Movie Info
Movie Name: Judge Dredd
Studio: Cinergi Pictures
Genre(s): Superhero/Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Action/Adventure
Release Date(s): June 30, 1995
MPAA Rating: R
Oh yes…I am the law!
Judge Dredd (Sylvester Stallone) believes in one thing…he believes in the Law. Patrolling Mega City with Judge Hershey (Diane Lane), Dredd finds himself framed for the murder of a reporter and sentenced to a prison in the Cursed Earth. When Dredd’s former ally and sentenced Judge Rico (Armand Assante) is revealed to behind the conspiracy with Judge Griffin (Jürgen Prochnow) in a plan to get Project Janus activated, Dredd finds himself fighting through the Cursed Earth with a judged criminal Herman “Fergee” Ferguson (Rob Schneider). Dredd learns from his mentor Chief Justice Fargo (Max von Sydow) that his whole life is a lie and Rico might be more than a fellow Judge. Now, Judge Dredd must save Mega City from Rico and Griffin’s evil plan for domination.
I really liked the part where Arnold turned good and allowed himself to be lowered into molten metal…oh, wrong movie
Directed by Danny Cannon, Judge Dredd adapted the popular British comic character. With a big budget, Judge Dredd was met with poor reviews, so-so box office returns, and earned Sylvester Stallone a Razzie nomination for Worst Actor (he doubled up that year for his role in Assassins).
First appearing in 2000AD #2 (March 1977), Judge Dredd definitely wasn’t a mainstream character in America when this film was made, and it was probably hard to gauge what audiences probably wanted from this film. The movie tried to get a PG-13 rating, but the violence level of the film did not permit it. While the Judge Dredd comic was very self-aware and had more of a satirical approach to the story, this Judge Dredd went for action and straight out laughs.
Don’t roll you’re eyes Rob Schneider…we’re rolling our eyes at you!!!
Stallone is horrible as Dredd. Dredd is known for his helmet, but it was decided that Stallone needed to be seen so he goes for a majority of the movie without his signature uniform. Stallone just keeps spouting “I am the law” with a pouty mouth and such an obvious character development…at least I did like the cool gun, but it too was underused.
The next problem with Judge Dredd is Rob Schneider. He is supposed to be the wise cracking sidekick and instead of being amusing, he just comes off as obnoxious and imposing. The movie never has a chance to get serious, but Schneider isn’t funny either.
Oh no! They’re clones…and they’re attacking!
The amusing thing now is that Judge Dredd is virtually the plot of the prequel trilogy of Star Wars…especially Star Wars: Episode II—Attack of the Clones. The former and covert Judge and the insider within the Judges’ circle are plotting against the government. They’ve set up a series of clones and force the government to activate them to deal with the growing menace within the city. Once the clones are activated, they turn against the Judges…boy, you could just substitute Jedi for Judges and you have Star Wars.
Judge Dredd is a dull action movie that can’t really decide what it wants to be. It tries really hard to be an action movie, but most of the movie comes off as laughable and the attempts to be funny fall flat. Judge Dredd was recently “reimagined” as Dredd in 2012, and Dredd is a better movie more in tune with the feel of the comic.
[easyazon-block align=”center” asin=”B008C0C1Y8″ locale=”us”]
Related Links:
