DREDD reviews. (SPOILERS!)

[TordelBack]

How much bigger than the normal buidings of today?

Most of the criticisms of the movie are understandable, but this one I just don't get.  The blocks are breathtakingly huge, bigger by far than the usual depiction in the comic, and that size is brilliantly conveyed in some of the most striking images of the film.  Despite having watched the trailer a thousand times, that opening intro left me with my mouth hanging open: there's a much better sense of scale and mass than in other more ornate future cities, like Coruscant or Fifth Element Noo Yawk, much closer to the impression of looming monumentality you get as Deckard's cruiser climbs up over the Tyrell building in Bladerunner.  It's a very fine bit of SF urban design. 

Damnit, I have to go see it again before it's too late.

[TordelBack]

Double post, sorry about that WHERE'S THE EDIT BUTTON, but I meant to add:

Peachtrees alone contains the entire population of my 'beloved' home of Tallaght - every single scobie and skanger and slapper (and the odd squaxx dek Thargo) crammed into the same building:the horror!   

The depiction in the film makes it look like there's actually room for them and their hair extensions and fake tans.  I still think that's the real achievement of the film's look: I can imagine living there, it makes horribly, horrible sense. Like The Square on Christmas Eve, only slightly less claustrophobic.

[Michaelvk]

Here's something interesting, chaps..

South African crew members are generally a pretty jaded bunch, considering they generally work on bottom-of-the-barrel, straight to DVD/TV releases. Last night there was a crew screening, and every one I've seen on my FB feed loves it and are pretty vocal about it. That's not something you see every day.

[Fisticuffs]

I'm quite surprised that a crew screening has come so late in the day? Thought they'd get to see it earlier rather than later.

[Michaelvk]

It's only being released there on the 28th, I think..

[Satanist]

Well I saw this last night and its...just ok. Could've been better but could also have been much, much worse.

Things I liked are the design work on the judges, set etc. Some of the 3D was very impressive.

Plot was paper thin though and for an action movie there's nowt that stands out. No memorable villains either.

I would compare it to Predator 2* in that it's a film I've really looked forward to, thought was alright and will watch again in a few years when its on telly.


*at least it's not Highlander 2

[Tiplodocus]

Is it the prxoimity of buildings that people are thinking makes it look less like MC1? In the comic, the blocks often appear to be right on top of each other with roads linking them or winding between them at a very high level. It always looks busier.

My third viewing just reinforced flaws I've already mentioned (no fun in the City as a character) and I still don't get Dredd dispensing slo-mo at the end. People have given what they think is an interpretation of it but it all seems a bit ambiguous to me - not something I normally associate with Dredd.

I also have a problem with a lack of depth. I don't feel it's standing up to repeat viewings myself (I'm not interested in looking for easter eggs) like I felt other films I saw multiple times at the cinema did (Dark Knight, Fellowship of the Ring, Star Trek).

And as Cosh says; no memorable action sequences.  No "Lobby from The Matrix", no "Building Site chase from Casino Royale", no "Lightsabre fight from Phantom Menace" - basically no stand out action sequence that people will rave about. NB: Not counting gore here.

[shaolin_monkey]

That's a real shame, but I guess it's crazy to think everyone's going to love it, 2000AD fans or not.

I kind of get what everyone is saying about the application of salo-0mo at the end.  It does seem a bit un-Dredd like.  However, it doesn't really jar for me, as it's just a few seconds of an otherwise great film.  It also gives us the poetic justice of Ma-Ma's execution - she slowly gets to see all the carnage her terrible decisions caused on the way down, and sees her own demise coming up painfully slowly.

I personally think it bears repeat viewings very well, and am considering an 8th trip to see it before it leaves the cinema.

[radiator]

No "Lobby from The Matrix", no "Building Site chase from Casino Royale", no "Lightsabre fight from Phantom Menace"

...all films that cost 4-6 times what Dredd did. 'Spectacular' was never going to be an option for this film, though I'd argue that a few scenes are pretty damn memorable.

[James Stacey]

I really like the fact that the film is quotable without having a catchphrase rammed down your throat 'I noo you'd say that'

[JOE SOAP]

I still don't get Dredd dispensing slo-mo at the end. People have given what they think is an interpretation of it but it all seems a bit ambiguous to me - not something I normally associate with Dredd.

I kind of get what everyone is saying about the application of salo-0mo at the end.  It does seem a bit un-Dredd like.  However, it doesn't really jar for me, as it's just a few seconds of an otherwise great film.

You've all misled yourselves, This is not Joe Dredd - he's not even named - it's ...RICO DREDD.

[MR. ELIMINATOR]

I don't see why it bothers people that he gave her slo-mo before chucking her out of a window.

It's not something I could never see Dredd doing, and it looked awesome. Besides I think we can all agree that Dredd has a slight arc in this film, and by the end everything isn't as black and white for him as it was. Hence some poetic justice. Judgement time!

The only way I would have changed it, was to have it speed up right at the end so you feel the impact of the splat more. But, the face exploding was still stunning.

[JOE SOAP]

The only way I would have changed it, was to have it speed up right at the end so you feel the impact of the splat more.

You are Zack Snyder.

[blackmocco]

How much bigger than the normal buidings of today?

Most of the criticisms of the movie are understandable, but this one I just don't get.  The blocks are breathtakingly huge, bigger by far than the usual depiction in the comic, and that size is brilliantly conveyed in some of the most striking images of the film.  Despite having watched the trailer a thousand times, that opening intro left me with my mouth hanging open: there's a much better sense of scale and mass than in other more ornate future cities, like Coruscant or Fifth Element Noo Yawk, much closer to the impression of looming monumentality you get as Deckard's cruiser climbs up over the Tyrell building in Bladerunner.  It's a very fine bit of SF urban design. 

Damnit, I have to go see it again before it's too late.

It's not just the effectiveness of the visuals, TB. It's the atmosphere those visuals create for the viewer. When we're introduced to MC-1's opening shots it's about as far from Coruscant or Fifth Element as you can get. This looks like a dead city. There's nothing vibrant or exciting or colorful about it like in the other movies. From the get-go the movie sells this as somewhere you would NOT want to live. For that reason alone, I love it. The movie really is that lean and stripped-down.

It's not much of a leap to think Max Rockatansky is driving around an incinerated Australia in a stripped-down V8 at the same time. Already said it but for me, the movie does a far better job of explaining why the Judges are needed than the comic ever did.

[Michaelvk]

That's a real shame, but I guess it's crazy to think everyone's going to love it, 2000AD fans or not.

I kind of get what everyone is saying about the application of salo-0mo at the end.  It does seem a bit un-Dredd like.  However, it doesn't really jar for me, as it's just a few seconds of an otherwise great film.  It also gives us the poetic justice of Ma-Ma's execution - she slowly gets to see all the carnage her terrible decisions caused on the way down, and sees her own demise coming up painfully slowly.

I personally think it bears repeat viewings very well, and am considering an 8th trip to see it before it leaves the cinema.

Lemme know when, and I'll tag along..