journal features

movie review - Dredd

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-eight years and a million words

Tokyo, 2016.05.23

I wanted an action flick, and this appeared on a streaming service. It's about a "judge" in a Crap Sack dystopian future (is there any other kind, 21st Century?) who uses the awesome powers of Lawful Stupid to judge, sentence, and execute on the spot. The starring actor never once shows his face as he's wearing a helmet. He also never veers from his Lawful Stupid agenda, except finally when he must make a call to judge his rookie partner (awwww).

The story's quite straightforward. There is non-stop gunfire in the siege of a massive apartment complex that's been taken over by an implausible drug-dealing gang with limitless mooks to throw at the judge and his telepath rookie partner (played by a young lady far too comely to hide behind a helmet). I have to say that it is both well made and not entirely stupid. I was in fact happily surprised that it avoided the sort of '80s over the top excess and also the '90s-naughties "Grimdark". The world-building is clever, avoiding exposition but letting it be clear that this is a world without hope, clinging to "order" to survive.

I enjoyed it, it hit the right note.

Recommended.

rand()m quote

Naturally the common people don't want war: Neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.

—Hermann Goering