Judge Dredd. The name sounds cynical and menacing. So you'd expect the movie to have the same tone. But it doesn't. Instead, Judge Dredd is a standard action-flick with a one-dimentional lead character and mechanical plot.

In a post-apocalyptic future, mankind is crowded into mega cities; huge high-rises squalors with 60 million inhabitants. Designed for half that size, crime has risen to epidemic proportions. A group of high-tech police have been formed to deal with the threat. Named Judges, for their ability to arrest, sentence and execute, they have ultimate power under the law. Overseeing the Judges is the High Council, with Chief Justice Fargo (Max Von Sydow) at the head.

After Judge Dredd is convicted of a crime he didn't commit, Fargo steps down in protest. But as a last request he asks that the council go easy on the veteran Dredd. So instead of instant death, Dredd is sentenced to life imprisonment at Aspen Penal Colony. That's considered lenient.

If the story seems a bit disjointed it's because it isn't focused. Director Danny Cannon gives us a visual treat, but that's about all.

Judge Joseph Dredd (Sylvester Stallone) has no depth. He's a man fixated on upholding the letter of the law; any deviation means swift punishment. That's all there is to the man. He has no dark side. No temptations. He can't be corrupted by evil. He's impervious. And that's what distances him from us. How are we supposed to identify with a man who can't do wrong?

Comic side kick Herman Ferguson (Rob Schneider) tags along with the Judge and quickly becomes an annoying pest. After a few minutes with this guy, you'll wish he died in the first fire-fight.

Dredd's convenient partner is Judge Hershey (Diane Lane). Her presence, unlike Schneider, can be tolerated; she has a dash of personality. Yet she does little to further define her character and ends up stranding the role.

The only fully realized character is Rico (Armand Assante); Judge Dredd's antithesis. A man out to rule Mega City One, he is evil incarnate. With a well laid plan, he schemes to remove the current council members and place himself in the driver's seat. He's assembled a small group of co-conspirators; including a 10 foot tall robot who enjoys tearing people's appendages off.

The visuals and special effects are first rate. The sets in Mega City One will remind you of Riddley Scott's Blade Runner. However, Judge Dredd has none of the poignant characters, and not even half as compelling a storyline. So in the end, you might wonder why you sentenced yourself to watching this 91 minute film.

Copyright (c) 1995 Tony Zidek