Dredd: Short and Sweet

In case you haven’t noticed, Hollywood has been absolutely inundated with sequels and remakes over the past few years, and audiences are starting to rebel against the demonstrated lack of unoriginality, thereby making Dredd one hell of a gamble.  As far as Sylvester Stallone movies go, 1995’s Judge Dredd wasn’t exactly a mammoth blockbuster, so filmmaker’s wouldn’t have to worry about backlash from loyal fans of the original, but that doesn’t mean Lionsgate’s marketing plan was any less flawed.  Thanks to the Lord of the Rings trilogy and films like Star Trek, Karl Urban has developed a significant fan-base over the years, but rather than try and leverage any of that star power, promotions instead focused on selling the titular character, a law enforcer who remains largely unknown outside very limited comic book fandoms.  If there was one ray of hope for this newest entry in the science fiction genre, it stemmed from the apparent necessity to see the film in the 3D…based on the trailers and billing, it looked like there would be plenty of explosions and bullets to keep the teenage demographic happy.  While I wasn’t expecting Dredd to break the box office, the high critical praise the film was receiving seemed to indicate that I would enjoy this revisit to a largely forgotten franchise.

Thanks to ruthless action, an energetic soundtrack, and a truly badass leading character, Dredd is hands-down one of the best action films I have seen in a very long time.  As judge, jury, and executioner, Karl Urban sets the new standard for not-to-be-messed-with, gruffly and brutally punishing anyone unfortunate to cross his path, all while delivering both funny and threatening one-liners.  The plot is very streamlined, but when both the hero and villain are so engaging and the dystopia they inhabit is so stylishly executed, you have no problem sitting-back and watching Dredd dispatch countless henchmen; all while forgiving the overall lack of depth and character development.  And, central to the story is a drug designated as “Slo-Mo” because is slows the user’s perception to time, and the 3D visuals used to showcase this effect are awe-inducing.  In the end, Dredd represents a fun, no-holds-barred action flick that shouldn’t be missed by anyone, regardless of whether or not you are familiar with the obscure leading character.     

Overall Recommendation: Very High

Dredd: Full Review

Dredd - (September 21^st, 2012): R

Distributor: Lionsgate

                                      

Opening Weekend Box Office: #6 with 6,300,000

Domestic Box Office Gross to-date: $10,865,000

Gross Revenue: $20,965,000

Production Budget: $50 million

Director: Pete Travis

 

Though he is very popular within the realm of British science fiction, the truth is that, as a character, Judge Dredd remains largely unknown to domestic audiences outside of a minor association as one of Sylvester Stallone’s marginally popular cinematic roles, so maybe the time was ripe for the franchise to revisit theaters.  Having never seen the 1995 original, this remake wasn’t exactly high on my list of must-sees, but my interest was piqued when I noticed the insanely positive reception that Dredd received during a premiere screening at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con International…this is the group that would be at the front of the line to spew hatred over low quality, so their approval certainly carries weight.  Time and again, we have seen the inherent potential for box-office gold when it comes to bringing comic book characters to the big screen, but the fact of the matter is that Judge Dredd isn’t anywhere near the same league as Spider-Man or Batman, so Lionsgate was going to have to prove to audiences that this newest sci-fi adventure was worth their attention.  Sadly, it didn’t seem like the marketing strategists recognized this responsibility, because outside of a few minimal trailers, little emphasis was given to the presence of any star-power or even a definitive release date…seriously, did anyone recognize that is was Karl Urban behind that battle helmet?  If anything, Dredd was going to represents little more than an impulse buy for the average moviegoer, and with three other new releases gearing to split audiences, such a standing would spell doom, regardless of high quality or 3D appeal.           

Set in the aftermath of nuclear and chemical warfare, Dredd introduces audiences to a future dystopia known as Mega-City One, an overpopulated and crime-ridden wasteland that is only kept from complete anarchy thanks to a law enforcement force known as the Judges.  Granted complete freedom from due process, Judges act as judge, jury, and executioner; the top member of the force is Judge Dredd (Karl Urban), a loner with a no-nonsense sense of order who is tasked with evaluating rookie Judge Anderson (Olivia Thriby), a new recruit who has considerable psychic abilities.  On their first day of evaluation, Dredd and Anderson respond to a triple homicide at the 200-story slum tower known as Peach Trees; this dangerous ghetto which turns out to be center of operations for drug lord Madeline “Ma-Ma” Madigral (Lena Headey), a ruthless murder who traffics in “Slo-Mo,” an addictive narcotic that slows the user’s perception of time to 1% of normal.  After Dredd and Anderson apprehend Kay (Wood Harris), one of Ma-Ma’s henchmen, and prepare to bring him in for interrogation, Ma-Ma seizes control of the tower’s security control and seals the building’s blast doors.  Cut-off from all outside contact (including the ability to call for back-up), Dredd and Anderson must fight their way out of the tower, a challenge that gets considerably more difficult after Ma-Ma offers all of her forces and any willing mercenaries a reward for the death of the law enforcers.

Sure, there is some validity in the perception that the above plot synopsis is overly streamlined and a little too simplistic, but in the hands of a character as undeniably cool as Karl Urban’s Judge Dredd, it is really difficult to complain.  As far as badass action heroes go, the titular character of Dredd makes the members of The Expendables look like Girl Scouts…he brutally destroys criminals with downright awesome gadgets and weapons, and he does it with such attitude and style that even the most snobbish of action junkies will find themselves giddy; trust me, his primary weapon would be AWESOME in a videogame.  Granted, you don’t see Karl Urban’s face throughout the entire running time, but you can still feel his interpretation and influence on the character; and if that impressively subtle performance isn’t enough to hold your attention, don’t worry, the supporting characters are more than enough to keep you engaged.  As far a cinematic drug lords go, Lena Headey’s Ma-Ma is so unhinged that you cannot help but feel a little anxious anytime she is around, making her the perfectly chaotic parallel to the order upheld by the Judges.  And even though the action and characters within Dredd are more than enough to garner a high rating, the style and design of the film are what propel this surprising remake into must-see status.

Over the course of all of my reviews, I have lost count of how many times I have paid extra for a pair of 3D glasses and been bitterly disappointed in the pay-off, but such was not the case with Dredd; add-in an energetic soundtrack, and this newest sci-fi action adventure turns into one of the most unceasingly entertaining experiences offered at a theater in some time.  Early in the narrative, Ma-Ma orders the death of some of her men, dosing them with Slo-Mo and throwing them off the top floor of the building; the camera switches to first-person perspective and the 3D effect is jaw-dropping; anytime Slo-Mo is used, whether Dredd is breaching a room or throwing a grenade, your visual synapses are going to go into overload.  And, if you don’t find yourself at least a little bit pumped when Dredd starts kicking ass and the industrial electronic soundtrack kicks in, I fear that you must possess a dreadfully bland taste in movies.  Sure, Dredd could have benefitted from some deeper dialogue or more hashed-out character development, but as far as an introduction to the characters and their cinematic world goes, this film is fun, charming, and sure to leave audiences clambering for more.  Whether or not you are a fan of Stallone’s original interpretation of the character or just someone looking for some explosions and violence at the theater, you owe it to yourself to see Dredd.

In terms of disparity between film quality and overall box office performance, Dredd may be one of the most blatant disappointments to hit theaters in months…good lord, someone in Lionsgate’s marketing department had to have lost their job over this disaster.  Dredd cost the studio $50 million to produce, and yet, it opened with just over $6 million in its first weekend, enough for a pitiful sixth place opening against other new releases like End of Watch and Trouble with the Curve.  With an equally weak foreign presence, Dredd has only recovered around $21 million, which is really disappointing when you consider just how entertaining the film is in its entirety; but as I indicated in the “Short and Sweet” review, failures in marketing made this end-result a near-certainty.  Now, producer Alex Garland has said that he envisions Dredd as the first chapter of a trilogy, but sequels would only be potentially allowed with a North American gross in excess of $50 million…ouch.  In the end, I hope positive word of mouth will help drive higher numbers for Dredd, because I want to see these characters again…for the love of God, you have to go to theater to help save this movie!    

Overall Recommendation: Very High

Resident Evil: Retribution - Short and Sweet

While I would never claim that the Resident Evil franchise offers deep and top-of-the-line entertainment, that doesn’t change the fact that these particular zombie films have been a guilty pleasure of mine for years.  Milla Jovovich has been the reigning queen of cinematic female badasses for years, and together, she and director Paul W.S. Anderson have produced the gold standard of successful videogame adaptations, so based on those reputations alone, this newest science fiction thriller demanded audience attention.  Now, my regular readers know my skepticism concerning early September releases, but the truth is that over the course of four films, I have grown attached to the characters, become invested in the story, and never been disappointed in the high levels of action and special effects.  And, to this day, 2010’s Resident Evil: Afterlife remains one of the best examples of successful implementation of the 3D format…at least the kind that moviegoers expect when they shell out extra money for a pair glasses.  So, as a fan of the series, I was ready for some intense zombie carnage, and I couldn’t have cared less whether or not, as a fifth entry, Retribution benefited from altogether coherent storytelling.

Far more of a live-action videogame than an actual film adaptation, Resident Evil: Retribution throws whatever guidelines its predecessors may have followed for cinematic narratives completely out the window, and this move surprisingly doesn’t make this sequel any less entertaining.  After a decade, fans of the Resident Evil know exactly what they are getting when walking into the theater, so despite massive plot-holes and near-nonexistent character development, it is still just awesome to watch Milla Jovovich brutally dispatch the undead.  Make no mistake, Retribution was made solely for fans of the film series; there may have been a few nods to videogame purists, but if you are at all unfamiliar with this particular cinematic universe, things will get confusing.  To its credit, the narrative does use plenty of exposition to try and ease-in the uninitiated, but keeping the story running smoothly clearly wasn’t a priority for filmmakers.  Instead, simply enjoy the flashy and brutal action complemented by the 3D format and an energetic soundtrack…expect anything more than that, and you will be bitterly disappointed.  

Overall Recommendation: Medium

Resident Evil: Retribution - Full Review

Resident Evil: Retribution - (September 14^th, 2012): R

Distributor: Screen Gems (Division of Sony Pictures)

                                      

Opening Weekend Box Office: #1 with $21,052,227

Domestic Box Office Gross to-date: $33,468,000

Gross Revenue: $136,868,000

Production Budget: $65 million

Director: Paul W.S. Anderson

 

Having seen each of the previous four entries of the Resident Evil series countless times, I was understandably excited when it was announced that Retribution would be coming around as yet another sequel detailing the plight of Alice and her allies against the villainous Umbrella Corporation.  As the main character of the series, Milla Jovovich has cemented her reputation as Hollywood’s leading female warrior, with her engaging performance and impressive combat prowess being the only consistent elements across the entire franchise; so, needless to say, seizing on the chance to see her suit-up in combat armor yet again was a no-brainer.  From a marketing standpoint, because of the longstanding nature of this zombie juggernaut, promotional efforts weren’t going to be targeting new audiences, but instead convincing fans that this fifth entry would be worth their time and attention.  Aside from the undoubtedly effective use of the 3D format promised by the trailers, the biggest selling point for Retribution was the fact that numerous characters who had met their demise in past films would be returning, so even fans whose enthusiasm has waned over the years had to be interested concerning the way in which familiar faces like Michelle Rodriguez and Oded Fehr were resurrected.  Regardless of lackluster critical reaction, the Resident Evil films have never failed to generate impressive box office numbers, especially overseas, and to tell you the truth, until I was bitterly disappointed by what I saw at the theater, I was always going to have a ticket in-hand.

Beginning immediately after the events of Afterlife, the opening of Resident Evil: Retribution finds Alice (Milla Jovovich) captured and interrogated by the villainous Umbrella Corporation and its chief security officer Jill Valentine (Sienna Guillory), a former ally who has been brainwashed since her appearance in 2004’s Apocalypse.  After a power failure, Alice escapes and encounters operative Ada Wong (Li Bingbing) and former villain Albert Wesker (Shawn Roberts), both of whom have stopped working for Umbrella since the artificial intelligence system known as the “Red Queen” took over and unleashed plans to fully extinguish humanity.  Alice forms an uneasy alliance with Wong and Wesker, resolving to rendezvous with a support team that will aide in her escape and includes Leon S. Kennedy (Johann Urb), Barry Burton (Kevin Durand), and former acquaintance Luther West (Boris Kodjoe).  Unfortunately, the Red Queen activates the base’s formidable defenses, which include experimental zombie experiments and cutting-edge artificial reality; Alice is also horrified to learn that her former friends Rain Ocampo (Michelle Rodriguez) and Carlos Olivera (Oded Fehr) have been cloned and are now programmed to hunt and terminate the escaped prisoners alongside Valentine and her forces.  Faced with seemingly insurmountable odds, Alice must draw on all of her skills to defeat legions of the undead, to escape alongside fellow freedom fighters, and to help mount one last stand for all mankind.

As always, Milla Jovovich delivers as the feisty heroine, and there is more than enough action and eye-popping 3D to placate action junkies, but the biggest accolade of this sequel stems from the fact that this film represents a pure live-action videogame.  While the appearance of well-known characters of the Resident Evil videogame franchise will be an undoubted thrill to longtime purists, the truth is that Retribution offers something for even the most casual of gaming fans; a smart move considering that members of this demographic likely comprise the largest portion of the intended audience.  Thanks to the narrative, the on-screen characters essentially follow a path identical to the type one would find in a videogame; this may seem like a disappointing cop-out, but the Resident Evil films have never truly tried to present anything else…if anything, cutting out excessive dialogue or a complicated plot simply reduces the volume of criticisms that could be validly levied.  And, I’ve heard critics complain that the film’s use of 3D is distracting, but having things jump out at you from the screen is what moviegoers expect; add-in the edgy soundtrack, and viewers are gifted with a simple and enjoyable popcorn flick, which is nothing more than what was initially promised.  Yes, I likely enjoyed Resident Evil: Retribution largely because of my devotion to the franchise, but in acknowledging that, I also have to acknowledge that this newest entry in the survival horror genre isn’t for everyone.

Without fail, every single time I go to the theater to see a Resident Evil film, there is someone there who simply doesn’t belong, and they leave their seats with a look of utter disappointment on their faces, dejected that the film was neither deep nor possessed some underlying message, but with those kind of expectations, how could you not be let down?  The Resident Evil films have never, ever promised award-winning filmmaking, but that doesn’t mean that they are doomed to fail in terms of providing entertainment…there is something inherently satisfying in destroying zombies.  Yet, even with that qualification, Retribution still represents one of the weaker entries in the entire series and is heavily reliant on audience familiarity with the core material.  As I mentioned in the “Short and Sweet” review, the narrative does make a sincere attempt to get viewers up to speed, but when the first minutes of a film are fully dedicated to intense exposition of four films, that’s a pretty big red flag for anyone who isn’t using giant yellow text floating through space.  To put it simply, fans of the franchise will get their money’s worth with Retribution, but for anyone else, the fifth film of the series represents arriving to the game far too late, and you would be better off letting sleeping dogs lie.

Though opening weekends in September are usually weak, especially when weighed against the Summer Movie Season, that fact still doesn’t take the sting out of a $21 million dollar opening for the sequel of an established series, even if it was enough to win a first place accolade.  Luckily, Resident Evil: Retribution has a surprisingly strong international presence, which to-date has accounted for 75.5% of the overall lifetime gross and helped double the return on the sizable $65 million production budget.  And, with the next few weeks so stacked with audience-splitting entries like End of Watch, Looper, and Taken 2, I am glad that Screen Gems has been able to garner a strong box office performance.  In terms of the future of the Resident Evil films, Paul W.S. Anderson has stated that a sixth entry would be contingent on the success of the fifth, so chances are good that Alice and her allies will return for a final battle.  If you’ve been following the T-virus outbreak for years, go see Retribution, but for everyone else, I wouldn’t suggest hitting the theater until the previous entries have passed your Netflix queue.           

Overall Recommendation: Medium