10 Overlooked Positives of Sylvester Stallone's Judge Dredd

9. A Cast Of Dredd Stalwarts

Joe Dredd isn't the only one to make it over from the comics, bringing with him an extensive supporting cast straight from the pages of (early) 2000AD. In addition to Dredd and clone brother Rico, the film introduces Chief Judge Fargo (played with class by Max von Sydow), Diane Lane as Barbara Hershey and Jurgen Prochnow as Judge Griffin (inexplicably turned from hero to villain). A (very) loose adaptation of the classic storyline The Day the Law Died, that also means Rob Schneider playing comic relief Fergee (sans baseball bat, gilet and personality) and Rico in the Judge Cal role. No goldfish or Klegg though, unfortunately. While her characterisation is a little off, Lane does well as Hershey, the more laid-back face of Justice (again, not entirely comics-accurate), lending Dredd his love interest and the film its most likeable figure. Other recognisable names pop up in the shape of Judges McGruder (no beard, sadly) and Silver (not black) only to die at the hands of Rico and Griffin. Perhaps it's best this one never achieved full franchise after all - after all, who wants to live in a world without beardy Chief Judge McGruder in it? Still, it all adds to a sense that the film's creators at least read a few comics before delving into this adaptation. The road to hell, as they say, is paved with good intentions. In this case, the road leads straight to the Big Smelly, but at least those good intentions get us a fun game of spot-the-comics-character.