REVIEWS scionability’ not only causes alarm in courses appear such as a feminist analy­ The fx are great: Mean Machine An­ many, particularly commercial, camps sis of the public/private construction of gel a highlight with his agro-dial and but lures some commentators into an male, female contributions in relation to very attractive steel-pipe body. The appeal to recognise that equitable reme­ de fa cto property disputes referred to in Megacity is a convincing conglomera­ dies are derived from one general princi­ the Commentary of Professor Marcia tion which makes you believe that it’s ple which gives rise to a variety of Neave on Professor Rebecca Bailey’s real. Special graffiti experts were hired particular applications within equity. This excellent paper ‘Property Disputes in to give the streets an authentic grubbi­ debate informs several of the papers. D e Facto Relationships: Can Equity ness, and it pays off. The only downer Many of the papers identify areas Still Play a Role?’. is the LawBringers, which have a tinny where equitable principles are now ‘ac­ Equity Issues and Trends is a valuable feel to them, kinda like some plastic on tive’ which at first glance appear novel contribution to appraisal of the location of a pair of wheels. applications. Professor Paul Finns’ ‘The equitable principles in the continuing The film pretty much skips over the Forgotten ‘Trust’: The People and the search to help people solve their problems entire issue of the fact that the Judges State’ is a wonderful exploration of the and offer a better remedy to those who are a totally fascist organisation, ruling concept of fiduciary and the notions of follow. It is to be hoped its academic by terror and doing basically whatever state responsibility to the citizen. This nature and style do not deter readers from they like in the name of their Law — is particularly topical in light of the the wide range of areas covered. which is encapsulated in a book looking decision of Toohey J in Mabo (No 2) suspiciously like a bible. They even and the republican debate which will SUSAN PHILLIPS seem like nice people at some points, gather increasing momentum as the Susan Phillips is a barrister and was for­ unheard of in the 2D world, where these centenary of federation nears. Familiar merly legal research officer for the Equity guys and gals are not nice, not fair, and debates from seemingly disparate dis- Division o f the NSW Supreme Court. definitely not role models. A superb episode of the comic de­ Judge Dredd tailed the rise of a civilian ‘democratic’ movement, where the entire city rose up Starring Sylvestor Stallone; Rated M. to claim their independence and to de­ mand democracy. They did not demand Judge Dredd is not a spunk. Especially and expert witnesses in this cyberverse, that the Judges be removed, but rather when lying in wait under that sexy latex they’re all built into the one person. that the people decide what’s best for gear is Sylvester Stallone. To help them in their crusade against themselves. This notion did not go Based on a phenomenally successful all evil-doers (which in the comic in­ down so well with the powers that be, comic, Judge Dredd has finally comes cluded litterers landing two years) the and Dredd played a central role in bring­ to the Big Screen. The rumour mill had Judges ride ‘LawMasters’, ultra-souped ing down the independence movement been promising it for years, and specu­ up cycles that are really tanks on two and restablishing control — but not lation about who would play the great wheels, and wield very deadly ‘Law- without some doubt. This was philoso­ man was rife, from Arnie to Jean- Bringers’, a gun which can just about do phy not often seen in the comic me­ dium, and evidently far too challenging Claude, but when the dust settled it was anything. And they wear the aforemen­ for the movie to deal with. Explosions Sly who emerged in the Versace de­ tioned sexy bullet-proof bodysuits with and rampaging robots hold sway whilst signed Judge’s gear. And a fine figure enormous shoulder pads and helmets your brain takes a brief holiday. he cuts too — has anyone ever stuck which only reveal a very square jaw. their chest out so much ? Armed with all this gear, a Judge is a The only philosophical moment comes when Rico and Dredd confront The film fairly quickly removes one of pretty forbidding character, and none one another (state on state, mate on the key comic elements — preserving more so than Dredd, the ultimate Judge mate, brother on brother). Rico, trying Dredd’s secret identity. Sly whips off his who has given his life to the Law. No to regenerate a zillion clones of himself, helmet at the first available moment, and emotions, no friends — as he so poeti­ cally puts it, he IS the Law. gives Dredd a choice — the clones leaves it that way for the majority of the could be ‘made to be Judges, call them film— must have been in the contract that The problem of course, is that so morons, or free-thinking individuals, we should be allowed to enjoy his ugly much power in one individual can lead call them . . . Human’. Gasp! He’s right! mug. But still, somehow, the film man­ to corruption. But then the film loses the plot again, as ages to be ok, and not betray the comic’s Which is precisely what happens Rico accuses Dredd, of all people, of intent too much. when a young upstart is angling for the being too Human and not reaching to be Dredd is a Judge, which basically Chief Judge position, and pretty quickly a God. Whew, for a moment the bad means h e’s a street-walking police gets there — simultaneously removing guys were making sense. force, courtroom, jury and executioner. ex-chief Sydow, imprisoning Dredd, And yet, despite the lack of philoso­ He and the other judges patrol the mean freeing his evil clone twin Rico, and phy, despite having Sly at the helm, and streets of the Megacities, huge sprawl­ bringing untold chaos to the city. Not a despite not wanting to, somehow the ing metropolii that are the last refuges bad day’s work. Luckily, Dredd returns, film was enjoyable. The piles of of city-dwelling humanity, keeping out and wreaks his own justice, with the 2000AD comics in the shed are prob­ the Cursed Earth and keeping in tens of help of obligatory love interest Judge ably rolling over in their grave to hear millions of people. A citizen guilty of Hershey. There are monstrous robots, someone say it, but Judge Dredd, the some offence is summarily dealt with, mutated headbutting machines, and a film, is ok. collared, judged on the spot, and sen­ vat full of Rico-clones, but none of that Christian McGregor wishes Devo would tenced. No need to deal with hung juries is enough to stop THE LAW. tour again.

VOL 20, NO 5, OCTOBER *1995 255