Set in a future where most of North America is a radioactive wasteland eight hundred million people are crammed into the vast Mega City One. Here justice is dispensed by the Judges who pass sentence on the spot. Judge Dredd is a veteran who has been ordered to evaluate rookie judge Anderson; she just failed her exams but Dredd's superior wants to give her a chance as she is a telepath. When they are called to a triple death in one of the city's two hundred story tower blocks they think it will be routine
it is anything but. The dead men had made the mistake of crossing Madeline Madrigal, AKA Ma-Ma, the drug lord responsible for the supply of Slo-mo, a new drug. The dead men had taken the drug so Dredd and Anderson investigate the nearest drug den; here they arrest a man named Kay. Anderson is almost certain that he was the killer so they arrest him to take back for interrogation. He knows far too much about Ma-Ma's operation so she seals the building and orders her killers to eliminate the two judges. Unable to get out Dredd and Anderson are forced to take Ma-Ma's forces head on.
Anybody who watched the Sylvester Stallone film 'Judge Dredd' may think they know what to expect; they'd be wrong. This is an altogether grittier story; the action is more intense and a lot more brutal and there definitely isn't a 'comedy' sidekick. If one must compare it to another film I'd say it was most like a slightly toned down version of 'The Raid' than any other film I've seen. The setting is suitably grimy and once the building is put in lock down there is a decent sense of claustrophobia. Karl Urban does a great job in the title role; he brings an intensity to the character without showing any obvious emotion. He is ably supported by Olivia Thirlby who impresses as rookie Judge Anderson; a character who develops nicely as she undergoes the intense ordeal in the tower block. Lena Headey also impresses as the villainous Ma-Ma; an unpleasant character who, for the most part, doesn't tip over to become a pantomime villain. There is lots of impressive action from start to finish as well as a real sense of danger while I didn't doubt for one second that Dredd would survive I was less certain about Anderson. Overall I'd definitely recommend this to anybody looking for solid '18' certificate action.
Anybody who watched the Sylvester Stallone film 'Judge Dredd' may think they know what to expect; they'd be wrong. This is an altogether grittier story; the action is more intense and a lot more brutal and there definitely isn't a 'comedy' sidekick. If one must compare it to another film I'd say it was most like a slightly toned down version of 'The Raid' than any other film I've seen. The setting is suitably grimy and once the building is put in lock down there is a decent sense of claustrophobia. Karl Urban does a great job in the title role; he brings an intensity to the character without showing any obvious emotion. He is ably supported by Olivia Thirlby who impresses as rookie Judge Anderson; a character who develops nicely as she undergoes the intense ordeal in the tower block. Lena Headey also impresses as the villainous Ma-Ma; an unpleasant character who, for the most part, doesn't tip over to become a pantomime villain. There is lots of impressive action from start to finish as well as a real sense of danger while I didn't doubt for one second that Dredd would survive I was less certain about Anderson. Overall I'd definitely recommend this to anybody looking for solid '18' certificate action.