The Predator

I wish it was an homage to the classic, a witty, self-absorbed genre film, or at least a guilty pleasure for a Predator geek, but it’s none of that. A wannabe comedy, stupid action movie where one situation out of a hundred is funny, with a story written by someone who is either from high school and loves the Predator universe or a professional screenwriter who hates the universe and was under the influence of narcotics. Moreover, the solid bloodbath is ruined by unnecessary and not very accomplished CGI. Only put it on if the hunting toys, the killer instinct of the villain and the music from the original film were something memorable for you. (19/12/2018)

I love that Shane Black wrote and filmed it his way and didn't merely need to slavishly reference the original, like Predators did last time. He simply made a typical comedy full of verbal wars and unexpected situations (in which once again a child in danger plays an important role, but who is far from defenseless), and although he was mostly interested in entertainment, there is also a decent amount of tension. Even though I have a few reservations, mainly about the beginning and the end, I'm still very satisfied. I was also pleased by the unknown but sympathetic actors (Black's screenwriter helped them a lot by ensuring the viewer would like them, and their deaths are therefore seriously impressive), and I have to praise Henry Jackman, too, who played with Silvestri's music in a much more original way than John Debney did last time. (13/09/2018)

If you're expecting a classic Predator, you'd better stay at home, because Shane Black will really piss you off. Unlike the first and second films, there is no sense of a fight for life, but instead the building of a mythology that is not very interesting and feels rather funny. Furthermore, Black completely mismanages the action scenes and especially towards the end Predator: Evolution turns into a proper mess. But on the other hand, I can't say I was bored. The running time is just right, Boyd Holbrook more or less handles the lead role, and the other soldiers are likeable, although, unfortunately, they occasionally make some unexpected and off-the-cuff remarks, as if the editor didn't quite get his job together, and they understandably are no match to Arnold's crew from the first film. The new Predator is actually a weird mix of an old movie, a war flick, a bit of dumb comedy, and something that has ambitions to have two more installments. As action sci-fi B-movies goes, it's fine. As a Predator movie, it’s not. (13/09/2018)

Holy shit, who would have guessed how totally fucked up this was going to be? Shane Black as director? That is an absolute win. So, what did go wrong? Maybe the fact that Shane made a bit of a joke out of the Predator. The Predator is rough. It is like if you put a group of the toughest soldiers into Vietnamese jungle and asked them to smash their way through the worst shit. They will go and do it, similarly like Arnold Schwarzenegger when he was shooting the machine gun into the jungle not knowing what was happening around him. However, the fundamentals there were clear. Not to drive fear to the absurd but drive fear to the reality and add a bunch of tough lines that will be legendary even in a third generation. But here? The main theme of Predators is an autistic child and the whole thing revolves around a bunch of weirdos who do not take themselves seriously at all and turn this film into a complete farce. I get that it was meant that way, but I have to say it doesn’t fit Predator at all. Had I not known the original Predator, I would’ve been more or less satisfied. For example, Keegan Michael Key is a great comedian, but does a comedian belong into the Predator? I don’t fucking think so. Pardon my French, but this film does not deserve a more delicate review. (07/05/2019)

Just my type of movie. I pity the people who expected what had been written about it. A new Predator that refreshingly shatters people’s conventional expectations. Black serves up a wacky team movie in which the toughest badass grandmaster killer is a kid with Asperger’s. The great cast led by McQueen’s badass Holbrook has great dynamics. The best scenes are those without action, with dialog and tinfoil unicorns. The deaths are cool (Tomas Jane rules) and the only problem is that sometimes the creators overdo it and the story loses its logical progression and they make too much fun of the genre. The ending relies exclusively on strength. But full marks for entertainment value. If Forrest Gump looked at the back, he would know what he was about to eat. (13/09/2018)