Judge Dredd

It's no secret that I'm a fan of Sylvester Stallone's, so I thought I would wrap up my superhero/comic book movie week with one of Sly's more forgotten action films, the 1995 sci fi comic book adaptation Judge Dredd.

In the future, the cops are known as street judges which gives them the right to be cop, judge, and executioner. Judge Dredd, Stallone, is a no nonsense judge, and one of the toughest on the force. A decorated cop who plays by his own rules, Dredd has the highest arrest record in the precinct. Somebody is out to tarnish Dredd's reputation and frames him for a crime he didn't commit. Aided by one of his former arrests, a wisecracking inmate named Fergee, Rob Schneider, Dredd is able to break out and tries to clear his name and get his revenge.

A lot of comic book purists hated this movie because it played up the comedy. This was a problem on set too. Director Danny Cannon wanted to be more faithful to it's origins, but Stallone insisted that it should be more comedic. Stallone also insisted that Dredd would take off his helmet. Something he never did in the comics. The original cut of the film was a lot bloodier as well and earned an NC17 before the studio cut it down to get it to an R rating. I think this why a lot of fans of the comic book prefer the 2012 reboot Dredd because it's much darker and violent.

I actually prefer this one. It's a fun flick. Stallone is good in the title role and is backed by a great cast that includes Diane Lane, Armand Assante, Max von Sydow, Jurgon Prochnow, and Joan Chen. Schneider was kind of the go to guy for wacky sidekicks in action films at this time and is a bit obnoxious. That being said, he's easier to take in this than in one of his starring roles.

I know I'm by myself on this one, but I think Judge Dredd is a fun, sci fi film.

It's available on dvd and blu ray.