So what did you think of Dredd?

[judgedoug]

"If some-one like HBO..."

Oh Grud, no! HBO does nothing but pander to the lowest common denominator in the audiance. Correct me if I am wrong, but did they not invent the character of Roz the prostitute in the Game of Thrones S1

HBO didn't, the writers did - which include George R R Martin, who has almost full creative control on the TV series. HBO merely spends the money to get the series made.

 

[Greg Smith]

"If some-one like HBO..."

Oh Grud, no! HBO does nothing but pander to the lowest common denominator in the audiance.

So let me get this straight, you would be worried that HBO would not treat Judge Dredd in a serious and intelligent way. Which part do you think they would leave out, because it didn't pander to the lowest common denominator: Satanus the killer T-Rex? Walter the speech impaired robot? Judge Fish? Fatties?

To be honest Judge Dredd would be a better fit on Starz - they are going to have a bloody big hole to fill after the end of Spartacus - Blood and Tits.

 

[Judge Shaw]

"... you would be worried that HBO would not treat Judge Dredd in a serious and intelligent way."

Not quite. I would be worried that any HBO treatment of Judge Dredd would suck! Just like everything else I've seen them put out lately. To be honest I am really not sure what Network would be the best fit. Maybe Starz, but since Dredd is a Brit invention perhaps one of thier Networks could do a half ways decent job...I just don't know.

 

[nozza_uk]

The only UK channels I see doing justice to Dredd would be Sky and maybe Channel 4. As Dredd is so intrinsically violent, I can't see the BBC or ITV producing this without resorting to toning down the look and feel of Dredd. Both can produce quality drama, but violent quality drama. If Channel 4 did it, it would more than likely be relegated to a late night slot or one of there many digital channels.

Sky could afford to make Dredd. They did film the last series of Strikeback in South Africa. so the linkage with the movie is there, but they very rarely get above the 1,000,000 viewer mark (unless it's sports related).

 

[judgedoug]

Howsabout AMC? They're rolling in the dough and clout from Breaking Bad, Hell on Wheels, The Walking Dead, and of course, Mad Men. Seems like a gritty apocalyptic future sci fi show is missing from their current line-up...

 

[commanderjase]

I think Nozza_uk has hit on the right thing and that is the unknown factor the americans would have with a Brit comic, that will be the killer, you would only have a small percentage of people there that would know of it (the comic geek factor) and at the end of the day you would need to flow of money from a country of that size to help bring it up in takings.

you see this sort of thing worldwide when one country makes a movie from a local story/comic/world and then try and get international sales for said story.

also you never know in years to come another director/producer will be willing to take control of dredd and place their stamp upon it.

and anything is better than the total crap stallone debacle of a movie.

 

[Surtur]

I think Nozza_uk has hit on the right thing and that is the unknown factor the americans would have with a Brit comic, that will be the killer, you would only have a small percentage of people there that would know of it (the comic geek factor) and at the end of the day you would need to flow of money from a country of that size to help bring it up in takings.

you see this sort of thing worldwide when one country makes a movie from a local story/comic/world and then try and get international sales for said story.

also you never know in years to come another director/producer will be willing to take control of dredd and place their stamp upon it.

and anything is better than the total crap stallone debacle of a movie.

The odd thing is that here in America, Dredd isn't totally unknown. Many people are familiar with the name and the concept, but not really the details.

 

[chaoschild]

The odd thing is that here in America, Dredd isn't totally unknown. Many people are familiar with the name and the concept, but not really the details.

Well the name and concept are about all that made it into the film, so it's not like the details should have got in the way.

 

[judgedoug]

The only reason any of my friends here in the USA knew anything about Dredd is because of my love for it (as I'd talk about it a lot) and the Stallone film. So, I saw it four times, got several friends to see it each time I went. Every single one of those friends then went and saw it again, again with their friends I didn't know. Out of the dozens of people I know who saw it, only one person didn't like the movie. Nearly every person I know who saw it saw it at least twice. Several of my friends became instant fans and started buying the Dredd complete case files books. One of my friends has declared it to be his favorite movie of all time (he also saw it 4 times) and is applying to join the police force in no small part due to the film. It was quite literally the definition of word-of-mouth being the primary reason anyone that I know went to see it, because the marketing in the USA was godawful (15 second tv spots on Cartoon Network showing explosions and the "Judgment Time" quote was about all I saw - yeah, market an R rated movie on a children's tv network, good job)

Interestingly most of my friends prefer the look of the Judges in the film, since it looks more realistic. I prefer the film look as well, as it looks much closer to the Ezquerra original art than the mega-chin huge-shoulder-pads that dominates the art style of Dredd. John Wagner and Alex Garland's decision to ground it more in reality really helps the film tremendously as there's a much closer attachment to the story since it feels like the Mega City presented in the film could literally be just around the corner.

 

[Surtur]

So Dredd came out on DVD last week, who's got their copy yet?

 

[TkNyarlathotep]

I got mine on release day.

 

[Judge Shaw]

Picked mine up on release day.

 

[Benamon]

Overall very impressed, especially considering the budget. I think they did well and worked within the budget rather than trying to do too much and doing it badly, I can imagine them being very conscious of the Stallone version, they had undo that and then reintroduce Dredd. Mega City looked good, I saw it as an early mega city still moving towards the total city blockness of the comics. Biggest downer was the bike ( ! ) but the inform was updated but was still clearly Judge. The cast worked well and Karl Urban gave a convincing performance and thankfully the helmet stayed on!
I think to work well the film had to go gritty or dark comic 300 style and the grit works here, I think the upcoming Judge Minty fan film has gone for more the 300 route
Goes without saying, would love to see more, chance to see the wider city, could do The Day the Law Died, and sort out the Lawmaster!

 

[andrewgpaul]

The two rumours I've heard regarding a sequel are either The Cursed Earth or the Dark Judges. I'd kinda like to see the latter, although it's a hell of a change in tone from the gritty "used future" of Dredd to introducing murderous ghosts from another dimension.

 

[Surtur]

The two rumours I've heard regarding a sequel are either The Cursed Earth or the Dark Judges. I'd kinda like to see the latter, although it's a hell of a change in tone from the gritty "used future" of Dredd to introducing murderous ghosts from another dimension.

Unfortunately I believe there will be no sequel. It did not garner enough box office revenue. Mostly due to how badly they did with advertising imo.

 

[Dave Chase]

Actually I hear that there will be a sequel just in DVD only.

Dave Chase

 

[Judge Shaw]

Actually I hear that there will be a sequel just in DVD only.

Dave Chase

Where did you hear this?

Unfortunately, unless the DVD pulls a horseshoe out of the hat I think we Dreddheads are SOL sequel wise.

Though I do have to say I am not so sure how a Judge Death storyline, as was planned for the third movie, or even the Origins idea for the second would have been recieved. At the very least the Death storyline would be too ecclectic a storyline for non-fans to grasp; I would've thought. I would think that a Zombie-pocolyps type of of movie, or one centered around a Cursed Earth story...perhaps, Dredd and a squad of Judges hunting down the Angel Gang, or helping out a local Marshal fend off some savage Desperados would be more of a type of film to draw in audiances. Or an Assault (the original) on Precinct (Sector House) 13 might be a better choice as well.

 

[Dave Chase]

Actually I hear that there will be a sequel just in DVD only.

Dave Chase

Where did you hear this?
...

Ah, sorry, I forgot some times that people do not know my background.

I was Gaming Initiatives and Entertainment Licensing Director for Fleer Trading Cards. I worked with a few of the Movie and Production Studios on licenses (Like American Idol, TMNT and others).

I still have some interaction with some of the friends I made back then.

No solid source to quote, just some backgroud noise from those (friends) who hang out with their other friends (in Hollywood and such) talking about what will become of what.

You see some the deals for TV shows and movies are worked out years in advance. The end product does not always match the initial layout.

Some contracts call for X number of movies or TV eispodes (actor contracts) with variables like, 'even if the movie flops, we can still call you back for DVD releases of the other movies you agreed to.'

Judge Dredd has such contract with a select few of the performers. It is the norm for the last decade when dealing with a popular license.

Dave Chase

 

[nozza_uk]

I'd heard at the time that Urban and Thirlby had signed 3 picture deals. Thought this was standard Hollywood practice in case the film was a hit - but is not a guarantee that an actor would reappear. For example, Alan Cumming signed a 3 picture deal to appear as Nightcrawler in the X-Men films, but has only appeared in one film.

Urban and Thirlby maybe under option, it's whether that option gets picked up.

I think it needs the DVD to do massively well for a DVD option to be considered. I'd heard on Twitter that Dredd was currently topping the DVD sales chart in the US this week and that's driving talk of a sequel - http://www.flickeringmyth.com/2013/01/director-pete-travis-talks-possible.html

 

[Judge Shaw]

"I was Gaming Initiatives and Entertainment Licensing Director for Fleer Trading Cards."

Cool job.

Don't some shows get conned after the pilot or a couple eps in? Doesn't the lack of people watching trump contract specified dates?

Either way if it is a straight to video thing I hope they keep the same team, because these guys had a true passion for the subject material.