SCIFIHISTORY.NET
  • MAINPAGE
  • About
  • Reviews

Stardate 06.30.2023.B: Happy Anniversary - 1995's 'Judge Dredd' Turns 28 Years Young Today!

6/30/2023

0 Comments

 
Picture
If I'm being perfectly honest with the readership, then I'd have to admit to never having all that much faith that 1995's screen incarnation was going to be that big of a hit for anyone involved.

I had read the comic book here and there, and I just didn't get into it all that much.  I guess it was a character that showed promise -- so far as I cared -- but I didn't quite see Dredd with the face and/or the voice of Sly Stallone in my head when I read it.  That little variable can produce an effect on moviegoers -- even fans of a particular property -- and I probably ended up seeing this one theatrically against my better judgment.  Stallone had done well in Science Fiction before -- 1993's Demolition Man is a great popcorn flick -- so I went in anyway.  Plus ... Diane Lane?  Have I ever mentioned how lovely she is?  Again: I didn't see her as being a great choice for one of the judges, but Diane Lane is still Diane Lane, and that likely brought me in as well.

Though I've never been much of a Rob Schneider fan, I thought he ended up being one of the bright spots in an otherwise dreary and formulaic affair.  He brought some laughs and filled out the part of an affable enough screen sidekick, clearly playing against Stallone's straight-faced visage, and I guess it's best to be thankful for that small favor.  Armand Assante is always worth viewing, and the delicious Joan Chen -- who won over fandom in no small fashion with her turn aboard TV's Twin Peaks -- rounded out the principles nicely enough.

​Though I haven't seen this one in years, it's the kind of project that I kinda/sorta wonder if it had been both greenlit and fast-tracked because the Batman films had reinvigorated interest in comic book properties.  With Stallone being a box office draw more often than not, perhaps it was some studio's desire to get him into that world as quickly and as painlessly as possible, with a search of intellectual properties coming up a bit slim with the exception of Dredd.  Whatever the case may be, it just didn't quite work for me, and I'm not sure that the film has gained any fans in the passage of time.
​
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
In taking the good with the bad, Stallone has been involved in a handful of stinkers over the years, but Dredd didn't quite rise to that level.  Still, those lovable knuckleheads at the Razzie Awards nominated him for their 1996 'Worst Actor,' but the Italian Stallion didn't go home with that trophy.

At the 1996 Saturn Awards (sponsored by the Academy Of Science Fiction, Fantasy, And Horror Films), Judge Dredd enjoyed a solid four nominations -- 'Best Special Effects,' 'Best Make-Up,' 'Best Costumes,' and 'Best Science Fiction Film' -- but all went home alone that evening ... well, so far as any of us know they went home alone, meaning no statues.
​
As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!

​-- EZ
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Reviews
    ​Archive
    ​

    Reviews

    Daily
    ​Trivia
    Archives
    ​

    January
    February
    March
    April
    May
    June
    July
    August
    September
    October
    November
    December

    mainpage
    ​ posts

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly