Dredd
A car chase though megacity one starts the film. Criminals are being pursued by Judge Dredd, a voice comes on the radio, it ask if Dredd needs backup. "No".
The flash of colour, the use of a drug called slow mo (clues in the title) and brutal action might give viewers the impression Dredd is over the top. It's not.
Dredd action and plot is like his dialogue, no nonsense and straight to the point. The plot is a balls to the wall, none stop climb up a mega block called peach trees. The action is brutal, no quips, no flash just quick and affective from the two Judges. Dredds incendiary bullets don't lead to cool scenes of him walking through the fire, they lead to screams.
Judge Dredd is played by Karl Urban. I wouldn't fault you for not realising as he commits to the role and never removes his helmet. With what little part of his face he has to use, and the little dialogue he has to say he makes a big impression. Dredd isnt cruel he's fair but in the darkest way possible. He won't shoot a kid but any other criminal gets met with a bullet. He shows no remorse and perfectly carries the action up the various floors.
Judge Anderson, the rookie, is played by Olivia Thirbly and is our moral link to the world of Dredd. Not to says she fits our morals, she'll still execute a injured defensiveless man, she'll feel a little bad though. She clearly the weaker link, action with her is tense as she clearly is inexperienced but that takes nothing away from her badass persona. Between the two Judges she pulls the best performance.
Lena Headey has an uncanny ability to play a fucking evil bitch. Between Cerce Lannister and Ma-Ma she's able to play incredibly hatable characters. Ma-Ma is the gang lord of peach trees and she's beyond terrible. She's hideous scared and terrifyingly cunning.
The side characters make the distopian world of Dredd real with Domhnall Gleeson, Wood Harris and Deobia Oparei helping to show how innocence, evil, and good operate in this world.
Dredd unstoppable action doesn't stop till the final body drops. Dredd brutality doesn't shy away at any point. Dredd doesn't pull it's punches.