Dredd

Dredd

78%

Critic Review - McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Say what you want about Stallone's kitschy 1995 turn "Judge Dredd"...but the dude wore the helmet. Karl Urban replaces him in the new "Dredd," and, frankly, the helmet wears Karl.

September 20, 2012 Full Review Source: McClatchy-Tribune News Service | Comments (62)
McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Comments

Grant Matheson

Grant Matheson

Yet another one of those banal, cookie cutter reviews that doesn't go in depth enough about its complaints or praises and ultimately just winds up in the trash can. Just another critic being lazy and typing a review up just for the sake of having a negative review to differentiate against the masses rather than actually be informative.

Just ignore this review and see the movie for yourselves.

Sep 20 - 07:14 AM

Hugo Fernandez

Hugo Fernandez

agreed!

Sep 20 - 07:55 AM

Roger M.

Roger Moore

Let's see, Ray, Hugo, Rami, Dorian...
the clip above says "the helmet wears Karl." Which is a way of saying the role overwhelms him. He doesn't get much across while inside it.
There's this line -- "It closes off his performance and masks his charisma."
And this one -- "The movie's nasty villain is poorly drawn." Lena Headey relied on her scar-makeup to do her acting for her.
Reasons the movie sucks. Written in the review. Which is why I'm a "top critic." And you, apparently, have comprehension/attention span issues.

Sep 20 - 02:50 PM

Grant Matheson

Grant Matheson

You're confused. Whoever reads your review should be aware there are cons listed. However, as we have said, they are just carelessly slapped together in a sharp contrast to showcasing their impact on the film. There isn't sufficient elaboration on many ingredients like set design, dialogue, pacing, etc. You can barely call it a review at all.

Saying that the helmet wears Karl is devoid of familiarity with the source material and totally missing the point of that aspect of the film and acting in general. The helmet and stern performance are supposed to be what Dredd is all about because that's how he's portrayed in the comics. You never see him take his helmet off in the comics. It's one of many parts of his character that show how rigid and dedicated he is to maintaining the law at all costs. So do forgive the filmmakers for having the audacity to ensure a film stays true to its source material when that was their primary incentive to start with. You're not supposed to be thinking about Karl. You're supposed to be thinking about Dredd when you watch the movie because he is what it's all about. If the performance makes me think less of Karl's on-screen presence and convince me I'm really watching Judge Dredd, then I would say that's a plus not a criticism. He's supposed to be acting like the character. Not playing himself.

Lastly, it's so ironic for you to insinuate anybody has comprehension/attention span problems. For all I know, you're probably just a sock puppet account.

Sep 20 - 08:39 PM

dethburger

dethburger hates Flixster

Actually, you are a dick.

Being a "top critic" today on RT sure doesn't require much if you are one.

Did you comprehend that?

Sep 21 - 01:35 AM

Eric Harris

Eric Harris

"He never takes the thing off. It closes off his performance and masks his charisma."


Dear Point,

I miss you. I really, really miss you so much.

Love,
Roger

Sep 21 - 07:08 AM

G P.

G P

relied on the makeup to do the acting for her? What did you want - evil maniacal laughing every time she's on camera? She's just a victim of the city herself, and batshit crazy she is too, obsessed with torture and brutality, she really does leave you feeling cold

Sep 25 - 07:36 AM

Eric Harris

Eric Harris

I also love how you justify your lack of education with your title as a top critic. Guess what, asshole. Nickelback make millions. Doesn't make them not hacks.

Sep 30 - 03:36 PM

Rami Nawfal

Rami Nawfal

A very poorly written review. He didn't even elaborate on why he didn't like it.

Sep 20 - 08:01 AM

Dorian Whitney

Dorian Whitney

Exactly why I lose some respect for these so called "top critics". If any one said any part of the original is better than this, they don't know the character Dredd. That movie was complete crap. This movie is going to be legit. Most critics are praising it more than disliking it. This is going to be a great action film. I don't expect an award winning film but a damn good action flick which it will deliver.

Sep 20 - 08:23 AM

Rami Nawfal

Rami Nawfal

Yeah, I'm really looking forward to this film. Looks like some good, gory fun.

Sep 20 - 09:10 AM

dethburger

dethburger hates Flixster

Just got back from seeing it.

This film took the Stallone version, bent it over and made it it's bitch.

And Urban OWNED the role.

Roger needs to go review something more his speed like Pokemon.

Sep 21 - 01:39 AM

Brandon Mendoza

Brandon Mendoza

Urban definitely owned the role. The only thing I wish was a little different was that his first bust shown should have been more of a "this is why he's the best at what he does" but that's just me nit-picking. Excellent movie.

Sep 24 - 10:56 AM

Ray Davies

Ray Davies

Why are you a top Critic? I have read many of your reviews and frankly they suck. You obviously do not like movies and the process of making movies. A movie is the sum of it's parts. When the parts come together it is magic and called entertainment no matter what the genre. You are annoying.

Sep 20 - 08:27 AM

Ricky S.

Ricky Singh

Who is this jerk???

"He never takes the thing off".... I thought a critic is supposed to do at least some research into what they are reviewing. If this twerp had done any, he'd know that Dredd is NOT supposed to take his helmet off!! That is all part of what makes the character.

Sep 20 - 08:35 AM

Peter W.

Peter Winters

He played Bond for 15 years. Don't you know anything?

Sep 21 - 09:36 AM

Hasan Osman

Hasan Osman

This idiot reviewer doesn't even do his homework .... Dredd never takes his helmet off .... that is part of Dredd's character .. he is the embodiment of the law .... law does not have a face ... that is the point of the helmet staying on ... if the character did take his helmet off it would kill the mystique of the character ... what a moron this guy is .

Sep 20 - 09:06 AM

Jason Orton

Jason Orton

lol..Mr. Moore's review was the only one in our local paper. I read it until he got to the part about then helmet and then used paper as mulch in the garden. Mr. Moore...don't make comments on what you don't understand. Read the source material before making dumb ass statements like "Say what you want about Stallone's kitschy 1995 turn "Judge Dredd"...but the dude wore the helmet." That's one of the huge reasons that movie sucked...the other was Rob Schneider. Dredd has been around since the late 70's and not once....NOT ONCE...has he appeared with his helmet off.

Sep 24 - 11:19 AM

David Sandford

David Sandford

Dredd NEVER EVER takes his helmet off in the comic.

Sep 20 - 09:12 AM

Steve s.

Steve stevo

Oh do fuck off!

Sep 20 - 09:43 AM

Rob DeNezza

Rob DeNezza

Roger Moore is a cunt. The point of the character is that he never takes the helmet off. He is the embodiment of the law. What is underneath the uniform is irrelevant.

Sep 20 - 10:37 AM

Stephen Moden

Stephen Moden

Ok my US cousins (near or far), don't listen to this horse shit!!! As a huge fan of Dredd since 1985 I can tell you Urban nailed it.

The fact that even tries to compare this to the 95 film, clearly shows he has an Eagle shoulder pad sized boner for Stallone!!

I've seen it, its a gore fest set in an ultra cool Megacity block. For anyone exopecting the CG boombastic of the recent Avengers, you better hold it. As comic book adaptions go on a very low budget (yeah Stallones version muddied the waters for years to come in Hollywood), its a fantastic achievment!

And the raid comparison is mute. Dredd has faced bad guys in enclosed blocks since 77. Deemed un-filmable, Verhoven to liberties and made Robocop. 2000AD and Dredd have always been copied. Always the bridesmaid and never the bride......until now. Enjoy it for everything its not, and everything it accomplishes (tooth ansd nail).

Its great 10/10 solid action flick!

Sep 20 - 12:46 PM

Thaddeus Venture

Thaddeus Venture

Honestly, the dude is a fucking idiot to praise Stallone and trash Urban.

Sep 20 - 01:02 PM

Boudewyn Couprie

Boudewyn Couprie

Sorry dude, but you have no idea. Not removing the helmet is key. Batman without the mask is Bruce Wayne, but Dredd is Dredd. There is no alter ego. Dredd is the faceless embodiment of a brutal and totalitarian justice system. The helmet is a part of the Dredd character which is why many fans were pissed when Stallone broke canon and took it off.

Sep 20 - 01:23 PM

THGhost

THGhost .

Except Stallone didn't wear the helmet, now did he?

Sep 20 - 02:25 PM

rockwhite666

David Voss

I don't get it. If we just see Dredd instead of an actor playing him, then that's good... it shows Urban has embodied the character completely. The Dredd character should be more important than the actor playing him.

Sep 20 - 03:17 PM

Grant Matheson

Grant Matheson

David Voss says it best. Ironic that these so called Top Critics completely miss the point. It's called acting. You're supposed to immerse yourself in the character and give a performance that truly matches what that character is supposed to be. Dredd NEVER takes his helmet off in the comics and is noted for being firm and harsh in dealing out the law. So that's what the actor should try to do instead of just playing himself or giving a performance that's similar to everybody else out there. Movie reviewers need to seriously start looking into the source material for movies so they have an understanding of what they're going to see. The idea of being a reviewer is to inform people and if you are going to miss some of the basic aspects of acting and not familiarize yourself with the movie's goals and source material then you shouldn't be a reviewer.

This film being closer to the source material is one of the reasons why it's getting so much praise and you don't need to see an actor's face to get a good performance out of them. On top of that, it challenges the actor to learn to express emotion through other means rather than just the top of his face.

Sep 20 - 04:59 PM

Louie Ramos

Louie Ramos

I don't see how anyone didn't see acting. Judge Dredd is a stoic, looming figure. He doesn't slide and backflip into a firefight, he keeps his cool and walks. His willingness to forgive or negotiate with criminals can be summarized as "put your gun down and I'll give you life in prison rather than killing you." The whole opening sequence up until Anderson's reading is tuned specifically to create that image of JUDGE Dredd. Anderson is the punctuation mark, "I sense anger, and a lot of control but there's something else..."

And then you spend a day with him, and if you pay attention there's more going on under there. The perfectly composed wall of Law quietly swears to himself, or cuts off a colleague with a little turn of the head that makes it obvious he's rolling his eyes. Mama sends a message early on in the film, and Judge Dredd literally throws the same message in her face later, and despite not having brows to furrow into a scowl, the way he does it and the way he walks away afterwards drips with his contempt for her, which goes far beyond simply "a police officer trying to take in a criminal." I dunno, it seemed pretty obvious to me, you can't see Judge Dredd's face because of the mask because it's a literal expression of the image he cultivates for himself. He wants to seem inhuman and because of that, the moments when a touch of humanity breaks through become vital for expression. That's really had to do. I'd expect most people would just give up on trying to express nuance and simply take off the mask so they could mug and yell incomprehensibly.

Sep 21 - 09:52 PM

Chris Miccio

Chris Miccio

any credibility you have was just flushed down the toilet by saying ANYTHING positive about Stallone's "Dredd". As a long time fan and reader of the Dredd comic series, what Stallone made was not Judge Dredd.

Sep 20 - 06:25 PM

Peter W.

Peter Winters

Schneider was AWESOME in it

Sep 21 - 09:39 AM

Thomas Kostielney

Thomas Kostielney

Roger Moore, it would show much more respect for the craft and your job and create much more for you if you just admitted that you were off-base in your initial review. It is alright that you didn't know the source material well, not expected for you to know it all. It should be expected that it is ok to realize a wrong, which you have committed in your review.

Sep 20 - 08:54 PM

Austin Bowen

Austin Bowen

Yeah let's rip
A movie and know jack shit about the source material. How do you get a critic job anyways? Talk shit on everything that isn't a 4 hour long drama? These critics tend to miss the point in an ACTIONNNNNN movie.

Sep 21 - 04:21 PM

Tripwyre

Justin M

"...but the dude wore the helmet." Actually he didn't, and that's just one of the reasons why Stallone's film is an all-out disaster. But it's cool that you were able to out yourself as knowing nothing about the character in one quick sentence.

Sep 21 - 05:14 PM

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