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Sylvester Stallone

Starring: Judge Dredd
Director: Danny Cannon
Genre: Action / Science Fiction
Year: 1995
Rating: 3 / 5

Judge Dredd was ridiculed the moment it debuted, and the criticism has not let up since. Though by no means an Oscar-worthy film, Judge Dredd is an enjoyable diversionary offering, provided the viewer is in the right state of mind. Is the film a vehicle for star Sylvester Stallone? Certainly, but over-the-top cartoon characters like this are well within his range. Is the overall tone rather campy? It sure is, but very few comic book adaptations have been able to reach the big screen without some degree of camp. Judge Dredd is a sci-fi orgy of violence, the kind of film politicians point to when decrying the movie industry, yet there is still a smile on my face whenever I think of it.

The future is bleak, or so the screen tells us as the film opens. The world has gone through a couple wars, and our country has been destroyed in the process. Utter chaos reigned, and a new form of justice was enacted to stop the violence. The populace, huddled in large cities surrounded by desert wasteland, is now policed by Judges, powerful individuals with the authority to enforce justice and dispense punishment. Judge Dredd (Sylvester Stallone) is one such judge, known for his violent ways and strict adherence to the law. His faith in the law is tested, though, when it is turned against him. How can a man who believes that justice is always right come to terms with a system that is out to get him?

Judge Dredd has an a rather impressive cast, led by veterans Max von Sydow (The Exorcist) and Jurgen Prochnow (Das Boot). Though I have never been a huge fan of Prochnow, both men are overqualified for their roles. Armand Assante, cast as chief villain Rico, has the dubious distinction of actually overacting more than Stallone! Assante contorts his face into all sorts of would-be malicious glares, often trying to see if he can force his eyebrows to separate from his face. In his defense, Assante does seem to enjoy his role, and he does serve a purpose in the film. Joan Chen, however, hitting the screen with just about a half hour to go, is utterly wasted as Rico's chief henchman, existing merely to duel with Diane Lane's Judge Hershey.

Director Danny Cannon should be credited with keeping Judge Dredd moving along at a relatively brisk pace. The film, clocking in at just over ninety minutes, does not waste too much time with useless plot elements, although some elements are glossed over rather quickly. I must admit that I have a soft spot for films involving an apocalyptic future, and Judge Dredd certainly fits the bill. Sylvester Stallone should never have left the realm of pure action movies, as films like these allow him to do what he does best. Act? Hardly. Stallone dishes out the hits, offers some witty quips, and manages to save the day. Could we really ask for anything else from this 1980s film star?

Cast:

Certification: Rated R for violence.
Running Time: 95 minutes.

Additional Info: Internet Movie Database
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