Sunday, July 11, 2010

Review: Predators (2010)

Combining the classic feel of John McTiernan's 1987 original with the modern, sequential trappings of multiplication and convolution, Nimrod Antal's Predators is a charming yet dumb resuscitation - a moderately tongue-in-cheek homage and reverent continuation of its now-classic predecessor.

Beginning with an aerial free fall and the subsequent meet-and-greet with a decidedly eclectic bundle of mercenaries, the film takes its exotic locale action-horror formula and runs with it all the way to its predictably bare-chested conclusion.

Things jump out at you, guns are fired, extraneous plot twists and near-misses abound, but somehow the proceedings are salvaged from complete obscurity by an elusive yet giddy mix of survival, built-in nostalgia and predatory instinct.

It's also carried somewhat by Adrien Brody, whose casting was met initially with curiosity due to his gangly persona, but he's ultimately proven to be an inspired choice - buffed-up, lean and surprisingly menacing.

The supporting cast doesn't fare as well, but the titular beasts are clearly taking second-billing here and they (well, most of them) do their part, although I'm still trying to figure out how Predators is any different from Cristian Alvart's Pandorum. [C+]

2 comments:

  1. Some people are go wrong by expection too much from the movie title, Predators. I enjoyed this film largely because it makes no attempts to familiarize its audience with what is going on. At the beginning of the movie it remind me of the Saw and the Cube series, in that you find a group of people together with no one knowing how or where they are, or for what purpose. I had a lot of trouble with the accents in this movie as well, which is why I didn't rate it higher. I'm just waiting for the DVD so I can read the subtitles and figure out what I missed! There are a few genuinely creepy moments in the beginning of the movie, and some nice blood effects. Anyway I recommend it for everyone to watch.

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  2. Its an average film that is very interesting to watch. I saw it last year on television. Its well made and enjoyable too.
    Predators Movie

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