Dredd (2012) User Reviews

Karl Urban IS Dredd.

[BA_Harrison · 7/10 · 7 September 2012]

I've been a Dredd fan for thirty years now, but I'm not about to give this movie adaptation of my favourite comic character a ridiculously high rating purely from some misguided sense of loyalty. Instead, I'm going to give it a deservingly high score because, quite simply, it is a very good film, one that successfully captures the essence of the 2000AD strip, delivering brutal action by the bucket-load, excellent central performances, and inspired direction, all enhanced by breathtaking state-of-the-art 3D special effects.

After the debacle that was Stallone's Judge Dredd (1995), the makers of this movie have clearly made their prime directive to please hardcore Dredd fans, and it shows: the screenplay, by Alex Garland, remains very faithful to the spirit of the comic, and in Karl Urban, we now have the perfect Dredd-all raspy voice and humourless grimace, it looks as though the character has jumped straight onto the screen from the pages of 2000AD (helmet intact). Similarly, it would be hard to imagine anyone more suitable than Olivia Thirlby as rookie Psi-Judge Anderson (and believe me, I've tried!).

Is Dredd 3D my 'ideal' Dredd movie? Not quite... made for a comparatively meagre budget of $45million, it would be hard pushed to live up to my impossibly high expectations (just realising the Mega-City One of my dreams would require way more money than it cost to make this entire film). That said, it is definitely a massive step in the right direction, and if it is the financial success that it genuinely deserves to be, who knows what treats await us in the future: The Cursed Earth, Judge Cal, Judge Death, The Apocalypse War.... I'm salivating like a Klegg just thinking about it.

** EDIT - 5th April 2021 ** Just watched Dredd again, this time without the benefit of 3D, and found it less impressive than I remembered. I was struck more than before by how poorly Mega City One is presented, with vehicles that look like they're from now instead the end of the 21st century. Little effort was spent in making the environment appear futuristic - things like computer keyboards and electric fans are still as they are today. Budget was clearly an issue, and it shows.

Also, the whole 'Wait' conversation doesn't work for me. The bad judge would've plugged Dredd in the head instead of allowing him to buy time.

I still love Urban's portrayal, and the violence is cool, but I really hope that if there is a next time, they make the film look more like the comics.

Old rating: 8/10 New rating: 6.5/10, rounded up to 7. It's still good, just not great.

Perfect Dredd

[SnoopyStyle · 8/10 · 11 August 2013]

In a dystopian future, the world is devastated. Judge Dredd (Karl Urban) is the last word in Law & Order within Mega-City One. Judge Cassandra Anderson (Olivia Thirlby) is his junior partner. They are battling drug lord Ma-Ma (Lena Headey) who is operating out of a massive apartment block.

The previous version of Judge Dredd (1995) starring Sly is a campy affair. Consider that it had Rob Schneider in it. 'nuff said. This one brings us into the comics once again but this time, they drop the camp. It is well written probably because they had Alex Garland who also wrote 28 Days Later... and Sunshine among others. Karl Urban is not as imposing as Sly but he does a solid job. Most importantly, he's not impersonating Sly. Olivia Thirlby is great as a foil or conscience to Dredd. Their relationship is the heart of the movie. Lena Headey does a good job as the baddie. It's an interesting unusual choice. It's certainly not your average muscle bound villain.

I did have 2 problems. First, Slo-Mo happens too many times. The first couple of times are interesting. I'm sure it's cool 3D fun, but even that would get tiresome. It's a balancing act between pace and cool and the climax needs pace more than cool. Second problem is the ending. The final fight with Lena Headey is not as climatic as needed. It's a bit of a letdown. Overall, this is super-fun despite the minor problems.

The Best Comic Action Adaptation movie of the year! It's Judgment Time!

[ivo-cobra8 · 10/10 · 7 November 2015]

Dredd (2012 is one of the best science fiction action film adapted by comic book 2000 AD. It is one of my personal favorite movies. This is the character that kicks ass! This movie is so much better than original Stallone film. Stallone's Judge Dredd did not kicks ass, Karl Urban's Dredd did! I love this film to death I love it so much and it is better than Judge Dredd (1995) and it always will be! Dredd kills like 50 people in here, there are 100 of bodies everywhere I love this action film to death!

Lena Headey is such a bad ass, I told you the woman can kick ass and she would kick Emilia Clarke's ass anytime. Lena was such a bad ass playing beautiful Sarah Connor in Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles TV Series (2008). This movie is a lot of fun.

Ma-Ma is not the law... I am the law.

Dredd was a better comic adaptation of not only the story of Mega City One but also of Judge Dredd the character. If you were left with a bad taste in your mouth from Judge Dredd 1995 movie then this is the perfect flavor. Tons of action and gore to keep any guy entertained and before you realize it you are at the end. A must see not only for Judge Dredd fans but action fans also. The darkness and violence of the movie is how its suppose to be and the action just keeps building up throughout the movie. Action is well paced and believable. Not a dull moment.It is very violent, which I enjoy, but others may find it too much. This film is such a bad ass, he shots a bullet to the guys face and it melts his face off, that's awesome!!! There's a lot of slow-motion in here, but let me tell you something: Slow-Motions in here works, there is the reason for the Slow-Motion okay. Soon as he kicks the door in and he starts shooting people and in slow-motion you can see the bullets cut in the people's up and that is great, awesome! Lena Headey plays a good ass villain, man you want to see her ass kicked! You want to see that Judge Dredd takes her up in the air, "Your going down, your going down real good."

I love this movie I had a great time seen it, it is a solid Rater R reboot movie for an adults and not a children. You can see people cut in a half for a true 80's throwback kick ass Science Ficton/Action new wave classic I'm glad I enjoyed this film. It deserves much more respect than it garnered in the press and ticket sales. The acting is top-notch, a simple yet elegant plot device, and amazing cinematography. It may not have made a lot of money or been given the respect it deserves at this time, but I have a feeling that subsequent generations will find a hidden gem in this masterpiece. Personally I love Dredd, like any other comic character or real person witch stays true to his honor and values of life or society without making himself the exception of his own rules. That's true ideology. Any other thing is propaganda or personality problem. The world has irradiated itself from nuclear war. The earth is all but a barren wasteland, with its remaining inhabitants crowded into Mega-Cities. Mega-City One's population is 800 million, with its territory stretching from Boston to Washington D.C. Amongst the crowded chaos stands one force to bring order; a force that serves as jury, executioner, and Judge. On a day when Dredd (Karl Urban) is assigned rookie, Cassandra Anderson (Olivia Thirlby), for assessment, they would get more than they bargained for on her first day. In response to an initial homicide call at the city block of Peach Trees, they also discover a drug ring run by a woman called Ma-Ma (Lena Heady). But she won't have the Judges taking one of her men into custody. And in an attempt to thwart them, she seals the block's blast doors, leaving the Judges to fend for themselves as they battle to survive.

In the future, America is a dystopian wasteland. The latest scourge is Ma-Ma, a prostitute-turned-drug pusher with a dangerous new drug and aims to take over the city. The only possibility of stopping her is an elite group of urban police called Judges, who combine the duties of judge, jury and executioner to deliver a brutal brand of swift justice. But even the top-ranking Judge, Dredd (Karl Urban), discovers that taking down Ma-Ma isn't as easy as it seems in this explosive adaptation of the hugely popular comic series.

That is your basic plot it is a lot of interesting titles that make this movie the bleak and desolate sci-fi actioner that it is. It is a dystopian Science Fiction action flick similar to Robocop (1987). This film works while Robocop (2014) reboot failed!

Dredd is a 2012 science fiction action film directed by Pete Travis and written and produced by Alex Garland. It is based on the 2000 AD comic strip Judge Dredd and its eponymous character created by John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra.

I am giving this film A 10/10 because it deserves it! I love this movie!

Straight to The Point, Well Directed, Really Violent

[ben-798-604758 · 8/10 · 25 September 2013]

This definitely isn't one of those movies with a lot of character development, but its not your typical action flick either. This is a beautiful work of art with a lot of stylized violence, desolate alleys with shady characters and ill intentions. The grungy neon lights of a dystopian future, the scarlet blood and glimmering glass, the hauntingly beautiful slow motion, what makes this movie great is definitely the visual aspects.

Dredd himself is very one dimensional, forcedly so. Stern, analytical, gruff, his toughness masking a side of him the audience never actually gets to see. His character is described perfectly in the first few minutes by his new psychic apprentice, which is the last look you get inside of his head before its slammed shut. He is a man who takes his duty seriously to the point that it consumes him, defines him.

Ma-ma is sadistically brilliant. Her mob-style domination of peach tree creates a claustrophobic apprehension for a threat far too big to take on in a box far too small to escape. The terror by which she controls the people is believable and vicious. Whats lost in character development is regained by the subtle twisted moments and reactions to the threats imposed on each of the characters.

The psychic scenes were perhaps the most well done and paints a very nice psychological battle between the judge in training and her prisoner. I would've actually enjoyed more of these as they were very surreal and artistic. Its also cool to see the way she breaks him down even after he thinks he has the upper hand.

Slow mo, the drug this movie centers around, makes for some very awesome fight scenes on par with Sherlock Holmes 2: a Game of Shadows and the Matrix. The visual effects were very well executed and i myself being a visual effects artist, have only one complaint. At some points the blood was a bit oversaturated and toonish, which was likely in attempt to match the comic but draws away from a few scenes.

A noisy and satisfying piece of entertainment

[Leofwine_draca · 7/10 · 22 October 2013]

DREDD is the second adaptation of the cult comic book series Judge Dredd, following on from a poorly-received Stallone flick in the '90s (for the record, I thought that version was passable but weak in places, as is the case with a lot of mid-'90s cinema). This one's a lot more gutsy and compelling, thanks to the lean script and emphasis throughout on bloody action and adult entertainment. No pandering to the teenage crowd here.

Karl Urban, long since a favourite of mine (since his excellent turn as the Russian assassin in THE BOURNE SUPREMACY) headlines as Dredd, never taking his helmet off throughout the film. Thus he's reduced to acting via his chin and gravely voice, and the surprise is that it works, to a degree. The helmet serves to distance the viewer from warming to the character, but then that's the point. I did like him though, and enjoyed his totalitarian attitude towards keeping crime off the streets.

Many reviewers have commented on the movie's similarity in plot to the Indonesian action epic THE RAID, and it's clear the two films share plenty. However, I think there's space for both of them in the market; DREDD is an unashamed shoot-em-up while THE RAID is an unashamed martial arts movie. They cater to different markets, and both are equally good.

DREDD's grim, claustrophobic setting is a strong one (bringing to mind the likes of '80s nihilist cinema like TENEMENT and DEATH WISH 3) and the action never lets up from start to finish. The scene with the huge guns is the stand-out, of course, but there's plenty of good minor stuff along the way, where encounters between Dredd and various bad guys are well directed and choreographed. Lena Headey's villain is utterly imposing and my only disappointment was with the ultra-slow-motion sequences, which are a bit pretentious and overused; thankfully they virtually disappear once the novelty wears off. I watched the 3D version of this movie, and while it's not the most visually impressive 3D film I've seen, it does make the film feel more immersive as a whole.

I really liked this movie.

[0U · 20 February 2020]

Graphic, gripping, and very well developed. This is exactly what we should see from a comic of this subject matter. The performances are outstanding; everyone plays their role to absolute perfection. Completely loaded with entertaining action and blood to keep you interested. The directing, editing, sound design, and effects, terrific. A criminally underrated movie that I'm glad got the cult following and recognition it deserves.

Cyberpunk delight

[griffithxjohnson · 7/10 · 31 May 2022]

A gritty ride that jumps right in & doesn't stop. It's simple & effectively meets its goals of hyper violent suspenseful crime content. The world building is brief but immersive with dull colors except for the gorgeously shot intoxication scenes.

Perfect Dredd

[Lugodoc · 10/10 · 7 September 2012]

I'm a huge fan of the comic 2000AD and the character Judge Dredd since 1979, and this film completely satisfied me. They changed all the right things and kept all the right things. Director Pete Travis tackled the problem of filming a comic book by making something that looks nothing like a comic book and more like an action movie shot on location, with a simple linear plot that keeps rolling and never slows down.

Megacity 1 is made markedly less futuristic than the comic in order to become so believable that it is hard to tell where the real slums of Cape Town end and the CGI kilometre high city blocks start. I have an uncomfortable feeling that in less than a hundred years cities like this may actually exist.

The comic Judge's uniform works on paper but can't in real life - giant golden eagles, shoulder pads and bronze name badges hanging off a leather one-piece body suit would sag, wobble and look daft. The movie gives us body armour that looks like it actually gets used whilst keeping the helmet exactly the same. The effect is striking and believable, like everything else in this film.

The plot revolves around a drug which makes time seem to slow down a hundred times, the perfect excuse for scenes of ultra slo-mo explosive bloody (and beautiful) anatomically correct violence that earn this film its 18 rating. Not a kid's movie at all. Every supporting actor looks like they came out of a gang documentary, scarred, nasty, sweaty and mean. Lena Headey totally kicks ass as the ruthless gang lord Ma Ma, calmly relishing the deaths of her enemies, eyes sledging from narcotic addiction.

In a way this is Olivia Thirlby's movie, since she gets the character arc, rookie judge Cassandra Anderson assigned to Dredd for evaluation and finding herself on a very steep learning curve. She is vulnerable, spikey and tough as called for, vital to the movie in order to balance Dredd.

How do you play Dredd? He is the opposite of a character. He has no personal arc, never changes or grows. He has no sense of humour, the comic finds that by placing utterly deadpan 'ol stony- face in ironic situations that reflect off him. And where do you find an actor prepared to wear a helmet obscuring everything but his mouth and chin for the whole 95 minutes? Karl Urban must be a huge fan himself to play the part so right. One reviewer described his performance as "ego-free" and it is. I didn't see Urban anywhere in this movie, all I saw was Dredd.

Me and Dredd-heads everywhere thank you Karl. You smashed it.

Urban Dredd is #1

[Johnny_West · 10/10 · 23 July 2019]

Karl Urban is a very under-rated actor. He can play a variety of characters without making it all about himself. He can just act like the character, and be that character. That may not sound like much, but when you compare Judge Dredd to Dredd, the difference is impossible to ignore.

In Judge Dredd, Sylvester Stallone played Rambo in a Judge Dredd outfit. It was a totally disappointing movie, because we sat there and watched another Rambo or Cobra film. Where was Judge Dredd? He was lost in Stallone's interpretation of the character.

Zoom forward 17 years to Dredd with Karl Urban. He never takes off his helmet. He does not do any Karl Urban funny remarks or trademark phrases. He does nothing to say HEY ITS ME, KARL URBAN. Instead, all you get is DREDD. Wow. What a movie. Judge Dredd as he is supposed to be. A non-stop Justice Machine, that usually happens to kill an incredibly high number of perpetrators. That is what a Judge Dredd movie is supposed to be.

It could have been in any setting, the Karl Urban version of Judge Dredd works. Too bad that there has not been another Dredd movie. I can see Dredd (2012) almost any day of the week and enjoy it immensely. It is just adrenaline pumping action, adventure, and gut-churning violence. This is DREDD like it was meant to be.

Criminally underappreciated

[garciarichard · 9/10 · 29 September 2018]

Dredd is a simple action film with a simple premise that suffers from the legacy of a horrid 1995 Hollywood film adaptation to a British cult comic (2000 AD). It's a shame a sequel never saw the light of day, since Karl Urban was superb in his portrayal of Judge Dredd.

SOOOOOO UNDERRATED!!!!

[camarossdriver · 10/10 · 18 March 2021]

"DREDD" is one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE MOVIES! I've seen it so many times that I've lost count. Karl Urban NAILS IT as Dredd...actually...the ENTIRE CAST nails it. The story is GREAT...the acting is GREAT...and the cinematography is AWESOME! You might think that they can't do much by basically having the story in one location,but you would be WRONG! How this movie wasn't a blockbuster is beyond me,but if any movie DESERVES A SEQUEL...this one DOES! In the modern era of "superhero movies",this movie feels the most realistic and somewhat plausible. HECK...I'm going to fire it up right now for the UMP-TEENTH time. If you HAVEN'T seen it,do yourself a favor and WATCH IT! Toodles.

Relax 2000AD fans, he keeps his helmet on and there's no Rob Schneider.

[axlrhodes · 8/10 · 7 September 2012]

Seventeen years ago, a Sylvester Stallone sci-fi action vehicle was released into the world under the title 'Judge Dredd'. Based on the character from the popular 2000AD comic book series, the film was a huge disappointment with critics and a source of much heartache for Dredd devotees in the way it seemed to blatantly disregard crucial aspects of the source mythology both in look and tone. Fast forward to present day, a world in which comic book characters mean big money for film studios, surely enough time has passed to give the old Judge another crack of the whip right? I'm happy to say fans of the comic book should be able to relax and enjoy this much darker and tougher representation of their much loved character. Although the film, and it's (permanently) helmeted protagonist is a straightforward and simple beast, it actually works all the better for it. Dredd isn't given a back story or imbued with much in the way of humanity, he's instead portrayed more as the mysterious 'man with no name' whose dialogue is limited to one-liners that usually precedes some serious ass kicking. Where the 1995 Judge film was light and comedic, this version is hardcore and extremely violent with some surprising explosions of brutality meted out in a world that's long since gone to hell. As is pleasingly more and more the case in mainstream action cinema, we have strong female representation in Olvia Thirlby as Dredd's rookie sidekick and a nasty Lena Headey on form and fresh from bad girl duties in the celebrated TV series Game Of Thrones. Dredd 3D can't and won't be considered a classic of the genre, but it's a huge step-up from the Stallone version and should satisfy any and all sci-fi action fans looking for a fun Friday night thrill. Visually arresting and with a sensible running time, Dredd rocks. 3.5/5

A Superior Action Movie

[alan_holloway_2 · 8/10 · 7 September 2012]

The basic aim of Dredd is simple – it needs to be bold, true to the source material and full of juicy violence, enough to wipe out the memories of the notoriously poor Stallone attempt of 1995 that threw plenty of money at the screen without bothering to work on anything resembling a decent script.

The character of Judge Dredd, now entering his 35th year in UK comic 2000AD (they know it's 2012 - don't ask), isn't a complicated one. He is, as he is fond of stating, the law. The time is the future, and amidst the wasteland that is America there is a single, massive city with 800 million inhabitants, appropriately called Mega City One. It's quite the scumhole, and the only thing that stands between it and total chaos are the Judges, trained for years to be the ultimate in law enforcement, yet so outnumbered they can only handle 6% of the crimes committed. This, people, is as thin as the blue line gets.

The film is written by long time fan Alex Garland (28 Days later, Sunshine), and has had plenty of input from Dredd's creator (and still main writer even now) John Wagner. Filmed in South Africa on what passes for a tight budget these days (especially for Sci-Fi), it could be compared to District 9 in terms of the sheer effort put into it, with a result that is similarly impressive although aesthetically miles apart. Director Pete Travis (Endgame) does an excellent job, and between them they have turned in a film that will stand the test of time as a superior, adult action movie.

The premise is reasonably simple, something that works well as an introduction to what is, in the comics at least, a sprawling future world. Dredd is accompanied on patrol by rookie Judge Anderson, very well played by Olivia Thirlby, who is on the verge of failing her final assessment but is being given a second chance because of her powerful, and rare, psi abilities. A routine triple homicide (it's that sort of city) turns into a siege when they are trapped in a massive tower block by criminal nutjob Ma Ma (Lena Headey) and forced to fight their way out and stop her manufacturing the addictive new drug, Slo Mo. Obviously there's a bit more to it than that, but this is the basic set up and it works very well indeed, allowing for plenty of violence, some character development and no few explosions.

I can't write this review without focusing on Karl Urban, who has previously stood out for his excellent turn as Dr McCoy in the Star Trek revival. Not afraid to go through an entire movie with a helmet on, he is spot on as Dredd. He gives us an emotionless machine, a man who cares for nothing but the law, but a man you want to get behind and cheer on as he splats bad guys left right and centre. The humanity comes from Anderson, and it helps that Thirlby doesn't have to wear a helmet herself, with the handy excuse that it interferes with her psi abilities. Between them they give us the tired old wardog and the 21 year old rookie on the streets for the first time, and you sympathise with the life of a Mega City Judge.

Some people have criticized the apparent similarities between Dredd and the recent film The Raid: Redemption, in which Indonesian cops storm a tower block and much chop sockey ensues. To be honest, I was a little worried myself, but having seen both films I can happily confirm that they are nothing alike. Whilst The Raid is a pretty intense martial arts film which is rather dull between fights (although the fights are awesome), Dredd is a tight film all the way through, with the plot more than an excuse to go from fight to fight.

In conclusion, I can heartily recommend this film, in case you hadn't guessed. It's sort of like a cross between Robocop and Die Hard, all moderned up and with better music. It's no coincidence that those are two of the most kick ass action films ever, and Dredd borrows from the best, although as Robocop stole from Dredd in the first place it's more like recovering pinched property. The 3D is actually worth shelling out for, and there are some beautiful sequences where it comes into it's own, whilst the film itself is gritty and dirty, although not without a few lighter moments amidst the carnage. The humour in Dredd's comic strips comes from the city around him rather than his own actions, and here's hoping we'll see Alex Garland penning a sequel that allows us to wander through Dredd's world. Quite simply a superior action film, and whilst it's no masterpiece (then again, it's not supposed to be) it's as good as fans could ever have hoped. Here's to the sequels

The way DREDD should have been made the first time!

[DJAkin · 10/10 · 27 March 2021]

Where do I start? Well, as much as I love Sylvester Stallone - he was NOT Judge Dredd. That honor goes to Karl Urban (who is nothing short of a genius). This was a great action movie with great CGI!!! The villain was none other than CERSEA LANISTER from Game of THRONES! What more could you ask for? I really loved this movie!!!

Where is the sequel for this movie?! I've been waiting 10 years!

[bdunnit · 10/10 · 28 December 2021]

Karl Urbans Judge Dredd is awesome. This movie is awesome, very close to the comic stories. Stallone's Dredd was a joke. This movie should have started a Dredd franchise. We need a good sequel NOW!

Judgment Time

[limoncella-641-42235 · 8/10 · 7 September 2012]

In 1995 when Judge Dredd starring Sylvester Stallone in the title role hit theatres; critics derided it, audiences dismissed it as "dumb" and it failed to achieve commercial success. Even though this film has gained a cult following, it just wasn't the Judge Dredd movie fans wanted. Now a low key British film company has had another crack at bringing Dredd to the silver screen, and the result is a great science fiction action film that holds no punches and gives the audience a gritty, gory and surprisingly relatable take on the comic book hero.

Karl Urban plays the titular "Dredd", not the most recognisable or bankable actor working, but certainly one of the most versatile. He has a far better hold on the role than Stallone did, Stallone gave a performance that was robotic and almost comical. Stallone would growl and maintain an immovable fanaticism to upholding the law, strutting about in his ostentatious costume. There was very little humanity to the character and it was difficult to relate to him, he was basically playing Robocop.

Urban brings more humanity into it, when innocent bystanders get caught in the mayhem he's sombre and vengeful. He treats upholding the law more as a burden, he would rather issue a life sentence than gun a criminal down. Only when the odds are stacked against him and he has to defend himself against armed goons does he act violently. Urban gets as much out this character as possible with half his face covered up. It's not just an improvement on Stallone's take on the character it's an expansion of the comic book character too.

The supporting cast are all excellent, and they all give great performances and have strong characters to work with. Olivia Thirlby as rookie judge Anderson deserves praise, playing a character with psychic powers is not easy, her approach on the role makes you believe everything her character can do. She is not a weak female role either she is never once the damsel in distress and there is no attempt and sexualisation. Lena Headey as the villain Ma-Ma steals every scene she's in, a crazy blood crazed woman who almost seems to enjoy going toe-to-toe with someone as lethal as Judge Dredd. She doesn't care who gets in the way she just loves the thrill of it all. An insane villain who is ready to just about pull anything is captivating and intense to watch, i really wish she had been in the film more.

The Megacity in this movie is not the Blade-Runner-Esque city seen in the 1995 film, it resembles a modern day overpopulated inner city slum. This gritty realism is one of the films biggest strengths. Dredd himself is not a superhero, he gets shot and bleeds like everyone else this feeling of vulnerability makes it easier to relate to the character.

There's no Rob Schneider in this movie, oh no, no desperate comedy at all there's just no laughs to be had whatsoever. This film is gritty to the extreme, people are seen being shot to ribbons, blown up, set alight, crushed, splattered, skinned, tortured etc etc etc. Yet it never feel over exploitative, just the right amount. It's just how this stuff would happen in real life, once again coming back to the films visceral reality.

The film is not without its flaws, coming off the heels of The Raid a similar film in premise about law enforcers scaling a tower block to get someone at the top floor makes one draw comparisons watching it. The Raid had amazing martial arts to make up for its slower parts and was consistently upping itself while being as gritty as it could be. Dredd doesn't have anywhere near the impressive stunts featured in The Raid and it makes you wish you had seen The Raid after you saw this, because you keep thinking to yourself: "this scene was done better in The Raid".

The slow-motion sections showcasing the effects of the "Slow-Mo Drug" are a little overused, the colour is over-saturated and these are the only times in the film where the 3D is used to a noticeable degree.

Overall it's a far superior Judge Dredd film to the one that came before it, and has enough action and doesn't over-complicate itself to the point where people aren't bored watching it. It takes a comic book that has been tagged as notoriously impossible to adapt, give it a gritty and realistic setting and cast some great actors to give the movie some life. I hope there is a sequel because it would be really great to see more of this version of Dredd, Urban has a better grip on what the character should be and i can see him taking it a long way.

Gritty '18' certificate action

[Tweekums · 9/10 · 25 February 2017]

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.

I love this movie! This is NOT the Stallone Dredd at all.

[boondocksaint20 · 10/10 · 30 June 2013]

After my third viewing of Dredd (in 3d) I have found something that I rarely find nowadays...a movie that I can't get enough of. It is action packed, dark, brutal and oddly poetic in its violence. The perfect guy movie.

Karl Urban, as many have said on these boards, IS Dredd...and that is a remarkable feat to pull off, considering half of his face is shielded for the whole movie (just like in the comics). He plays Dredd with a stoic, uncompromising demeanor...someone who lives and breathes justice and the law, who can kick anyone's ass at a moment's notice, but who also has a very slight 'human' side to him that comes out in brief moments of morality.

To be honest, I did not see this in the theaters after not really caring for the Stallone version back in the day. The trailer did look very promising, so it was one I waited for the 3d Bluray release. I am so glad I took the chance because this movie is so satisfying in everything you could want in an action movie.

The 3d looks fantastic on Bluray. The studio used new 3d cameras that really show up on the screen. Thankfully, there really aren't many 'throw random things at the viewers face' type of gimmicks, but more so, concentrates on closeups of the actors showing their faces in great detail. This is critical for a character like Dredd, who teeth gnawing grimace must be showcased in order to show any type of emotion from the character.

I can't say enough good things about this movie and it is becoming the movie I showcase on my home 3d theater. Hopefully, the home video sales more than made up the rather lackluster box-office results to warrant a sequel. Check it out if you want to go through a wild ride through the eyes of a regular day in the life of Dredd.

Flat out spectacular

[NateWatchesCoolMovies · 10/10 · 22 July 2016]

After the floundering absurdity that was 1995's Judge Dredd left a nasty taste in the collective mouths of fans, all went quiet on the cinematic front of Dredd for nearly two decades (I call it the Batman & Robin effect). The clouds parted though, and we finally got one streamlined masterpiece of a flick with 2013's Dredd. Not only is it achingly faithful to the comics right down to Dredd never removing his helmet, but it stands as one of the ballsiest and well made action pictures in recent years. It's never overstuffed or busy, takes the violence seriously, has genuine suspense, a bone deep and super tough performance from a grizzled Karl Urban, a sexy, no nonsense villain and the best original score of 2013 by a country mile. Not too mention it's atmospherics, which are helped by said score of course, to create a sonic mood board of post apocalyptic ruin and urban rot. Dredd is part of an elite department called the Judges, who roam the smoky desolation of Mega City One and act as judge, jury and executioner wherever they see fit. Dredd is a trigger happy juggernaut with no use for scum or criminals and has not a qualm with taking them out like the trash they are, often in brutal, bloody and uncompromising ways. On day he's partnered up with judge in training Cassandra (Olivia Thirlby, perfect), a rookie with blossoming telepathic abilities. A routine call leads them to a gargantuan Mega Block tower called Peach Trees, a sting irony once we see the rampant squalor inside. This tower happens to be controlled by the fiercest criminal overlord in town, Ma Ma, played by a purring, lethal and altogether terrifying Lena Headey. Her tactics go beyond barbaric and she's sitting on the manufacturing of a drug called Slo Mo, which makes the users feel like time is passing at one percent it's normal rate (a gold mine for setting up a scene visually). Ma Ma locks down the tower as the two judges arrive, and decrees that she wants them dead. Now it's a visceral fight for survival against her armies of thugs and miscreants, and a slow ascent towards her penthouse lair, for Dredd to finish her off. The whole film takes place in Peach Trees, so it's a self contained, one location affair, and a goddamn knockout of a movie. There are R rated films that dabble in violence a bit and barely earn their stripes, and then there are R rated films that leap at the chance to show people dying six ways to Sunday. Dredd absolutely decimates Ma Ma's armies in high style and often in super slow motion as they face him while they're high. The slo mo never feels tacky, but has a tactile richness and fluidity that makes the inflicted carnage so satisfying as it unfolds. The score by Paul Leonard Morgan is an uproarious rallying call that drives forward constantly, charging out of the gate in the opening minute as Dredd pursues a van down the highway on his thundering motorbike, and pummelling each scene with heart stopping force until it mellows out for an eerie passage called 'Ma Ma's Requiem' which is my favourite piece in the film and can be listened to on repeat. Pure genius. Thirlby is the voice of reason and the eyes of the audience, experiencing for the first time how ugly this crime fighting business is, and holding her own wickedly. There's a dark sense of danger to the whole thing, a frank and outright lawlessness to the villains, as it's just another day on the job for them. No overacting, no histrionics. Just mellowed out murder and meanness all round. This is the Dredd film that we've been waiting for, and have long deserved after that other mess. Low box office returns means we may never see a sequel (wtf is wrong with people, like, who didn't go see this??), but we'll always have this little blitzkrieg of a flick to re watch time and again. I know I will.

Absolutely Gripping

[The-Sarkologist · 9/10 · 20 February 2023]

I have to admit that this was much, much better than I expected. I guess it was because when I watched the older film I was quite disappointed with it, but also because the first film was one of those type of films where Dredd, the protagonist, goes up against a villain that has some huge plans, and he has to basically stop him from taking over the world. Yeah, that's pretty much a rather tired trope that sort of makes a film rather boring. Well, to be honest, this film was anything but.

The film starts off with Dredd taking on a rookie. This doesn't seem to be something that is all that out of the ordinary for judges, including highly decorated ones like Dredd. Anyway, they go out on patrol and the rookie decides to go and investigate a triple homocide that has been reported in one of the towers, which also happens to be a slum. Well, things end up going pear shaped pretty quickly because they arrest one of the ring leaders of the gang that is attempting to take control of the tower, and the gang boss, Mama, decides to shut the whole tower down.

So, pretty much most of the film takes place inside the tower, where at first they are attempting to find a way out, and then once they get out, they decide that it is time to go back in to attempt to shut down this gang. The thing is that with a city the size of Mega-City 1 (it pretty much takes up most of the North-Eastern seaboard) this gang probably isn't one of the most powerful out there. Oh, and not only do they have to take out the gang, but Dredd is assessing a rookie, and they are also taking a prisoner, one that they have decided that killing is not the best option because they want to take him back for questioning.

The thing with Judge Dredd, being a long standing comic, there is an awful lot of source material in which to draw upon. Sure, I am not all that familiar with the stories, only having been exposed to them in my teenage years with computer games (I never really got my hands on the 2000AD comics). So, I really appreciated the fact that they didn't decide to go for one of those earth-shattering stories that many film adaptions tend to go for - they are boring by the way - but rather just one of those 'day in the life of' stories, which end up being so much more interesting.

So, yeah, this was actually a pretty awesome film. It pretty much kept me on my toes all the way through, and kept me wanting to watch it to see how it ended. Yeah, it was so much better than the first one, though I have to admit that it is a shame that they didn't end up making any more of them, especially considering the source material available. Still, sometimes, in fact most times, a good movie will pretty much stand on its own, and it is best to simply leave it at that.

A Sequel Please!

[aylwardpaul · 9/10 · 26 June 2022]

This is how a film based on Judge Dredd should have been made the first time around. Let's hope 1995's Judge Dredd starring Sylvester Stallone passes into oblivion.

This version steals the plot from Indonesian action film The Raid, where a police unit is trapped in a large building owned by a criminal gang and must fight its way out, only in this one the police unit consists solely of Dredd and his rookie partner, who is inexperienced but has psychic abilities.

It is not long before the criminals realise that locking themselves in a confined space with Dredd is not a good idea.

All performances are good, but Karl Urban playing Dredd is terrific in his amusingly deadpan performance, where for the entire film you do not get to see his face.

The depiction of the futuristic city is suitably gritty and impressive.

The action is excellent, and includes a number of clever slow-motion scenes, demonstrating the effect of a new drug.

I love this film and perhaps I could have given this a rating of 10. As it stands the film perfectly captures a random day in the life of Dredd. But I'm greedy and I wanted more detail and insight into how this futuristic city and its citizens live.

It's a film crying out for a sequel that expands the narrative, and given that you never see Dredd's face, it could be done even if Karl Urban chooses not to return in the title role.

What Dredd should be.

[Animus · 9/10 · 20 October 2023]

Stallone did a Dredd movie in 1995 and it was crap, he wanted it to be action comedy and the studio insisted he take his helmet off a lot despite the fact than in the comics Dredd removing his helmet was a bout as common as Halley's Comet. Karl Urban's outing did the character justice (pun intended) as he portrayed the character as a by-the-book judge who sees the wold in black and white. Additionally, Urban's Dredd isn't up against some world conquering egomaniac, instead in this film he's testing a newbie as they go up against a gang boss that controls a single building in Mega-City 1. Sure inside the building Ma-Ma is hot stuff, but outside she's just another wanna be crimelord. To Urban's Dredd this is a simple 'day in the life' story of Judge Dredd.

"You Ready Rookie?"

[Slarkshark · 10/10 · 7 June 2023]

He is judgement, he is the law, he is Judge Dredd.

They could not have created a better Judge Dredd movie. Karl Urban understood the character and brought it to life in a way no one else could have. The Stallone version is a far cry to the comic book. 'Dredd' was not.

The best movies also have the best villains. Lena Headey was in the middle of doing 'Game of Thrones' and she kicks her cold and cruel game up a few notches with the role of Ma-Ma.

It's full of violence, and holds nothing back when it comes to the brutality. It also gives off far more realistic vibes than any other version.

The amazing part is that they achieved all of this on a fairly modest budget. The unfortunate thing is that it didn't do that well box office wise, so we'll perhaps never get a sequel. Perhaps that's for the best, as this was a masterpiece. It's got a huge cult following, and I've watched it many times and enjoy it just the same every time.

Seriously good

[Jason24321 · 10/10 · 22 January 2022]

It's hard to imagine how this movie could be improved. Not because it's a perfect movie, but because it's perfect for its premise. Which is great. It doesn't pretend to be something it's not, and it doesn't need to be anything more than it is: a fantastic action flick. Urban nails the role, as always, and doesn't even need to take off his helmet.

As good as it could have been

[danceontheceiling · 8/10 · 7 September 2012]

Let me start by saying, I thoroughly enjoyed this film, as in my opinion, it did everything right. Sure, it had no real substance of a story line (hence the 8/10) but that didn't take much away from the film. The simplistic story also had its advantages, as more time could be dedicated to Dredd doing what Dredd does best, instead of messing around in lengthy conversations. Besides, a detailed emotional story might have made this film a flop, as the cold, ruthless character of Dredd would have been somewhat diminished if that had been the case.

So what made this film for me? Simple, the fact that they weren't afraid to make it an 18. This lends strong evidence to the argument that if you want to make an action film that raises the bar, it has to contain all of the shots that just aren't allowed in a 15 rated film. The drug, SLO- M0, that is used by the junkies in this film to slow their perception of time, allows for stunning, and brutal, scenes that also look great in 3D. The 18 rating also allowed for the director to create villains that you despise and you can understand why the other innocent characters fear them, which engages us as an audience.

The film's script is cheesy, but if you've seen the other Judge Dredd film, that'll hardly be a surprise. And I must admit that Karl Urban does a fantastic job of making the lines still sound good. And overall, the acting is good, which is a relief after seeing so many action films where even the main character can't act..

Overall, a great film. Possibly not the best film to watch on a first date, but if you know what you're getting yourself in for and just want some entertaining action, I really don't think Dredd will disappoint.