This is an action/sci-fi/horror/thriller movie
Last April there was a story about how renown theoretical black hole physicist and media grabber Stephen Hawking said something to the effect of: "aliens are out there and likely looking to conquer, colonize, and exploit". For reasons I don't need to explain, this got alot of people across the globe all riled up.
Why I believe this title to be apropo is: the plot of this movie is about the worst case scenario for what "ET" may have in mind for us. I find it to be a bit of dark morbid humor... really black as night humor, intentional or not.
After the gigantic list of talents that the recent repugnant Jonah Hex displayed and squandered, and the rapid decline of the Alien series after Cameron's departure, there's no sure bet when it comes to franchises.
But we all know that since the original Predator was such a box office phenomenon, and a cornerstone of the governator's monumentally successful career in film, this was/is a blazing hot property. Add that up with Robert Rodriguez producing, and when you start throwing around names like Adrien Brody and Laurence Fishburne - expectations begin to get pretty high.
The film starts off as just about any other cliche monster chase movie (with a bit of an original twist); but overall, on first impressions it particularly reminded me of the dreadful
Anaconda series (I suppose because most of it takes place in "the jungle"). So initially I found myself thinking "great, more money and time wasted". To my great relief, that's about where the similarities ended. The one place where it does follow that normal formula is when "the token black guy" dies first (I mean it's a little bit better than that simplistic, but not much)... I am always amazed and taken aback that this stereotype has persisted. Then I find myself thinking "maybe people just expect it, so producers and directors stick it in". Well, the verdict is out on this, but like it or not, it's in there.
Alright, without giving away the entire plot and characters: you end up with a group of right tough sons o' bitches (they're all the best of the best military or other "talented" individuals) running around in the jungle fighting for their survival. Adrien Brody's character of course becomes the leader. Things get more complex toward the end of the film, and this is where
Predators begins asking the big questions like "how far does one go to preserve their own survival?", and "where does one lose his or her humanity?". This deeper, more complex and multi faceted story is what sets
Predators apart from the standard fare in this genre, and those god awful
Alien Vs. Predator or
Resident Evil movies. It is really much more original and meaningful than anything I've seen in this genre for quite a long time, and Brody's talents are not at all squandered. I even found myself being reminded of
Jurassic park in moments.
I'll give the
story 4 out of 5 cg/set design/cinematography/costuming The film mostly takes place running through the jungle. They're in some old growth tropical rainforests for a fair part of the time - giant twisted trees. Must have been on location, because alot of the trees would have been too expensive to create artificially. Now the animation of the predators has obviously taken a step, make that a giant leap up from the original film, though it seems most of them are done practically. Of course the transluscent "active camo" effect that blew us all away in the original has been greatly exploited and taken to a whole new level. Anyway, visually, it's a relatively impressive movie. They have a ship, (The Predators) and you get to see some "other worlds" too. The only thing that looked sort of fake to me were some of the explosions, which I thought may have even been done stylistically and purposefully. And if you were hoping for any hot babes or boobs, there's only one woman in the whole movie and she's incredibly dirty, grungy, and sweaty throughout the whole film. There is however, oh damn I can't remember her name, but it's a great joke... it's a naked tattoo on one of the guys chests in a moment of comic relief.
Characters Royce (Adrien Brody): The character is essentially the type A badass of all badasses. Bringing fine acting chops and dense credibility to anything he is in. The majority of his screentime,
he's a monotone survivalist, but becomes a decent human being in the end.
4 out of 5 Edwin (Topher Grace): There probably isn't a better actor out there able to play a slimy unlikable coward, and he doesn't dissapoint. For what he is and what he does
4 out of 5 Isabelle (Alice Braga) She is the only woman in the fold, and remains the warmth and the heart throughout. Probably the most likable character.
4 out of 5 Noland (Laurence Fishburne) The long time survivor and scavenger with his imaginary friend - most likely meant as a cameo for Schwarzenegger, he is a welcomed presence in this and any film
4 out of 5 All the other characters are worth mentioning, but this is enough to get everyone primed. Undoubtedly based on
The Most Dangerous Game, fans of the original will be satiated and those new to the series should be highly entertained. A very very solid and well executed production. Definitely see it, just don't take the little ones.
4 out of 5