Umm… spoilers.
Well there’s really not much to say to set-up this guide through the “Predator” series.
I did the “Alien” series last year and since there were so many films I held off talking about the “AVP” films so I could pump up an article about the “Predator” series. So every time I do one of these types of articles I sometimes go from best to worst or vice-versa depending on what I think best suits the topic. For this I think it would be best to just follow the release date order to see how this series has gone up and down throughout the years. Let’s begin.
1.) “Predator” (1987)
The film began as all great films do, as a joke. Speaking of bad jokes… “Rocky IV.” You see in case you hadn’t noticed “Rocky IV” gets just a little bit ridiculous. As such, people were joking about what would Rocky fight in the next film, an alien? Everyone laughed except for at least two writers who instead responded, “awesome pitch!” And so “Predator” was born. These are always so hard to write because what can I really tell you that you either don’t already know or have heard from a million other people before me? It’s an awesome 80s action flick and horror film molded into one. The two styles are meshed so well it’s crazy. Full of great lines and moments and the world’s manliest handshake. An instantly iconic monster design to rival that of the “Alien” series.
I guess the best way would be to explain how I as a lad was introduced. That is to say that it was one of those things I was aware of as far back as I can remember thanks to having 2 older brothers who could watch it. As a result I was well aware of the Predator and its mythology long before I actually saw the movie. I grew up playing with the old Kenner toys and some of the comics. My favorite being “Batman vs the Predator.” After I finally saw it, it did not disappoint. In fact, it gets better the more times I watch it.
Eric’s Advice: Obviously you should see this if you haven’t already.
2.) “Predator 2” (1990)
I think the “Predator” series may be the only series to escape Arnold Schwarzenegger’s shadow. While there have been attempts to bring his character (Dutch) into the sequels for cameos, none have panned out. Also, when you hear “Predator” you think of the alien itself first and not Arnold. Plus a thing to remember is that this film is the one to really introduce the honorable warrior angle and a lot the technology. It may have been panned by critics when it was released, but it has a sizable following today. There are a number of exciting and memorable scenes in the film. Good actors and an unique setting that offer all sorts of other scenarios separate from the first movie.
ALL THAT BEING SAID I’ve sat through this film several times. While I recognize all the things I just said, I still find this movie really dull. It has a similar effect on me as the original “Pink Panther.” I put on the movie. I’m excited to see the scenes/moments that I like and to hopefully appreciate it like others do… and then nothing. The film begins and I immediately become uninterested with my life choice to sit down watch it. I really don’t know what exactly it is that causes it, but it’s what happens every time I try to watch it. King Willie’s death, seeing the inside of the Predator ship and the subway attack are great and grab my attention again. But then it looses it just as quickly as the next scene begins.
Eric’s Advice: Full of cool ideas and designs, sadly not much else. Skip unless you want.
3.) “Alien vs Predator” (2004)
Ever since a 2 second cameo of the xenomorph skull in the ending of “Predator 2” the fans had been clambering for a crossover. For years comics and video games were the only way to experience this. Every now and then we’d hear about a film version happening. This and “Freddy vs Jason” had an insane amount of different scripts commissioned throughout the years. Then, Paul W. S. Anderson (“Mortal Kombat,” “Event Horizon,” “Resident Evil”) came out with his plan and FOX thought that they had a winner. This was without a doubt one of the most hyped-up I ever was for a movie. I DEVOURED EVERYTHING I could about the making of this film. I remember going to the official website and downloading any BTS videos they had. They may have been about 10 minutes long at most, but back then it could take hours to fully download them. But I did it over and over again because I just HAD to see this movie.
Even some idiot bringing their baby to the theater to see this couldn’t deflate my enthusiasm. When the movie finished it was one of the biggest disappointments ever. Part of the reason is it’s a great setup for a film. The xenomorphs have the numbers advantage, Predators have the technology and we humans have our intelligence and problem solving. Then, you lock all three factions in an isolated area. A temple in Antarctica which may not be in space, but the outside is harsh enough that it might as well be in terms of “where can the humans even hide?” Add to that the temple itself is an ever-changing maze. You can see how this could work for suspense, but also as something for the humans to figure out and use to their advantage to help level the playing field. But no, they take no interesting turns with this awesome setup. Rewatching it after all this time I can admit I was probably too harsh on it before. That having been said with the passage of time it still hasn’t made me like it. It’s really due to this film having so much going for it and yet refused to do anything interesting.
Eric’s Advice: I kinda hate this film for its wasted potential, but it’s objectively not terrible. Not that great though either. See only if curious.
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4.) “Alien vs Predator: Requiem” (2007)
Popular opinion is that while the first film is bad, this sequel is much worse. To me these 2 films are a pick your poison kind of thing. The first film had all the hype and an awesome set-up for the story to take place. This film has an alright set-up, extremely bleak tone, and an impressive Predator. Its best aspect is the how the 3rd act is like a ticking clock of doom, which is appropriate to show how quickly a xenomorph and Predator invasion on earth would be completely devastating. Its problem is the lack of atmosphere, cheesy cliché dialog that sounds more like they came from a sentence generator online. Lastly, most damning of all, the characters SUCK! A few characters are alright though kinda bland, most are annoying and feel as though they belong in a totally different genre. They turned both the “Alien” and “Predator” franchises into a dumb teen slasher film.
I’ll admit it’s cool to see the xenomorphs actually in a recognizable human setting and how the film is not shy of being dark. We have a little kid getting the facehugger/chestbuster treatment. Pregnant women getting their wombs used as xenomorph eggs by the Predalien. We even get the sudden and brutal death of the hot young love interest we expected to see survive. But the problem is I don’t care that much because the characters are so obnoxious and made somehow even less interesting whenever they open their mouths and speak in IMDb quotes. The best character is honestly the Predator. It’s based on Harvey Keitel from “Pulp Fiction” in that it’s a seasoned professional sent here not to honorably hunt, but to “clean up” this situation with the xenomorphs. Despite my issues I feel like the filmmakers were trying to make a dark, exploitative, brainless sequel and they hit that LOW target. Whereas the first film aims high, but came up so short of what could have been. That’s my long-winded way of saying while this film has problems I still like it better than AVP, but that’s not saying much. It still sucks.
Eric’s Advice: They somehow still couldn’t get this concept right. In many ways I prefer this to the original, but I still wouldn’t suggest someone they watch personally.
5.) “Predators” (2010)
At this point the franchise was thought to be dead. Every so often we’d read about plans for an “Alien vs Predator 3,” but nothing ever seemed to surface. Amazingly what seemed to be the solution was going back to an older script for “Predator 3” written by a young Robert Rodriguez. It was a back-to-basics approach with some new twists. I think this is what not only makes it head and shoulders above all the other sequels, but honestly feels like the first true sequel even more than “Predator 2.” Now I do have my issues with this film. First, Adrian Brody as an action star… sorry I had to go get my laughter under control before continuing writing. I don’t care how impressively buff he got for the role. He was very miscast and his Christian Bale Batman voice didn’t help much.
We also have only one classic style Predator because it’s now Super Predators that are the main villains. Well I didn’t go to see “Super Predators” I came to see “Predators” dammit! So seeing the original model Predator get sidelined in this is kind of like the whole Spinosaurus debacle in “Jurassic Park 3” all over again. Still, we again have an ensemble of cool, badass characters played by good character actors. Originally there were to be more connections to the other films with Laurence Fishburne’s character being Danny Glover’s from “Predator 2.” My main issue being despite these Super Predators being so much bigger and stronger than the older ones they seem just as weak. Maybe even a little weaker given that Brody’s character beats the final Super Predator to death at the end. Still despite my issues with it, this was a cool sequel. We all hoped this meant the franchise was back on track from now on. And then “The Predator” came out…
Eric’s Advice: I very much recommend it though could understand how someone could be turned off by it.
6.) “The Predator” (2018)
I wish I planned it this way, but no. This film just kinda fell neatly into my lap while planning for this article. So the word on the street about the film was that it was a mess. As I began watching it, I was enjoying it. I wasn’t loving it, but I was still having a fun time. I could tell there were a number of scenes missing. And then the last 3rd began and I could more understand the bad scores. My favorite actors were Keegan-Michael Key and Thomas Jane. In fact, most of the side characters were pretty good. One of the major problems is the main character and his kid. They start off boring and generic and as time goes on you begin to just hate them.
One of the major sins of this film is the fact there is not one single memorable death scene in the entire damn movie. For a “Predator” film that’s just inexcusable. Also, after all this time so many handicapped people saying they just want to see themselves as they really are on-screen they go and add the magical autism trope into this film. They go even further by repeatedly saying that autism is the next stage of human evolution. Lastly, their “preview” for what they plan for a next film is laughable in how much it makes me NOT want to see it. As in it’s the absolute LAST thing I’d want to see in a “Predator” film. I think we’ve seen a series killer. Maybe Disney (or whatever side studio they create to keep making these lucrative adult franchises) will reboot after the merger finishes.
Eric’s Advice: The 1st 2/3rds are interesting and worth seeing, sadly it botches the landing and as such I cannot recommend this film. The more I’ve thought back on this film the less I like it.