(Ed. Note: Today's blog is a departure, as it is a review. The original "Predator" was the 1st R-rated movie I saw in the theater, down in IA in 1987 during a family reunion. It was acceptable to see, at age 13, b/c there were no boobies. Natch. Sufficed to say, this film holds a dear place in my heart)
Let's forget, for a minute, that this film spawned a ridiculous franchise. That people pitted them against "Aliens". Superman. Batman. Dennis the Menace. Pretend for a second, that this is a simpler time. When what was to become a cult-hit, was just a really solid sci-fi/horror/action film. A true film of the 80's:
An elite team of soldiers is sent to the jungle with a "clear" mission to rescue captives deep in the jungle, aided by an old friend-turned-CIA agent with "unclear" motives. Their roles were all established. You saw their camaraderie. (This wasn't a showboat for Arnie, after all!) You got how they worked as a team. Puns were dropped like pocket change ("Stick around!") A former governor said that "There wouldn't be Blood". And when the smoke cleared, there was an uneasy sense that nothing had been accomplished.
And there was something watching them. And the s#it hits the fan. As they start to get picked off, one by one. And they don't...know...what's...out there.
A lot of you know the rest. Choppa's were gotten to. Motherf#ckers were called "ugly". In Arnold's storied career, he's only been killed as a bad guy once. (With all other deaths being "sacrificial" in nature- Culminating with his 22 foot long jump to sword impalement in "End of Days".) Well s#it, here the guy survives a nuclear explosion at close range, natch!
Then we get a lukewarm, if not anticipated sequel which was...okay. And then a franchise player is born. And the Predator had to be explained. And to brawl another franchise player (The "Alien" from "Aliens". A "xenomorph". Oops. Nerd-outed myself.) And here is where I'll start my review of "Predators" properly.
The Good:
Sequels/Prequels can be dicey at best. If they work, they keep the tone in tact with some of the basic plot points of the original. Veer too far off course or mess with the formula and you have a mess. (Even "Sex in the City 2" had this problem...I heard) It may never be as successful, but you can at least try to emulate it without aping it. And this is where I think "Predators" works the best.
The film starts with our main protagonist (Royce, played by Adrien Brody) waking up while free-falling without, it appears, a parachute. (Effectively done, too) He later meets the rest of the "protagonists" who all appear to be a group of hard-asses from various parts of the world. What happens next, is the uncomfortable alliance while our group tries to piece together where they are (at first, thinking they are in some nameless jungle) how they came to be there (the only thing any of them remembers is a flash of light before falling. Again, no backstory needed. Boom. There they are) and eventually, how to survive. (Without spoiling too much, the first scene with the hunting dogs is an intense prelude of what's to come)
What works-
The filmmakers worked hard to capture the feel of the original movie, from the lush tropical landscapes to the weird anamorphic diffusion on long shots almost giving it a dreamy quality. Along with a score that mirrors Alan Silvestri's original, and subtle conversational throwbacks ("You're one ugly motherf#cker" is said, just not they way you expect. Also, another lampooned line is brought back for what can only be pure nostalgia) The panic, reluctance to follow one and other, and foreboding sense of dread give the film a tense feel that moves forward without being bogged down with long periods of dialog or montages showing how they're going to beat the aliens.
Credit should also go to Adrien Brody and Alice Braga (who holds her own throughout) Brody has worked in such as varied and strange array of films since his Oscar win, trying on many hats. (The quiet indie "Darjeeling Limited". Being overshawdowed by a monkey in "King Kong". A scientist in "Splice".) Here, he seems to be channeling his inner Clint Eastwood or Robert Loggia, speaking his lines in a gruff (kind of weird) raspy manner.
What doesn't work-
Everyone falls into line fairly quickly, and the deductions as to what they're up against is far too pat. There is a shoehorned plot point that calls back the original that feels shoehorned in to get the message across that "yes, we're making a sequel to the original". Also, here is a team of badasses with high caliber firepower. Annnnd the death row inmate with a shiv. And Topher Grace. (Who is funny, don't get me wrong. But the whole film I was waiting for him to be either bait/dead meat, which without a gun he should have been. Or some sort of red herring/plot point who would be "more dangerous than the rest". And when that happens...it's...eh. Also, wasn't there a bit in the 1st two movies about not having a gun on you being a good thing when you were hunted because there was "no sport"?)
Quibbles, mostly.
If you are a fan of the original. If you like sci-fi/action/horror. You'll probably really enjoy this film.
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