Predators

2010, Rated R, 106 minutes, Directed by Nimrod Antal, Written by Alex Litvak and Michael Finch, Produced by Robert Rodriguez, Cinematography by Gyula Pados, Original Music by John Debney

With: Adrien Brody (Royce), Topher Grace (Edwin), Alice Braga (Isabelle), Walton Goggins (Stans), Oleg Taktarov (Nikolai), Laurence Fishbourne (Noland), Danny Trejo (Cuchillo), Louis Changchien (Hanzo), Mahershalalhashbaz Ali (Mombasa)

At the end of a particular battle scene in Predators, I felt like the triumphant Predator was screaming at his audience “Are you not entertained!” This was the tone of the entire movie as it jumped right into the action and did not slow down until the closing credits. It was an excellent action piece that harkened back to the days when the movie schedule was packed to the gills with pure, unadulterated action flicks.  The film was good because it made no pretense at being a complex and cerebral film, but focused instead on gripping action and suspense.

The exposition of the film is simple: 8 individuals wake up falling from the sky, are dropped into an unfamiliar environment,  and decide to band together as they try to figure out what is going on. It turns out they are on a different planet that has been turned into a game preserve where super warrior Predators visit to hunt down their prey-- humans. Adrien Brody’s character, Royce, says it best: “We were all brought here for the same purpose. This planet is a game preserve...And we’re the game.” And that is basically it as far as the plot goes. The rest of the movie consists of the predators hunting down the group to kill them one by one. The team does everything they can to stay alive and adapt in order to defeat the hunters.

Some of you are reading this saying, “just action and such a simple plot, this is not the movie for me.” And that is alright. If pure action is not your bag then this movie is definitely not for you. If it is...if you have found yourself wondering where those movies have gone and longing for an escape into the world of 80s action movies, then this film was made just for you. 

From this point on, I am working under the assumption that a complex plot line and groundbreaking film are off the evaluative table for Predators. I am going to evaluate it solely on what the movie intended: simple and fun action. Sure there is some character development in the film but that merely serves as a transition from one battle scene to the next. And each one of those action scenes are excellent. Director Nimrod Antal brings out all the stops: there are some great hunting and trapping sequences, interior battles, running from wolf type predators, an epic samurai battle, and even a battle between the new and old school Predators. Not only that, but the film does an excellent job of paying homage to the original 1987 Predator both through a narrative and scene tribute.

There is really not a whole lot more to say about this movie. The acting was fine. It did not take as long as I thought it would to get used to Adrien Brody as the action hero. Laurence Fishbourne was a great bonus to the 8 man team and he nailed his minor role. Topher Grace was also much better suited to his role that I expected him to be.

Predators  was a great night at the theaters. It was a wonderful time of remembering how movies used to be made and it fit in perfectly amidst summer blockbuster season. Instead of trying to blow the audience away through stunning special effects, Predators relied on the tried and true formula of action, action, action.

B+

Content Advisory

lots of language and violence occur throughout this film and there are many intense scenes

Food for thought/discussion

1. How did the characters handle the nature of their situation?

2. How far should/could you go to help strangers?

3. In once scene Adrien Brody’s character brings up the phrase “enemy of my enemy is my friend.” Is this a true statement? How has this phrase played out historically?