Dredd - Grade, Review, Discuss, Spoilers

[JD]

I think a big part of it is the fact that at least in the US most of the people who would be the biggest part of the target audience don't know who Dredd is. The only reason I have any idea is because I hang out on sites like this, but I have a feeling the average American who don't wouldn't have any idea what I was talking about if I brought Judge Dredd up in a conversation. Then there was the poor marketing, I saw a handful of short TV spots, and honestly none of them were interesting. Now, I like Karl Urban, and love Lena Heady, but most people probably wouldn't have any idea who they were if I said their names. Now they might recognize their pictures as a dude who was in Star Trek that chick who banged her brother in Game of Thrones, but they really aren't the kind of people who will draw big numbers. I will admit didn't see it, but it was a very serious contest between this and Looper last weekend, and Looper did end up winning. I feel kind of guilty now that I realize just how bad this is doing.

[Reverend]

The Wormhole wrote:

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Of course, the other side of the coin, seventeen years after the fact and fans are still bitching that Stallone took the helmet off. Hell, the helmet is such a focal point, that practically everything I've seen discussing the movie, stuff on the internet, magazines, on TV all go out of their way to point out that Urban keeps the helmet on.

And no offense to Karl Urban, like I said in my review post he owns the role of Dredd and his portrayal of Dr. McCoy is one of Trek XI's few highlights, but is he really famous enough that enough people saying "I won't see this movie because he keeps his helmet on and we never see his face" would make a serious enough dent in the ticket sales?

I seriously doubt Urban keeping the helmet on had ANY effect on the box office. I'm sure some people might complain, but those people would be morons and morons should not be pandered to.

And for the record, what was bad about the Stallone movie also had little to do with the helmet staying on or coming off. However, the fact that it *did* come off was just a symptom of the greater problem, which was a fundamental inability or unwillingness to understand the source material, coupled with a desire to pander to as large a demographic as possible by turning Dredd into a quasi-superhero action star. Honestly, him kissing Hershey was a much greater betrayal of the character than the helmet thing.

[Starkers]

Yeah, I didn't have a huge problem with the helmet myself, but snogging Hershey? What were they thinking!

[JarodRussell]

I think the lack of star power is it. Dredd is pretty much an unlikeable guy nobody can really relate to, and then he is played by a no name. Oh yeah, Eomer and McCoy, and that bad guy from one of the Bourne films. Supporting cast. And who the hell is Lena Heady?

And again, just like with Stallone's Judge Dreed, the helmet has nothing to do with any of the films problems.


And I think the audience runs out of interest. Total Recall tanked, despite looking polished, being PG-13, and having Colin Farrell, Jessica Biel and the girl from Underworld whose name currently escapes me. And Dredd didn't have any big names, didn't look that good and was R. The stories of both films are essentially reduced to "get from A to B and have action scenes in between" and that's it. All in all it's just generic stuff.

[Set Harth]

JarodRussell wrote:

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Oh yeah, Eomer and McCoy, and that bad guy from one of the Bourne films.

Don't forget Vaako!

[USS Mariner]

It'd be a DAMN shame if this doesn't get greenlit for a sequel once the final worldwide BO numbers come back.

[Captain Craig]

I'm very late to this thread but glad I finally saw this film yesterday afternoon. Apologies in advance for any repeated thoughts.

Grade: A- / Excellent

I know very little of Judge Dredd and I'm a comic book geek. I've just never fully gotten into him. The stories I've read have always involved a crossover. The Batman/Dredd ones are the ones that stand out. Despite thinning out my monthly comic reading I may try the IDW Judge Dredd series hitting shelves in the coming weeks, due November.

I'm to understand that the original tone of the comic had a certain campiness to it and that's why the comic relief in the '95 Stallone version with Rob Schneider's character in tow as the sidekick was supposed to be accepted. I don't hate that film but I don't love it either.

So Karl Urban is doing this film in the starring role of Dredd and Lena Heady as the drug pushing lead foe has me curious. I was surprised that the RottenTomatoes meter had it at 77% and felt that the population who uses that meter as a guide would turn out to a respectable level---they didn't. Odd, they rushed to Taken 2 with 20% RT score.

I saw this yesterday afternoon and thoroughly enjoyed the film. People like to pretend as if The Raid is the first movie ever to utilized the concept done again in this film. Maybe the first one for the whole film, I'll grant that, but the final third of Punisher War Zone is this same premise. People on movie sites forget that, quality of the film is irrelevant--it does the building siege premise for 1/3 of the film.

I was surprised by how much this film made you care about and empathize with Judge Anderson's character imo. Also, despite Urban being nearly fully covered under the mask he conveyed with his available facial tone and body posture his shift in attitude towards her.

One could say the movie is actually about Judge Anderson and Olivia Thirlby who I've never really noticed before, in such films as No Strings Attached or Juno cause she was just the friend of the main lead, really shines in this role to my surprise.

As of my review, some 19 days after release the film has only managed to muster up $12.8m US domestic. It should've made that it's OW to be honest. It's WW total is $22.9m on a $50m budget. I predict this film will find a cult status on home video but it's too bad cause I think more films, in this world, with Urban and Thrilby as Dredd & Anderson would be great fun. Those involved said another film would've explored life outside the walls, in the Scorched Earth. I'd like to have seen that.

While you still can, GO--SEE-THIS MOVIE---NOW!!
I doubt DVD/BR sales will save this and allow for a sequel sadly.

[JD]

Hmm, I hadn't heard about the IDW series, I might have to check that out.

[The Wormhole]

I knew IDW was doing a Judge Dredd series, but wasn't sure if it had started or if it hadn't, when it would.

Yeah, I might check this out myself.

[Reverend]

Why not check out the original material? After 40 years there's certainly no shortage of it!

[Shazam!]

JD wrote:

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I think a big part of it is the fact that at least in the US most of the people who would be the biggest part of the target audience don't know who Dredd is.

Did people know who Luke Skywalker was before Star Wars came out?

[Jax]

I wonder if they would of made money with alot more 2D showings + a 15 cert instead of 18 (am sure they could of kept a lot of the gore in it).

[Starkers]

Maybe, but the point is, why should it have to? How have we got to a point where only 12A pics are really, really succesful? I'm tired of everything being watered down. I'm not saying every film should be ultra violent and full of harsh language but there needs to be more choice out there.

It may have tanked but I do at least admire Dredd's integrity (aside from the 3D thang which was an unfortunate neccesity).

[Reverend]

^Indeed and at least they did something interesting and imaginative with the 3D, which is more than you can say of most 3D films of recent years.

[Set Harth]

The obvious thing to do is a Judge Death movie.