I can honestly say this is my favourite entry in the Alien/Predator franchise since the original Predator in 1987. It completely restored validity to the Predator series that was called into question with the release of Alien VS Predator and Requiem.
Predators touches on some Grindhouse conventions without slipping into the cheesiness of it. I can only imagine what good it would have done for the franchise if this had been the sequel to Predator, and Predator 2, AVP and Requiem all faded away like a bad dream, then the time wasted on those was put to better use continuing the vein of this and the original. (Let it be known that I actually like the AVP films more than most people).
There's plenty of actors to take note of; Adrien Brody (The Pianist, King Kong, Splice) as Ex- Black Ops Mercenary Royce, whom both emulates Schwarzenegger and takes the lead in a new direction; Danny Trejo (Machete, Death Race 2) as Chuchillo who's a brutal enforcer from the Los Zetas drug cartel in Mexico; Oleg Taktarov (Rollerball, Righteous Kill) as Nikolai, Russian Heavy Weapons Spetsnaz Alpha Group commander (whom my friend Calum introduced me to, he's a fan of the guy from his UFC days); Laurence Fishburne (Apocalypse Now, The Matrix) as Noland, a US Air Cav. soldier who's survived for a long time before the others even arrive, and has already killed at least two predators, and Topher Grace (Spider- Man 3, That 70's Show) as Edwin, a doctor whom doesn't seem to fit in with the band of elite killers that have dropped from the sky. All these kids are always worth watching, but I was also introduced to Walton Goggins (House of 1000 Corpses, The World's Fastest Indian) I've watched movies he's been in before, but never really took note of him until Predators in which he played death-row mass-murderer Stans, and he was bloody brilliant, and hilarious to boot.
Though there were some obvious problems with character relations and developments, that can be a problem with the set-'em-up-and-knock-'em-down type of film that Predators had to have. Unfortunately the major issue I have with Predators just plain plays it too safe. Though I majorly enjoyed it, Predators could have been even better if it took further in the directions it was looking in. They took some great steps, and hopefully we'll see director Nimrod Antal (Armored, Vacancy) and Producer Robert Rodriguez (From Dusk till Dawn, Sin City) come back and take the Predator franchise in the direction that it deserves to be taken.
Everything old about Predators is right, everything new about Predators is amazing, there's room for improvement to be sure, but I don't think I'll ever get sick of Predators, which is the absolute most impressive thing I can hope to get from a movie. Ever.
81%
-Gimly
Predators touches on some Grindhouse conventions without slipping into the cheesiness of it. I can only imagine what good it would have done for the franchise if this had been the sequel to Predator, and Predator 2, AVP and Requiem all faded away like a bad dream, then the time wasted on those was put to better use continuing the vein of this and the original. (Let it be known that I actually like the AVP films more than most people).
There's plenty of actors to take note of; Adrien Brody (The Pianist, King Kong, Splice) as Ex- Black Ops Mercenary Royce, whom both emulates Schwarzenegger and takes the lead in a new direction; Danny Trejo (Machete, Death Race 2) as Chuchillo who's a brutal enforcer from the Los Zetas drug cartel in Mexico; Oleg Taktarov (Rollerball, Righteous Kill) as Nikolai, Russian Heavy Weapons Spetsnaz Alpha Group commander (whom my friend Calum introduced me to, he's a fan of the guy from his UFC days); Laurence Fishburne (Apocalypse Now, The Matrix) as Noland, a US Air Cav. soldier who's survived for a long time before the others even arrive, and has already killed at least two predators, and Topher Grace (Spider- Man 3, That 70's Show) as Edwin, a doctor whom doesn't seem to fit in with the band of elite killers that have dropped from the sky. All these kids are always worth watching, but I was also introduced to Walton Goggins (House of 1000 Corpses, The World's Fastest Indian) I've watched movies he's been in before, but never really took note of him until Predators in which he played death-row mass-murderer Stans, and he was bloody brilliant, and hilarious to boot.
Though there were some obvious problems with character relations and developments, that can be a problem with the set-'em-up-and-knock-'em-down type of film that Predators had to have. Unfortunately the major issue I have with Predators just plain plays it too safe. Though I majorly enjoyed it, Predators could have been even better if it took further in the directions it was looking in. They took some great steps, and hopefully we'll see director Nimrod Antal (Armored, Vacancy) and Producer Robert Rodriguez (From Dusk till Dawn, Sin City) come back and take the Predator franchise in the direction that it deserves to be taken.
Everything old about Predators is right, everything new about Predators is amazing, there's room for improvement to be sure, but I don't think I'll ever get sick of Predators, which is the absolute most impressive thing I can hope to get from a movie. Ever.
81%
-Gimly