| 03 October 2010
I've devoured every piece of Predator media out there: films, comics, video games (I even played through the atrocious Predator 2 Sega Genesis game when I was a kid), fruit snacks, you name it. When I heard that Predators was coming out, I was skeptical just like everyone else. After all, those Aliens vs. Predator movies were downright lousy. Little did I know that this film is not only surprisingly good, but the first film since the first Predator to really capture my interest.
The first surprising fact about this film is the heavy hitters that helmed it: Robert Rodriguez developed the Predators script in 1994 (before Desperado was made), and also co-produced it, and it was directed by Nimród Antal (Vacancy). Its ensemble cast is just as impressive, starring Adrien Brody, Laurence Fishburne, Topher Grace, and Danny Trejo. Lastly, the film uses much of the score from the first film, which really brings you right back to 1987. Altogether, this star-studded team results in a film that's solidly produced and thoroughly engaging.
What made the first Predator so good was the fact that it was chock-full of surprises; a seemingly predictable jungle combat flick instantly turned into a sci-fi horror/survival movie that was filled to the brim with ingenuity. Without giving any of the story away (since that is what is most engaging about this film), I will say that it is the true spiritual successor to the first Predator, and that it presents just as many new questions as the first movie did over 20 years ago. Predators does have some lulls, and it's definitely not life-changing, but its high points make it worth it.
If you really liked the first Predator, I think you'll enjoy this new film as much as I did. It's full of homages to the original, and moves the series into many new directions while still remaining true to the franchise.
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