Film: Dredd 3D (12A)

Director: Pete Travis

After Sylvester Stallone’s triumph of ego for the comic book geek in the mid 1990s (the helmet should never come off, Judge Dredd!), there was a bit of apprehension regarding what this latest interpretation would deliver. Never fear, we live in a cinematic world now adoring of graphic novel beginnings, and reasonably respectful of the rules our heroes have declared to abide by. So don’t expect to see much of Karl Urban’s face.

Written by Alex Garland and directed by our very own Brit Pete Travis (previous credits include Omagh, Vantage Point and Endgame – as well as Cold Feet), this is set in 2000AD’s futuristic metropolis filled with ‘Judges’, assigned to be judge, jury and executioner to criminals. One such law enforcer, Judge Dredd, finds himself out with a trainee, a certain Judge Anderson (Olivia Thirlby) who avid readers of the books will be familiar with, battling against dealers of a new and dangerous drug ‘Slo-Mo’. All at breakneck speed, the pair cross words – and any other weapon they can lay their hands on – with the foul reprobates.

Released Friday 7 September,
Showing at Odeon and Cineworld