Predators (2010)

AKA: Depredadores (Argentina / Mexico / Peru), Predadores (Brazil / Portugal), Хищники (Russia), Kiskjad (Estonia), Les prédateurs (Canada (French title)), Oi kynigoi (Greece), Predator 3 (USA (working title)), Ragadozók (Hungary)

Director: Nimrod Antal

Starring: Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, Laurence Fishburne, Danny Trejo,

More info: IMDb

Tagline: The most dangerous killers on the planet... but this is not our planet.

Plot: Chosen for their ability to kill without conscience, a group of killers, some trained and some who are not, must endeavour the alien race of predators that have set out to target them as prey. Dropped into the vast jungle of a distant world, these human predators must learn just who, or what, they are up against, and that their ability, knowledge and wits are tested to the limits in the battle of survival of kill or be killed.

My rating: 6.5/10

Will I watch it again? I'm on the fence.

Ugh. I hate to poop on this but jesus. I thought that with Robert Rodriguez producing it was going to good. Don't get me wrong, It wasn't that bad but, again, it wasn't THAT good. Everyone seems to be going chimpshit over how great it is but I don't get it.


When I first heard about the concept that Earth's most dangerous killers of all types (Yakuza, Mexican drug cartel killer, death row inmate, mercenary, special ops, etc) found themselves on a planet similar to Earth's to be hunted by Predators, I was most skeptical. It felt far too contrived but then I figured on RR to make it work and in some weird way, it did. But there were other things at play.

Don't try and reason with the plot. There are bits that just don't add up like the whole "hunting season" thing when it comes to how long it lasts and other details not worth banging my head against the wall. Fishburne's character only exists to give exposition. I kind of dug him at first but then he got annoying and fast. And his exit? ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME? Whatever.


Brody doesn't cut it as a macho action hero in my book. He's trying too hard and that fucking low gravely DARK KNIGHT Batman voice has got to fucking go. If he had played it like an intelligent, yet physically fit, killing machine it would have been a lot more interesting and believable. Instead, he goes for the "I've got to prove myself as a badass" route.

The Yakuza/Predator fight was well done. I LOVED the birdseye view. Nice. But the best thing about the film was the score by John Debney. It worked because it consistently and cleverly called back to the original 1986 film. I loved it. And the whispers in the forest from the original film were brilliantly used. "Over here..."

After seeing it opening weekend and as I began to let the film settle, I came upon its biggest weakness - the characters. See, the original film had a cast of commandos that were all dressed alike yet each had his own distinct traits that really stood out and were very likable. As each was introduced to us, they said a line or two and you pretty much got the gist of what he was like from that first impression but they were all different. As the film progressed you learned a little more about them that gave them weight so when they finally died, you cared.

The characters in PREDATORS are poorly written and fleshed out. I honestly didn't care about any of them except for Danny Trejo and he is given the least to do and is out of the picture before you know it. What's more, each person has their own distinct outfit that is supposed to help you distinguish between all of them. Hey, there's the convict, there's the merc, etc. It's the complete opposite of the original film where they were all dressed the same but it was their personality that made them stand out.


And that image of Brody covered with the three-dot laser sites all over his body in the trailer? That scene doesn't exist in the theatrical film!!! It's a tease. It didn't bother me so much because that shit happened all the time back in the 70s but it was a cool as shit shot that would have been awesome to see.

There's a world of difference between these two films. The '86 film is a classic that still holds up as one of the best action films of all time. For me, PREDATORS will always hold up as, "Hey, at least it was better than ALIEN VERSUS PREDATOR." - not exactly a winning endorsement but it's true. I expect there will be a sequel and the most I can hope for at this point is that maybe it will at least be better than PREDATORS.