4. A Simple Story
Some writers think that in order for a film to be considered a classic, they need to make it epic and grandiose. And their version of epic has to involve a ''save the world'' plot, long speeches that are not half as smart as the writers think they are and twist after twist that is usually telegraphed long before it can ''surprise'' us. Take Christopher Nolan's latest film The Dark Knight Rises as the perfect example of this, a long slow plod through a very pretentious Batman experience that would have benefited from a more focused script and a less voluminous plot. Dredd, scripted by British novelist Alex Garland, was a far more smaller story in comparison. The plot takes two Judges and traps them in a slum tower, then they have to stay alive and bring down a violent, drug dealing crime boss known as Ma Ma. Everything about Dredd's story was simple and was fitting for a comic book adaptation like this. There is a reason films like Die Hard, RoboCop and even Aliens remain so popular. Apart from being awesome movies, they have a pick-up-and-watch quality that means sitting through those films doesn't feel like a slog through a swamp of faux bullshit, and again, Dark Knight Rises is the perfect example of a slog. Watching Dredd was a refreshing experience, the film wasn't trying to be more than it is and because Garland kept his ego in control. The end result was a fun and entertaining piece of escapism that didn't patronize the audience, and a film that didn't get tangled up in its own twists and turns.