So how many Predator sequels have there been? Not counting the "vs." films, it's at least two, all of which have tried to re-work a very basic premise that worked cause it was basic.
Now Shane Black, a screenwriter who has written some of the best action comedies ever, and Iron Man 3, tries to do the same in what amounts to a fun action flick, but a pretty average Predator one.
The plot all concerns a rogue predator who escapes his planet with a stolen object, which other predators on his planet want back. The planet where they all crash land of course is Earth.
Sterling K. Brown is a military official who will stop at nothing to acquire the technology first and Narco's Boydd Holbrooke is a decorated soldier who along with a team of misfits tries to stop him.
This is all taking place after the events of Predator 2. There is even a character played by Jake Busey who is playing the son of the Gary Busey character from that movie.
Black tries to swing for the fences in terms of a new story to tell but it's pretty obvious this movie works best when it's working on the hits. Sometimes you just wanna sit back and watch some gore.
Bodies gets severed, people get thrown across the room and clawed in the face, impaled, heads will roll.
What highlights the fun here even more is Black is a funny director who knows a good laugh when he sees one.
A scene with a severed arm, an ongoing dialogue about why we call the predator "the predator" in the first place. Just examples of how Black is very adept at visual comedy and snappy lines.
He's very good with characters too, not so much developing them here but giving them a chemistry that is irreverent lunacy.
Holbrooke and his whole crew, particularly Keegan Michael Key, Thomas Jane, Moonlights Trevante Rhodes kinda reminded me of the A-Team. These guys are total section 8's and I loved each one.
In fact better than the A-Team movie. In fact, i'd like to see Black do an A-Team movie with this cast.
Brown gets some of the best dialogue and Munn is actually quite good here too. Jacob Trembley and Alfie Allen are a bit wasted but the cast is having fun.
There's something off about this movie though and it involves the predators. This movie almost seems like a Sterling K. Brown vs. Holbrooke and his crew movie more than a predator film.
There's no real joy in the hunt cause for the most part they seem to just be making periodic appearances into the story of human vs. human.
In fact this movie actually had to reshoot it's entire third act because of poor test screenings and you can tell because the last act does pull a sharp detour, taking us into the woods for some incognito Predator action.
It almost seems like Black wanted to make this such a new concept that the very nature of why people like the predators in the first place sort of gets lost.
I still contend this is a funny, action-packed flick and I liked the characters too. Even the predator action, when its on screen, is good. Just you may not get enough of them as you might want.
If you liked this, check out Craig James Review on Youtube for more.
Now Shane Black, a screenwriter who has written some of the best action comedies ever, and Iron Man 3, tries to do the same in what amounts to a fun action flick, but a pretty average Predator one.
The plot all concerns a rogue predator who escapes his planet with a stolen object, which other predators on his planet want back. The planet where they all crash land of course is Earth.
Sterling K. Brown is a military official who will stop at nothing to acquire the technology first and Narco's Boydd Holbrooke is a decorated soldier who along with a team of misfits tries to stop him.
This is all taking place after the events of Predator 2. There is even a character played by Jake Busey who is playing the son of the Gary Busey character from that movie.
Black tries to swing for the fences in terms of a new story to tell but it's pretty obvious this movie works best when it's working on the hits. Sometimes you just wanna sit back and watch some gore.
Bodies gets severed, people get thrown across the room and clawed in the face, impaled, heads will roll.
What highlights the fun here even more is Black is a funny director who knows a good laugh when he sees one.
A scene with a severed arm, an ongoing dialogue about why we call the predator "the predator" in the first place. Just examples of how Black is very adept at visual comedy and snappy lines.
He's very good with characters too, not so much developing them here but giving them a chemistry that is irreverent lunacy.
Holbrooke and his whole crew, particularly Keegan Michael Key, Thomas Jane, Moonlights Trevante Rhodes kinda reminded me of the A-Team. These guys are total section 8's and I loved each one.
In fact better than the A-Team movie. In fact, i'd like to see Black do an A-Team movie with this cast.
Brown gets some of the best dialogue and Munn is actually quite good here too. Jacob Trembley and Alfie Allen are a bit wasted but the cast is having fun.
There's something off about this movie though and it involves the predators. This movie almost seems like a Sterling K. Brown vs. Holbrooke and his crew movie more than a predator film.
There's no real joy in the hunt cause for the most part they seem to just be making periodic appearances into the story of human vs. human.
In fact this movie actually had to reshoot it's entire third act because of poor test screenings and you can tell because the last act does pull a sharp detour, taking us into the woods for some incognito Predator action.
It almost seems like Black wanted to make this such a new concept that the very nature of why people like the predators in the first place sort of gets lost.
I still contend this is a funny, action-packed flick and I liked the characters too. Even the predator action, when its on screen, is good. Just you may not get enough of them as you might want.
If you liked this, check out Craig James Review on Youtube for more.