"If it bleeds, we can kill it."- Dutch
Before John McTiernan really announced himself as a great action director with the release of 1988's Die Hard, little did he know that he would kick-start another hugely popular franchise the year before. Following on from the success of Predator was a sequel, two crossovers with the Alien franchise and a reboot/sequel which ignored everything that came after this film. However much the later films polarised audiences, there is no denying that the original is a classic of action/science-fiction filmmaking, and introduced one of the most memorable aliens ever depicted on film.
The plot is simple: an elite squad of commandos are hunted down on what seems like another routine rescue mission of hostages. Along the way, they begin to realise that their enemy is not of this world, and must do whatever they can to make it out of the jungle alive. Without being hampered by such a simple plot, Predator manages to stand out in its genre for three main reasons: memorable characters, fantastic action sequences and, best of all, the design of the titular monster. Starting with the characters, we have the lead role of Dutch, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Throughout his career, much has been made of Schwarzenegger being best suited to action roles, garnering a reputation of being unable to act in any other genre. In Predator, I think Arnold is at his best in terms of delivering his lines convincingly. He'll always be remembered for playing the Terminator, as his semi-monotone delivery of the dialogue perfectly fits the role of a robot. He doesn't do anything particularly spectacular in Predator, but given his reputation as being a "one note" actor, I think his performance here is one that should be viewed favourably. His physical presence makes him the stand out of the group, and very clearly shows that he is the leader of the team. Starring alongside him are other "tough guy" actors such as Carl Weathers (Apollo Creed in the Rocky films) and wrestler Jesse Ventura. The supporting cast are all memorable due to McTiernan establishing each member of the team's personality, with Dillon (Weathers) being the outsider having tagged along against Dutch's wishes of his team always working alone. The other soldiers are defined by their roles in the team, with Hawkins (Shane Black) being the joker, Billy (Sonny Landham) tactically analysing enemy attacks and Anna (Elpidia Carrillo), a woman in the company of the hostage takers, explaining the possibility of the Predator being otherworldly: "the demon who makes trophies of man".
All the characters get to prove their usefulness to the team throughout the many action sequences in the film, and Predator delivers some of the best action you will ever see. Not just for the amount of explosions and body count, but for the different situations the characters are placed in where the action unfolds. Early on in the film, we are treated to a shoot-out between the commandos and the hostage taking Guerillas. The cinematography is excellent here, with low-angle shots following the soldiers who are thrown from their hiding spots, and with the camera tracking each of the heroes as they make their way through the encampment. Accompanying this scene is some the most memorable (and cheesy) one-liners uttered by the heroes, such as "payback time", "I ain't got time to bleed", "stick around" (uttered after a soldier is pinned to a post with a dagger) and "knock knock", as Dutch kicks a door down and fires away at more soldiers. When the Predator arrives, however, things get serious and the action style shifts, along with the character's personalities. No more one liners whilst attacking, with the team realising they are under threat by something more deadly than enemy soldiers. This is exemplified by the change in personality of Billy, whom before was established as a no-nonsense killer and tactician. He is the first character to sense there is danger after they have completed their mission: "There's something out their waiting for us, and it ain't no man. We're all gonna die." The final confrontation between the Predator and Dutch is a suspenseful cat and mouse game, with each of them trying to outsmart the other, favouring stealth at first until leading to a fist fight in which the Predator displays its dominance, by beating Dutch to a pulp. The variety in action sequences keeps Predator fresh and ensures the audience's attention is held, with the team developing new tactics to try and outsmart the Predator after each encounter.
If all that wasn't enough, the Predator creature itself will no doubt leave an impression on the audience. This alien is a fantastic design, created by special effects maestro Stan Winston, the man behind The Terminator's effects three years prior. Boasting an invisibility cloak, a shoulder cannon, wrist blades, infra-red vision and incredible strength and agility, the Predator is more than a match for the bad-ass team of commandos. McTiernan expertly uses this impressive arsenal to further the film's suspense, with each weapon being revealed through the different action scenes, leaving the audience eagerly awaiting to see what else the creature can do. For most of the film, the Predator remains invisible, leaving its appearance a mystery until the final stages. Even then, there is more to the creature than first suspected, as the Predator removes its mask only when deciding to fight Dutch one on one. Special credit must go to 7ft tall actor Kevin Peter Hall, who gives the Predator a personality through body language. Subtle head movements and dynamic poses make the Predator a more three-dimensional character, rather than simply being a rampaging monster with no distinguishable personality.
The Predator itself is probably the primary aspect of the film's long lasting appeal to fans of science-fiction and action films. However, there is plenty of soul to be found in Predator, with the human characters all being likeable and well portrayed. Add to the mix some classic dialogue ("Get to the chopper!") and you have a thrill ride of a film that delivers both action and visual awe aplenty.
Pros:
+ Terrific action scenes, varied throughout.
+ Cinematography that compliments the action, not at all obtrusive (as is the case with many modern action films).
+ Very quotable dialogue, whether it be bad-ass or hilarious ("You're one ugly motherfucker").
+ Unique creature design.
+ Solid acting from all the cast.
Cons:
- Some predictable moments, with one character deciding to go after the Predator alone. No prizes for guessing how that encounter ends.
The plot is simple: an elite squad of commandos are hunted down on what seems like another routine rescue mission of hostages. Along the way, they begin to realise that their enemy is not of this world, and must do whatever they can to make it out of the jungle alive. Without being hampered by such a simple plot, Predator manages to stand out in its genre for three main reasons: memorable characters, fantastic action sequences and, best of all, the design of the titular monster. Starting with the characters, we have the lead role of Dutch, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Throughout his career, much has been made of Schwarzenegger being best suited to action roles, garnering a reputation of being unable to act in any other genre. In Predator, I think Arnold is at his best in terms of delivering his lines convincingly. He'll always be remembered for playing the Terminator, as his semi-monotone delivery of the dialogue perfectly fits the role of a robot. He doesn't do anything particularly spectacular in Predator, but given his reputation as being a "one note" actor, I think his performance here is one that should be viewed favourably. His physical presence makes him the stand out of the group, and very clearly shows that he is the leader of the team. Starring alongside him are other "tough guy" actors such as Carl Weathers (Apollo Creed in the Rocky films) and wrestler Jesse Ventura. The supporting cast are all memorable due to McTiernan establishing each member of the team's personality, with Dillon (Weathers) being the outsider having tagged along against Dutch's wishes of his team always working alone. The other soldiers are defined by their roles in the team, with Hawkins (Shane Black) being the joker, Billy (Sonny Landham) tactically analysing enemy attacks and Anna (Elpidia Carrillo), a woman in the company of the hostage takers, explaining the possibility of the Predator being otherworldly: "the demon who makes trophies of man".
All the characters get to prove their usefulness to the team throughout the many action sequences in the film, and Predator delivers some of the best action you will ever see. Not just for the amount of explosions and body count, but for the different situations the characters are placed in where the action unfolds. Early on in the film, we are treated to a shoot-out between the commandos and the hostage taking Guerillas. The cinematography is excellent here, with low-angle shots following the soldiers who are thrown from their hiding spots, and with the camera tracking each of the heroes as they make their way through the encampment. Accompanying this scene is some the most memorable (and cheesy) one-liners uttered by the heroes, such as "payback time", "I ain't got time to bleed", "stick around" (uttered after a soldier is pinned to a post with a dagger) and "knock knock", as Dutch kicks a door down and fires away at more soldiers. When the Predator arrives, however, things get serious and the action style shifts, along with the character's personalities. No more one liners whilst attacking, with the team realising they are under threat by something more deadly than enemy soldiers. This is exemplified by the change in personality of Billy, whom before was established as a no-nonsense killer and tactician. He is the first character to sense there is danger after they have completed their mission: "There's something out their waiting for us, and it ain't no man. We're all gonna die." The final confrontation between the Predator and Dutch is a suspenseful cat and mouse game, with each of them trying to outsmart the other, favouring stealth at first until leading to a fist fight in which the Predator displays its dominance, by beating Dutch to a pulp. The variety in action sequences keeps Predator fresh and ensures the audience's attention is held, with the team developing new tactics to try and outsmart the Predator after each encounter.
The Predator itself is probably the primary aspect of the film's long lasting appeal to fans of science-fiction and action films. However, there is plenty of soul to be found in Predator, with the human characters all being likeable and well portrayed. Add to the mix some classic dialogue ("Get to the chopper!") and you have a thrill ride of a film that delivers both action and visual awe aplenty.Pros:
+ Terrific action scenes, varied throughout.
+ Cinematography that compliments the action, not at all obtrusive (as is the case with many modern action films).
+ Very quotable dialogue, whether it be bad-ass or hilarious ("You're one ugly motherfucker").
+ Unique creature design.
+ Solid acting from all the cast.
Cons:
- Some predictable moments, with one character deciding to go after the Predator alone. No prizes for guessing how that encounter ends.
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