FILM: Dredd (7/10)

Why did I watch it?

I still have yet to see the original 1995 Stallone film Judge Dredd so I decided that I would make a point of seeing the remake.

What's it all about?

With a population of 800 million, violent metropolis Mega-City One is policed by so called Judges, with the authority to serve as judge, jury and executioner. Dredd (Karl Urban) takes his rookie partner (Olivia Thirlby) to investigate three murders in a 200-storey tower block under the control of local drug lord Ma-Ma (Lena Headey).

The Good:

• I had some concerns after reading that Karl Urban never takes his judge's helmet off during the film but this actually worked. Credit to director Pete Travis for this decision and more so to Urban for being able to portray Dredd's emotions through voice and the lower half of his face.
• Stripped down and action packed, maintains interest throughout
• Great creation of Mega-City One
• Visual effects - slow motion
• Wood Harris - good to see Avon Barksdale get a decent role
• Deranged Ma-Ma (Headey)

The Bad:

• Very, very simple plot
• Not much going on in the character department

Favourite line:

Obviously...'Ma-Ma is not the law, I am the law' - Dredd

Stand-out moment:

Ma-Ma busting out a couple of Gatling guns to destroy an entire level of the tower to flush Dredd out

Like the effects? Watch: Wanted

Like the story? Watch: Judge Dredd (1995)

What my wife would say: No thanks

What the world thinks:

Rotten Tomatoes - 78%

Metacritic - 59/100

LAMB Score - 3.34/5