JUDGE DREDD (1995):

JUDGE DREDD (1995):

“In a dystopian future, Joseph Dredd, the most famous Judge (a police officer with instant field judiciary powers), is convicted for a crime he did not commit and must face his murderous counterpart.”

I totally forgot Rob Schneider was in this as a geeky hacker. Anyway, in the future, people live in oppressive cramped Mega Cities ruled by ruthless law enforcement called “Judges”. After stopping a “block war” in an exciting opening scene that shows off Dredd's “multi-purpose ammunition” (missiles, rapid fire, flare gun, grenade etc.) the movie slows to a crawl as Dredd is accused of a crime using DNA evidence.

Later, Rob Schneider's character and Dredd get shot down in a prison plane. They're kidnapped by cannibal cyborg yokels. This is just good action movie fun. After that, they escape and one of the Judges that sentenced Dredd tells him he's a clone. And also he has a brother, who was his ex-partner. He's also got a reprogrammed war robot. Pretty cool.

Dredd's psychotic clone/brother Rico (who looks nothing like Dredd.) plotted a revolution against the Judges, so he sentenced him. Now, Rico is trying to start a new generation of Judges that obey him, and his DNA (except it's also Dredd's...so how's that work?) If you can turn your brain off, it's a good pew-pew action movie.

Honestly, some of the technobabble hasn't aged well. Dredd gets most things to work by hitting them. Also, I just don't see how Rico's plan was bad, since they established that Judges are ruthless and corrupt. Don't think too hard on it, and it's fun. You just can't help but giggle when Judge Dredd shouts about the “LAW!” Overall, I'd say watch it with some snacks, don't expect it to make sense, and you'll have a good time.

DREDD (2012):

DREDD (2012):

“In a violent, futuristic city where the police have the authority to act as judge, jury and executioner, a cop teams with a trainee to take down a gang that deals the reality-altering drug, SLO-MO.”

Well, this one starts off strong with a chase scene. But, Karl Urban needs to work on hiding his New Zealand accent. He still pronounces “America” as “Ameriker” in the first scene. Karl Urban plays Judge Dredd this time. He does okay. The Judges are executioner cops in the post-apocalyptic Mega-city. They have cool weapons, and don't hesitate to use them. One of the first guy's heads explodes with an explosive shot.

After that, we find out one of the guys was on a futuristic drug called slo-mo. Slo-mo is distributed by Mama (Played by Lena Headey.) Because she owns this part of the Mega-city, she covers it in metal, and no one can get out. A bounty is put on Dredd and his psychic partner's head.

Luckily, the psychic partner can find out where Mama is. The rest of the movie is a story of betrayal (But, not by the partner.) and a bloody shootout. There's a surprise for Mama. It's an ok movie. Especially a good intro with the chase scene. But, it did just make me want to watch the original 1995 movie. I'd say give this one a watch if you have time.