A little over 20 minutes, "Judge Minty" chronicles the retirement of the eponymous Mega City Judge and his survival in the post-apocalyptic wasteland of Cursed Earth. Apart from a short prologue it is a really long, visually stunning action sequence, bringing to life the gritty universe of the comic book. Edmund Dehn does a terrific job, bringing the old lawman to life with only a number of lines at his disposal. Budgetary limitations aside, it fleshes out characters and setting with strong performances, top-notch Visual SFX and an exemplary sound design. Watched this on a screening at a local Comics Festival (Comicdom Con - Athens 2013). Definitely a short film that should spread out and be seen...
10 Reviews
Nothing short of *fan*tastic --^--8.5/10---^--
Thrill_KillZ22 May 2013
I admit, there are far too many short films that I never seem to have the time to watch, between all of the feature length films, indie flicks & television series there is little room left. After catching this inspiring fan film "Judge Minty" I have made a vow to make some time in the future to ensure that I don't miss out on gems like this.
Oddly enough, what drew me in like a moth to a flame was the poster art, the rickety wooden sign exclaiming "NO LAW 2000 Miles". I didn't even check the runtime or plot summary, just went straight into it. The only drawback I found while watching was the unfortunate end. I could have easily sat through another hour based on the framework already laid down.
The story chronicles the retirement phase of one of the long standing judges of Mega-City, Judge Minty(Edmund Dehn),a secondary figure to Judge Dread from the comic book series. After an incident of slight indecision in the field almost cost him his life, he is given a choice where he can either live out his days teaching at the Academy or he can leave the city and walk alone, out into the lawless anarchy of Cursed Earth, most commonly referred to as "the long walk", a perilous journey in which he will live out the remainder of his days battling lawlessness in the post-apocalyptic wasteland of cursed Earth. A place teeming with dangerous threats & great evils, ranging from sub-human beings with the power of telekinesis, to savage creatures who have the ability to go unseen to the naked eye(Predator nod). And of course not to forget the man who made all of this come together so well, writer/director Steven Sterlacchini, way to go in making a very entertaining & visually stunning piece of film with limited resources.
I wasn't a particularly moved by any of the previous Judge Dread films, but this seems to carry more of a message than its predecessors, to go along with the uber-violent, chaotic action sequences that the "Dread" films carry. Best of all, it's FREE, a "for non-profit film" which is now available on youtube and various other streaming sites. So if you happen to have a half-hour to kill, this is undoubtedly a very cool way to burn it. -^-8.5/10-^-
Oddly enough, what drew me in like a moth to a flame was the poster art, the rickety wooden sign exclaiming "NO LAW 2000 Miles". I didn't even check the runtime or plot summary, just went straight into it. The only drawback I found while watching was the unfortunate end. I could have easily sat through another hour based on the framework already laid down.
The story chronicles the retirement phase of one of the long standing judges of Mega-City, Judge Minty(Edmund Dehn),a secondary figure to Judge Dread from the comic book series. After an incident of slight indecision in the field almost cost him his life, he is given a choice where he can either live out his days teaching at the Academy or he can leave the city and walk alone, out into the lawless anarchy of Cursed Earth, most commonly referred to as "the long walk", a perilous journey in which he will live out the remainder of his days battling lawlessness in the post-apocalyptic wasteland of cursed Earth. A place teeming with dangerous threats & great evils, ranging from sub-human beings with the power of telekinesis, to savage creatures who have the ability to go unseen to the naked eye(Predator nod). And of course not to forget the man who made all of this come together so well, writer/director Steven Sterlacchini, way to go in making a very entertaining & visually stunning piece of film with limited resources.
I wasn't a particularly moved by any of the previous Judge Dread films, but this seems to carry more of a message than its predecessors, to go along with the uber-violent, chaotic action sequences that the "Dread" films carry. Best of all, it's FREE, a "for non-profit film" which is now available on youtube and various other streaming sites. So if you happen to have a half-hour to kill, this is undoubtedly a very cool way to burn it. -^-8.5/10-^-
Judge Minty proves there is life outside of the Dredd IsoCube
joebloggscity8 September 2013
This short film, made by a set of fans, is a very pleasant surprise.
Don't expect shakiness and jerky camera work, this is actually very well put together with some great special effects. Granted it's obviously done on a very low budget, and it shows, but never denies to be otherwise. Despite that, it works very well without falling into a trap of B-movie unintended hilarity.
A fine lead by Edmund Dehn in this short and dark judgement story in the 2000AD world. The film is an exercise to bring out a short story from the Dredd franchise that would appeal to many without the need for elaborate sets & complicated stories.
It's a very good effort. With a bigger budget, support and time it could have been expanded to something greater but just bear in mind that this is a small scale product.
I liked it, and wish the producers of this all the best in the next efforts which I'll keep an eye out for.
Don't expect shakiness and jerky camera work, this is actually very well put together with some great special effects. Granted it's obviously done on a very low budget, and it shows, but never denies to be otherwise. Despite that, it works very well without falling into a trap of B-movie unintended hilarity.
A fine lead by Edmund Dehn in this short and dark judgement story in the 2000AD world. The film is an exercise to bring out a short story from the Dredd franchise that would appeal to many without the need for elaborate sets & complicated stories.
It's a very good effort. With a bigger budget, support and time it could have been expanded to something greater but just bear in mind that this is a small scale product.
I liked it, and wish the producers of this all the best in the next efforts which I'll keep an eye out for.
Excellent short capturing the spirit of the comic.
peterobinson-7665115 October 2019
Warning: Spoilers
A 27 minute short that starts in Mega city one, and which takes you to the cursed earth, it really is a film of two halves. The first few minutes are set in an extremely impressive looking MC1, with the events that lead up to an aging judge taking the long walk into the Cursed Earth, and the action and effects are really good for such a low budget. The final two thirds are set outside the city walls, in a suitably dystopian looking post apocalyptic hellscape, where he is tracked and attacked by some 'crazies' who want to add another judges kit to their collection of trophies.
The film looks superb, and Judge Minty is well fleshed out given the time constraints, with good practical and GCI effects which bely the budget. The films main let down is some sub-par (by comparison) editing in the final action sequences, with rather sketchy continuity, a very labourious and not particularly well choreographed fist fight.. It could certainly di with a few extra minutes on the climax, and some more seasoned hands taking care of the editing.
Overall, however, the film is much closer to the ethos of the comic than the big budget Dredd movies. The crazies were suitably ... crazy looking, the uniforms were very close to the original art, and I loved the addition of some of the old comic staples, such as the trached Killdozer (from the Cursed Earth saga) and the Gila Munja. The story, such as it is, is fairly thought provoking in some ways, and the downbeat, bleakly optomiistic feel of the ending is about right for the source material.
A solid 7, which would have been even higher if the few niggles had been less noticeable, but i'd even give it an extra half star if I could just because I noticed in the titles that some of it was filmed at Tout Quarry, Portland, which is literally a ten minute walk from my house!
Well done to all involved.
The film looks superb, and Judge Minty is well fleshed out given the time constraints, with good practical and GCI effects which bely the budget. The films main let down is some sub-par (by comparison) editing in the final action sequences, with rather sketchy continuity, a very labourious and not particularly well choreographed fist fight.. It could certainly di with a few extra minutes on the climax, and some more seasoned hands taking care of the editing.
Overall, however, the film is much closer to the ethos of the comic than the big budget Dredd movies. The crazies were suitably ... crazy looking, the uniforms were very close to the original art, and I loved the addition of some of the old comic staples, such as the trached Killdozer (from the Cursed Earth saga) and the Gila Munja. The story, such as it is, is fairly thought provoking in some ways, and the downbeat, bleakly optomiistic feel of the ending is about right for the source material.
A solid 7, which would have been even higher if the few niggles had been less noticeable, but i'd even give it an extra half star if I could just because I noticed in the titles that some of it was filmed at Tout Quarry, Portland, which is literally a ten minute walk from my house!
Well done to all involved.
Mint.
BA_Harrison7 May 2013
As much as I enjoyed Dredd (2012), I did struggle a little with Mega City One's 'realistic' aesthetic, and to a lesser extent, the practical design of the judges' uniforms and their new-look lawmasters. What fan-film Judge Minty proves is that, even when working on a very tight budget, the unmistakable visual style of 2000AD's greatest strip need not be compromised. Mega City One is exactly as it should be; the Judges' uniforms retain the iconic gold shoulder pad and the eagle; the lawmaster looks exactly like it did in the comic. And it works. Brilliantly.
Put simply, director Steven Sterlacchini, his cast and crew have worked miracles, their obvious passion for all things Dredd shining through in every frame; the attention to detail is stunning, the effects are great and the plot, although simple, is guaranteed to please long time fans of the comic strip, with the action taking place both on the streets of Mega City One and the wastelands of The Cursed Earth. Watching Judge Minty, one cannot help wonder what these guys might have achieved with more money at their disposal; someone should give them a chance to show us...
I'm so impressed, I'm giving this a rating of 8.5/10 (rounded up to 9 for IMDb), which is actually higher than I gave Dredd!!!
Put simply, director Steven Sterlacchini, his cast and crew have worked miracles, their obvious passion for all things Dredd shining through in every frame; the attention to detail is stunning, the effects are great and the plot, although simple, is guaranteed to please long time fans of the comic strip, with the action taking place both on the streets of Mega City One and the wastelands of The Cursed Earth. Watching Judge Minty, one cannot help wonder what these guys might have achieved with more money at their disposal; someone should give them a chance to show us...
I'm so impressed, I'm giving this a rating of 8.5/10 (rounded up to 9 for IMDb), which is actually higher than I gave Dredd!!!
*NOT* a Fan Film
Captain_Roberts6 May 2013
When I think of "Fan Films" I think of low budget productions put together on a shoelace...that LOOK like it.
This is not a "Fan Film". This is an independent film made by fans. The difference is the quality. Perfectly acted, with breathtaking visuals, this is something that left me wanting more from these folks. I want another film in the Judge Dredd universe.
Seriously, the only disappointment is that Greg Staples has no chin and should NEVER be shot in profile if being used as Dredd.
Judge Minty follows the retirement, and long walk journey into the Cursed Earth. Never has the Cursed Earth looked this good. This 27 minute movie has it right where an entire Hollywood production couldn't even take a single correct step.
This is not a "Fan Film". This is an independent film made by fans. The difference is the quality. Perfectly acted, with breathtaking visuals, this is something that left me wanting more from these folks. I want another film in the Judge Dredd universe.
Seriously, the only disappointment is that Greg Staples has no chin and should NEVER be shot in profile if being used as Dredd.
Judge Minty follows the retirement, and long walk journey into the Cursed Earth. Never has the Cursed Earth looked this good. This 27 minute movie has it right where an entire Hollywood production couldn't even take a single correct step.
Thought provoking comic book movie
breakdownthatfilm-blogspot-com19 May 2013
The world of Judge Dredd is not a happy one. This has been proved three times now - Judge Dredd (1995), Dredd (2012) & Hardware (1990). All of which display the same kind of dystopian society with the worst crime rates around and the only law enforcement around are Judges from the hall of justice. But the question is, did anyone ever think of what would happen when a judge loses his sense of right and wrong? This is what happens to the character of Judge William Minty.
Judge Minty is a veteran at the hall of judges and has served a long time on the crime-ridden streets of the old world. However, it is when he begins to wonder if he can change the people he fights by giving them second chances, that ends up making him unreliable. It is because of this, he is forced to leave and begin the long walk among the cursed earth. This is where things become interesting because so far in film (based on this particular comic), there hasn't been a story that focuses on judge that is forced to walk the cursed Earth.
For a short film, this plays out very strong. Everything from the production design to special effects is good for the budget that it had. Steven Sterlacchini's direction (as well as co-written screenplay) was well executed. The dialog is very thought provoking as well as disheartening because how relateable Judge Minty is a character. The actor who plays Minty, Edmund Dehn, is the reason why the role of Minty feels more human than most characters. Dehn isn't a Hollywood blockbusting actor. He's a normal man playing an unknown role. What makes him contrast to Judge Dredd is just how Dredd doesn't think about his actions. Dredd follows the law and that's it, no questions asked.
The music provided by Phil Oates was decent too. It did convey the right tones but perhaps not as much as I had expected. That's only because the material that Minty focused on is a touchy subject so I thought the music would have been the same too. But what makes this film stand out from others is that it focuses on the possibility of mending poisoned minds. Is it worth the time to help? Or is it easier just to do things the old fashioned way? Again, it's a short film so I'm not giving a full score but still, a very good film.
By shifting the focus to a more human level, Sterlacchini's extended play short film brings up some controversial questions and makes the viewer wonder if what is being done today is right or not, for the same issue.
Judge Minty is a veteran at the hall of judges and has served a long time on the crime-ridden streets of the old world. However, it is when he begins to wonder if he can change the people he fights by giving them second chances, that ends up making him unreliable. It is because of this, he is forced to leave and begin the long walk among the cursed earth. This is where things become interesting because so far in film (based on this particular comic), there hasn't been a story that focuses on judge that is forced to walk the cursed Earth.
For a short film, this plays out very strong. Everything from the production design to special effects is good for the budget that it had. Steven Sterlacchini's direction (as well as co-written screenplay) was well executed. The dialog is very thought provoking as well as disheartening because how relateable Judge Minty is a character. The actor who plays Minty, Edmund Dehn, is the reason why the role of Minty feels more human than most characters. Dehn isn't a Hollywood blockbusting actor. He's a normal man playing an unknown role. What makes him contrast to Judge Dredd is just how Dredd doesn't think about his actions. Dredd follows the law and that's it, no questions asked.
The music provided by Phil Oates was decent too. It did convey the right tones but perhaps not as much as I had expected. That's only because the material that Minty focused on is a touchy subject so I thought the music would have been the same too. But what makes this film stand out from others is that it focuses on the possibility of mending poisoned minds. Is it worth the time to help? Or is it easier just to do things the old fashioned way? Again, it's a short film so I'm not giving a full score but still, a very good film.
By shifting the focus to a more human level, Sterlacchini's extended play short film brings up some controversial questions and makes the viewer wonder if what is being done today is right or not, for the same issue.
Hollywood, watch and learn.
SamuelSpade9 January 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Just how did these guys, with no doubt a very tight budget and limited resources get it so right when two Hollywood efforts got it wrong (so wrong with Stallones version)? I think the reason is that they know and love the characters, history and idea behind Judge Dredd and his world, they did not compromise when it came to the basics, like the uniforms, the bikes and the city (admittedly a very big basic).
Judge Minty is a character from Dredd's past, and I remember reading his story many years ago in 2000AD, I also remember wishing someone would make a film or TV series about Dredd and the world he inhabits, Stallones film was dire, Urban at least understood the character but this short film leaves both previous films for dead, you would have forgiven the makers if they had shot the entire thing in the Cursed Earth, but no, the first part of the film is based in Mega City 1, and the visuals are excellent, the action outside the city walls shows the desolation of the cursed Earth and highlights the vulnerability of even a experienced Mega city lawman, he is on his own. I give this 9/10. like others have pointed out, this films Judge Dredd is in urgent need of a chin, other than that small niggle I can't and will not fault it.
Hollywood, watch and learn.
Judge Minty is a character from Dredd's past, and I remember reading his story many years ago in 2000AD, I also remember wishing someone would make a film or TV series about Dredd and the world he inhabits, Stallones film was dire, Urban at least understood the character but this short film leaves both previous films for dead, you would have forgiven the makers if they had shot the entire thing in the Cursed Earth, but no, the first part of the film is based in Mega City 1, and the visuals are excellent, the action outside the city walls shows the desolation of the cursed Earth and highlights the vulnerability of even a experienced Mega city lawman, he is on his own. I give this 9/10. like others have pointed out, this films Judge Dredd is in urgent need of a chin, other than that small niggle I can't and will not fault it.
Hollywood, watch and learn.
Let me be the judge of that
Horst_In_Translation25 May 2017
Warning: Spoilers
"Judge Minty" is a 27-minute (live) action short film from 2013, so this one will have its 5th anniversary next year already. It is the first filmmaking effort by writer and director Steven Sterlacchini and his second is following these days. But back to this one here, it is basically about a judge on a rampage, so the connection to Judge Dredd (not just the one in the title) is undeniable. Besides that, however, it is just a pretty generic action short film that offers very little in terms of story-telling. The deficits there also have as a consequence that the actors (including lead actor Edmund Dehn) just don't have the material to shine here unfortunately. It does not even ooze coolness sadly, which could have elevated the material a bit like in one or the other Tarantino film. So yeah with the quality of this one, I cannot say I am too curious about Sterlacchini's next works, but I sure hope he managed to step up his game in the past couple years will keep doing so in the years to come. Final note: The very last scene reminded me a bit of Batman vs. Joker. I don't recommend the watch. Thumbs down.
Absolute utter trash!
Jay_Rusty14 April 2024
Warning: Spoilers
They couldnt find a gayer name for the main protagonist other than Minty?!
Every thing about this short is really really bad, the main protagonist old man is really a bad actor but he looks like Marlon Brando compared to the other "actors" in this fiasco! The main villain is some Mad Max / Jamiroquaï reject with some vague u explained powers ... and what was also up with the unexplained Predator-esque invisi-lizard things?!
They have obviously thrown a lot of ideas at the wall and none of them seem to stick! The only maybe good thing about this is some interesting locations and some production values here & there but that's about it!
In summary: Extremely mediocre effort. Highly forgettable and not recommended!
Every thing about this short is really really bad, the main protagonist old man is really a bad actor but he looks like Marlon Brando compared to the other "actors" in this fiasco! The main villain is some Mad Max / Jamiroquaï reject with some vague u explained powers ... and what was also up with the unexplained Predator-esque invisi-lizard things?!
They have obviously thrown a lot of ideas at the wall and none of them seem to stick! The only maybe good thing about this is some interesting locations and some production values here & there but that's about it!
In summary: Extremely mediocre effort. Highly forgettable and not recommended!
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