'Dredd' A Review

'Dredd' is a movie based on the British comic book character Judge Dredd. The movie takes place in a future plagued by radiation from nuclear fall out. The entire Eastern seaboard is one large enclosed city. The peace is kept by 'Judges' who combine the police and the judicial system. The movie opens on Dredd(Karl Urban) apprehending some criminals. He goes back to head quarters and gets a trainee Judge(Olivia Thirlby) to asses on his next call. Their next call comes from a slum-high-rise building ruled over by a scarred drug lord(Lena Headey).

'Dredd' is a great simple action movie. Not a lot of frills but good solid action, a simple engaging plot, and great casting. The wonder drug being produced by Headey's character is 'Slow-Mo' which tricks the brain into thinking time is passing at a fraction of its normal speed. The shots of this effect are super cool especially in 3D. Headey's character Ma-Ma is stunningly grotesque, ruthless, and watchable. Thirlby as a psychic trainee is eager, competent, and never falls into a trap of being a victim(which is needless to say refreshing).

Urban's Dredd at first gave me a little pause because his scowl is a little over the top. But as the movie progressed I was totally won over. Unlike Stallones portrayal we never see Urban's face. He has no love interest(also refreshing), he has no exposition, there is no real implication that he is a particularly special Judge. We find out he is through the course of the film. Urban plays it controlled, righteous, and calculating. He never loses his temper and is ready to do what is necessary at any given moment. You get the sense under all the bluster that the character is genuinely only concerned about one thing: the Law.

See It.