Judge Dredd (1995)
March 12, 2025 7:34 PM - Subscribe
In a dystopian future, Dredd, the most famous judge (a cop with instant field judiciary powers) is convicted for a crime he did not commit while his murderous counterpart escapes.
No, not that other Judge Dredd movie, this is the one with Stallone.
No, not that other Judge Dredd movie, this is the one with Stallone.
I was genuinely shocked to see Dredd lose his helmet. I did enjoy seeing him mocked as "Mister I-Am-Da-Law."
posted by SPrintF at 9:08 PM on March 12 [2 favorites]
posted by SPrintF at 9:08 PM on March 12 [2 favorites]
Judge Dredd got Diane Lane as Judge Hershey.
Dredd got Olivia Thirlby as Anderson.
Judge Dredd got Max von Sydow.
But yeah, Lena Heady does a better villain in Dredd than the clone/brother-that-doesn't-look-like-a-clone-of-Dredd in Judge Dredd.
posted by porpoise at 12:20 AM on March 13 [1 favorite]
Dredd got Olivia Thirlby as Anderson.
Judge Dredd got Max von Sydow.
But yeah, Lena Heady does a better villain in Dredd than the clone/brother-that-doesn't-look-like-a-clone-of-Dredd in Judge Dredd.
posted by porpoise at 12:20 AM on March 13 [1 favorite]
If I am remembering correctly, director Danny Cannon has said that he really worked hard to give the studio the movie he promised and that they and Stallone asked for... he did that, it didn't work, then when it wasn't a hit, they all kept chugging along and he ended up taking all the blame.
I'm sure he made some mistakes, but there were a lot of hands on this project but mostly just the one scapegoat.
That Cannon ended up as a prolific TV director seems to back his story up at least a little, as it indicates he is seen as someone who can give you what you ask for, on time and on budget, keeping everyone happy as he does so.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:20 AM on March 13 [4 favorites]
I'm sure he made some mistakes, but there were a lot of hands on this project but mostly just the one scapegoat.
That Cannon ended up as a prolific TV director seems to back his story up at least a little, as it indicates he is seen as someone who can give you what you ask for, on time and on budget, keeping everyone happy as he does so.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:20 AM on March 13 [4 favorites]
I went into this film with only a small bit of working knowledge on who the character was, but I knew enough that the helmet coming off was not...right. I didn't mind Schneider. He was bearable in Demolition Man, granted a much smaller role. I don't think I've seen this film since it was released but I want to say the effects were pretty good? It was a comic book adaptation that was earnest enough that beyond the helmet removal, things didn't feel campy or ridiculous.
posted by Atreides at 7:35 AM on March 13
posted by Atreides at 7:35 AM on March 13
I saw this in a double bill with Robocop. This played, and I kid you not, the film split just after Stallone decided we needed to see his face. Smashed the projector bulb into the bargain. So we had to trout to the second screen next door and asked "so, shall we just move on to Robocop?"
We cheered our approval.
posted by ewan at 9:56 AM on March 13 [1 favorite]
We cheered our approval.
posted by ewan at 9:56 AM on March 13 [1 favorite]
Helmet removal aside, he kissed Hershey! WTF is that about?
Some stuff works, repurposing Hammerstein was good fan service. The faulty flying bikes are canonical too. The city block is done well. The focus on law over justice. Obviously Schneider is shite.
Demolition Man is easily the better film.
posted by biffa at 10:52 AM on March 13 [1 favorite]
Some stuff works, repurposing Hammerstein was good fan service. The faulty flying bikes are canonical too. The city block is done well. The focus on law over justice. Obviously Schneider is shite.
Demolition Man is easily the better film.
posted by biffa at 10:52 AM on March 13 [1 favorite]
If I am remembering correctly, director Danny Cannon has said that he really worked hard to give the studio the movie he promised and that they and Stallone asked for... he did that, it didn't work, then when it wasn't a hit, they all kept chugging along and he ended up taking all the blame.
Yeah, I gather that studio/star interference was a kind of an issue here - nobody really agreed on how they wanted the film to end up, and I think it kind of shows in the results. A funny buddy cop movie? Can do! A grimy dystopia? Sure thing! Both at the same time? Maybe that needed to be planned out that way from the start. I mean, Robocop and Demolition Man and Total Recall showed that you could thread that needle if you were careful.
But yeah, I couldn't shake it - it was like _somebody_ figured that if you paired up Sly with an attractive brunette costar and a funny sidekick (although I think Bullock really filled both roles in DM) and bring back a threat from Sly's character's past (who has been locked up in jail all this time!), bingo bango, Hollywood gold!
And I mean, it was fine, it didn't make me regret hitting play, it was that interesting era of special effects where CGI could just make some things easier, they didn't do _everything_ in the computer yet, so you had practical effects alongside computer generated effects, good times all around.
posted by Kyol at 11:53 AM on March 13 [1 favorite]
Yeah, I gather that studio/star interference was a kind of an issue here - nobody really agreed on how they wanted the film to end up, and I think it kind of shows in the results. A funny buddy cop movie? Can do! A grimy dystopia? Sure thing! Both at the same time? Maybe that needed to be planned out that way from the start. I mean, Robocop and Demolition Man and Total Recall showed that you could thread that needle if you were careful.
But yeah, I couldn't shake it - it was like _somebody_ figured that if you paired up Sly with an attractive brunette costar and a funny sidekick (although I think Bullock really filled both roles in DM) and bring back a threat from Sly's character's past (who has been locked up in jail all this time!), bingo bango, Hollywood gold!
And I mean, it was fine, it didn't make me regret hitting play, it was that interesting era of special effects where CGI could just make some things easier, they didn't do _everything_ in the computer yet, so you had practical effects alongside computer generated effects, good times all around.
posted by Kyol at 11:53 AM on March 13 [1 favorite]
The only part that I remember about this is Max von Sydow's character going into exile, and somehow that moment far outshining anything else in the film (including anything that Stallone's Dredd does with helmet on or off). von Sydow seems to have that talent.
posted by Halloween Jack at 9:27 PM on March 13 [1 favorite]
posted by Halloween Jack at 9:27 PM on March 13 [1 favorite]
I have to give this movie credit, the costuming and props looked exactly like the comic book versions. The massive shoulderpads, the 2-lane-wide Lawmasters, the ABC Warrior, all spot on recreations.
posted by WhackyparseThis at 3:30 AM on March 14
posted by WhackyparseThis at 3:30 AM on March 14
I think this movie is largely garbage. But I agree it reeks of studio intervention and id add that it has a star known for being overly controlling. For me this one is not entertaining on any level. Boring at best.
posted by Ashwagandha at 6:35 AM on March 14
posted by Ashwagandha at 6:35 AM on March 14
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And it wasn't Rob Schneider.
posted by Kyol at 7:39 PM on March 12 [3 favorites]