Judge Dredd 3D

I have long been an avid fan of 2000AD in general and Judge Dredd in particular. I still have hundreds of 2000AD comics and spin off Titan Judge Dredd books and frequently read and re-read them. In the mid-nineties I was looking forward to the film, when announced, right up until the lead was announced as Sylvester Stallone. There was absolutely no way he wouldn't stamp his star authority on the production and even less chance of him keeping his helmet on. This proved to be the case and the result was one of the worst films ever made (according to Rotten Tomatoes anyway) with characters and the story forming a nonsense mish-mash of complete bollocks, disappointment is an understatement. The writers and artists involved with the Judge Dredd stories created a fantastic future world, a parody of contemporary society with many in jokes and current social and cultural references and this was completely ignored with this Stallone attempt.

I have so many hopes for the new film, more so since one of those involved with the production is none other than Carlos Ezquerra, one of the original artists/writers from the old days, in fact his artwork inspired the writers to change their original ideas, setting the story further in the future than originally intended.

The story used for the film seems original but with 'Block War' undertones. It's appears a degree or two darker than the comics with a definite 'Blade Runner' feel. I am impressed that the film has an earlier release date in the UK than anywhere else, true homage to the origins of the comic strip. With this in mind this link explains.

Judge Dredd

The potential for a franchise with the scope to tell the allegorical tales from the original stories is immense. My favourites from the original comics include, but not exclusive:

Robot Wars - Call me Kenneth and all that
The Cursed Earth - Tweak, Spikes Harvey Rotten and the Angel gang
Judge Death - exposure to the very sexy Judge Anderson, exposes Dredd's humanity
Judge Child - exploring the universe beyond Mega City One
Judge Cal - a megalomaniac Chief Judge takes over the city
Block Mania - A pre cursor to the cold war allegory
Dead Man - my absolute fave

And many, many more, all from...

I hope, beyond hope, that the Dredd stories are portrayed as well as Peter Jackson did with the Tolkien epics.