I want to make one thing abundantly clear before I get started with this review. I liked the first Predator. I didn't love it. I just liked it. I was a bigger fan of the Alien series, particularly the first 2. I guess it was probably because the Alien movies were very character driven, with Ridley Scott and James Cameron both creating very memorable characters and Predator was more about archetypes and testosterone. So anyway, let's get on with it.
The movie starts off with a bang. Adrien Brody snaps awake in freefall and his parachute won't open. Within 10 minutes, we meet the whole ragtag group. In the tradition of the first Predator, you get your archetypes. You get the nerdy guy. You get the quiet guy. You have the leader. They are all being hunted.
Sound familiar? Yes, it's much like the first Predator. Which is a good thing. There really isn't much to the plot. But then again, I don't think it has to. This is a movie that knows what it wants to be. It wants to be like the first Predator, which really didn't have much of a plot but really just an excuse to string together action scenes and awesome kills. It was all about guns, muscles, and gore. This movie carries on in that tradition. And while I would normally rail on a movie for lack of plot, I somehow find it fitting.
I do have to say that I found the characters in this film to be quite a bit more endearing. Yes, they are still archetypes, but the movie spends a bit more time (albeit superficially) giving them genuine moments to shine. We're not talking about Hamlet here but for what is there, it works.
The Good
1. The Opening - I've already described it. What an awesome way to start a movie. Let's drop the audience right into a scene of a guy dropping in the sky.
2. Laurence Fishburn - his character was HILARIOUS and kind of sad at the same time. His appearance really adds something different at just the right time.
3. Japanese Dude w/ Katana vs. Predator - What a cool fight scene. Very reminiscent of the opening fight between Ryu and Sagat in the Street Fighter Anime.
The Bad
1. Predictable - yes I know that the plot and that it was trying to be like the first Predator, but it is a little too familiar. You can see the beats and reversals from a mile away.
2. Pacing - the movie has two settings - bat**** insane and snail pace. I'm not sure if it was bad editing or what but sometimes the movie just ground to a halt.
Overall, I liked the movie. After being disappointed with Terminator Salvation and the last 2 Alien movies, not to mention Predator 2's concrete jungle, I didn't have high hopes for this film. Thankfully, the movie instead goes back to the original to great success. But as Aliens built on the original Alien while adding more interesting characters, so too does this film. Which is probably why they decided to name it Predators, adding an S just as Cameron's entry into the Alien series did.
If you're looking for a great action movie, see The A-Team. But if it's not playing any more, go see Predators. But go with this caveat. Do not see this movie if you don't like the original Predator. It may not be your cup of tea.
I went with my Buddy who hyped it up as being the best movie of the year. I wasn't all that impressed once I finally watched it. It was just hard to take Adrien Brody seriously as an action hero. And the Topher Grace twist was just a little weird.
ReplyDeleteMy problem with Adrien Brody's character was the gruff voice. I think that if he didn't speak like that, his performance would have come out better. I definitely liked that he was the opposite of Ah-nold's Dutch character from the first one in that he was lean and fast. And I agree with the twist. Totally lame.
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