Phil takes a look back…
First, let me put my cards on the table.
Indeed, only a grexnix could fail to understand how…Gargh.
I cant do it, drokk it!
Each and every one of those decisions waswrongI tell you!
Wrong, wrong, wrong!
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He should have kept the helmet on!
Rob Schneider should never have been cast as Fergee!
And Judges should never,everkiss!
I feel so much better for getting that out of my system.
Or My Mom Will Shoot.
As Tom Baker might have said had he been there at the time Britain, Britain, Britain!
What could possibly go wrong?
Plus, we seem to have got rid of Rob Schneider early as well.
All in all, its a very pleasing opening.
And then things start to go down hill at a quite alarming rate.
Another problem that was never resolved, and one alluded to by Stallone, was the movies tone.
Gritty vision of a nightmare dystopia, or bright and colourful comic book romp?
At times, it comes off as attempting both, and succeeding at neither.
However, the worlds in which they operate are remarkably similar.
None of which is to say that the plot couldnt have been made to work.
Take the scene where Fergee mocks Dredds mantra I am the Law!
This was an ad lib that was apparently so funny that it was then included in the film.
But these are all concerns of theJudge Dreddfan, surely!
I hear non-Dreddfans groan.
And youd be right.
I think, from what I recall, the whole project was troubled from the beginning.
So a lotta pieces just didnt fit smoothly.
It was sort of like a feathered fish.
But do you know what?
Despite all this I still have a soft spot for it.
Hammerstein of the ABC Warriors appearing as Ricos lethal bodyguard.
All of these things tell meJudge Dreddcould have been great.
So now we look forward toDredd, due out next year, with Karl Urban in the lead role.
So, unlike other fans, Ill not judge that particular piece of casting until Ive seen the film.
No siree, my lips are sealed, so youll hear zip from me on that score.
…but you know, they really should have cast Ron Perlman.
See more of our Looking Back articles here.
