Predator

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Jesse Ventura
Directed by: John McTiernan
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Horror, Science Fiction
1987

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A group of U.S. commandos (including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Jesse Ventura) venture into the deep jungle to discover the whereabouts of kidnapped Americans. Once there, however, they face an unknown enemy who begins hunting them down like animals. As the group prepares to face their threat, they begin to suspect the hunter is not from this world.

Review:

Tim: I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. However, I have to admit that I typically like movies like this. I really enjoy the very idea of a group of top soldiers fighting an alien hunter in a jungle. That just appeals to me. The jungle setting is key, as our heroes are transplanted into an exotic locale that makes the movie much more foreign and intense. This atmosphere is thrilling and suspenseful.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is good as the man in charge of the commandos. He is such a terrific action hero, and he does excellent work here. He is an interesting character and his loyalty to his men (before his loyalty to his country) comes into direct clash with Carl Weathers' beliefs. This is a nice source of tension. Speaking of Weathers, he is decent, but his performance will always be compared to his excellent Apollo Creed- and this doesn't quite measure up. While the supporting cast is good, this is really Schwarzenegger's show, and his best scenes come with his eventual showdown with the Predator.

The Predator is pretty amazing. What could be scarier than a hunter with far better weapons and tracking abilities killing you off one by one? His heat scope is amazing to watch and actually adds quite a bit to the atmosphere of the film. His invisibility technique is pretty cool, too. The Predator alien has tapped into something scary and cool, and it is no wonder that so many love him.

Director John McTiernan made an exceptionally good movie here- on that exceeds genre expectations. The hunters become the hunted as men battle a mysterious and deadly alien. Schwarzenegger is a terrific action hero and his climactic battle with the alien is truly something to behold. This is a very solid movie.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Predator 2, Alien v. Predator, Commando, End of Days