Dredd 3D
Starring: Karl Urban, Olivia Thirlby, Lena Headley
Directed By: Pete Travis
Reviewed by Danielle Muir

[rating: 4/5]

So apparently there was a version of Dredd made in the 1980’s with Stallone as the title character, and Rob Schnieder making an appearance as the buddy sidekick.  A quick YouTube search of the trailer and I’ve reached conclusion that the 2012 seems to have done the job just fine.

There are 800 million people nestled in the ruins of the old world, Mega City One.  Large skyscrapers now replace the crumbling old architecture, housing hoards of people on every floor.  The authorities have now appointed Judges – responsible for dishing out on-the-spot convictions, judgement and execution or time in the isocubes.  Legendary Judge Dredd (Urban) and on trial rookie Claire Andersen (Thirlby) are sent to investigate some reported brutal murders in the Peach Tree district – which then is locked down from the outside, leaving them to the mercy of criminal Ma-ma and her bloodthirsty gang.

Dredd has a blessedly simple plot inside a really fascinating world that has been crafted – they’re locked inside, they have no way out, and virtually everyone in the building is trying to kill them.  The way the plot uses the elements, such as the drug Slo-Mo (slows down time to 1% of its normal speed for users) and how the judges instantly decipher crime and punishment is very clever. It boasts a meaty storyline stronger than a lot of films that simply rely on heavy-handed action to get by.  Coupled with the intense brutality of the violence (be warned: this is one of the most graphic comic book films I’ve seen), and you get an extremely entertaining film that’s not for those weak of stomach.

Karl Urban is brilliant as no-nonsense Judge Dredd.  With his mouth downturned into a constant grimace and spouting the most quotable lines since The Dark Knight Rises (how many of you have already said ‘It’s judgement time’), his character fits completely into the grungy, unforgiving environment.  In addition, Thirlby is decent as rookie Andersen, a psychic with average grades who’s given her last shot at becoming a Judge.  But Lena Headley as kingpin Ma-Ma is repulsive and terrifying – she’s in charge of the merciless torture and violence both the characters, and the audience, are subjected to.

For any lovers of electronic, you’ll be lapping up the soundtrack to this film – it really amps up adrenaline as the shots swoop over the decrepit city, or as a killer action sequence is in play.  Definitely adds a brilliant element of awesome to a film that already has it in spades.

Dredd is a very entertaining, bloody and well executed film.  If you’re a fan of Dredd in any way, make sure you catch this one in the cinemas – its poor performance in the States means we might not get a sequel.  And this is one of the rare cases where we should vouch for one.