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| Predator The Plot An elite team of soldiers has been dispatched into the Central American jungle to rescue hostages from a guerilla soldiers. Unfortunetly for them, there is another enemy. An unseen enemy that seems to be picking them off one by one, for the sheer thrill of it. As the body count mounts, the survivors realize that their stalker is not one of this world. The Movie This happens to be one of my favorite films of all time. Given the production talent, how can it bot be good? A masterful score by Alan Silvestri (Identity, Van Helsing), great production by Larry Gordon, Joel Silver and John Davis (Hellboy, The matrix, Thir13en Ghosts, I,Robot, 48 Hours), and outstanding monster designed by Stan Winston and great Direction by John McTiernan (Die Hard, the Hunt for Red October) elevate this film to it's classic status. Most of the characters in this film are extremely memorable and deliver classic, quotable lines. The acting may not be topnotch but no one really cares about that in this kind of movie. This one is high octane, no holds barred, gory action. I wasn't bored one second fwith this movie. The monster himself is very creative and will stand the test of time as being one of the ugliest and most notorious beasts of the silver screen. Simply put, he's one ugly motherf**ker! Many of the charcters are expendable but a select few are fleshed out into endearing characters that you actually care about. When they become the beast's prey, you mourn for thier death as opposed to cheering it. That's the way it should be, because it instills such strong emotion when a brave and valiant soldier falls before the Predator's arsenal. There's really not much to this movie other than sheer intensity and action and that's why I love it. This movie should also be remembered as the film that kicked off the POV Filter craze. The monster's Point of View is presented via a very cool Heat Sensor filter, a technique that has been mimicked by countless films. Wether they use a fish-eye lens, a red filter or some other odd concoction, Predator started the trend. The scorpion scene has to be seen to be believed. I really can't find anything wrong with this film. Some of the characters are a tad obnoxious (Hawkins being the most) and the beast really doesn't appear until about 40 minutes into the film. But even that time is fun and exciting, watching Arnold and Co. mow down Guerilla forces with the help of grenade launchers and one heck of a gatling gun. On that note, Arnold is obviously the star of the film and his Cat-and-mouse duel with the Predator is tense and exciting. Being an "action star" Arnold really doesn't have to act to steal the show, but he is impressive for what he has to do. His lines are amongst the most memorable in the movie. Also, jesse Ventura is really cool for as long as he's there. Where else can you find two actors turned governers in one movie? I love this movie because it is just so intense and exciting. Exceptionally gory, suspenseful and full of classic one-liners, this is a popcorn movie at it's very best! And don't Forget..."If it bleeds... we can kill it." The DVD The new edition of Predator comes in a fancy black and red custom case with glossy titles. Inside you'll find a fold-out package peppered with the film's classic lines. Also, you'll find a free ticket to see Alien vs. Predator! On the Second disc, it starts off with a 30 minute extensive documentary, consisiting of vintage footage from 1986 and new footage filmed in 2001. We also get 7 fun featurettes covering everything from Stunts and Weapons to Location and Camouflage design! There is a deleted scene included and a few outtakes. Unfortunetly most of these are presented via extremely grainy and silent footage. We also get some very short Special FX tests including footage of the Predator running around in a special "red suit" that makes him look like a Pokemon reject! Perhaps most impressive is an informative text profile that details all of the Predator's hunting arsenal and tools. a photo Gallery and trailer for "the Alien Quadrilogy" round it out. Oh and don't forget about the three hidden features! Overall, The DVD is filled with great features. They may be shorter then most features for "Spcial Edition DVDs" (see Hellboy) but they are entertaining and informative while they last. The picture quality is spotty at best but it's only a minor distraction. The menus are motionless, but they are accompanied by Silvestri's great pounding score. Also, be careful, because the packaging itself seems thrown together. The back cover is held on by a thin strip of glue and is susceptible to peeling off! Not the all time greatest DVD, but a very good one and the fact that the movie is so great means there is no reason this one shouldn't be in your collection! Retails for US$20 usually.
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