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Review #42: Predators.
4 soldiers, all from different armies, a Yakuza hitman, a Colombian gangster, a criminal and a doctor, all strangers, find themselves waking up in mid-airdrop and land in a jungle.
Quickly they learn that an unseen force is hunting them and have to team up with one another and find a way out of their predicament and out of the jungle before they’re killed off one by one.
It’s a happy return to a more serious Predator movie. AvP had almost killed off the franchise with the universe crossover that it failed to construct.
Rodriguez has taken all the things that were great with the Predator franchise and utilised it in the best way that he could have and has added new takes and expansion to the mix as well.
The writing is simplistic, but there are a few touches of originality in the storyline and the filmmakers have gladly kept to the original Legends as much as possible. They’ve also expanded only just enough to make it watchable for those who have never seen the original movies and make it an acceptable movie for the already existing Preds fans.
The action too is very Predator-esk. It’s loud, fast and exciting to watch and often appears out of nowhere.
The effects of the film are another welcome return. The CGI is utilised brilliantly and the ‘dogs’ seen in the film are certainly a threat and look the part too.
The acting is pretty standard for the type of movie. I was dubious about Adrien Brody in the lead role but he really encapsulates the no nonsense soldier role brilliantly.
A sexy Alice Braga with a gun, is also good to watch. Her @ss is awesome.
Walton Goggins is probably the best of the lot as the convict. He’s rather strange and plays the role with a memorable, ‘bull-sh*tter’ style.
The main fault with the movie is that the snot and gore has, to an extent, been toned down in place of more stylish violence.
There are scenes of blood and guts, just not as graphic as the original movie and certainly less than Predator 2, though I guess that’s Rodriguez’ way of making a movie.
The thing is though, it works and makes the movie memorable.
Many say that Predators is a re-run of the first movie and I’d agree, it feels very samey, almost being the Superman Returns of the Predator franchise, but Rodriguez’ and director Nimrod’s collaboration really does work very well.
All in all it’s a surprisingly good, if less gory re-run of Predator and expands the legend in all the right places and at just the right amount.
My rating is a well deserved 80%
4 soldiers, all from different armies, a Yakuza hitman, a Colombian gangster, a criminal and a doctor, all strangers, find themselves waking up in mid-airdrop and land in a jungle.
Quickly they learn that an unseen force is hunting them and have to team up with one another and find a way out of their predicament and out of the jungle before they’re killed off one by one.
It’s a happy return to a more serious Predator movie. AvP had almost killed off the franchise with the universe crossover that it failed to construct.
Rodriguez has taken all the things that were great with the Predator franchise and utilised it in the best way that he could have and has added new takes and expansion to the mix as well.
The writing is simplistic, but there are a few touches of originality in the storyline and the filmmakers have gladly kept to the original Legends as much as possible. They’ve also expanded only just enough to make it watchable for those who have never seen the original movies and make it an acceptable movie for the already existing Preds fans.
The action too is very Predator-esk. It’s loud, fast and exciting to watch and often appears out of nowhere.
The effects of the film are another welcome return. The CGI is utilised brilliantly and the ‘dogs’ seen in the film are certainly a threat and look the part too.
The acting is pretty standard for the type of movie. I was dubious about Adrien Brody in the lead role but he really encapsulates the no nonsense soldier role brilliantly.
A sexy Alice Braga with a gun, is also good to watch. Her @ss is awesome.
Walton Goggins is probably the best of the lot as the convict. He’s rather strange and plays the role with a memorable, ‘bull-sh*tter’ style.
The main fault with the movie is that the snot and gore has, to an extent, been toned down in place of more stylish violence.
There are scenes of blood and guts, just not as graphic as the original movie and certainly less than Predator 2, though I guess that’s Rodriguez’ way of making a movie.
The thing is though, it works and makes the movie memorable.
Many say that Predators is a re-run of the first movie and I’d agree, it feels very samey, almost being the Superman Returns of the Predator franchise, but Rodriguez’ and director Nimrod’s collaboration really does work very well.
All in all it’s a surprisingly good, if less gory re-run of Predator and expands the legend in all the right places and at just the right amount.
My rating is a well deserved 80%
