DREDD takes place in a futuristic, war-torn city full of gangs, drug cartels and slums. In response to the frequent violence, the city’s law enforcement saw changes, leading to the formation of Judges. These individuals are the equivalent to present-day judges, jury, officers and executioners; all in one. DREDD follows one Judge in particular, Judge Dredd. While content in regards to storyline is slim, the movie makes up for this with plenty of action and special effects. Despite the movie’s grimy settings, it also looks quite nice visually.
The movie begins with Judge Dredd responding to a call from HQ; a high-speed chase involving machinegun fire, car crashes and numerous deaths followed. Soon after, the main character is forced to take a mutant, or physic, rookie out for a day on the job in order to determine if she becomes a full Judge or not. This is when the real story within DREDD begins and the pair respond to the next call.After obtaining a man who possessed essential information regarding a major drug operation in the city, Judge Dredd and his rookie companion are trapped within a two-hundred story apartment complex filled with thousands of residents and almost as many gang members. Plenty of shootouts and adrenaline-filled scenes follow, eventually leading to the climax of the story where several dirty, or traitorous Judges are eliminated and the gang leader is killed. The rookie even manages to pass her test, therefore becoming an official Judge.It surprised me how lacking DREDD was in plot and story, but I suppose it was never meant to add to Judge Dredd’s character or already-established bank of history and information. Even so, it’s disappointing, but not enough to ruin the action scenes that make this movie stand out. Overall, if you’re looking for something exciting to watch for an hour or two, I might just recommend DREDD to you, or its 3D variant.