The best action sci-fi flicks have a (relatively) original concept that they utilise to the max. Terminator had time-travelling cyborg killers, Star Wars had 'the Force', the Avengers movies their movie-spanning arcs, Aliens/Predator their unique antagonists, Edge of Tomorrow the 'Groundhog Day' angle, The Matrix had...the matrix. And so on.
Dredd might have joined this elite group had it put more thought into how to make the film about the slow-mo effect itself: all the cool creative ways it can be used to drive the story (both from antagonists and heroes). Alas...all it's used for is some stylish FX-scenery, some of it pretty dandy...other times the FX have already dated (clearly-digital spurts of blood don't cut it in 2024).
So we're left with a standard setup plot-device of surviving and/or raiding a locked-down building. There's not too much sci-fi going on outside the slow-mo. We've got gangster-warfare clichés and a pair of miscast Judges leading us along to a corny 90's-sounding score. Characterisation generally is very thin, as is the dialogue.
But once we accept that this movie isn't gonna be a great, we can accept it for what it is: a fun dumb action thriller with nice pace, watchable villain, some entertaining deaths and satisfying gunplay.
For doing what's expected, no more no less, it deserves a decent 7/10.
Dredd might have joined this elite group had it put more thought into how to make the film about the slow-mo effect itself: all the cool creative ways it can be used to drive the story (both from antagonists and heroes). Alas...all it's used for is some stylish FX-scenery, some of it pretty dandy...other times the FX have already dated (clearly-digital spurts of blood don't cut it in 2024).
So we're left with a standard setup plot-device of surviving and/or raiding a locked-down building. There's not too much sci-fi going on outside the slow-mo. We've got gangster-warfare clichés and a pair of miscast Judges leading us along to a corny 90's-sounding score. Characterisation generally is very thin, as is the dialogue.
But once we accept that this movie isn't gonna be a great, we can accept it for what it is: a fun dumb action thriller with nice pace, watchable villain, some entertaining deaths and satisfying gunplay.
For doing what's expected, no more no less, it deserves a decent 7/10.