I’ve been a fan of the Judge Dredd comics from way back – my first exposure was in the old Eagle comics reprints here in the U.S. – and I even had the RPG and a board game in my possession back in the day. This September comes a new Judge Dredd flick (we won’t even discuss the Stallone movie…) focusing less on the satire of the original comic and more on what appears to be a much more gritty and realistic take on Mega City One and the judges tasked with upholding the law. Rumor has it, as in the comic, we’ll never see Joe Dredd’s face as he doesn’t remove his judge’s helmet – something I’m very glad to hear as that’s one of the iconic aspects of the character!
The future America is an irradiated waste land. On its East Coast, running from Boston to Washington DC, lies Mega City One- a vast, violent metropolis where criminals rule the chaotic streets. The only force of order lies with the urban cops called “Judges” who possess the combined powers of judge, jury and instant executioner. Known and feared throughout the city, Dredd (Karl Urban) is the ultimate Judge, challenged with ridding the city of its latest scourge — a dangerous drug epidemic that has users of “Slo-Mo” experiencing reality at a fraction of its normal speed.
During a routine day on the job, Dredd is assigned to train and evaluate Cassandra Anderson (Olivia Thirlby), a rookie with powerful psychic abilities thanks to a genetic mutation. A heinous crime calls them to a neighborhood where fellow Judges rarely dare to venture- a 200 story vertical slum controlled by prostitute turned drug lord Ma-Ma (Lena Headey) and her ruthless clan. When they capture one of the clan’s inner circle, Ma-Ma overtakes the compound’s control center and wages a dirty, vicious war against the Judges that proves she will stop at nothing to protect her empire. With the body count climbing and no way out, Dredd and Anderson must confront the odds and engage in the relentless battle for their survival.
Here’s the all new trailer for you to “judge” for yourself if the movie looks like its worth the price of admission…