MOVIE REVIEW: PREDATORS

IN THEATERS

PREDATORS



A group of hardened killers are hunted on an alien planet in producer Robert Rodriguez and director Nimród Antal's entry into the popular sci-fi action franchise. Mercenaries, murderers, gangsters, and convicts, they were the most feared men on Earth. But now they're a long way from home, and when the predators become the prey, fearless mercenary Royce (Adrien Brody) prepares for the fight of his life. And he's not alone, because Mexican gangster Cuchillo (Danny Trejo), Israeli Defense Forces veteran Isabelle (Alice Braga), notorious mass murderer Stans (Walton Goggins), Russian Special Forces operative Nikolai (Oleg Taktarov), RUF death squad member Mombasa (Mahershalalhashbaz Ali), and sword-wielding Yakuza Hanzo (Louis Ozawa Changchien) are all armed to the teeth, and out for blood. The odd man out is Edwin (Topher Grace), a once-prominent physician whose career came to an end following a big scandal. When the motley crew encounters Noland (Lawrence Fishburne), a resourceful human who has somehow managed to survive on the alien's hunting grounds for some time, they prepare to take the ultimate stand against the most powerful Predators yet. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Director: Nimród Antal

Cast: Adrien Brody, Alice Braga, Laurence Fishburne , Topher Grace , Danny Trejo

Release Date: Jul 09, 2010

Rated R for pervasive language, gore and strong creature violence

Runtime: 106 min

Genres: Action/Adventure, Suspense/Thriller

Review:

The sequel that should have been made 20 years ago Predators hits the screen feeling like a throwback from the start. Nimrod Antal makes his intentions clear from the start and he delivers the action filled sci-fi follow up you’d expect needless to say it’s predictable in everyway you can imagine but it’s still good fun. Once you get past the face that you’re watching a movie directed by someone named Nimrod, he also directed Vacancy, you’ll find that he directs the action well and hits all the key points for the suspense needed for this type of fare. Taking cues directly from the 1987 John McTiernan Arnold Schwarzenegger testosterone filled classic, Antal uses everything that made the original so enjoyable with a mild twist. When I say twist I should clarify in that Antal uses so much from the original that it almost feels like a remake but it could be worse, see either of the Alien v Predators movies. Adrien Brody is dutifully self serious and self centered as the “leader” of this group of predatory victims, yes the title has double meaning. I couldn’t help but notice that Brody, while passable, is taking himself way too serious throughout. Alice Braga does what she can with a thinly written role and she has one too many damsel in distress moments for my taste especially considering she’s supposed to be a trained killer. The supporting cast is underused which is a sham since there are so many impressive character actors on the cast. Of them only Fishburn and Walton Goggins make an impression. Once we reach the final reel, with the people you know would still be alive, you can feel Antal spreading his wings a little having more fun after a commendable effort of righting what was wrong with the thrown together sequels of the past 20 years.

C+