With the coming of the New Judge Dredd movie. I Like many fans are excited. Finely we will see our Favorite cop in action. as he should have been. We will be able to Justice on the Big screen that sadly is lacking in much of today's world. Judge Dredd Represents Justice pure and unfettered. He is the hero for the victims of crime. Who give to their tormentors the same thing they were given and more.
Yet Dredd himself was inspired by a cop who strode a few years on to the screen. An uncompromising sentinel who delivered justice to the victims and torment to the monsters that stalk our society. His Name was Harry Callahan. A San Francisco Police Inspector. Who in four movies would take on and bring not only Justice but Retribution. He is better known by the title of the first film he appeared in Dirty Harry. Yet to really understand Dredd and Callahan. I believe one must understand the social and political climate in which they were created.
The 1970's were a time of intense social change world wide. As one who lived during this period I can tell you the world was being torn apart. Old systems of Morality, Political Governance and the way we looked at our selves as people were changing. The Family unit was undergoing an evolution and all around us. Change for both good and ill was happening at a dizzying rate. Where once it was clear who the good guys and bad guys were. The lines became blurred Particularly in the legal system.
Where at one time criminals were caught, prosecuted and then made to pay for their crimes. Laws world wide were enacted to protect the rights of the accused. This in some ways was I believe a wonderful thing. The problem is that Victims of crime were some how left out of the loop. Laws were enacted that in some cases made it very difficult to defend your self. Criminals were actually suing both police and victims for excessive force in the courts and winning. The Idea of Victims rights were all but unheard of. Society it self found it self at an impasse. To provide needed protection for the rights of the accused was a noble ideal. Yet unfortunately in many cases this was done at the expense of the victims and society it self.
Then along Came Dirty Harry. Who in the First Movie would doggedly pursue a sadistic sniper. This Person was called Scorpio. He would torture, kill and Rape through out the movie. He would use the laws enacted to protect the rights of the accused. In order to get back on the streets and continue his reign of terror. But he was up against a cop whe would do the same to him with the exception of Rape. Scorpio toyed with his victims. Harry toyed with Scorpio. Scorpio Tortured his victims. Harry did the same to him. In the end where as Scorpio would kill his victims. He was in turn killed by Harry.
This brings us to Judge Dredd who was created a few years later. In a futuristic Super City. We were introduced to cops who were Judge, Jury and Executioner if they so chose. They were By law expected to live Exemplary lives. Even forgoing Romance among them selves. In order to be fair and Impartial. The Greatest among them Is Judge Dredd. He is the one we can depend upon to bring the evil Justice. He is the order we all need. We can sleep safely in our beds knowing he is there. This New Movie promises to show us Dredd as he is. Gritty, Hard, Yet the one man we can all turn to.
So to Answer the question. Why does Judge Dredd Count? My answer is this. Judge Dredd is the personification of Justice it self for all people. He is a shining light in a dark world populated with creatures who would prey upon us and our families. We Know he is out there. Watching over us all.