Dredd 4K Ultra HD Region Free

I WANT THIS BLU-RAY SO MUCH!!!! Sorry to sound like such a fan boy, but I saw this film 8 times in the cinema, including one very special preview screening where I got to meet Karl Urban, and the original creators of Judge Dredd, Wagner and Ezquerra. I have now bought a 3D TV in readiness for the delivery of this Blu-Ray. Ok, let's put the fan-boy excitement aside for a moment. What has this film got to offer those not familiar with the character of Judge Dredd? The plot of the film is straightforward - set in a future run by a paramilitary police force, two members, a hardened street Judge and a rookie, become trapped in a massive housing block by a ruthless drug lord. They have to use all their wits, training, and luck to survive the day. This simple premise allows for a fantastic character study. Karl Urban plays Judge Dredd, a ruthless, relentless dispenser of justice. The counterbalance to his no-nonsense, kill 'em all demeanour is Judge Anderson. She has failed her academy test, but due to certain abilities useful to the judiciary, she is given a second chance, and placed with Dredd to sit her final test. You see her start green around the gills, and gradually becomes battle hardened throughout the film. She also chips away at Dredd's stony visage, and even though the subsequent shift in his focus is glacial, it's there. It's a good balance, and where the film really succeeds. Also, for any feminists out there, this film passes the Bechdel Test (google it). The simple premise also allows for a fantastic 18 certificate film, harking back to the good old days of Robocop, Total Recall, and Starship Troopers, where excellent storytelling was wrapped up in some seriously bloody visuals. While not neccesarily as OTT as those films, there's no denying Dredd is a violent film. However, in these days of 15 certificate nonsense, where filmakers are desperate to get their output watched by as many as possible, thus diluting any really adult content, it's great to see a return to form - those daring enough to go for a strictly 18+, grown up audience. And it works! The violence is combined with artistry, satire and a very black humour. The 3D element, while it may not be for everyone, is used very well. Certain slow motion sequences, while tied to a very bloody story, are beautiful to watch, and the filmakers have thought very hard about the use of this medium. Does it push the boundaries? Possibly not, but there's no denying a talent for making the most of depth, and finding beauty in the mundane. Definite plus points from me, an advocate of 3D as a veritable visual feast. Dredd 3D was very satisfying in this regard. The film soundtrack is absolutely superb too, a twisted industrial soundscape of beating rhythms and tortured chords. I have had a lot of fun reliving the film purely by listening to such an evocative score. Combined with the sound effects - crunching glass, stomping boots, explosions, gunfire etc etc etc, fans of good audio in cinema will not be disappointed. Dredd's visual feast is accentuated by the aural. Ok, sorry, I have to turn the fan-boy bit back on now: OH MY GOD, KARL URBAN TOTALLY NAILS DREDD!!! Never taking the helmet off (as any 2000AD fan knows, that's how it should be) Urban acts with his body posture and what you can see of his mouth and chin. Such expression, even if it is mostly an angry snarl, contempt, or Dirty Harry style sneers. His voice is gravelly yet authoritarian, and you don't doubt this man is totally in control of his environment. This is Judge Dredd! To summarise, this is a great film for anyone who enjoyed the 80's sci-fi flicks of yesteryear, or pretty much anything by John Carpenter. It's also great for anyone who loves strong female lead characters. If you like your action futuristic, bloody and (dare I say it) intelligent, this is the film for you. And finally, if you have ever read 2000AD or any Judge Dredd comic strip BUY THIS BLU-RAY IMMEDIATELY!!!

I just saw this movie and can only say that it's probably one of the best action films i have ever seen - it's certainly the best since the Bourne films. Having read some off putting reviews I decided to go with it anyway. To be fair the negative reviews seemed to focus mainly on the DVD quality which i why i went for the none blu-ray/3D, the quality of which was excellent. First off, if this is a budget film i see no evidence of lack of cash being spent on visuals. Present day street scenes have been used but they look superb, and why not use them? For the look of this particular film the locations and sets are spectacularly gritty. Almost Matrix beating. There are no super space-age shiny uniforms as per the Stallone version. Everything is functional and fits in with this devastated and socially diseased vision of earth. Characters are believable. Karl Urban does for Dredd what Val Kilmer did for Jim Morrison, or what Johnny Depp did for Hunter S Thompson - he IS Dredd! In fact there are no characters that seem out of place here. I particularly enjoyed the portrayal of Ma Ma, gang leader of the Ma Ma clan. This is someone who is a product of Mega City One - corrupted, twisted and scarred by her environment, and have no doubt that this is a sick place. Effects are stunning with the best of being focused around the use of 'Slow-mo', the brand new drug of choice. What i love here is the use of some practical effects. Use of blood and gore goes straight to 11. Judge's weapons are beautifully crafted yet fairly understated. They look like they would actually work. Again, with the budget i fail to see where film makers have been frugal. A lot of reviews point out the anti-climax with Ma Ma ..blah blah blah. Those people fail to understand what life as a Judge in Mega City One is all about. In my opinion this film IS simply a day in the life of a Mega City judge, albeit possibly the hardest Judge of all. This film is not trying to be pretty or to please all. It's an introduction to show what could be possible if somehow a wider audience could be met. Unfortunately the downside with Dredd is that it's likely to become a cult movie because it won't appeal to the main stream. To me that means 'no follow up'. And that is gutting. I just wish that sequels could be made. So much could be done with this world. The stories and characters are already there. Ground has been laid with this first fantastic film. My only advise is that if you appreciate what is going on here you should sell it to others. I don't think Dredd is dead just yet!

Anyone who remembers the first time they bought Judge Dredd to the big screen will know what a train wreck it was. The makers of that film misunderstood what character Dredd was and gave us a film where he takes his helmet off, wisecracks and gets the girl at the end. They didn't capture the grim crime-ridden cesspool that was Mega City One and they gave us comedic relief in the form of Rob Schneider. Thad film was a mash-up of poor action, poor scripting, muddled plot and a complete lack of grit. I don't think it was Sylvester Stallone's fault - he wasn't the right choice for the role. I suspect that a vast number of the people who saw the 90's Dredd may have been put of a new interpretation of the Lawman based on that film. And it's no wonder as the film not only alienated fans of the comic but it also made for a mediocre experience for newcomers. This time we were promised a grittier and more serious take on the material. Dredd would be an uncompromising force waging war on the criminal underbelly of Mega City One. And that's basically what we got. We see Dredd in action pretty much right from the start when a small gang of criminals are driving erratically through traffic whilst under the influence of Slo-Mo - a new drug that lets it users experience a state of euphoria for a few minutes where even the passage of time to have slowed down dramatically for those under the influence. This is the new drug of Mega city One. And so begins what is essentially a day in the life of Mega City One's toughest and most dedicated law man. He is partnered up with a new rookie Judge called Anderson, whom despite having failed her Judges entry exam she is deemed worthy of a final practical assessment due to her strong psychic abilities. As Mega City One is so rife with crime that the Judges cannot respond to every incident they must use their judgement to choose the most serious crime to respond to. Having picked a triple homicide at one of the Mega City Blocks which is run by a crime lord called Ma Ma we get to see the pair in action up against all manner of criminal low lifes who live in the block. After a quick drugs bust on an apartment they find one whom Anderson thinks had a hand in the grisly triple homicide and Dredd decides he needs to be taken in for questioning. It is implied that the questioning process will get answers from him. As they leave the building is placed on complete lockdown, trapping the judges with their suspect inside the block. With no way in or out its a tense fight for survival between the Judges and a small city sized block rife with criminals. Dredd is a very gritty film. The violence levels are almost off the scale (it's comparable to Stallones 2008 Rambo film). The film gives us a visual glimpse of what Slo-Mo users experience leading to one exceptionally graphic gunfight between drug users and the Judges. The films creators have gone a long way to demonstrate how peoples skin and bodies reacts to the impact of gunshots and explosions which may or may not put off a few people. There is also a very high level of implied violence where a vicious act is described and we get a brief bloody flash of it, which makes the film feel even more bloody and violent than it already is. If you're cool with the idea that it's just entertainment and special effects then you'll be okay watching Dredd. The plot of the film is pretty straightforward, with no real surprises or unexpected twists. That suits the film well as it is a character driven story and the main point is that you want to see the Judges in action, not solving some conflicting personal dilemma. Karl Urban gives us the Dredd we should have on-screen. A single minded and dedicated dispenser of justice. There are no shades of grey with Dredd - You're either innocent or guilty and if you're the latter then he's the man to deal with it. He's been doing his job for many years and he's seen it all. We get no character development with Dredd, and nor should we. You can't portray someone who is essentially a single minded hammer of justice as indecisive or prone to whims or compassion. Stallone's take on Dredd started off meaning well but later tried to make him more and more human as the film went on. Karl Urban plays him like Clint Eastwood in one of his early Sergio Leone films, with a gravely, rasping voice to match. And he never takes his helmet off. Judge Anderson is the opposite Dredd's personality. Although she understands the ideal that Dredd personifies in a crime ridden city, she is younger, less experienced and more compassionate. It is through her that we get an introduction to the lives of Judges by being thrown in at the deep end with her. Dredds vast experience gives him an unflinching and emotionless process of decision making when it comes to justice; and no matter how great a character he is I think the film would be less interesting if it just concentrated on him. The character development is wisely focused on the doe eyed Anderson and Olivia Thirlby plays it perfectly. Lena Headey plays the crime lord Ma Ma, an ex-prostitute with a scarred face who has ruthlessly murdered her way to the top of the criminal pile in the block. There is no vanity or Bond Villain genius to this character. Only greed and a similar single minded ruthlessness to Dredds when it comes to decision making. She is where she is because she is always willing to do what's necessary to show who's in charge. Dredd is not a complicated film by any means, but the simplistic plot serves as a perfect vehicle to not only introduce us to the word, but also to give us a quick and effective storyline for plenty of gory action. The gritty, urban setting shows us how far society has fallen with most of the population living in giant slum-like tower blocks. There are too few Judges to deal with the crime and the criminals are more akin to Mexican Cartels than Italian Mafioso, which is why the cold and calculated violent justice that Dredd dispenses never seems to be too far out of place. He is simply the unstoppable and incorruptible force that at times feels absolutely necessary for dealing with the vermin in the city. If you like action films and don't mind plenty of gore then give it a shot - you won't be disappointed. This film is low on one liners, high on adrenaline and doesn't have a dull moment in it. A perfect balance of simple plot and loads of gunfire in the name of entertainment. I've heard talk of this film being very similar to the Indonesian action film The Raid: Redemption. Whilst the plots are remarkably similar, both films feel very different. The Raid has a lot more action and fighting, whilst Dredd is a lot more gorier. It's worth watching the two as they are both fine films but I can't see one being a direct rip off of the other. If you want to make comparisons then another film about someone getting stuck in a building full of criminals is Die Hard, and even that will have it influences in earlier films.

For the uninitiated [just in case they're reading this]. Dredd is another comic book movie. Based on Judge Dredd. Long running star of long running British science fiction comic 2000AD. Set in a future America which has been mostly destroyed by nuclear war, it takes place in Mega City one. A huge urban conurbation that takes in most of the east coast. Residents of the city live in city blocks. Gigantic skyscrapers which contain absolutely everything you could ever need. And you can live your entire life in one without needing to go outside. Mega City one is a crime ridden and violent place. All that keeps order [such as it is] are the Judges. The law of the future. Judge, jury, and executioner, all rolled into one. Best of them all is Judge Dredd. tough but fair. A man of few words but very good with one liners. He is the law. And you never see him take his helmet off. He's an embodiment of faceless justice. Dredd appeared on screen once before, in the mid 1990's Slyvester Stallone version. Which didn't quite meet with universal approval. Many were hoping he'd get another go on the big screen ever since. And then it finally happened. Thus this is a fresh cinematic take on the character, with no tie in whatsoever to that earlier version. Dredd in this version is played by Karl Urban. Who isn't seen taking his helmet off. The film, like any that tries to start a franchise, is an introduction to the character and their world. Such films show viewers the character and their setting. Give you their origin story. And give them an adventure as well. But since this film summaries all you need to know about Dredd's origin in a brief bit of opening exposition, it is thus a faster and pacier piece of work than many would be franchise starters, since it can get right on with the action. Dredd, after taking down some gun wielding dangerous drivers who happen to be high on drugs, is assigned by the chief of his department, to assess a rookie Judge's capability. Said judge is Cassandra Anderson [Olivia Thirlby] who happens to also be a powerful telepath. The two investigate a murder in Peachtrees city block. Which is ruled over by Ma-Ma [Lena Headey] a very viscious gang leader. Whose gang are responsible for producing Slo-Mo. The drug that the dangerous drivers happened to be high on. But when things go wrong, the two judges find themselves trapped in the block. With no help on the way. And with a suspect to take into custody. But with lots of viscious killers out to get them. Can justice prevail? This wasn't the biggest budgeted movie ever, but it gets around that by presenting a more near future look to the setting than the comic. Whilst most of the costumes and vehicles are almost the kind of thing you would see today, this approach does work fine. Particularly as all the action sequences and motorbike scenes are done for real without anything in the way of visual effects. It is also one of the most violent and graphically so movies you will ever see, and is thus an eighteen certificate. But it's never gratuitious. All this just shows you what a harsh and dangerous place the city is, and what the judges are up against. Karl Urban captures his character perfectly. There are moments when comic book fans will probably grin with delight simply because this really is Dredd as you've always imagined him being done visually. Olivia Thirlby presents a spot on version of Anderson also, even though this a younger version of the character to what you might be used to. As an action movie this has some pretty decent set pieces that should keep fans of that genre happy. Any similarities between it and The Raid [DVD ] aren't much, and purely coincidental. It aims to show just one ordinary day in the life of Judge Dredd. It does exactly that. It should keep fans of the comic very happy. And action movie lovers might just be hooked also. The dvd has the following language and subtitle options: Languages: English. Subtitles: English. The disc begins with no trailers whatsover. Just a short copyright message. You can't skip past it, but it doesn't last very long. There may appear to be a lot of extras at first glance, but they are all very short featurettes. Dredd: 2000AD the original. Slo mo. Dredd's gear. Welcome to Peachtrees. Dredd. The third dimension. All of these cover what their titles say, and none last more than two to three minutes. But are okay for what they are. The interview section gives interviews with the four main cast members, the scriptwriter along with Judge Dredd creator John Wagner, the director, two of the producers, and the cinematographer. These can be watched individually or all in a row. None lasts for more than five minutes. Some only one or two minutes. And all contain very short soundbites. But some are okay. In particular the one with John Wagner in it. There's also a section of previews, which contains eight trailers for totally unrelated movies. Which can also be watched individually. Or all in a row. An ok dvd. A very good movie. Especially if you're a fan of the character from the printed page. Alas, poor international performance of the film has probably killed off any chance of a sequel. But Dredd did in the end get the movie that he deserves.

I just finally got the 3D blu ray of Dredd, how did this slip the radar..I hated the Stallone version, Urbans version here is superb keeping to the original 2000ad roots ,with amazing visual effects that if you watch in 3D it must be incredible, but the disc is both 3D and 2D , I only had 2D system but still looks visually amazing.. fantastic story almost entirely set in mega block full of crime and despair waiting to be cleaned up...check out that lawgiver, amazing...if you like SF action, madmax,wick,transporter ...don't miss this!

This is one of my all-time favourite movies as well as comic book movie, and it makes me sad that the film made so little at the box office when it first came out, and so wasn't getting a sequel. (which later managed to more than break even with blu-ray sales that skyrocketed this film into, what they call a cult favourite ) it's like, this generations robocop (the original) and lethal weapon mixed with sci-fi and their own version of 'mutants'. I've told everyone I know to check this film out and as of now I have yet to hear someone say they didn't love it (not like....LOVE) The film is based on the original comics of Judge Dredd, set in a futuristic america that has become a wasteland over run by drugs and crime, where police officers are now judges, no court trails, just 3 options for said suspect to adhere to or choose and are able to execute under certain acts. Judge, Jury and Executioner. Judge Dredd is the best there is, and now he has to take a rookie ( Anderson, who also has psychic powers) out for training to pass a test to become a judge, which lead them both into coming into contact with Ma Ma (played by the outstanding Lena Headey from Game of Thrones), and her gang who is the 'villain' of the piece, after soughting out a homicide. Ma Ma is responsible for distributing out a slo-mo drug, which slows down time for the user x300, and this is where the film really elevates itself into a stunning piece, the effects in this film are incredible with almost 45 minutes of the film shot in a high speed camera (ie. Slow-motion), all the drug shots alone are worth drooling over and the cinematography is absolutely stunning. ( done by the incredible Anthony Mantle!) Karl Urban rocks it as Dredd, and God bless the filmmakers for keeping his helmet on! Olivia Thirlby shows great chemistry with Urban and plays Anderson fantastically, but for me the scene stealer was Lena Headey as Ma Ma from the moment you first see her, her presence is always there even when shes not on screen, and the film shows exactly why everyone in Peachtrees is terrified of her, and Lena plays evil so damn well. The great thing is this film doesn't rely on dialougue, you could watch the film on mute and you'd still know everything that's going on, no exposition with characters explaining unnecessary things, and showing never telling makes this film not only awesome, but an extremely well put together film too. Definately recommended, if you havn't watched it yet this movie is a must-see and hopefully one day it will get a sequel!

When I watched the Sly Stallone travesty that was Judge Dredd, it made me almost embarrassed to remember buying the first ever 2000AD with its frisbee (wish I still had that in pristine condition now!). It was an appalling Hollywood shambles and I struggled to watch past the "double whammy" scene. Taking his helmet off just made me realise how little they cared about the legacy surrounding the longest running comic strip of all time. I - to my shame - was unaware that there was a new film version of it until, less than a week ago, Amazon popped up with a "suggestion" that I might like this when it was released. Damned right I would! Some serious Googleing later and I was saddened to hear it had done so poorly in the box office, but cheered by how true to its roots it appeared to be. I loved the fact that it was dark, gritty and violent...just like the comic. So I ordered it. I've got to do my bit for the hopes of a sequel. I just hope they advertise it better if they do, because its a tragedy that this was not better known about. Anyway, it arrived today as promised and I put it straight into the blu ray. I've got a 46" Samsung (one of the latest greatest versions) and a matching 3D blu ray player and I can happily say its awesome. Clarity is as you would expect with Blu Ray (that "I seem to have wandered into the shoot" feel you get from it being too "real"), but the gritty darkness makes it feel more real than the usual blu rays. A bit like Chronicles of Riddick. I checked the "extras" and they consist of some interviews (1/2 an hour worth) and some videos discussing various aspects of the film. None of them are particularly incredible, but then I dont normally look twice at things like this, but did on this film as I'm such a fanboy. Oh and there is no DVD version or digital download in this pack. On to the film and I wont go into the plot much at all as I dont want to ruin it. For budgetary reasons, its location is predominantly in a "block" which is like a city within a city, with limited outside action. The "sci fi" gizmo's and the "futuristic" gadgets are in short supply. Dont expect to see hover cars and the huge weirdness that is Mega City One. You get a taste but little more. The low budget however makes them concentrate on the plot and the characters...and the violence. I can quite comfortably say that Karl has nailed Dredd. I was worried before as he never said he was a fan or even knew who Dredd was in the interviews, but he got him in the film. This film is what I had hoped that the Sly travesty would have been. Yes its low budget. Yes its violent. Yes its imperfect. But, by grud is it ever Dredd! I felt like the kid from all those years ago (I had progs 1 - 387 before my mother made me throw them away :( ), as I watched this. This is the "real" Jo Dredd. I really hope the dvd and blu ray sales rocket and make this the sleeper hit that it so deserves to be. Yes, I'm an utter fan boy, but I'm also a critic. Judge Dredd was rubbish (sadly), Dredd was not. Brutal, darkly humerous and with some stunning 3D, slo mo scenes, I'm off to watch it again straight away. To me, its that good. Judge Anderson was ace too. Just how I recall her...though I remember her as hotter (no offense, I was a pre-pubescent teen!). The perps are the sort of doomed scum bags I used to read about all those decades ago. Full of bluster and armed to the teeth but you just "know" they are toast. Karl is Old Stoney Face. He is the Law and I hope not for the last time, because with more cash and - for instance - the Dark Judges or The Cursed Earth, this could run and run. If you're a fan, buy it. If you're not, but love gritty, violent, darkly humerous "realistic" sci-fi, which dares to stick to its guns and ignore the demands of Hollywood, then see it...not once, but several times. Update: I've watched it 2 1/2 times now. I would say that - as mentioned above - the HD picture does look a bit grainy in some darkened places and the 3D was certainly muted. This helped it in my opinion, though I can see how it might annoy others. To my mind, HD tends to make movies look fake. I found the grainy feel worked well and made it look rougher and more edgy. I did wish the 3D worked better at times, but I assumed this was budget. Another negative was the "extras". They were little more than you can see on Youtube, which is a shame. But I guess again you get what you pay for and after it doing so poorly in cinemas, they must have just thrown this out and hoped. Hopefully there will be a second film in the future, because this just wasn't long enough.

Jonathan Fisher I sent this letter to Tharg - however it was not printed...maybe it got lost in his inbox... Oh mighty Tharg - I salute you once more, my intergalactic liege overlord, Betelgeusian brainiac from beyond the stars! After seeing Dredd 3D five times, I feel I can write about it now, after setting my thrill buffers to maximum capacity. I will see it again next week for an additional thrill fix. It is now my all time favorite science fiction film. Dredd 3D has sucked me totally in, it's not a movie - it is Dredd's world. Gritty. Grim. Gory, with plot driven violence throughout the movie. The cinematography a is myriad, beautiful 3D masterpiece. I have never been a fan of Marvel comics and their film adaptations. With spandex clad heroes, and even more dubious villains, they seem rather for the "lovers of musical theatre" out there...not so Dredd. Marvel comics are pure drivel, Marvel filth. They have got no plot! Let us talk about the villain, Mama firstly. Drug lord of Slo-mo, I do not see her scars as being ugly, rather as a reflection of the "meat grinder" society that Mega-City 1 has become. Being an addict, and being addicted to a substance are two different things, so we can empathize with Mama. But not totally, she is a "common criminal under the sentence of death". The scene were she is inhaling slo-mo in her bath of synthi-milk, reminded me of Queen Cleopatra. The bath water kaleidoscope in third dimension illusion effect was so vivid, and realistic. Both Mama and Cleopatra had various minions and cronies, and were very beautiful and powerful women. Now Anderson, "she's a mutant." As Dredd said, snarling his lip up in obvious disgust at her status. The rookie goes on patrol and his involved all the way through the "drug bust." When the Chief Judge asks Anderson to scan the room, she says, "Another Judge...I sense anger and control but behind the control there is something, else...almost...". The Chief Judge cuts her off. Later on there is a scene that alludes to this. Is there some else behind the legend of Dredd? Dredd get's injured - perhaps mortally! And he gets patched up with a "Basic field dressing!" After all, he is the law! Dredd's dialogue was sharp as a razor. From brilliant one liners, just a few examples of the law man in action, "Perps have just taken down an innocent, I am taking them out!" In this scene Dredd is in pursuit of the law breakers in a van. Dredd is on his lawmaster motor cycle, the perps who are under the influence of the drug slo-mo. They crush the body of the citizen, splattering his skull open. Visually visceral this movie will hold you by the round spherical objects in a vice like grip! Like Dredd said, "choke on this!" When Dredd himself dispenses justice, there is a human quality in his judgement. He always gives the perps one last chance. Be it simply "what's it to be kids, juve cubes or body bags?" Or simply the no tolerance mass standard executions of the drug den. I read the review of one guy a sci - fi website saying he did not like the 3D blood effects! I thought the gore, the filth and the beauty of the splatter fest was so real life and intense you were actually in the movie! The sound effects and the soundtrack was excellent also. You will notice I have not used any actors names in this review. For this earthlet who has followed Dredd all his life, this is Judge Dredd. He is the law, and you had better believe it baby! May you all continue to excel! Jonathan Fisher is the author of August Always.