Predator reboot - Predators

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Predator reboot - Predators

It was LF during the one scene where he told Brody to turn around. But the scene w/ Danny Trejo tied up, it was the Predators. They have voice copying software in their helmets that copies the hunted which is used as a way of baiting whomever their after.

Right, I knew that. I was talking about the scene with LF where it sounds like there's multiple Predators mimicking them and surrounding them.

[J_Posse]

Re: Predator reboot - Predators

I would of thought more people would've enjoyed the film. It's basically the first film on an alien planet with more Predators. Just like Aliens is Alien, but with more creatures and marines instead of doctors fighting them. The movie is cliched, but all action/sci-fi films are layered with cliches and predictable characters.

I enjoyed the film. I liked that they attempted to expand upon the mythos of Predators by adding different a "clan" or species. Maybe that would help explain why this "Super" Predator would decide to hunt and stalk their pray in such a different fashion. Also, the evolution of their skills and abilities could have caused the conflict and physical changes between the two clans or species.

I think that the backgrounds of the characters weren't "fleshed out" more because it wasn't completely necessary. What do we really know about the characters in the original movie and their life back home? Nothing, because it isn't usually necessary for a sci-fi film about a hunting alien. Still, I thought that with the little information they did give explained plenty about the characters and their motivations.


But, the thing I enjoyed about the feel was its underlying theme. Our humanity. Our humanity is what separates us from every other being on our planet. From their actions on Earth and the lives they led (assassins, gangsters, murders, etc.) they had become like the very creatures hunting them. Heartless, thoughtless killing machines and that led to their being chosen.

They all could've stuck to Adrien Brody's character mind-set (Darwinism) and remained on their own and been slaughtered. Yet, you saw them slowly realize that they're no longer were each others biggest "enemy." They needed to band together and figure out a way to kill the creatures hunting them and a way off the planet. Larry Fishburne's character optimized are person that lost their mind, and in turn all their humanity. He didn't care that they presented an opportunity to join together and kill the Predators. No, instead he wanted to take all of their weapons and leave to die by the Predators.

I like the open-ended conclusion and hope they make another sequel.

[dossier]

Re: Predator reboot - Predators

I would of thought more people would've enjoyed the film. It's basically the first film on an alien planet with more Predators. Just like Aliens is Alien, but with more creatures and marines instead of doctors fighting them. The movie is cliched, but all action/sci-fi films are layered with cliches and predictable characters.

I enjoyed the film. I liked that they attempted to expand upon the mythos of Predators by adding different a "clan" or species. Maybe that would help explain why this "Super" Predator would decide to hunt and stalk their pray in such a different fashion. Also, the evolution of their skills and abilities could have caused the conflict and physical changes between the two clans or species.

I think that the backgrounds of the characters weren't "fleshed out" more because it wasn't completely necessary. What do we really know about the characters in the original movie and their life back home? Nothing, because it isn't usually necessary for a sci-fi film about a hunting alien. Still, I thought that with the little information they did give explained plenty about the characters and their motivations.


But, the thing I enjoyed about the feel was its underlying theme. Our humanity. Our humanity is what separates us from every other being on our planet. From their actions on Earth and the lives they led (assassins, gangsters, murders, etc.) they had become like the very creatures hunting them. Heartless, thoughtless killing machines and that led to their being chosen.

They all could've stuck to Adrien Brody's character mind-set (Darwinism) and remained on their own and been slaughtered. Yet, you saw them slowly realize that they're no longer were each others biggest "enemy." They needed to band together and figure out a way to kill the creatures hunting them and a way off the planet. Larry Fishburne's character optimized are person that lost their mind, and in turn all their humanity. He didn't care that they presented an opportunity to join together and kill the Predators. No, instead he wanted to take all of their weapons and leave to die by the Predators.

I like the open-ended conclusion and hope they make another sequel.

True the new predator species was new, but not much really was.

They used the same technologies, same guns, same tactics, same mud fire tactic, some same quotes, same only one girl cast. Just wasn't enough and it was incredibly predictable and over the top at some parts.

Still was entertaining just saying I've seen this movie somewhat before.

[deaduck]

Re: Predator reboot - Predators

I liked the movie.

I think some people tend to put the first Predators on too high of a pedestal so you get unfair comparisons but I think they were very wise to take the franchise back to the core of the first film. I didn't mind Predators 2 but by changing the locale I think it pushed the theme too far away from what I enjoyed most about the first film...hard men in a harder situation.

[metallicatz]

Re: Predator reboot - Predators

Saw it yesterday and I liked it quite a bit. The only things that bothered me were the nerd character and the convict. I don't buy that a Predator clan was observing and studying some guy on death row who probably gets an hour of yard time per day. Same with the nerd.

I thought this film did a great job of making Predators ferocious and scary again after the terrible AVP films just made them "something cool to look at with cool over the top weapons". That first scene in the Predator camp is a great example. And they're not the "same weapons" exactly. The cloaking device is very much evolved. The weapons more powerful. They now have the ability to filter their targeting by using sound (heartbeats). The mythology returned the characters to being a vicious hunter species rather than how they've been portrayed in the AVP films......especially that horrible scene in the beginning of AVP2 where the the message is received on the Predator home world and the ship is dispatched to Earth. As a kid in 1987 I tried to imagine what the Predator home world might look like, and the portrayal in AVP2 was just stupid. Not to mention the ridiculousness of having the Predators as god-like figures of early mankind and ruling over them......as was the case in AVP.

I like the addition of the 2nd species of Predator. Adds to the vicious nature of the species.

I loved all the nods to the original. The original score, the quotes, and the final music in the end credits.

The lead actor's voice didn't bother me, in fact I never even noticed it. And I thought he pulled off the character. I was extremely skeptical at first about the guy but I thought he pulled it off. As somebody else said, why do you need backstory on the characters? There was none in the first film either, aside from a very barebones attempt with Dillon and Dutch. The film could've done without Danny Trejo. His presence was more of a distraction than it was an addition. An unknown actor would've been a better cast. I liked Oleg Taktarov. Haven't seen that guy since his old Ultimate Fighting days, back when that sport was much more vicious and underground than the watered down version of UFC that exists today. There is no question, however, that Dutch's unit in the first film were portrayed by better actors.

To address some specific criticisms i'm seeing:

Spoiler

The original film took place in Guatamala, not Colombia. It was specifically referenced in this movie.

The female character didn't know Trejo's character had been dead. It was obvious by her reaction after she put him out of his misery and the "help me" voice kept playing (obviously a Predator trap replicating voices like in the original). This voice replication is the "voices and whispers" they hear in the jungle. Again, this was in the first film as a Predator tactic. I don't believe this had anything to do with Lost.

And the "smart" Predator should've known that dude didn't get on the ship? Ummm....okay. The film never stated his cast was "smarter", only bigger and stronger. Just because he and his pals had one of our familiar Preds trapped and strung up doesn't mean they were an inferior species.

The story in the original wasn't stellar either: task force is brought in and sent into the jungle under false pretenses, comes across an alien that hunts and kills them one by one. Last one standing mounts a last stand and wins. The end. Like somebody else said, people tend to put the original on a pedestal, and many of the criticisms i'm seeing here could've easily been applied to the original as well.

Really, what else could the writers have done? Another Predator film on Earth where a band of soldiers/mercenaries are hunted would've been lame. Using the current setting and just grabbing a military unit to be hunted would've been Original Predator on Another Planet. A cheap ripoff. The diversity of characters in this one, while certainly flawed to an extent (the convict and the nerd), was at least a fresh take.....

Spoiler

especially the yakuza's last stand using the samurai sword. That's the battle we wished we could've seen with Billy in the original.

.

Another reason the original is so well liked is because at that time there was no Predator mythos. Everything we saw was new and fresh. But at this point the mythos has been bastardized by the AVP films to the point the characters had "lost their teeth". This film put the focus on making them vicious and terrifying again.....which I thought was well done.

Nothing could top the experience and reverence of the original, but this movie did a good job of wiping away the memory of those horrible AVP films and is the easy #2 film in the franchise history.

[catcatch22]

Re: Predator reboot - Predators

They're not as vicious as you make them out to be. In the first movie the predator could have killed Dutch quicker and much more easily but opted to be a "sportsman" and fight at his level.

In fact even in this movie the "original" predator

Spoiler

grabbed Body by the neck when he freed him looked at him and sort of gave him his props for not being scared to let him go. If he was so vicious he would have killed him dead on the spot if he wanted to.

They are hunter species but they still work with some rules to the "game".

Whether that is from inconsistent writing to move plot points are a true look at the predators character is up to speculation since its all fiction. However I still think they could have done a better job of putting together the "set up" for how they all got there.

[Cardot]

Re: Predator reboot - Predators

Nothing could top the experience and reverence of the original, but this movie did a good job of wiping away the memory of those horrible AVP films and is the easy #2 film in the franchise history.

OMG, I agree with Metallicatz's entire post.
While we don't agree on the NFL, I agree with everything you posted here. Nice write up.

I especially agree on the character development of the orignal. That movie is one of my favorites of all time. But the characters where just as cliche as the latest film. The bicep-showcasing handshake of Dillon & Dutch. Billy, the Native American tracker who can tell that 6 men, wearing US issued army boots came through the jungle. And generally a group of cool, tough,tobaco chewing, cigar smoking, shaving without shaving cream, muscle dudes.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Predator reboot - Predators

Saw it yesterday and I liked it quite a bit. The only things that bothered me were the nerd character and the convict. I don't buy that a Predator clan was observing and studying some guy on death row who probably gets an hour of yard time per day. Same with the nerd.

I thought this film did a great job of making Predators ferocious and scary again after the terrible AVP films just made them "something cool to look at with cool over the top weapons". That first scene in the Predator camp is a great example. And they're not the "same weapons" exactly. The cloaking device is very much evolved. The weapons more powerful. They now have the ability to filter their targeting by using sound (heartbeats). The mythology returned the characters to being a vicious hunter species rather than how they've been portrayed in the AVP films......especially that horrible scene in the beginning of AVP2 where the the message is received on the Predator home world and the ship is dispatched to Earth. As a kid in 1987 I tried to imagine what the Predator home world might look like, and the portrayal in AVP2 was just stupid. Not to mention the ridiculousness of having the Predators as god-like figures of early mankind and ruling over them......as was the case in AVP.

I like the addition of the 2nd species of Predator. Adds to the vicious nature of the species.

I loved all the nods to the original. The original score, the quotes, and the final music in the end credits.

The lead actor's voice didn't bother me, in fact I never even noticed it. And I thought he pulled off the character. I was extremely skeptical at first about the guy but I thought he pulled it off. As somebody else said, why do you need backstory on the characters? There was none in the first film either, aside from a very barebones attempt with Dillon and Dutch. The film could've done without Danny Trejo. His presence was more of a distraction than it was an addition. An unknown actor would've been a better cast. I liked Oleg Taktarov. Haven't seen that guy since his old Ultimate Fighting days, back when that sport was much more vicious and underground than the watered down version of UFC that exists today. There is no question, however, that Dutch's unit in the first film were portrayed by better actors.

To address some specific criticisms i'm seeing:

Spoiler

The original film took place in Guatamala, not Colombia. It was specifically referenced in this movie.

The female character didn't know Trejo's character had been dead. It was obvious by her reaction after she put him out of his misery and the "help me" voice kept playing (obviously a Predator trap replicating voices like in the original). This voice replication is the "voices and whispers" they hear in the jungle. Again, this was in the first film as a Predator tactic. I don't believe this had anything to do with Lost.

And the "smart" Predator should've known that dude didn't get on the ship? Ummm....okay. The film never stated his cast was "smarter", only bigger and stronger. Just because he and his pals had one of our familiar Preds trapped and strung up doesn't mean they were an inferior species.

The story in the original wasn't stellar either: task force is brought in and sent into the jungle under false pretenses, comes across an alien that hunts and kills them one by one. Last one standing mounts a last stand and wins. The end. Like somebody else said, people tend to put the original on a pedestal, and many of the criticisms i'm seeing here could've easily been applied to the original as well.

Really, what else could the writers have done? Another Predator film on Earth where a band of soldiers/mercenaries are hunted would've been lame. Using the current setting and just grabbing a military unit to be hunted would've been Original Predator on Another Planet. A cheap ripoff. The diversity of characters in this one, while certainly flawed to an extent (the convict and the nerd), was at least a fresh take.....

Spoiler

especially the yakuza's last stand using the samurai sword. That's the battle we wished we could've seen with Billy in the original.

.

Another reason the original is so well liked is because at that time there was no Predator mythos. Everything we saw was new and fresh. But at this point the mythos has been bastardized by the AVP films to the point the characters had "lost their teeth". This film put the focus on making them vicious and terrifying again.....which I thought was well done.

Nothing could top the experience and reverence of the original, but this movie did a good job of wiping away the memory of those horrible AVP films and is the easy #2 film in the franchise history.

Very nice write-up man, I think you nailed it on the head with how I feel about this film. I posted my thoughts a page or two back.

If there is a sequel to this,

Spoiler

will it be a whole new cast or will Brody and the girl return w/ a new set of people being hunted on the planet.........as Brody tries to find a way to escape?