Predators
Directed By: Nimrod Antal
Written By: Michael Finch and Alex Litvak
Starring: Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, Danny Trejo, Alice Braga and Laurence Fishburne
Predators is a sequel as well as a reboot of the classic science fiction/horror/thriller franchise that was started back in the 80s with Arnold Schwarzenegger. This film centers on a collection of killers who are thrown together on a mysterious planet which they discover is infact a game reserve, to which they are the game and are being hunted by the predators. Let the game begin….
Given its premise Predators sounds like it should be a fun, enjoyable, action packed and scary time at the movies, sadly this is not the case. Predators has a rather slow build up and its pacing throughout the film is rather laborious. It seems to take itself to seriously and spends too much time showing the characters interacting with each other and walking aimlessly around the jungle. All of this would be fine if there were some interesting characters and good dialogue but all that is missing here making those stretches of the film dull, unmemorable and much longer than they probably were. What Predators needed was a better scriptwriter and editor to inject the film with some more interesting characters and a quicker more exciting tone.
One thing that Predators suffers from is that it is rather predictable never providing a real shocking moment and seemingly taking it through the motions. Death scenes are tediously flagged early on and it is rather obvious who is going to survive in what situations. The film also could of done with a better casting director as only Topher Grace really impresses in his role and Adrien Brody despite his working out still does not cut it as an action hero.
On the positive side however Predators does have some nice references to the original film as well as many others providing one of the best lines of the year “Say goodbye to your little friend”
Laurence Fishburne gives a great small performance, which is infact the catalyst for the film to get more exciting and interesting. With his psycho turn being one of the films highlights. In Predators second half it seems like it woke up to what film it actually was and actually provided some fun and exciting scenes. The action is handled reasonably well and the special effects are fine yet there is no death scene or scene in general that really sticks in the memory.
Overall Predators is a film that could have been much better but instead settles to be a decent action film that while providing some good scenes never really hits the enjoyable heights it should. Fun references, Topher Grace, the action and the song over the end credits however make Predators a good film even if its “Give us a sequel ending!” is rather pointless and screams for what the rest of the film needed which is a good jump….
One Sentence Summary: Poor casting and lingering pace hold back what should of been a much more entertaining film.
5/10
By Michael Dalton
Given its premise Predators sounds like it should be a fun, enjoyable, action packed and scary time at the movies, sadly this is not the case. Predators has a rather slow build up and its pacing throughout the film is rather laborious. It seems to take itself to seriously and spends too much time showing the characters interacting with each other and walking aimlessly around the jungle. All of this would be fine if there were some interesting characters and good dialogue but all that is missing here making those stretches of the film dull, unmemorable and much longer than they probably were. What Predators needed was a better scriptwriter and editor to inject the film with some more interesting characters and a quicker more exciting tone.
One thing that Predators suffers from is that it is rather predictable never providing a real shocking moment and seemingly taking it through the motions. Death scenes are tediously flagged early on and it is rather obvious who is going to survive in what situations. The film also could of done with a better casting director as only Topher Grace really impresses in his role and Adrien Brody despite his working out still does not cut it as an action hero.
On the positive side however Predators does have some nice references to the original film as well as many others providing one of the best lines of the year “Say goodbye to your little friend”
Laurence Fishburne gives a great small performance, which is infact the catalyst for the film to get more exciting and interesting. With his psycho turn being one of the films highlights. In Predators second half it seems like it woke up to what film it actually was and actually provided some fun and exciting scenes. The action is handled reasonably well and the special effects are fine yet there is no death scene or scene in general that really sticks in the memory.
Overall Predators is a film that could have been much better but instead settles to be a decent action film that while providing some good scenes never really hits the enjoyable heights it should. Fun references, Topher Grace, the action and the song over the end credits however make Predators a good film even if its “Give us a sequel ending!” is rather pointless and screams for what the rest of the film needed which is a good jump….
One Sentence Summary: Poor casting and lingering pace hold back what should of been a much more entertaining film.
5/10
By Michael Dalton
This trailer was taken from: “Predators” Trailer (Video). March 18, 2010. Retrieved July 23, 2010 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u8vZwvP57Y
