jodenband21
Joined Oct 2008
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Reviews18
jodenband21's rating
Dredd is the kind of film that may satisfy Friday night audiences. Yes, it was fun, seeing a Mega-City One with the new 3D technology. It's more violent, relentless, and equipped with satire and deadpan humor. The action is peaked to the highest level of entertainment, probably not for the squeamish.
The film is set in the dystopian futuristic United States, where it became an irradiated wasteland called Cursed One. Adjacent to the wall is the metropolitan civilization called Mega-City One where the crimes are inexplicably high. The Judge are the only reinforcements who acts as judge, jury and executioner.
Judge Dredd (Karl Urban) is the ultimate judge, tasked by the Chief Judge (Rakie Ayola) for evaluating the new recruit Cassandra Anderson (Olivia Thirlby), which is given a chance to pass a failed aptitude test; Thanks to her prestigious psychic abilities. Their task takes place in one of the 200-storey tower block called Peach Trees, where they are locked down by a drug lord Madeline Madrigal a.k.a Ma-Ma (Lena Headey) who kills three of his drug dealers by having them skinned, infused with the Slo-Mo, and thrown down the atrium. The Slo-Mo is some sort of asthma inhaler drug, which slows the perception of time experiencing reality at a fraction of normal speed.
The plot is to take down Ma-Ma by reaching the tenement floor-by-floor to make it to the top. It makes me think of The Raid: Redemption, which is even better action flick. Despite the similarities, it's still an acceptable plot structure.
You wouldn't watch this if it's not because of the gleaming 3D elements. It's just brilliant, makes us realize that 3D is a technical milestone ahead. The violence is gripping, by the time Dredd shoots the bad guys and blood splatters relentlessly. Every action scenes that is fueled by 3D elements is undeniably fun.
Urban is good in acting as a dead-serious character that can crack a few jokes in a straight facial expression. Given his seriousness in character, he maintains a good Christian Bale like persona on a Magneto- like helmet. Olivia Thirlby holds a strong female lead developing a good chemistry with Urban, given the student-mentor persona.
Fortunately, Karl Urban didn't took the helmet off, unlike Sly Stallone from the film Judge Dredd (1995) which didn't got it right. Instead, this new adaptation directed by Pete Travis is a new-improved retread and is simply excellent. Writer Alex Garland bolstered the script with sharpness and witty quips, correcting every mistakes that the film's predecessor made.
Dredd is a mesmerizing 3D action mayhem bolstered with a powerful script, and serves as a correction for the inane Sly Stallone adaptation.
The film is set in the dystopian futuristic United States, where it became an irradiated wasteland called Cursed One. Adjacent to the wall is the metropolitan civilization called Mega-City One where the crimes are inexplicably high. The Judge are the only reinforcements who acts as judge, jury and executioner.
Judge Dredd (Karl Urban) is the ultimate judge, tasked by the Chief Judge (Rakie Ayola) for evaluating the new recruit Cassandra Anderson (Olivia Thirlby), which is given a chance to pass a failed aptitude test; Thanks to her prestigious psychic abilities. Their task takes place in one of the 200-storey tower block called Peach Trees, where they are locked down by a drug lord Madeline Madrigal a.k.a Ma-Ma (Lena Headey) who kills three of his drug dealers by having them skinned, infused with the Slo-Mo, and thrown down the atrium. The Slo-Mo is some sort of asthma inhaler drug, which slows the perception of time experiencing reality at a fraction of normal speed.
The plot is to take down Ma-Ma by reaching the tenement floor-by-floor to make it to the top. It makes me think of The Raid: Redemption, which is even better action flick. Despite the similarities, it's still an acceptable plot structure.
You wouldn't watch this if it's not because of the gleaming 3D elements. It's just brilliant, makes us realize that 3D is a technical milestone ahead. The violence is gripping, by the time Dredd shoots the bad guys and blood splatters relentlessly. Every action scenes that is fueled by 3D elements is undeniably fun.
Urban is good in acting as a dead-serious character that can crack a few jokes in a straight facial expression. Given his seriousness in character, he maintains a good Christian Bale like persona on a Magneto- like helmet. Olivia Thirlby holds a strong female lead developing a good chemistry with Urban, given the student-mentor persona.
Fortunately, Karl Urban didn't took the helmet off, unlike Sly Stallone from the film Judge Dredd (1995) which didn't got it right. Instead, this new adaptation directed by Pete Travis is a new-improved retread and is simply excellent. Writer Alex Garland bolstered the script with sharpness and witty quips, correcting every mistakes that the film's predecessor made.
Dredd is a mesmerizing 3D action mayhem bolstered with a powerful script, and serves as a correction for the inane Sly Stallone adaptation.
"Seven Psychopaths" is another crime-cum-comedy film bolstered with great cast ensemble that develops a strange connection on one another. It is a movie within a movie; it's strange that we can't see another film like this anytime soon. I'm giving it a praise for it is an exercise of lifestyle and self-awareness that whatever you do must rely on things that are motivating.
Colin Farrell is Marty Faranan, a screenwriter who suffers in writer's block. He needs an idea, maybe an inspiration for his screenplay, which is also titled Seven Psychopaths. He has some ideas, but only occurs as a dream sequence. His friend Billy Bickle (Sam Rockwell) is an unemployed actor and part-time dognapper, eagers to help him with his screenplay. Both of this guys is very funny, in a weird way.
Billy's friend Hans Kieslowski (Christopher Walken) is a Jesus-freak man who aids him to kidnap dogs and earn the money as a reward for bringing it back. The reason for this is that his Negroe wife Myra (Linda Bright Clay) is a cancer patient. Whether it's a gimmick crime or for the benefit of his wife, the business is good.
Not for long, a cold-blooded gangster named Charlie (Woody Harrelson) lost his beloved Shih Tzu named Billy. Charlie suspects that it is Hans who stole the dog because he's the man who's returning a kidnapped dog back to the owners. The goose-chase initiates after a suspected Jack the Diamond serial killer executes Charlie's men, and the trio hides somewhere in the Saharan desert where the film will rest for the action. A quite concern is that viewers may find this dull and long.
Here's a film that harness such serious craftsmanship. Any film, which is also about a film takes a good patient and ample timing to deliver the actual goods. In this case, the film is self-aware and knows that it is a movie.
Other supporting actors includes Abbie Cornish as Kaya, Tom Waits as Zachariah Rigby, and Olga Kurylenko as Angela. There's no good and bad with their performance. Although, it could've been enjoyable enough for us to get to know them better, especially Olga's role as Charlie's girlfriend.
It takes long time for the film to reveal its true purpose for the characters. But the director, Martin McDonagh knows how to develop certain slow-burn and whimsy dialogues and gruesome moments for us to enjoy the film enough. However, some may get bored within the second and third act. Just think of it as a Tarantino film, the script is patient but the payoff is irresistible.
Colin Farrell is Marty Faranan, a screenwriter who suffers in writer's block. He needs an idea, maybe an inspiration for his screenplay, which is also titled Seven Psychopaths. He has some ideas, but only occurs as a dream sequence. His friend Billy Bickle (Sam Rockwell) is an unemployed actor and part-time dognapper, eagers to help him with his screenplay. Both of this guys is very funny, in a weird way.
Billy's friend Hans Kieslowski (Christopher Walken) is a Jesus-freak man who aids him to kidnap dogs and earn the money as a reward for bringing it back. The reason for this is that his Negroe wife Myra (Linda Bright Clay) is a cancer patient. Whether it's a gimmick crime or for the benefit of his wife, the business is good.
Not for long, a cold-blooded gangster named Charlie (Woody Harrelson) lost his beloved Shih Tzu named Billy. Charlie suspects that it is Hans who stole the dog because he's the man who's returning a kidnapped dog back to the owners. The goose-chase initiates after a suspected Jack the Diamond serial killer executes Charlie's men, and the trio hides somewhere in the Saharan desert where the film will rest for the action. A quite concern is that viewers may find this dull and long.
Here's a film that harness such serious craftsmanship. Any film, which is also about a film takes a good patient and ample timing to deliver the actual goods. In this case, the film is self-aware and knows that it is a movie.
Other supporting actors includes Abbie Cornish as Kaya, Tom Waits as Zachariah Rigby, and Olga Kurylenko as Angela. There's no good and bad with their performance. Although, it could've been enjoyable enough for us to get to know them better, especially Olga's role as Charlie's girlfriend.
It takes long time for the film to reveal its true purpose for the characters. But the director, Martin McDonagh knows how to develop certain slow-burn and whimsy dialogues and gruesome moments for us to enjoy the film enough. However, some may get bored within the second and third act. Just think of it as a Tarantino film, the script is patient but the payoff is irresistible.