Re: PREDATORS
just got back from the theater, my review trying not to let any cats out of the bag...some details, but not enough to ruin it for you, read if you choose....
<span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-weight: bold">PREDATORS</span></span> - worth the time and ticket price. from beginning to end, had action in it, without any of it getting out of reason. stayed VERY true to the original, although some of the scenes / situations were a bit <span style="font-weight: bold">too</span> similiar...but still done tastefully. i also thought it left the AVP movies in the dust. in my opinion, held true to the phylisophical theme that cunning - with a sprinkling of instinct, and doing what it takes to survive (sometimes having to get down and dirty) will overcome the situation you are in, if you really want to survive - both predator and prey.
<span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-weight: bold">STORY LINE</span></span> - is just as advertised: humans of a certain disposition (and worthiness) are abducted (more or less) by a civilization of aliens that enjoy the thrill of the hunt, even to the death. the humans are brought to a planet which is more or less a hunting ranch to give sport to the aliens.
the "hunt" seens were very good, however lacked some of the "cat and mouse styled stalking" characteristics of the 1st. i don't know if it was becuase we already know what is lurking around in the jungle, but it just seemed to lack some of the mystique of the 1st. to me it seemed that even the stalking feel of the 2nd movie had a more "huntyness" about it. i also had a feeling that technology and technological weapons had more precedence than the primitive "mano a mano" conflicts of the 1st and 2nd - but not enough to cheapen the movie.
on the other hand if there were no 1st movie, this sequel would have been championed on it's own merits. probably the best sequel to any movie i've seen, other than star wars / empire strikes back.
the effects were great, and they didn't spend alot of time on building up the characters, which was a plus in my book for the type of movie it is.
<span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-weight: bold">THE CHARACTERS</span></span> - by observing the way they carried themselves and mode of dress, it seemed that it was up to the viewer to determine the kind of character they have - just like the 1st. towards the middle of the flick, the characters are ones that you can get on board with, if ever being in that same situation. i thought the use of the F word was overdone, as if they were trying to be to make out the characters to be too much of badasses via cursing. not that a swear word is a bad thing, just too many too close together in my opinion. characters weapons - some easily identified, some not, some easily IDed although heavily modified. got to get the one that Royce had! there was a better than decent twist to the storyline using the characters, but nothing that turned it into a chic flick. i was never a fan of lawrence fishbourne, and i thought his screentime was well used. at first i thought Royce (aka, this films dutch) would have been a better james bond, but once again about mid film, got on board with his character. there was a slight connection with the first movie, but it was brief, well constructed, albeit a little too coincidental.
<span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-weight: bold">THE PREDATORS</span></span> themselves - found out more about "predator culture" and was subtle, but informitive enough to make it interesting and realistic. there were a few "new" things we found out about them and their breed, without it getting silly. also a few more predator weapons / tools were introduced, and kind of an explanation on how / why those weapons were developed, along with how certain tactics had made this race of aliens the successful predators they are. again, in a subtle enough way to make it believable. it had a certain flow about it. they kept the predators having that honorable, sporting way about them which was / is always welcomed.
there was only 1 descrepency i could see, and has to do with a nosebleed that suddenly got cured and no trace of blood, but that lends nothing to the overall plot or continuity of the scenes.
the background music was the same as the first, which was welcomed and added that "feel" to it all.
i like how the ending was, though i will make no mention of it other than i can't wait to see predatorS 2, if they decide to do it. and left the theater satisfied if not another one was made and they leave it as that.
<span style="text-decoration: underline"><span style="font-weight: bold">COMPARISON TO THE OTHER MOVIES</span></span> all in all very good, edging on great. DEFINATELY blows the AVP ones out of the water. if you think the first predator was the best, and predator 2 being second best, this edition either supasses predator 2, or ties with it. for me, if it had more of the "cat and mouse type of stalking" involved, it would be the 2nd best in the series, but for now, in my opinion, ties with P2 at second. as mentioned above, if this movie wasn't a sequel to another, it would be outstanding on it's own merits. go and see it, it is NOT a disappointment.
perhaps i'll feel differently after my 50th viewing
, and it'll rank 2nd place alone.
1. PREDATOR
2. PREDATOR 2 / PREDATORS - TIE, leaning towards predators
3. AVP Requiem
4. AVP
only question left is whom out of this movie is going to be elected to office?
