Review: Dredd 2012

[Overmind One]

Next time it goes on Wordpress first! Hard to merge the two threads.

 

[mzzz]

I watched it a few days before you posted this review. I didn't really like it, thought it was kind of a less intense version of Raid: Redemption (not arguing which came first, just comparison) and a little pretentious in the sense of insisting on its own badassness. But then again, you know him from the comics so maybe that had something to do with you liking it, never was familiar with him in that regard. His gun was cool, cooler than Ronan's gun, well sort of.

 

[Joelist]

Yes, I know Raid: Redemption is actually the copycat here. I did not pick up the pretentiousness but that's just differing opinions.

And I freely admit that FINALLY seeing a portrayal of the Judge Dredd character that is very close to the comics influenced my opinion.

 

[YJ02]

This movie is a total waste of "film"-a dead space of an hour and a half lost for all time-it is totally devoid of any plot or subtext-or anything other then what is going on at the moment, on screen.

It is not that it is bloody; many movies-very good ones, are quite violent and bloody. But that violence and blood filled a spot in the plot line; it served a purpose. The violence in Dredd is there just for the sake of filming it.

And after about 20 seconds with the first junkie getting high; I "got" the slo mo drug-it was pointless to continue to show it. I can see that TPTB thought that it would become a plot device but it is just an annoyance that I was so glad I could fast forward through (its on Amazon Prime).

And those "security cam" footage shots spliced in to replace a standard shot? Stupid and annoying-was I supposed to be impressed by the use of it?

At least in the old Dredd, we had a story; plots, sub-plots, conspiracies. The exiled chief justice and the return of a psychotic from deep freeze. All moving parts that made Stallone and his side kicks performance bearable.

And Anderson-just having her abilities being used for parlor tricks on perps-like when she gets into the arrested man's brain and he envisions her giving him fellatio-a very cheap "bell ringing" to bring the little immature boys to the theatre. Her "sight" abilities should have been used in a different way or not at all.

All of the kills were predictable and have all been done before-was anyone surprised that Anderson didn't hesitate in shooting the corrupt female judge?

Nearly the whole things happens in a locked down multi-plex apartment block. Really? How many times have we seen a hero locked in mortal combat against the odds while all are stuck in a building (or plane/train/boat/submarine/highrise building,etc)?

So it is said this version is more like the comic yes? Well, comics ARE comics and what works in a comic book doesn't necessarily translate "As is" to the screen. The thing needs some interaction between characters and plot development,not just "Bangs, Booms, thumps, thwacks" and blood-spurts.

 

[shavedape]

Finally got around to seeing this one the other day. I admit I was quickly bored by the beginning nonsense (wayyyyyyy too much slow motion scenes for no reason at all) but I hung in there and the story picked up eventually. Of course it was implausible and stupid as plots go but I found the portrayal of the concept of "Judges" quite interesting. Much more so than the Stallone version of the story.

So, if you don't mind sitting thru several pointless slow motion scenes and you can catch this one for free then I say go for it.

 

[Joelist]

The "slow" scenes were there when the people whose viewpoint it was were high on SloMo.

I don't know that the plot was either stupid or implausible. Remember the overall situation is that the MaMa gang basically controls the building. And the judges are not exactly incorruptible as her bribing off 4 of them to kill Dredd shows. I would call it a fairly simple "small story" type of plot. No saving the world or such - it's just a grim, brutal narrative of two judges and a drug bust gone bad.

I also liked the portrayal of the judges and how in an indirect way it does raise questions about the wisdom of such a system no matter how much the desperate circumstances may have made it seem warranted. Yes MaMa is a monster but her past does evoke a bit of sympathy making her a bit more three dimensional than the typical villain. To me this film is so much better than the Stallone nonsense it is ridiculous - it is also the first fairly faithful film rendition of Judge Dredd to date (and Karl Urban nailed the part too).

 

[shavedape]

I should probably clarify what I meant by "stupid and implausible". When I typed that I was thinking about the uber geek who could hack into any computer he wanted and also convince Judge operators that he was legit and thereby completely seal off the entire tower. That seemed highly implausible to me in a world so advanced. Quite frankly I'm tired of the cliche' of the computer geek with magic powers. It's a trope that has run its course.

And the MaMa protagonist just didn't work for me. It seemed like they were trying too hard with her. Maybe it was the actress that just didn't sell it for me. The way she got her comeuppance at the end was good though.

Also, you may be wrong (or I may be wrong) about the slow motion scenes only happening to people that are high. I'd have to rewatch the movie to be sure though as I thought it happened in other places. Again, I could be off on this point I admit. Regardless of the reason for it though, it grew tiresome quite quickly. Once is clever but using it repeatedly just did not work.

Amazingly I didn't mind the psychic angle they were using. And I liked the way they stylized the judges and their weapons. That was pretty cool. It showed the writers were actually thinking about futuristic technology.

 

[Overmind One]

I should probably clarify what I meant by "stupid and implausible". When I typed that I was thinking about the uber geek who could hack into any computer he wanted and also convince Judge operators that he was legit and thereby completely seal off the entire tower. That seemed highly implausible to me in a world so advanced. Quite frankly I'm tired of the cliche' of the computer geek with magic powers. It's a trope that has run its course.

And the MaMa protagonist just didn't work for me. It seemed like they were trying too hard with her. Maybe it was the actress that just didn't sell it for me. The way she got her comeuppance at the end was good though.

Also, you may be wrong (or I may be wrong) about the slow motion scenes only happening to people that are high. I'd have to rewatch the movie to be sure though as I thought it happened in other places. Again, I could be off on this point I admit. Regardless of the reason for it though, it grew tiresome quite quickly. Once is clever but using it repeatedly just did not work.

Amazingly I didn't mind the psychic angle they were using. And I liked the way they stylized the judges and their weapons. That was pretty cool. It showed the writers were actually thinking about futuristic technology.

Would I be able to make it through this movie? I have not seen it yet.

 

[Joelist]

If you don't mind gore and violence sure you can.

 

[Joelist]

I should probably clarify what I meant by "stupid and implausible". When I typed that I was thinking about the uber geek who could hack into any computer he wanted and also convince Judge operators that he was legit and thereby completely seal off the entire tower. That seemed highly implausible to me in a world so advanced. Quite frankly I'm tired of the cliche' of the computer geek with magic powers. It's a trope that has run its course.

And the MaMa protagonist just didn't work for me. It seemed like they were trying too hard with her. Maybe it was the actress that just didn't sell it for me. The way she got her comeuppance at the end was good though.

Also, you may be wrong (or I may be wrong) about the slow motion scenes only happening to people that are high. I'd have to rewatch the movie to be sure though as I thought it happened in other places. Again, I could be off on this point I admit. Regardless of the reason for it though, it grew tiresome quite quickly. Once is clever but using it repeatedly just did not work.

Amazingly I didn't mind the psychic angle they were using. And I liked the way they stylized the judges and their weapons. That was pretty cool. It showed the writers were actually thinking about futuristic technology.

IIRC there are three "slomo" scenes - one in the van at the start one in the room in the megablock when they bust in and of course MaMa at the end. I usually don't like slow motion but here they tied it into the plot.

As to her tech specialist remember he was wired to interface with systems. And it was done against his will, so he was hardly an uber geek. Remember that was why Anderson let him go - she realized he was not a willing accomplice. Him getting the operator to enter in his test was the biggest stretch but remember the premise also has extreme overwork in the Hall of Justice - when he sounded desperate the operator cut him a break and entered the test in (and MaMa certainly helped him sound desperate).

Which brings us to MaMa. I liked the character partly because she had an actual background that suggested her being such a monster was partly shaped by her past circumstances and as such made her that little touch more than a cardboard cutout that was needed. Plus Lena Headley played her in a very laconic manner which worked well - she really did come off as the boss of the gang.

To each their own of course.

 

[shavedape]

Would I be able to make it through this movie? I have not seen it yet.

I'm honestly not sure. On the surface it's just another action movie but, as JL has pointed out, you can find more in it if you look. Regardless, it's definitely better than the Stallone dreck we got years ago.

 

[shavedape]

IIRC there are three "slomo" scenes - one in the van at the start one in the room in the megablock when they bust in and of course MaMa at the end. I usually don't like slow motion but here they tied it into the plot.

As to her tech specialist remember he was wired to interface with systems. And it was done against his will, so he was hardly an uber geek. Remember that was why Anderson let him go - she realized he was not a willing accomplice. Him getting the operator to enter in his test was the biggest stretch but remember the premise also has extreme overwork in the Hall of Justice - when he sounded desperate the operator cut him a break and entered the test in (and MaMa certainly helped him sound desperate).

Which brings us to MaMa. I liked the character partly because she had an actual background that suggested her being such a monster was partly shaped by her past circumstances and as such made her that little touch more than a cardboard cutout that was needed. Plus Lena Headley played her in a very laconic manner which worked well - she really did come off as the boss of the gang.

To each their own of course.

I don't really want to go back and rewatch the movie to see how many slow motion scenes there are but for some reason I'm thinking there were more than three. If I get a chance in the future I'll double check. Of course I could be wrong. My problem with the slo-mo scenes is that they seemed pointless and gratuitous, as if the director was saying "Hey everybody, look at the cool visuals I can create!"

And I would argue that regardless of the circumstances surrounding the tech geek his existence in this story is cliche'. Willing or unwilling, the "Super-Magical-Break any encryption-Work the system" computer whiz is just tired tired tired.

As for Lena Headley, being laconic is one thing but being somnabulistic is another. There was a steady apathy to her performance; as if she was playing the character as resenting even being there. Is that good or bad acting? I dunno. All I'm saying is I found MaMa to be very one dimensional. But, as you said, to each their own and I fully admit that my take on Headley's performance is subjective.

 

[Overmind One]

Now that I have decided to take another whirl with Netflix, I just watched Dredd 2012. I actually liked it! I am comparing it to the original with Sly Stallone, and this new one was darker and the characters are more fun to get into IMO. This was an adult film in concept, and the dark backdrop and over the top violence made it worth watching all the way through. Mama was a great female antagonist. She pulled it of very well. Karl Urban makes an incredibly believable badass.

 

[Joelist]

Glad you liked it. You mentioned a key element - it is very much an adult film. The Stallone vehicle was just a typical Stallone action vehicle and really there was nothing to it. This was DARK and underneath the grittiness and the gore there is also good writing and it does raise questions about law enforcement, authoritarianism and the potential issues with police states. And yes Urban nails the role completely.

 

[Overmind One]

Glad you liked it. You mentioned a key element - it is very much an adult film. The Stallone vehicle was just a typical Stallone action vehicle and really there was nothing to it. This was DARK and underneath the grittiness and the gore there is also good writing and it does raise questions about law enforcement, authoritarianism and the potential issues with police states. And yes Urban nails the role completely.

This one was definitely worth watching, and your review helped me to make the decision to watch the new one. Glad I did. I could even watch it a second time.

 

[Joelist]

Maybe a good rewatch topic?

 

[Overmind One]

Maybe a good rewatch topic?

Yep. Im wanting to try out my new sharing method.

 

[Joelist]

Cool! We should figure out a day and time!

 

[Overmind One]

Cool! We should figure out a day and time!

Lets do it! But it does not have to be that movie. It can be anything you want (except Tank Girl )

 

[Joelist]

It would be a new film where Karl Urban's Dredd exterminates Tank Girl!