I'm not sure whether or not DREDD is a great movie. What I am sure about is that I enjoyed it very, very much. Atmospheric visuals, non-stop action, an engaging story, and solid performances all around made for a pleasant Saturday evening surprise.
Movies depicting dystopian futures are ever popular and DREDD makes full use of the genre, employing first-rate special effects to create a mega skyscraper that functions like a self-contained city within a city. The set styling can best be described as futuristic decay. Featuring copious amounts of graffiti, garbage, and grime, the movie's look and feel offer a convincing depiction of civilization in decline.
DREDD, which was released in 2012, unnervingly mirrors many aspects of the increasingly lawless society we're witnessing in 2023. Rife with corrosive drugs, rampant violence, pervasive corruption, and depraved inhumanity, the world these characters inhabit -- like the world we inhabit -- feels a bit like a runaway train hurtling toward certain disaster. Simply put, it hits a bit close to home. This prescience gives the film some weight the filmmakers may not have intended, but it enhances the experience just the same.
Karl Urban is a standout in the lead role, playing the mysterious Judge Dredd like a cross between Robocop and John Reese from PERSON OF INTEREST, delivering each line in an emotionless, husky half-whisper. Clad in head-to-toe leather and a helmet-visor combo that obscures his face for the entirety of the film, he still manages to infuse the character with an easy, masculine sex appeal that doesn't seem contrived or overdone.
The script is straightforward and doesn't attempt any major surprises, twists, or reversals, but that hardly matters in DREDD. What's important are the solid, well paced action sequences. The script supports those well, without unnecessary holes, and never comes across as silly or nonsensical.
If you're seeking a lot of backstory and character development, you'll probably want to look elsewhere. If a fast-paced thrill ride through a terrifying possible future interests you, buckle up and press play.
Movies depicting dystopian futures are ever popular and DREDD makes full use of the genre, employing first-rate special effects to create a mega skyscraper that functions like a self-contained city within a city. The set styling can best be described as futuristic decay. Featuring copious amounts of graffiti, garbage, and grime, the movie's look and feel offer a convincing depiction of civilization in decline.
DREDD, which was released in 2012, unnervingly mirrors many aspects of the increasingly lawless society we're witnessing in 2023. Rife with corrosive drugs, rampant violence, pervasive corruption, and depraved inhumanity, the world these characters inhabit -- like the world we inhabit -- feels a bit like a runaway train hurtling toward certain disaster. Simply put, it hits a bit close to home. This prescience gives the film some weight the filmmakers may not have intended, but it enhances the experience just the same.
Karl Urban is a standout in the lead role, playing the mysterious Judge Dredd like a cross between Robocop and John Reese from PERSON OF INTEREST, delivering each line in an emotionless, husky half-whisper. Clad in head-to-toe leather and a helmet-visor combo that obscures his face for the entirety of the film, he still manages to infuse the character with an easy, masculine sex appeal that doesn't seem contrived or overdone.
The script is straightforward and doesn't attempt any major surprises, twists, or reversals, but that hardly matters in DREDD. What's important are the solid, well paced action sequences. The script supports those well, without unnecessary holes, and never comes across as silly or nonsensical.
If you're seeking a lot of backstory and character development, you'll probably want to look elsewhere. If a fast-paced thrill ride through a terrifying possible future interests you, buckle up and press play.