The Law Returns. This Time With His Helmet On! Judge Dredd!

[Reverend]

And by all accounts the Lana Lang on Smallville was never exactly well received, so not what I'd call a prime example.

As for the others, Dent's physical characteristics were never really significant in distinguishing him, rather it was his horrific scarring. As for the Osbornes...well that is a weird hairstyle and it'd be a bit hard to translate into live action so that was a fair choice.

The thing with the Judges, unlike the superhero/villain types that usually populate comic books is that they all wear the same outfit and when they have their helmets on can be a bit hard to distinguish beyond skin colour and gender (probably why they have name tags!) In the case of Anderson I imagine the long blonde hair was at least in part a way of making her stand out batter and perhaps distinguishing her from Hershey too (or visa-versa, I forget which character came first.) Not that I'm saying her being blonde is "vial" to the character, but it would be odd if she wasn't and it's a pretty easy thing to do so I can't see why they wouldn't.

 

[Christopher]

And by all accounts the Lana Lang on Smallville was never exactly well received, so not what I'd call a prime example.

Non sequitur. I've heard people complain about Kristin Kreuk's Lana, but never on the basis of her hair color. (And for the record, some of us thought she did a great job as Lana. Just because the critics of a given thing make a lot of noise on the Internet, that doesn't mean theirs is the only point of view that exists.)

And frankly, Kirsten Dunst never made a convincing redhead anyway. Her hair color changed in every movie and her appearance never really said "Mary Jane Watson" to me. So I might've been happier if they'd just gone with her natural hair color. Or if they'd cast someone more MJ-like to begin with.

Not that I'm saying her being blonde is "vial" to the character, but it would be odd if she wasn't and it's a pretty easy thing to do so I can't see why they wouldn't.

Okay, that's fair. But Olivia Thirlby is a striking brunette, and in my opinion, a natural brunette going blonde is never an improvement.

 

[Reverend]

Non sequitur. I've heard people complain about Kristin Kreuk's Lana, but never on the basis of her hair color. (And for the record, some of us thought she did a great job as Lana. Just because the critics of a given thing make a lot of noise on the Internet, that doesn't mean theirs is the only point of view that exists.)

I honestly never really watched the show, all I know is whenever I happen to skim a discussion n the net or someone mentions the show, someone else almost invariably brings up how bad she was. Not that it really matters as I was actually being a little ironic and so help me if you come back with another hair splitting comment, I shall brain you.

As for Dunst, I never had much of a problem with her in the first two (only got about 20 mins into the third) but then since I'm not so familiar with the source material, I'm ill equipped to know if her characterisation was off. Literally, all I knew about her prior to watching the film was what I recall from the old 90's cartoon; which was basically 1) She was a model/actress 2) she spent a lot of time getting kidnapped and 3) She was a ginger.

 

[Christopher]

^No thanks, I already have a brain.

Unless you mean you're going to ask me if I'm pondering what you're pondering...

 

[Admiral_Young]

Dunst was more Gwen Stacy than Mary Jane in her performance of the character in the trilogy while I thought Bryce Dallas Howard had a little 616 MJ in her. Nevertheless fans are fickle and protective of their favorite characters actually looking and acting like the characters they're taken from with regards to adaptions. There are scenes where Anderson has her helmet off so this is a relevant discussion if you're a Judge Dredd fan. I'll have to go back and look but I'm pretty sure that she was described as being blonde which is also a contrast to Dredd's character in the film.

 

[Christopher]

Dunst was more Gwen Stacy than Mary Jane in her performance of the character in the trilogy...

Yep. I've always thought of her as a Gwen/MJ composite, kind of like how the DC Animated Universe's Tim Drake was a Jason Todd/Tim Drake composite.

Nevertheless fans are fickle and protective of their favorite characters actually looking and acting like the characters they're taken from with regards to adaptions.

For me, it depends on the execution. Looking right is preferable, but if they cast someone who doesn't look right but does a great job, I'm fine with it. I love redheads, but Kristin Kreuk is one of the most stunning women on the planet, so I didn't have a problem with the change. And while Michael Clark Duncan doesn't impress me too much as an actor, I doubt there's any other decent actor out there who could've come physically as close to the Kingpin's build and presence. On the other hand, I've never felt that Hugh Jackman was really right for Wolverine, since I just don't find him convincing as a savage, tormented wild man, and thus I'm less inclined to excuse the fact that he's way too tall and good-looking for Wolverine.

 

[Reverend]

^No thanks, I already have a brain.

You seam to lack the part that should tell you when to shut up. Seriously mate, almost every other post I've seen you make you're either correcting someone, splitting some insignificant hair or coming back with some sarcy comment when you've been contradicted. It's gone way beyond tiresome.

Dunst was more Gwen Stacy than Mary Jane in her performance of the character in the trilogy while I thought Bryce Dallas Howard had a little 616 MJ in her. Nevertheless fans are fickle and protective of their favorite characters actually looking and acting like the characters they're taken from with regards to adaptions. There are scenes where Anderson has her helmet off so this is a relevant discussion if you're a Judge Dredd fan. I'll have to go back and look but I'm pretty sure that she was described as being blonde which is also a contrast to Dredd's character in the film.

I'm pretty sure she manages to loose the thing pretty early on so she should be helmetless for pretty much all her scenes. Which is consistent with the comics, Anderson and indeed most of the Judges spent most of the time while not out on street duty with the helmet off. Dredd's the only one that has it permanently stuck there.
Of course the artistic reason is it makes it a lot easier to tell uniformed characters apart when you can see their faces (aforementioned nametags notwithstanding.)

 

[Admiral_Young]

I'm interested in seeing concept designs for this film.

 

[Reverend]

Some concept art has been released. Looks like they're developing a very Blade Runner like tech-noir aesthetic.

 

[Admiral_Young]

Wow. Mega City One looks a lot darker and foreboding that I thought...and I like the Judges. I think I'm going to be completely satisfied by this film.

 

[Jack Bauer]

And by all accounts the Lana Lang on Smallville was never exactly well received, so not what I'd call a prime example.

Non sequitur. I've heard people complain about Kristin Kreuk's Lana, but never on the basis of her hair color.

Unfortunately I have. But it was just one person. Plus he complained that Kristin Kreuk was half Asian and that Lana shouldn't be half Asian. But AFAIK the character never was just the actress. He complained about that when the show first aired and he brings it up every once in a while.

 

[Starkers]

Some concept art has been released. Looks like they're developing a very Blade Runner like tech-noir aesthetic.

Wow those look awesome! It does seem the Judge uniform is gonna be replicated in full (Eagle and all) which is a surprise but hopefully a pleasant one--assuming they can pull it off, much as I love the look in the comics trying to translate it into real life would seem to entail something that'd be very cumbersome to wear).

Can' wait to see the LAwmasters...

 

[Christopher]

^No thanks, I already have a brain.

You seam to lack the part that should tell you when to shut up. Seriously mate, almost every other post I've seen you make you're either correcting someone, splitting some insignificant hair or coming back with some sarcy comment when you've been contradicted. It's gone way beyond tiresome.

And I find it very hurtful when people attack and insult me when all I'm trying to do is be informative and participate in the discussion of ideas. I have no personal agenda in it, but people keep assuming the worst of me and accusing me of the most horrible things, and that hurts me very much. This is who I am. This is the way I participate in discussion. My mode of engagement is intellectual more than emotional; I focus on the facts and information, and if I have information or clarification to offer, I do so. I don't intend to hurt or attack anyone by it, but other people are constantly choosing to hurt or attack me because they don't like or understand the way I communicate. That's wrong, it's prejudiced, and I'm not going to apologize for being who I am. If you can't handle it, put me on your ignore list. You're sure as hell going on mine.

I've heard people complain about Kristin Kreuk's Lana, but never on the basis of her hair color.

Unfortunately I have. But it was just one person. Plus he complained that Kristin Kreuk was half Asian and that Lana shouldn't be half Asian. But AFAIK the character never was just the actress. He complained about that when the show first aired and he brings it up every once in a while.

Did he have the same objection to Pete Ross being black? If not, it's a curious double standard.

 

[Admiral_Young]

Getting off topic here...and Christopher if it hurts you then maybe you should keep that in mind when you are using your facts and informative information in responding to other people. I've never thought you've had an agenda but it can be deflating when someone like myself is speculating and having fun...I've stated in the past that I agree with you that using facts is important but not to the determent of the discussion. I don't think I'm expressing myself properly here but your response to Reverend is exactly how I have felt in many of our discussions in the past. I've never taken it personally...but it has deflated me. Just thought you should know that.

 

[Reverend]

And I find it very hurtful when people attack and insult me when all I'm trying to do is be informative and participate in the discussion of ideas. I have no personal agenda in it, but people keep assuming the worst of me and accusing me of the most horrible things, and that hurts me very much. This is who I am. This is the way I participate in discussion. My mode of engagement is intellectual more than emotional; I focus on the facts and information, and if I have information or clarification to offer, I do so. I don't intend to hurt or attack anyone by it, but other people are constantly choosing to hurt or attack me because they don't like or understand the way I communicate. That's wrong, it's prejudiced, and I'm not going to apologize for being who I am. If you can't handle it, put me on your ignore list. You're sure as hell going on mine.

Take it anyway you want mate, but it should occur to you that if, as you say, several people are telling you the same thing, then perhaps it's something you aught to be paying attention to.
Whether or not it's intended on your part, your habit of latching onto irrelevant details is not conducive to constructive discussion, it's just an exercise in making yourself feel clever and there's a very good reason why know-it-alls are universally disliked.

Some concept art has been released. Looks like they're developing a very Blade Runner like tech-noir aesthetic.

Wow those look awesome! It does seem the Judge uniform is gonna be replicated in full (Eagle and all) which is a surprise but hopefully a pleasant one--assuming they can pull it off, much as I love the look in the comics trying to translate it into real life would seem to entail something that'd be very cumbersome to wear).

Can' wait to see the LAwmasters...

From the description in the script I think they're sticking pretty faithful to the comic books there too. Huge wide wheels, cannons, the works...and no flying mode. That's what h-wagons are for!

I do hope they also stick reasonably close to the current design of Lawgiver. It's a nice mix of the old classic design and the Stallone movie version, but better and more formidable looking than either.

 

[Admiral_Young]

I really like the design of the Judges...I agree that it has a "tech-noir" feel like "Blade Runner" that shot of the Riot Judges reminds me of "Terminator". I can't wait to see this.

 

[Reverend]

Of course it's worth remembering that concept art may or may not be representative of the final product. I'd actually be very surprised if the uniform looked exactly as it does there. There has to be some concessions for what works as a practical costume.

To be fair, the uniforms in the Stallone movie weren't that far off the mark, they just looked a little too much like costumes, all plastic and spandex rather than actual functional uniforms. A case of style over substance if ever I saw one.

 

[Admiral_Young]

Oh for sure but even if these are early design concepts which they appear to be, they still look really good and faithful to a degree. I'm sure the final product will look somewhat different or even completely different to what we see here. These are far better than "Jock's" concept art for the abandoned Peter Berg "Dune" adaption.

 

[The Badger]

Some concept art has been released. Looks like they're developing a very Blade Runner like tech-noir aesthetic.

Let's hope they don't go too Blade Runner. That film looks superb, of course, but the inevitable copycats have eroded it's uniqueness. I'm including the Stallone Dredd movie in that. Instead of the distinctive Mega City One style, we got the (by that time) typical 'rain, grime, animated billboards and flashing neon Asian signs'.

 

[Reverend]

^Some of that is unavoidable. I mean how many different ways are there to cinematically portray massive decaying metropolitan sprawl? Regardless, most of the film takes place within the confines of a single bloc, so the city won't be as prominently featured.