful, and downright best, comic adaptation of recent memory.  Although the film is greatly self contained, with no annoying 'wait until the next film' loose ends, I would dearly love to see more of this world and the characters within it, we know there are plenty more to introduce.  Little touches like the 'Chopper' graffiti tag, and an interview here with Alex Garland http://whatculture.com/film/alex-garland-interview-dredd-3d-slo-mo-sequel-ideas-more.php gave me hope that this would happen.

Then came the box office numbers...

Shortly followed by the reviews and articles saying that a sequel now would not happen.  Dredd had one more card to play, the DVD/Blu-Ray release.  We've come a long way since the days of Shawshank Redemption and VHS.  A film that also had a disappointing box office run, only to receive several Oscar nods and become the top rental film of 1995.  I can't see Dredd getting any Oscar nominations, and piracy is rife, but I've got everything crossed that home sales can elevate Dredd from box office disappointment to cult classic, and if the stars align a sequel.

So far so good?...

In the first week of sales, Dredd has shifted over 650,000 physical copies alone.  As well as topping the digital sales chart.  If this trend continues, and doesn't prove a flash in the pan, who knows?  So if you haven't bought a copy already, what are you waiting for?!

I'll even put the links here for you...

Physical:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dredd-Blu-ray-3D-Karl-Urban/dp/B008OGHUFK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359059898&sr=8-1

Digital:  https://itunes.apple.com/gb/movie/dredd/id588738013

DO IT!!

It's Judgement time!...

On July 21st 1995, a dark shadow was cast across the world, a vile taint in the form of Judge Dredd starring Sylvester Stallone.  Many people have spent many an hour lamenting the many failings of this film, for me it saw the ruination of a comic book legend.

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!