I saw Dredd over the weekend, and let me start this review by stating that this film is far and away the better film when compared to the original Sly Stallone version.
Why do I say that? Dredd holds true to the source material where 1995's Judge Dredd strayed far afield by using a humor sidekick (Rob Schneider) and showed Dredd without his helmet during the majority of the film. Today's Dredd stays true to the source material so well that the only thing we see of the titular character is his lower jaw, and there is no overt humor used because the Dredd story is dark, gritty and bold.
Karl Urban was phenomenal as Dredd. I wouldn't doubt for even a second that Urban took on this role because of the acting challenge it presented. Everything we know about Dredd is conveyed from the body language, jaw movements and vocal intonations that Urban was able to bring to the table. And boy, did Urban deliver the goods! He gave an outstanding performance!
The rest of the main cast (Olivia Thirlby, Lena Heady, Wood Harris) were also good in their prospective roles. Especially so of Lena Heady as Ma-Ma, the gang leader. She was ruthless and cold in her portrayal, and came across quite believably.
The directing (by Pete Travis--Vantage Point, End Game) in Dredd was fast, detailed and had a clear path towards the film's conclusion. The music, overall, was great. Aside from the thunderous metal rock frequently heard, the symphonic music was used to great effect. Written by Paul Leonard Morgan, these pieces of orchestral music were used perfectly and added a depth that I did not expect.
Next to Urban [as Dredd], the real stars of this film were the Cinematographer (Anthony Dod Mantle) and the CGI team (headed by Sara Benett of The Mill). Without the art and skill of both (and their teams), Dredd would have been lacking in appearance and feel throughout the run-time.
Dredd is very violent, the language is really bad (a knock against the screenwriters), and there are inferred sex scenes that are themselves violent. However, as a whole, this is a great movie! I was actually left wanting more when the film ended!
If you go, please leave the kids at home. This is NOT a film for kids!
As far as buying this one, I will definitely be purchasing Dredd as soon as it comes out.