Predator

“If it bleeds, we can kill it.”

Filmology Rating: 3.25 out of 4

Predator was directed by John McTiernan, the master of action films and prison cells and stars Arnold Schwarzenegger in a role that doesn't require much effort.

This movie is about a group of stereotypical tough guys who are tasked with a rescue operation in the jungle and very soon after, they find out that there is something else to this mission. Predator is considered one of the best action movies ever; just keep in mind McTiernan's next film Die Hard is the actual best action movie. But for being a "dumb" action movie this is an extremely self aware action film that exceeds its premise and surprises you halfway through and becomes far more intriguing.

The film starts incredibly self aware due to the extreme amount of shlock (the handshake) and excessive action. Like there is one scene in the movie where Arnold and his team, chop down a bunch of the jungle's trees just by shooting at it too much. It seems that this film would be really predictable at a point but halfway through, the film flips on its axis. The movie then turns into a survival slasher film between Arnold and the Predator. Arnold is building little traps and it's great.

The film is also incredibly suspenseful because you don't know where the Predator is and seeing these really tough men all the sudden cower in fear is really frightening. The way this film is shot too is really simple but effective. During action, the edits are quick and when our heroes are slowly wandering around the jungle, the camera holds on longer takes.

The film would have worked better had the opening shot not been of the Predator space craft coming to Earth. It would have been far more effective had the audience not known what was hunting Arnold and his crew or where the film was going.

The design of the Predator is one of the most popular costume designs for an alien ever. It has been said that James Cameron himself had input on the design.

It made money! So of course it got sequels and the newest film Directed by Shane Black who Directed Iron Man 3 and was also in the first Predator film. I'll be seeing the new one on Thursday!

Rating: See It

-Nolan