Predators review

I find it incredibly odd how FOX in only a year and half has turned around from releasing 90 minute, half-assed, wussed up movies; to putting out some flicks that are actually closer to the gleefully over the top and fun films they became popular for. Despite my feelings on final act of "The A-Team" it was still one of the few summer films I had fun watching. Now they've managed to not just make another extremely fun film, but also the best "Predator" sequel/re-issue to date.

The best choice FOX could've have made was placing it in the hands of Robert Rodriguez and allowing him to produce it and lead the film under his Troublemaker Studios banner (which he's attempting to heavily expand so they can greenlight films). Rodriguez's interesting plucked up director Nimrod Antal ('Armored', 'Vacancy' and 'Kontroll') who opted to go less CGI and more practical action and effects. The end result in a fantastic throwback hunt picture instead of an all out action film or a half-assed attempt at a science fiction film. Oscar winner Adrian Brody leads up the cast which includes other less conventional performers Alice Braga, Topher Grace, Walton Goggins and Mahershalalhahaz Ali; as well as the likes of Machete himself Danny Trejo and Morpheus, Laurence Fishburne. Rather than deal with action throughout, we're given lots of time with the characters as they figure out where they are and what's going on.

As much as I dig Brody, I did tire of him figuring it all out first. Yes, he's probably the ultimate badass of the group, but still I might have liked it more had they gone with letting the discovery happen more so as they trekked through the jungle. When it came to the action sequences, they are spread quite apart. One thing I tend to forget about the first film is how there's only really heavy action in the beginning and the end; thus with this film there is partial action sprinkled about, but the real stuff doesn't come until the final act. But it's pretty worth it. They also work to add a bit more to the predator lore with the addition of a sort of alien, hunting dog creature that can gore you or at the least snuff out where you are in the woods.

As far as the 'Predator' film legacy goes, this is a tad under the first, but far above all the others. The crew really seemed to be fans of these characters and of the first movie so it appears that the proper mindset has returned to the alien badasses... thus no more running silhouettes with the predator and human running to fight together and save the day (thanks Paul W.orthless S.hit Anderson) . The entire vibe is that of the original movie. Photography wise, score wise (which by the way at the beginning the credits is a little number fans of the original might remember) and pace wise. Out of a summer of pretty rotten films with not even a sliver of fun or excitement, FINALLY we have something to kick back and really be entertained.