Dredd 3D marks a return to the stylistic approach of older action films such as "Robocop" and "Assault on Precinct 13". It takes its subject matter seriously without neutering it to reach a broader audience.
In a dystopian future most of the Earth is covered by irradiated desert. Mankind has huddled together in large and vast mega-cities with hundreds of millions of citizens. In Mega City One the law is upheld by a corps of judges, who possess the authority to act as judge, jury and executioner in their confrontations with criminals. the best and most notorious among them is Judge Dredd (Karl Urban), who travels into the Mega Block Peach Trees along with his rookie trainee Anderson (Olivia Thirlby), who must pass his evaluation to become a judge, in order to investigate a triple murder. Peach Trees is ruled by a sociopathic ex-prostitute named Ma-Ma (Lena Headey) who is flooding the streets with the new drug Slo-Mo, and realises that the arrest of one of her men could send her empire crumbling down. So she locks down the building and sets its inhabitants loose upon Dredd and Anderson.
The film is extremely violent with plenty of gore spurting in the beautiful slow motion sequences and a very high body count. Crucially, the film does not use the slow motion mechanic so many times, it becomes tired. It also has context within the plot and world of the film itself in the form of the drug Slo-Mo, which slows the brain's perception of time to within 1%. We only ever see these sequences whenever someone has taken the drug.
Furthermore, the heavy use of practical effects and limited use of CGI gives Peach Trees a very real sense of place. It is essentially a city onto itself with 75,000 residents, medical clinics, schools and whatever other amenities the residents may need. It is also steeped in squalor and poverty. The special effects in general are of a high quality and belie the film's modest budget.
The acting is of high quality. Karl Urban is perfect as the terse no-nonsense Dredd. He wears the helmet throughout the film, which fits perfectly with the character. Dredd IS his uniform and in Karl Urban he becomes an unstoppable force of nature. Though we only see his chin, Urban still manages to clearly communicate whichever mood he is in, his mouth usually locked in Dredd's signature scowl.
Olivia Thirlby is excellent too, as the trainee Anderson. Aside from looking gorgeous, she is the emotional anchor of the film next to the seemingly emotionless Dredd, and she carries it well with a likable charm and humanity.
Lena Headey is intimidating and memorable as the enigmatic Ma-Ma, who seems to revel in the violence she unleashes. She rules over her gang through fear and intimidation and helps you buy into how a woman of her stature can have a whole block repressed through fear.
The cinematography is gorgeous. The slow motion sequences are hypnotic in their beauty, as are the depictions of urban and civil decay in this inhospitable place. The look and feel of the film, carried through by frequent Lars von Trier collaborator and Academy Award-winner Anthony Dod Mantle, are by far the film's greatest strength. I am usually not a fan of 3D, but the slow-motion sequences here really make it work. It isn't dark or murky, but rather bright and vibrant despite the dreary and claustrophobic setting.
The music is excellent too with a bombastic and occasionally furious beat that drives the action and adrenaline. Very rarely is there a quiet moment.
Finally then, there is an action film for adults. One that dares to address and even revel in its subject matter and one that, in spite of its apparent simplicity, is anything but stupid. I hardly ever go to the cinema any more, as it has gotten much too expensive. But Dredd 3D was worth my money and more. It is very apparent that this film was a labour of love. I am already planning to see it again and can only recommend you do the same.
In a dystopian future most of the Earth is covered by irradiated desert. Mankind has huddled together in large and vast mega-cities with hundreds of millions of citizens. In Mega City One the law is upheld by a corps of judges, who possess the authority to act as judge, jury and executioner in their confrontations with criminals. the best and most notorious among them is Judge Dredd (Karl Urban), who travels into the Mega Block Peach Trees along with his rookie trainee Anderson (Olivia Thirlby), who must pass his evaluation to become a judge, in order to investigate a triple murder. Peach Trees is ruled by a sociopathic ex-prostitute named Ma-Ma (Lena Headey) who is flooding the streets with the new drug Slo-Mo, and realises that the arrest of one of her men could send her empire crumbling down. So she locks down the building and sets its inhabitants loose upon Dredd and Anderson.
The film is extremely violent with plenty of gore spurting in the beautiful slow motion sequences and a very high body count. Crucially, the film does not use the slow motion mechanic so many times, it becomes tired. It also has context within the plot and world of the film itself in the form of the drug Slo-Mo, which slows the brain's perception of time to within 1%. We only ever see these sequences whenever someone has taken the drug.
Furthermore, the heavy use of practical effects and limited use of CGI gives Peach Trees a very real sense of place. It is essentially a city onto itself with 75,000 residents, medical clinics, schools and whatever other amenities the residents may need. It is also steeped in squalor and poverty. The special effects in general are of a high quality and belie the film's modest budget.
The acting is of high quality. Karl Urban is perfect as the terse no-nonsense Dredd. He wears the helmet throughout the film, which fits perfectly with the character. Dredd IS his uniform and in Karl Urban he becomes an unstoppable force of nature. Though we only see his chin, Urban still manages to clearly communicate whichever mood he is in, his mouth usually locked in Dredd's signature scowl.
Olivia Thirlby is excellent too, as the trainee Anderson. Aside from looking gorgeous, she is the emotional anchor of the film next to the seemingly emotionless Dredd, and she carries it well with a likable charm and humanity.
Lena Headey is intimidating and memorable as the enigmatic Ma-Ma, who seems to revel in the violence she unleashes. She rules over her gang through fear and intimidation and helps you buy into how a woman of her stature can have a whole block repressed through fear.
The cinematography is gorgeous. The slow motion sequences are hypnotic in their beauty, as are the depictions of urban and civil decay in this inhospitable place. The look and feel of the film, carried through by frequent Lars von Trier collaborator and Academy Award-winner Anthony Dod Mantle, are by far the film's greatest strength. I am usually not a fan of 3D, but the slow-motion sequences here really make it work. It isn't dark or murky, but rather bright and vibrant despite the dreary and claustrophobic setting.
The music is excellent too with a bombastic and occasionally furious beat that drives the action and adrenaline. Very rarely is there a quiet moment.
Finally then, there is an action film for adults. One that dares to address and even revel in its subject matter and one that, in spite of its apparent simplicity, is anything but stupid. I hardly ever go to the cinema any more, as it has gotten much too expensive. But Dredd 3D was worth my money and more. It is very apparent that this film was a labour of love. I am already planning to see it again and can only recommend you do the same.
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