That's right, this time on Planet 8, we take on that ugly mutha f#@%! -The Predator! An iconic creature design, and a classic original film, your crew takes a look at not only that first film, but the maybe not so great films that followed!
The 1987 Predator, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, is one of the great sci fi action films, but the Predator itself went through many changes before we got the amazing alien hunter we see on screen. We'll go through all the mis-fires and how we eventually got the brilliant design from legendary Stan Winston and his team. Of course, you have to bring the suit to life, and we can't forget the portrayal of the Predator by the late Kevin Peter Hall. He gave the Predator a real sense of intelligence and personality.
The first film also featured a very entertaining cast as the special crack team of commandos. Besides Arnold as the leader, Dutch, there was Jesse Ventura, Bill Duke, Sonny Landham, and Carl Weathers. This strong set of characters contributes to the enjoyment of the film, so that the viewer is glued to the screen even when the Predator is not around.
Predator moves from action film to sci fi to horror and back around again, but does it flawlessly, with perfect pacing, keeping the suspense going in the early parts, right up to the final battle between Dutch and the Predator. It's hard to find fault in this film. Even Alan Silvestri's score is perfect!
However, the subsequent cinematic appearances of the Predator have never measured up to the first one. Predator 2, with Danny Glover, Gary Busey, Ruben Blades, Maria Conchita Alonso, and Bill Paxton, was set in Los Angeles in 1997 (released in 1990) and featured a new predator hunting in the sweltering city. While it's still fun seeing the Predator, it just isn't as interesting as the original. The cast doesn't gel as well. But there are some cool bits, especially towards the end when Glover faces the Predator and enters his spaceship.
The further we get away from the original, the more the quality suffers. AVP -Alien vs. Predator - seems like a sure fire concept, but it was a bit of a mess. AVP:Requiem -well, we didn't even rewatch it! 2010's Predators is somewhat entertaining, but we all agree, Adrien Brody was miscast as the tough special forces guy. It had some nice variations on the basic predator design though. But the worst of all the follow ups was 2018's The Predator - there are stories that this film was heavily rewritten and edited, but even so, good lord, what a terrible film.
While not an official Predator film, a flick we do love is the short film Batman: Dead End, which features the Dark Knight versus both Predators and Aliens. You can see it here on YouTube.
Will anyone ever be able to make another truly terrific Predator movie? What would it take? Is it just a limited concept? What do you think?
For our Sensor Sweep this time, Recon Office Karen shares one of her beloved pieces from her collection, her Sideshow Legendary Scale Bust of the unmasked Predator. This was produced in 2011 and is still available from certain stores and on eBay. It's about 16" high and has all the fine detail we've come to expect from Sideshow. So if you're a big fan of the Predator, you might want to hunt it down!
That's all for this time. Let us know what you think of the different Predator films, and what we discussed in this episode.
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I too, love the original Predator movie. Thanks for discussing it in auch entertaining detail.
ReplyDeleteHey Stevevilla! Glad you enjoyed it. It was a lot of fun to rewatch, research, and discuss. I just wish they could make a decent new film, but at least we always have the original!
ReplyDeleteWell, it had to happen sooner or later. You had to get to the Predator franchise, which, in my opinion, probably shouldn't even be a franchise since - as you all seem to agree - there's only one really good film in the whole lot. Personally, I never even bothered to see any of the others; I watched part of Predators on TV a few years ago, but there was nothing there to hold my interest.
ReplyDeleteAs for the one good film - damn, what a film it is. It's so well done, perhaps surprisingly so given how mediocre or downright bad so many action films in the 1980s seemed to be. I think the magic ingredients are a really strong script, great casting and, yes, Arnold. I agree that we probably wouldn't still be talking about this film all these years later if any other 1980s action film star had been cast in the main role.
On this topic, I can warmly recommend the Predator episode of Podcasta La Vista, Baby! (dedicated to Arnie's cinematic oeuvre). You can find it at this link. I still laugh whenever I think about their speculation that the Predator is actual that alien race's equivalent of one of those affluent American dentists or accountants who go on 'safari hunts' in Africa.
Anyway, great show everyone.
-Edo Bosnar
Hey Edo! Good to see you again. Yes, I think we do all agree that Arnold was a key ingredient in the 1st film. I can't imagine Stallone pulling off the role as successfully. I will have to check out that podcast you suggested- sounds hilarious!
ReplyDeletePredator was such a good movie. I don't need to say more.
ReplyDeletePredator II: AKA - Lethal Predator Weapon..., some good parts, but more bad. Awesome Ending.
Alien vs. Predator Dark Horse Comics, the first series was Incredible. Good Art, and a good Story
Alien vs Predator Movies: Both total lost opportunities.
Predators: for me, just a little better than Predator II. Karen was right about the Fisburn part - one giant glue trap.
The Predator: Cool Idea for the Predator species, but otherwise a Giant Shit Burger of a movie. Karen Scores again.
Keep up the good work Crew!
Kevin