Dredd 3D

Work Title: Dredd 3D
Medium: Film
Episode Title:
Year: 2012
Writer(s): John Wagner
"Original" Writer: Yes Writer(s): Alex Garland
"Original" Writer: Yes Writer(s): Carlos Ezquerra
"Original" Writer: Yes Own work?: No
Summary:

From wikipedia: The future United States is an irradiated wasteland known as the Cursed Earth. On the east coast lies Mega-City One, a violent metropolis with 800 million residents and 17,000 crimes reported daily. There, an addictive new drug called "Slo-Mo" has been introduced, which slows the user's perception of time to 1% of normal. The only force for order are the Judges, who act as judge, jury and executioner. Judge Dredd is tasked by the Chief Judge with evaluating new recruit Cassandra Anderson, a powerful psychic who failed the aptitude tests to be a Judge. In Peach Trees, a 200-storey slum tower block, drug lord Madeline Madrigal, also known as "Ma-Ma", executes three rogue drug dealers by having them skinned, infused with Slo-Mo and thrown down the atrium from the top floor. Dredd and Anderson are sent in to investigate and learn of a drug den, which they raid. They arrest a thug named Kay, whom Anderson's mind probe reveals to be the one who carried out the drug dealers' execution. Dredd decides to take him in for questioning. In response, Ma-Ma's forces seize the tower's security control room and seal the building, using its blast shields under the pretence of a security test, preventing the Judges from leaving or summoning help. Ma-Ma orders Dredd and Anderson killed, and the Judges fight their way through dozens of armed thugs. Arriving at the 76th floor, the Judges are assaulted by Ma-Ma and her men with Vulcan cannons that rip through the walls, killing numerous residents. The Judges breach an outer wall and are able to call for backup. Meanwhile, Ma-Ma sends her henchman Caleb to confirm the Judges' deaths, but when they meet, Dredd throws Caleb off the tower in full view of Ma-Ma. Dredd suspects Ma-Ma is desperate to keep Kay quiet and beats him for information. Anderson intervenes and uses her psychic abilities to read Kay's mind, learning that Peach Trees is the centre of Slo-Mo production and distribution. Anderson suggests they hide while awaiting assistance but Dredd insists they move up the tower and pursue Ma-Ma. Judges Volt and Guthrie respond to Dredd's call, but Ma-Ma's computer expert denies them entry by persuading them the call is part of the security drill. A pair of armed teens confront Dredd and Anderson, allowing Kay to disarm and overpower Anderson. Kay then escapes with her as hostage, and takes her to Ma-Ma's base on the top floor. While Dredd works his way towards Ma-Ma, she calls in the corrupt Judges Lex, Kaplan, Chan and Alvarez. The four relieve Volt and Guthrie from duty and are allowed into the building. Dredd encounters Chan and is suspicious that he does not ask about Anderson's status. Seeing his cover blown, Chan attacks Dredd, who kills him. Meanwhile, Kay tries to execute Anderson with her own weapon, but the pistol's DNA scanner does not recognize him and blows his arm off. Anderson escapes and later encounters Kaplan, whom she promptly kills after reading her mind. Elsewhere, Dredd kills Alvarez but runs out of ammunition, and is shot by Lex in the abdomen. Lex moves in to execute Dredd, but Dredd stalls him long enough for Anderson to arrive and kill Lex. Anderson and Dredd obtain the code to Ma-Ma's apartment from her computer expert and confront her. Ma-Ma tells Dredd that in the case of her death, a device on her wrist will detonate explosives on the top floors, destroying the building. Dredd reasons that the detonator's signal will not reach the explosives from the ground floor, so he forces Ma-Ma to inhale Slo-Mo and throws her down the atrium to her death. In the aftermath, Anderson accepts that she has failed her evaluation by getting disarmed, and leaves. The Chief Judge asks Dredd about Anderson's performance; he responds that she has passed.

Era/Year of Portrayal: distant_future
Distinctive characteristics of the world in portrayal:

Overpopulation has forced people live in gigantic sky scrapers that house 10s of thousands of people. These skyscrapers are totally monitored by the government but are controlled by local community leaders. In some cases, these leaders are criminals. High tech weaponry and security systems like automated steel doors everywhere. Seems to contain an advancement in automobile technology.

Technology

  • Name of portrayed presence-evoking technology: It is a narcotic called "Slo-mo" that's in mass production on the streets.
  • Description of the technology: When this drug is consumed, time is slowed to 1% from the perspective of the consumer. The example from the film on how this drug is used shows Mama, the character played by Lena Headey, using the drug in order to extend physical trauma felt by victims after they are skinned alive and dropped to a falling death from the top floor of her controlled skyscraper. She herself experiences this death in the climax of the film.
  • Nature of task or activity: Falling from the top of a skyscraper.
  • Performance of the Technology: Originally, I think the drug was designed to help people in some fashion, but I'm not sure if the reasons were mentioned. It is clearly stated that the drug is no longer being used within the context it was originally crafted for
  • Description of creator(s): I do not believe the creator of the drug is ever mentioned. We experience the effects the drug is having on the current world order.
  • Major goal(s) of creator(s): I believe it is never mentioned why "slo-mo" was created.
  • Description of users of technology: Most of the people experiencing the drug are poor, in bad health, addicts who owe money to Mama. They are anywhere between the ages of 16-50, as depicted by the film.
  • Type(s) of presence experience in the portrayal: spatial_presence
  • Description of presence experience: Time slows to 1% of actual speed. In the context of its use in the film, it allows the user to draw out the pain experienced at the time of death. The "slo-mo" effect doesn't change over the course of the film.
  • User awareness of technology during experience: They are aware at the time of "slo-mo" consumption. However, over the course of their experience, the film doesn't define whether they continue to be aware that they experiencing a drug. The visuals in the film persist that a very amplified euphoria is experienced.
  • Valence of experience: It's is used in the film to extend the pain of death, so the experience is not enjoyed.
  • Specific responses: Vomiting, fear, the pain of hell, faces calm as hindu cows, complete mental breakdown.
Long-term consequences:

The moral of the story is that this drug is bad for society. However, since the film never explored a positive use for the substance, it isn't known how the society post the events in Dredd could use the substance for health benefits. It should be especially noted that "slo-mo" could be used to extend the emotional experiences that are positive in life, such as sex and food consumption, on a primal level, as well as love, on the grander scale.

Other:

Coder name: Ry Patterson
Coder email: stopflingingshit@me.com
Coder affiliation: Temple University