Well, bear in mind that I haven't actually -read- the 2000AD comic since the early 80's, and I wasn't an avid reader, so I'm basing my opinion on my faded memories, but it seems to me that the Stallone version had a far greater comic book feel to it. Everything was appropriately exaggerated, the ABC robot looked -awesome-, as did the Angel family. It gelled with my memories.
OK, they tried to do too much in the movie, it was a bit heavy on the comedy, and they committed the cardinal sin of taking Dredd's helmet off BUT, I still prefer it over Urban's version. The latter might be truer to the essentials of Dredd, but it didn't feel like a comic book movie to me. It was just another over-violent gore flick.
Violence is something the 2000 AD and Dredd Megazine series has never shied from, though sometimes they take it to a ludicrous extreme.
The Stallone version delved into Dredd's origins and revelations that he and Rico were from a cloning project, which does match up to Dredd's comic origins in that he and his clone brothers are created from Judge Fargo's DNA. Stallone version also gave us a version of Dredd vs Rico.
However the acting over all from everyone could have been better, Stallone from what I've read pretty much usurped control of the movie and his ego was the main reason the helmet rule was broken as well as the movie becoming more comedic.
Also the movie was going to be NC-17 rated until several edits and revisions brought it down to PG-13 after they attempted to make an R rated version.
Recent interviews with Stallone have him admitting they tried to do much with that movie. The Director has stated that he and Stallone clashed many times during production.
All interviews with John Wagner make it clear he feels they tried to do too much and that it wasn't Judge Dredd but a sci fi flick with Dredd elements pasted into it. Conversely Wagner did praise the 2012 movie and had his cameo in it, (during the chase at the beginning when Dredd goes by two citizens and one of them turns to watch the chase)
Karl Urban captured the character very well I thought. Granted it isn't always easy to act or convey some emotions when one's face is mostly concealed, on other hand Dredd isn't exactly the most open of characters in terms of emotion.
The fact that the 2012 version did not touch upon Dredd's origins was a bit of a surprise. It was simply a "day in the life of Judge Dredd". he's called in to assess Anderson and they end up taking down a crime cartel and Anderson gains some valuable experience and insight in how to be a Judge. Also Dredd was impressed with her which isn't an easy thing to achieve.
Another movie should mention Dredd's origins as a clone of Fargo and bring in Judge Death and end with setting the stage for the other Dark Judges to arrive.
