Starring: Karl Urban, Olivia Thirlby, Lena Headey, Wood Harris, Domhnall Gleeson, Rakie Ayola, Jason Cope
Review: Mega City One is a violent, futuristic place where the police have the total authority to act as judge, jury and executioner. They are know as - Judges. When Judge Dredd (Karl Urban) teams up with a "Rookie" (Olivia Thirlby) what seems like just another day turns into an all out war when a gang decides to fight the law.
Dredd is a brutal, violent comic book movie that follows its source material to the letter and it's all the better for it. Unlike the Sylvester Stallone 1995 Judge Dredd, this adaptation never has Dredd remove his helmet, break character, or stop from enforcing the law without question or compromise. Even with its low budget, Dredd doesn't waste a dime to bring this iconic character and his world to life.
Some might think that Karl Urban's portrayal of Dredd is a "one-note" performance, but he is Dredd brought to life, plain and simple. Urban is pitch perfect as the futuristic lawman. And Olivia Thirlby is also great as the rookie with psychic powers that tries to learn the ropes of being a judge from arguably the best one around. Plus, Lena Headey's villainous Ma-Ma is mean, dark, cruel, but gets a clear motivation for her behavior that makes sense and is much more than most villains found in such movies.
The story is simple, the visuals are breathtaking (especially when dealing with the reality-altering drug, SLO-MO), and the action is tense, tough, and brutal just like the comics that came before. Dredd is amazing and a must-watch not only for fans of the comic book series, but for action-fans in general. It would be a crime to see it!