Яeverse Review from a Different Dimension: DREDD

A quick throwback review from one of my favourite films of last year – DREDD! This is the prequel to Christopher Nolan’s critically acclaimed “Dark Knight” series. Although very different visually, it’s narrative stays dark and serious much like the original trilogy.

Actor Karl Urban plays Batman’s great grandfather - Kenneth Wayne. The story follows a young Kenneth Wayne trying to earn his superhero license. Unfortunately for our young hero, he has no powers and soon becomes the joke of his fellow superhero trainees consisting of Nacho Libre, Mr. Incredible, Blankman, The Blue Raja and their leader The Shoveler.

Determined to prove his worth as a superhero, Kenneth decides to tackle the city’s largest drug organization head-on, under the name DREDD. With sheer dumb luck and a gun, DREDD turns from superhero nerd, to Scarface vigilante in the space of 90 minutes. After assassinating the leaders of the organization, Kenneth realises how much money they were generating and decides to become the kingpin of the drug ring. With his new found drug money, the film concludes with, Kenneth dropping his DREDD persona and hopes of becoming a hero and begins to launder his money with businesses he brought around town - and thus begins the story of Wayne’s family fortune.        

Visually, very interesting and compelling. Usually film adaptations never live up to the standard of the comic world I’m used to, but cameos such as The Shoveler and The Blue Raja, really made the DC cinematic universe that much more believable. But what you’re going to love the most about this film, is the pace of the story - It hangs around for no one! DREDD has one aim, one goal and that’s to gain respect! We’ve seen this type of story many-a-time in Hollywood blockbusters, but what makes DREDD stand out from the rest, is that he realises he deserves more than respect – he deserves to be feared; which is something he’s not going to accomplish as a hero.  

The only real disappointing factor about the film was the heavily use of CGI. Never been a fan of it and doubt I ever will. The entire city is a CGI creation, and every time I see this done in a production, I can’t help but feel the location scouts got lazy hallway through their search and just settled for the studio two floors above their office. The lack of character development was a big problem for most fans, but when you have a scene that involves a man being forced to eat his own beard, I really couldn’t care less!

All-in-all, DREDD is an action packed, straight to the point, no nonsense-bullshit, popcorn flick! If you want to be thoroughly entertained and not worry about an overthought script, this is your film. Grab some popcorn and check it out on Netflix!

- Tommy Von Yinkelsbierg signing out!