By Bryan Reesman
Special to MSN Movies

The new Judge Dredd reboot "Dredd" has finally been unleashed on the masses, and longtime acolytes can revel in the lawmaker's return to dispensing his hard-boiled brand of fascistic justice. The character first emerged in the U.K. press in 1977, and his exploits are still being printed today, but this is only his second time obliterating the big screen. The first was in the woefully misguided Sylvester Stallone vehicle from 1995, which was too Hollywood for its own good. Thankfully, the goofy jokes, impeccably polished uniforms and heroic fanfare have been excised in Pete Travis' film, which favors gallows humor, battle-worn Judges and urban decay.

Bing: More about 'Dredd' | More about Sylvester Stallone

For those who know nothing of Judge Dredd's world, here's the encapsulated breakdown: Hundreds of millions of people are jammed into consolidated megacities in America and beyond in a post-nuclear-war future. Judges keep the maddened, overcrowded populace in line by being judge, jury and executioner on the street. No due process necessary. Beyond the city walls of the East Coast-based Mega-City One, where Dredd lives and dispenses justice, is the radioactive and lawless Cursed Earth. It's not a pretty existence overall. And, thankfully, the new film depicts it right.

Here are 10 reasons why the new "Dredd" rules and will allow you to wipe the original movie from your memory banks. To top it off, the new Dredd himself, Karl Urban, weighs in on his epic new adventure. The movie is already approved by John Wagner, co-creator of the Judge Dredd character in '70s comics.

(Lionsgate)