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`Dredd' Is Likeable, Escapist Fare

What is a summer movie? A cynical critic might reply by calling it a loud

film, full of action sequences and hyper-activity signifying nothing. The

Hollywood executive would respond by saying it is an extravaganza featuring

popular stars in a project that will hopefully make tons of money. You're

probably thinking, who cares?

A summer movie is something more than just any film that arrives in theatres

during the sunny season. This is the busiest time of the movie-going year -

the kids are out of school... matinees are shown throughout the week - and

Hollywood tries to capitalize on that.

The summer movie is designed to be diversionary entertainment. Most are

conceived as a sort of cinematic junk food: it's not the highest form of

sustenance available, but can be quite satisfying. This is particularly

important during the dog days of summer, when many people are seeking refuge

from the heat by turning to an air-conditioned theatre for two hours.

With that in mind, Judge Dredd , the latest Sylvester Stallone offering,

should be given some leniency when one evaluates its merits. Playing over at

the Crown Palace in Danbury, this futuristic tale is the latest film to be

adopted from a comic book. As with most progenies of the comic book medium,

its visual style is a surrealistic mix of flamboyant, eye-catching garb and

distinctive, colorful locales. But it also features a perfunctory plot that

wouldn't pass muster of its source. For 90 minutes, however, it will provide

you with enough amusement to forget the humidity of the outdoors.

Judge Dredd is set in a harsh future of the 22nd Century. Humankind has been

shuttled into overpopulated "Mega Cities," where violence and lawlessness run

rampant. The only means left to curtail this chaos is a group of enforcers

called judges, a cadre of ultra-cops who serve as judge, jury and executioner.

Tops among this force is Judge Dredd (Stallone), who is known for an unbending

adherence to the letter of the law.

While breaking up a civil riot, Dredd sentences a recent parolee, Fergie (Rob

Schneider) to five years in the Aspen Penal Colony, just for being present

during the melee. This unyielding devotion to the literalness of the law comes

back to haunt Judge Dredd, when later he is also sentenced to Aspen after

being framed for a murder which one of his fellow judges (Diane Lane) cannot

explain to the court's satisfaction.

The plot also involves the villainy of a judge gone bad (Armand Assante).

After breaking out of prison, this madman returns to Mega City One to enact a

plan that will wipe out the current system and replace it with one to his

liking.

There is something engaging about Stallone's performance in this film, but

there is also something missing. Sometimes it appears as if he is invoking his

action rival, Arnold Schwarzenegger, by manifesting a mono-syllabic,

Terminator mode. A dilemma here is that while Dredd may be a man of few words,

often those words are an unintelligible, peculiarly Stallone-ish growl. It

does become kind of endearing though, particularly when Assante takes on the

same, roaring delivery.

The flashiest aspect of Judge Dredd is its slick visual effects, which are of

an extremely high caliber. But one problem with them - particularly in a

thrilling sequence involving a chase on flying motorbikes - is that some of

these scenes look as if they have been lifted exactly from a Star Wars movie.

Ultimately, Judge Dredd , rated R for profanity and much gunplay and violence,

is too derivative - of the Star Wars films, Blade Runner , Robocop , you name

it - to be truly engrossing or riveting. However, it is well-enough executed

and displays sufficient shades of cleverness to remain likeable, escapist

fare.