Earlier this year, one of the best action movies of all time was released: The Raid. Now, a film that bears a striking resemblance to this masterpiece makes its way to the big screen......Dredd 3D.
Dredd 3D is based off the hit graphic novel. In the far future, the U.S has been ravaged by nuclear war and has essentially become a wasteland. In this wasteland there is a metropolis, Mega-City One, ruled by judges who act as judge, jury and executioner. Their job is to stave off crime as best they can and to dispense their own unique brand of justice. We follow one of the more well-known judges, known simply as Dredd (in the comics I believe he was much more well known and feared than he is in the film), as he takes rookie female judge Anderson out for evaluation. What he doesn't know is that there is a new drug, slo-mo (one guess as to what it does), that is all set to take over Mega-City one and that his attempted eval will bring him and Anderson on a collision course with the drug and the ruthless gang that plan to use it to gain dominance over the city.
Karl urban plays the titular Dredd, and nails the role perfectly. He plays a hardened, growling bad-ass that actually has a well-hidden caring side. He indeed cares for the citizens of Mega-City One, and he doesn't enjoy seeing them gunned down. At the same time though, he isn't above gunning down any one he deems to be a criminal and usually does so without a second thought. Urban is perfectly in touch with his inner Eastwood (Clint Eastwood, that is) as he growls and scowls his way thru the role. He is a fun character to watch and it is immensely enjoyable to see him gunning down the scum he runs into.
Olivia Thirlby is also super great as rookie judge Anderson. The fallout from the nukes had an adverse effect on her while she was growing up, as it gave her psychic powers and the ability to read minds. She is considered a mutant in this new world. Words cannot describe how absolutely hot Thirlby is here, she downright sizzles. She's not just pure eye candy though, as she proves that she can act as well, putting on a great complementary performance to Urban's Dredd.
Lena Headey plays the ugly and intense Ma-Ma, the head of the gang who plans on using Slo-Mo for a hostile takeover of Mega-City One. She plays a pretty good bitch here (although I think I hate her character of Cersei on Game of thrones even more). Headey seems born to play the part of the bitch you love to hate, and her role here only solidifies this.
I chose to see Dredd in 3D, and I'm honestly glad I did. Not much really pops out of the screen except for blood in one scene and shattered glass in another. The 3D does give Dredd some good consistent depth throughout, like in two scenes where we take the place of characters as they fall to their deaths. The main reason I would recommend seeing Dredd in 3D is because it turns the film into a true work of art; the explosions, blasts, spurts of blood, and fog all look dazzling in 3D (everything in the film is gorgeous in 3D) and the slo-mo scenes (of which there are several) are entrancing.
Now, what about that drug I mentioned earlier (and more recently in the last paragraph), what is Slo-Mo? Slo-Mo is a drug that gives the user the illusion of time passing at a much slower rate than it actually is. Slo-Mo is not just used to pretty up scenes though, it is also used by gangs as a means to increase the pain during torture. Dredd 3D uses Slo-Mo just the right amount, not relying too heavy on the gimmick, and not under-utilizing it either. As I've already said, Slo-Mo enhances the 3D to be found in the film, and the overall look of the film as well.
Dredd 3D has been earning comparisons to the superior Raid: Redemption...as it well deserves to. Both The Raid and Dredd were in production at the same time, so I'm not sure who stole from who and if that even matters in the long run. Both Dredd and The Raid use the plot of officials trapped in an apartment complex who are forced to fight their way up in order to capture the main baddie. While The Raid is undoubtedly the better film, that's not necessarily a condemnation of Dredd 3D. Dredd 3D does excel at what it attempts to do, and manages to show audiences a good time and that's all that matters.
While I have never seen the original Judge Dredd, I think it is safe to say that this outing is a far more successful film. All the actors put on great performances, the action is fun, the 3D is impressive and beautiful, there is more than enough gore (FANTASTIC gore effects here, I'll be replaying the eff out of those scenes when I buy this baby in Blu-Ray), and I could eat Olivia Thirlby up in her Judge outfit. The film also boasts one impressive futuristic gun that I MUST OWN....SO COOL. While it's not the best action film of the year, it's still one of the better ones to come out recently. Dredd 3D doesn't look to do more than show it's audience a damn good time, and it succeeds beautifully at this. I say, if you're an action movie junkie, head out and give it watch....you'll be glad you did.
SENTENCE: 3 STARS
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