‘Predators’ review

Allow me to begin this review by saying: “Predators”, the new Robert Rodriguez-produced reboot of the franchise, does not in any way live up to the standard set by the 1987 original. Then again, what can? “Predator” was one of the finest action films Hollywood has ever produced, a perfect blend of tension, action, and sheer machismo (courtesy of Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers and the like). Not even the mediocre sequel and the failed tries at initiating an “Alien vs. Predator” franchise could tarnish the greatness of it. So to see the second official sequel to “Predator”, oddly enough entitled “Predators”, actually be a very good sequel and compelling stand-alone film, is a great surprise.

The first “Predator” didn’t necessarily have a compelling story, but then again it didn’t really need one. “Predators” follows in its footsteps, with very little exposition, character development, or whatever. And the thing is: It plays only to the film’s advantage. The characters are admittedly solely archetypes, but they serve their purpose to the story and in all honesty, for a film this low-brow that’s really all it needs.

“Predators” is about a group of people suddenly dropped onto a planet where the sole inhabitants are vicious alien creatures that give the film its title. Oddly enough, all of the characters seem to be mercenaries, spies, assassins, or killers of some form, so when the predator creatures begin to hunt them, they fight back.

The action in this film is done quite well. The sequences are well-shot, varied, and yet constitute a fairly small part of the film’s 107-minute running time. Like the first “Predator”, the film is more reliant on suspense and atmosphere than it is action, and I consider that a good thing. That said, where this film fails where the first succeeded is that even if all the characters were stereotypes in “Predator”, the cast made them likable enough that we had at least some emotional stake in the events. Here, although the performances are skilled (Adrien Brody in particular is a thrill to see as an action star), they aren’t likable or interesting enough that we really care when the characters start getting picked off one-by-one.

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