Predators was one of the big summer movies this year that I was really looking forward to, but it's the one I didn't get to see in the theaters. Our baby-sitter, my mother-in-law, was in Australia at the time the movie hit Korea, so we missed it.
Finally saw it last night thanks to VoD. My wife and I watched it after our son was in bed.
All in all, I really liked it. It took the Predator concept in a new, if not exactly novel, direction. The story was well-paced, had some interesting characters, and some cool deaths (which is why we go see this kind of movie, really).
The only thing that really bugged me was that one tired old Hollywood cliche reared its ugly head.
Who's the first guy to die? The Mexican. Second? The black guy. Third, the other black guy. At least the Japanese guy survived until after the Russian and convict bit the dust. Yeah, it was noticeable.
I mean, come on! Even the original Predator had Jesse Ventura biting it first, and the two black guys later on. Predator 2 had the black guy survive!
Other than that quibble, it sure beats "Alien vs. Predator" (haven't seen AvP2...not sure I want to...).
Kinda late to the party on this one, so I'll keep it short. I think the above is about all I need to say about this movie.
I don't think I'll be actively seeking it out, and based on that one issue alone. It's really unforgiveable in 2010 and with the world as interconnected as it is today. And intelligent people are involved at every stage of production too. The movie business has the reach to do so much good, and clearly does a lot, but in my view actually does harm too. Thanks for the write-up - and the warning!
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen it, but love the original, like the second a lot, and did not really like AVP (and avoided that movie's sequel.) From everything I have heard Predators strikes me as a piece of fan-fiction written by a teen, and I have heard plot and character details that make me groan, but several people I know have also claimed it was decent or good, so I guess I ought to check it out! Can't be worse than AVP I suppose, and I just love these creatures.
ReplyDeleteI liked predators. avp2 was a sad, sad movie.
ReplyDeleteHaven't seen Predators yet. Its been a while since I've seen AVP 2, but I'm pretty sure I hated it less than the first AVP. All I really remember was that it took place in small town America. It might be good to watch while drinking and poking fun at it.
ReplyDeleteOh and I think that Jesse Ventura died first because he was a pro wrestler. I think that works into the survivability formula somehow and pro wrestler is somewhere near the very bottom of the totem pole, but still ranks above any character played by Bill Paxton.
AvP2 is infinitely more watchable than AvP1 was.
ReplyDeleteI liked AvP2 because for some odd reason I was actually cheering for the old Perdator who shows up to clean up the mess on Earth. As far as the people, I kept hoping most of them would get killed. Very forgetable characters.
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