Predators!

Television, Movies Games and Books Other Science Fiction
#1

Just got back from watching it, and I pretty much liked it! I haven’t seen the original for several years, but my husband loved it as a kid and kept nudging me and pointing out all the callbacks in terms of music, shots, etc. (Io9 has an article pointing them out–kind of spoilers!) I agreed with a review I read the other day that said that it was very well paced, if not anything spectacular. I predicted one character twist, did not see another coming, and enjoyed seeing some familiar places as scenery. (Most prominently, Pedernales Falls State Park, used in at least two scenes, which is one of my favorite places to camp in Central Texas. Any time you see limestone, that’s where they are!)

I thought Adrian Brody had a little too much Christian Bale Batman-voice going on, but other than that really enjoyed his performance, which surprised me since I’ve never pictured him as an action movie guy. The other actors were also pretty good in their roles–even Topher Grace did his part to the hilt. There was a lot of good tension build-up, and some good moments of humor to keep it from boiling over. The character-building dialogue at the beginning felt a little ham-handed, but served its purpose and it got more natural feeling as the movie went on.

Also, explosions and fight scenes are always fun! And Laurence Fishburne… well, he’s Laurence Fishburne! Of course he’s going to steal the movie.

Anyone else seen it yet?

#2

I’m throwing in with Predators too. Of all the sequels I’d say this is the best, in terms of acting (yes, there is some acting in Predator movies contrary to popular opinion), storyline, and non-cheesiness. The actors were believable in their roles (no over the top-take you out of the movie scenes) and the effects were well done without taking over. As Sithwitch stated, there were a couple of great plot twists, and for fans of the original, several nice homage scenes. We even learn a little more about the Predator culture than we knew before, between the running and the shooting and the bloodletting (both the red and the green glow-in-the-dark varieties.)

#3

…such as everyone acting like the Predator was actually scarier than Sonny Landham, you mean? :rolleyes:

io9 had a couple great writeups on the movie:
Predators just might be the best action movie of summer
12 Predator homages to look out for in Predators - and 1 Alien shout out

#4

You want scary? Go see Knight and Day and watch Crazy Tom Cruise try to act like he’s not crazy as a spy who everyone thinks is crazy. Scary crazy, man.

#5

Sanaa Latham is hot…but yeah shouldnt have been in there. Preferred her to Requiem tho

This was indeed, a much better sequel…

#6

The only thing even remotely watchable about Requiem was Sam Trammell (aka Sam Merlotte, woot!) and the audience at our viewing bursting out laughing at the line, “But… they’re the government! They wouldn’t lie to us!”

This was fun in a non-ironic way AND watchable!

#7

It was fun, I loved the revisiting of the classic music from the first film. Hell they even threw in the music from the helicopter ride (first film) during the end credits.

I liked the idea of rival clans competing against each other, and I had heard rumors about the mechanical falcons but they only showed one briefly. The dogs were interesting…

The showdown between the one predator and the Yakuza was sweet, it is what I had wished would have happened in the first film when the scout stood his ground armed with nothing but a machete.

Speaking of Machete, that trailer has me totally psyched for the film! Michelle Rodriguez and Jessica Alba both together in a film, with violent action … it is like Sin City in full color!!! Sean Scream

Anyways I like the fact that the ending is left wide open for a sequel, in fact with all the new candidates seen parachuting in at the end they don’t even need to bring back Brody or Braga.