Dredd

What does this 2012 film, based upon the UK comic book series Judge Dredd, tell us about its world’s form of government (the “Judge System”), a pared down police state which consolidates the powers traditionally vested in different elements of government? What does it tell us about the effects of extreme population pressure on Democratic governance in its post apocalyptic America? Why does a majority of this world’s United States population vote to consolidate and pare down governmental functions to the most basic core; provision of security? Why is the police force vested with the roles of judge, jury and executioner? Is it likely or unlikely that American governance will tend toward consolidation of powers in police forces as is portrayed in this dystopian film? How does the interplay between the two protagonists, Judge Dredd and Judge Anderson, provide commentary on the role that compassion has in meting out justice?