Next time it goes on Wordpress first! Hard to merge the two threads.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Maybe a good rewatch topic?
Cool! We should figure out a day and time!