2000 AD Online Forum

for some reason i watched the judge dredd movie again and sat,with all intention of giving it a chance.
  again,stallone not tooo bad as stony face,nice judge costumes,so far ok til that dreaded moment,"you may stand at ease joseph",then all the predjudice came flooding back the i judged my brother emotional regret,FERGIE,the hershey kiss at the end.
i then proceeded to wonder when rebellion are going to get off their laurels and make a proper one? Michael ironside for dredd! any one else have any thoughts,views,bad memories?

Every now and again this subject rears its ugly head... so once again here's my tuppence worth.

I quite like the film MC1 was great and the first 10/15 mins are just right.

Don't have a problem with Stallone as Dredd and never had a problem with the helmet coming off.

Angel Gang also great but not in it enough, the film crams too much into too short a running time and Fergie should have been forgotten about.

The film should have been about the Angel Gang and left all that other stuff for another time or not at all.

Ironside as Dredd. Nah, Ron Perlman would be my choice.

the first 10/15 mins are just right.

I agree. A 'director's cut' version would finish after 15 minutes.  
  There's no reason why another one couldn't be okay.  

   More or less exactly the same as above.
 
  Too much going on          Too little time.
   
  No candidate for the lead role yet.

  It could do with being redone to be honest with lots of cgi  to  give proper scale to the cityscape.

    A judge dredd /death film that conndenses the first two instalments into one film would work well.

the first 10/15 mins are just right.

I agree. A 'director's cut' version would finish after 15 minutes.  
  There's no reason why another one couldn't be okay.  

   Forgive the double post :

    I just had to say that when Stallone appears in that opening block war scene i like the way he acts and looks totally oblivious to the mayhem going on all around.Thats just like you would imagine the character to be like. Sort of detached and a bit emotionless.

   A

"The film should have been about the Angel Gang and left all that other stuff for another time or not at all."

As I always say, movies tend to be about the main character and how then change, hence the story about Dredd's views on Justice being challenged. The strip however is usually about the criminals, that's how the readers like it but I suspect a film audience would say "so what?". It's a difficult story to transfer from one medium to the other, though personally I quite liked the solutions they came up with (perhaps because I know less about the Dredd mythology than many readers).

***As I always say, movies tend to be about the main character and how then change, hence the story about Dredd's views on Justice being challenged.***

This is generally down to screen writers mostly stick to single protagonist stories because that's what most people do, this does not mean that other types of narratives don't work on film. Multi character stories work quite well on film, Magnolia et al., it could work well for a Dredd film too, something like the pit with other judges as main characters along with Dredd.

 Dredd being stoic and taciturn is something that can work in a film's favour as. All Dredd needs to be is a badass unlike Stallone who wasn't. This is one of the main attractions of the character with small glimpses of compassion.

Wise screenwriters have shown through the years that what you need to make you root for any character is a really good villain/nemesis who is more evil/bad/corrupted than the main character himself. As Hitchcock said, "the stronger the evil, the stronger the film". This means the protagonist can be amoral/right wing/fascist or a bit flakey and still come out looking good if what he is fighting against is worse than him.

In fact I think the worst thing about the Dredd film was that they tried to make us believe Dredd's doubts without really describing how one became a judge in the first place thereby rendering the story and character completely uninteresting. They needed to establish the absolute idea that a judges training is the most gruelling on earth for the character to work, this never happened. "Doubts" should have been a theme for a sequel.

Sorry, I didn't mean the film should have been an Angel Gang film, I ment The Angel Gang should have been the main villins.

Instead we got Rico, The Day The Law Died, The Angel Gang, Block Mania etc...

Once you take these out of the equasion there isn't really a lot left of a 90 min movie for any sort of storytelling.

And these rumours of a new movie with several big names interested... never gonna happen.

Just make an animated film and release it straight to dvd like Hellboy, and forget about live action altogether.

***And these rumours of a new movie with several big names interested... never gonna happen. ***

I think this is would be a blessing in disguise, I couldn't face another disappontment.

"Wise screenwriters have shown through the years that what you need to make you root for any character is a really good villain/nemesis who is more evil/bad/corrupted than the main character himself."

I don't know - that idea just seems so tired now and really over-simplified, frequently to the point of the ridiculous. To take a slightly off-topic example, there's this new American TV series called Dexter about a serial killer, who we as the audience are supposed to support because the people he murders are themselves murderers, so therefore it's supposed to be okay in our eyes when he gouges away at them with drills. Offensively smug, ill-thought-through rubbish with barely sketched-cyphers instead of actual characterisation.

Not that I'm saying that you're wrong, as Dredd has often worked by pitting him against someone even worse than himself, just that it needs some decent characterisation and narrative to make that concept work, rather than just coming up with the idea and then congratulating yourself by snorting cocaine out of a high-rent hooker's arse crack.

  I just found the novel based on the screenplay for the film in paperback for 10 p.

Watching Trainspotting is always food for thought - you want Renton to succeed in kicking the habbit, especially when Ewan McGreggor makes him so likeable and funny, though it's easy to forget he only does so by doing a massive drug deal, thereby supplying a new wave of addicts, perhaps less strong than he is.

***Not that I'm saying that you're wrong, as Dredd has often worked by pitting him against someone even worse than himself, just that it needs some decent characterisation and narrative to make that concept work***

Well ask John Wagner, he's mostly succeeded for 30 years with the concept so I've no doubt it can work, it's a matter of degrees and talent.

the problem with film is that everything has to be instantaneou, with little time for a character to grow on you, or for an idea to linger long enough to make you think or alter your views.

Thats always been my complaint about films for a long time.You need two hours sometimes a bit more to have the intricacies of the plot as well as the action scenes.

"I just found the novel based on the screenplay for the film in paperback for 10 p."

If there was one thing worse than the film, it was the novel of the film.

Hmmmm, this Dredd film debate pops up once in a while. If you google the subject it turns up that rebellion had 2 scripts on the go, written by one of the fellas who owns the company.

Why?

Why would you do that when you employ the guy who created the character in the first place.

Anyway, it'll never happen, not enough interest in the character unfortunately, i agree though that the first 15 mins were the best, should have faded to black and just had the words 'FIN' up after that.

As for Joe, how about Clancy Brown in full on kurgen from highlander mode?

The storyline?

What about Democracy?

The America storyline would be good up on screen i think.

Like i said though, chances are i'll win the lottery before it ever happens and i don't even buy a ticket.

I think for an introductory film you need to set ground rules before launching into something like Death or Cursed Earth or some other dredd 'epic'.

Block mania with a few other Mega City quirks thrown in would be a good start with the Apocalypse War as a follow up.

Still think animated is the only way to go.

***the problem with film is that everything has to be instantaneou, with little time for a character to grow on you, or for an idea to linger long enough to make you think or alter your views.***

L.A. Confidential is a perfect example of a film that packs a serious amount of character and story detail into an average length and has excellent pacing. It can be done and done well, the reason the Stallone film was so bad was because it was made bad to please a mass audience.

   I will take the book back and get my money back if i can.
 
    I was thinking of Clancy Brown as well  for the lead.At least as a possibility.

There can be only one Dredd and that is Ron Perlman.
As for another film, cartoon is the way to go unless some boarder is willing to stump up the dosh for a live action film.

  Theres about 3 including this film that i would like to be able to find the cash and make the film.I am still convinced they could work if properly scripted.

"As for another film, cartoon is the way to go unless some boarder is willing to stump up the dosh for a live action film."

Traditional drawn animation is so unprofitable these days even Disney have no plans for any more, switching entirely to CGI.

I think Commando was talking about animation in general, not specifically hand drawn.

Slightly off topic but Disney are supposed to be working on a new trad animated feature.

I hope its good.

Link: The Frog Princess

it must be he who can only be written about in capitals "RON PEARLMAN" for Dredd.

CU Radbacker

Nick Nolte also has the chin.

If Arnold Schwarzenneger had a bit more acting ability then he wouldnt be a bad choice at all.If you look at the Terminator in the films then apart from the fact one is robotic the two characters are not that different.

   Also there must be a few lesser known actors who may have the right height ,build and look out there somewhere.

   I do remember an actor in Gladiator whose name i cant remember right now who has the right look for the part.

Aaron Eckhart has the chin and stature but you'd have to de-handsomonise him a bit:

  Everytime the film company offers Arnie an incentive to play the part in the film he just eats it !!

     A carrot on a stick doesnt always work.

clancy brown,i like it!i also thought about an animated or CGI version like the new captain scarlett or roughnecks then you could keep toby longworth in work he had dredds voice down.

   Regarding the screenplay of the film i dont know who William Wisher and Steven De Souza are.They wrote it.I dont think they are connected to 2000ad or Judge Dredd.

 Is it any surprise that the film was a disaster if the film company cant commision a decent script ? It seems like a typical film company decision to do that.John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra shouldnt have let that happen but there is the problem of Fleetway publications having the final say as they owned the character apparently.

It will always be this guy as Dredd for me:

most chance we have is that someone does some animation to a 'big finish' dredd adventure

I noticed that the film is on again tonight on channel 5.  I might  give it another go... it's been a while since I've seen it although I wasn't over impressed at the time.

Yeah, I'll watch it, if for nothing else than Diane Lane in a tight fitting uniform.

  I have just won a dvd copy of it from someone here . I feel a sense of duty to own a copy of it. The first 15 minutes give you a taste of how good it could have been .

On just now and it's painful to how good it could've be. As it is it's like the Comic Strip Presents...Judge Dredd.

Good bits so far: City(overview - ground level it looks like a set which it is), uniforms, use of comic names and themes - Brisco, McGruder and the booby trapped law-giver

Shit Bits - Fergie, Stallone, dialogue, the city shrinking to 65 million for some reason.

Doubt I'll stay the course this time.

Ah just caught the credits. That theme tune's mighty shite though.

The best thing about the Dredd film is that when I went to see it at the Clydebank UltraPlex there was a  special thirty minute long trailer extravaganza. Never before or since have I witnessed such a thing.

"YOU BETRAYED THE LAW!"
"LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAW!"

Damn you defective Non Five showing telly. Is someone going to post a link to that Boo Cook strip?

There should be a law against that film.

"There should be a law against that film."

I knew you'd say that.

I think guy who did the 'The Island' movie with Ewan Macgregor and Scarlett Johansson should be the man to make any Judge Dredd film in the Furture.

I thought some of the outdoor filming round the slightly distopion looking future city of New York (During the chases scenes) seemed almost right for how some of the Mega City looked. Taking into consideration the obvious differences.

"I think guy who did the 'The Island' movie with Ewan Macgregor and Scarlett Johansson should be the man to make any Judge Dredd film in the Furture."


What, you want Michael Bay? He should stick to commercials about big fighting robots.

I caught the first 10 minutes, but had to turn off before Stallone opened his mouth.  Even then, it was painful.  The one thing I did notice is that not only is it still complete shite - but now it's dated as well.

I don't know where this "the city is great" comes from - is that like clutching at straws because everything else about it is so awful?  The city's not that good, and it's shoved in our face like the single-set special effect it is, before being brushed quietly under the carpet in favour of that twat-hole Fergie mugging his way through every crap scene in a desperate search for a script worth attaching his (paper-thin) character to.

And that riot scene is crap as well.  In the Block War episode, where Dredd gets back from the Judge Child quest, he goes to quell an all-out battle between two blocks.  What are the rioters here even fighting about?  Oh, never mind - it's just a riot.  Lazy.  Shit.  

I agree with every point you made Funt. The city does look dated, and the unform ain't much better. Even the city in Blade Runner, made over a decade before, holds up better.

  Having watched a bit of this film last night for the first time in years it does indeed look terribly dated.Visually everything about this film is wrong.Everything.Not only is it dated but it is dated in a very naff way. There is no point saying anymore as there is nothing left to say but i have ju st wasted a fiver on this film but that was for a good cause.When i watch it again in its entirity i will just enjoy its awfulness .What else can you do ? . Not watch it at all might be an idea.

Yeah, Michael Bay.

Sylvestor Stallone should cameo, but not star as Dredd.

For Dredd or Rico. It should be Hellboy and/or the Kurgon.

Oh, I was watching 'Harly Davidson and the Marlbora Man' and remebring just oipening sequence with Micky Rourk in his colourful leather rding on his Harly Davidson into Las Vagas.

Imagine him as Judge Dredd. That could almost be possible. He already used prosthestisis to change the shape of his face for 'Sin City' He could use Dredd Chin Prostesis and just don the dark blue bike leathers with golden shoulder pads

Besides I would prefer the new Dredd to be wearing a suit made from Motyor Cycle leathers rather CAT-SUIT Stallon was wearing. I think it looks more authentic.

It also imagined that Harly to be a Lawmaster and not the toy bikes they wear using.

Link: Harly.........Harly Davidson!!

Ok, after seeing it for a second film, and having been introduced to the comics in between... I can understand why people dislike this film.

I actually don't mind it, but I think maybe I like it for the wrong reason. It is quite amusing. Although perhaps not in the right way.

What particularly struck me was how camp Stalone came off in the role. I mean, here's an actor renowned for playing hard-men characters... and whilst Dredd is definitly that, Stalone some how seemed to feminize him somewhat.  It's like he feels a bit of a wally and decided to just go with it tougue firmly in cheek.

And that reaction when he was wrongfully convicted... very unDreddlike lack of self control.

I liked the big robot though. (Apparently supposed to be Hammerstein but evil and without a Hammer?) and the Angel gang guys in the Cursed Earth (although they were probably killed to quickly.

As for the look of the city, I actually quite liked it. It fit with many of the views we see in the comics very well. Particularly the ones with the more toony art.

The acting and lines pretty much sucked some major monkey rump though.

So it was you was it Peterwolf!

It's on its way now barring any more postal strikes!

Dweezil.

Watched the film last night, no it didnt improve. Fucking hollywood bastards. They are still trying to manipulate the HALO film. Good to see the creators are not backing down. Rather no film than another Dredd train-wreck

  I think i know what i am letting myself in for now .
      could you send or email your address as i will be posting payment as i dont do paypal at the moment.

    thanks.      Peter.

  Okay got the dvd in the post today. what went wrong ? how did that happen ? Most unlike the post office but i am not complaining.
 
  " Non - stop  action "  says the review on the back courtesy of the Daily Variety.


   "A lethal ,loud ,and loaded action - adventure "  says the review courtesy of NBC.TV.


   Film critics :  !!!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

   Now to take the plunge.Into the player goes the DVD .............




  P.S    Dweezil :   Once again please please could you provide a full postal address so that i can pay you asap ? Otherwise i cant. Its that simple .  N.O paypal.   Payment by post only.
   I have sent numerous ebay emails too.
  Use ebay or messageboard email facility.

   Peter.