A Look Back at “Predators” (2010) and “The Predator” (2018)

For last week’s edition, I revisited the 1987 action/sci-fi classic “Predator” and its 1990 sequel, “Predator 2” (which is an OK watch). So, to continue with my lead up to “Predator: Badlands” (which is a great continuation of the series), let’s get into the 2010 entry “Predators” and the 2018 follow up “The Predator”!

In the 2010 movie, brought together on a mysterious planet, a mercenary and a group of cold-blooded killers now become the prey. A new breed of aliens pursues the ragtag humans through dense jungle.

The group must work together to survive, or become the latest trophies of the fearsome intergalactic hunters.

The 2010 follow up, “Predators,” is definitely a huge improvement of the series and a whole lot better than the 2018 movie (more on that in a bit). This 2010 entry returned to the jungle-hunt atmosphere and the tone of the 1987 classic.

The action sequences throughout “Predators” really stand out and are well executed. There’s an intense Katana duel between the Yakuza assassin and one of the Predators that is easily one of the best moments of this 2010 sequel. The scene also marks a great character moment for the Yakuza assassin, highlighting his unique skill set and also providing a brief moment of redemption.

The concept of a Predator game reserve on an alien planet and the introduction of different Predator species are great additions to the series and also helps build more depth to the franchise lore. There’s also a Predator vs. Predator fight towards the movie’s conclusion that’s really incredible!

“Predators” is a highly entertaining and action-packed return to form that honored the 1987 movie really well. Sure, there are some moments that are a little predictable. But, this 2010 entry is easily a worthy addition to the franchise.

MPA: Rated R for strong creature violence and gore, and pervasive language   (runtime

107 minutes)

In the 2018 movie “The Predator,” from the outer reaches of space to the small town streets of suburbia, the hunt comes home. The universe’s most lethal hunters are stronger, smarter and deadlier than ever before, having genetically upgraded themselves with DNA from other species.

When a boy accidentally triggers their return to Earth, only a ragtag crew of ex-soldiers and an evolutionary biologist can prevent the end of the human race.

Now, while I thoroughly enjoyed the 2010 movie, I wanted to give this another shot since I haven’t seen it since I initially reviewed it. So, even though there is a good amount of action (some of which can be fun to watch), “The Predator” definitely isn’t the best entry of the franchise for sure.

“The Predator” does deliver a blend of action-packed moments and witty banter from the misfit team of ex-soldiers, which gives us a bit of an 80s action throwback vibe and can be a little entertaining. Over time though a lot of the witty humor can be really over the top and a bit much.

Even though there really isn’t a lot that really stands out in this 2018 entry of the franchise, one of the best sequences in this movie is where the one Predator escapes from a military lab where it’s being held. This brutal and fast-paced sequence really showcases the alien’s strength and agility.

The overall plot of “The Predator” can be a tad on the convoluted side as it takes too many ideas and pretty much mashes them together. Also the idea of having the Predators upgrading themselves by using DNA of other species doesn’t really add much to the lore and should’ve been left out.

While “The Predator” does have a couple entertaining moments here and there, this 2018 movie is definitely a missed opportunity that failed to reinvigorate the franchise at the time of its release.

MPA: Rated R for strong bloody violence, language throughout, and crude sexual references   (runtime 107 minutes)

You can currently find the entire “Predator” franchise currently streaming on Hulu!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzqYqoVoU74

• The alien creature that pursues Edwin (Topher Grace) through the jungle, during the ambush scene, is a slightly modified version of the original, abandoned Predator design from 1987.

• The "hunting dogs" are based on one of the creature skulls seen in the trophy case on-board the Predator ship, near the end of Predator 2 (1990).

• The film's basic plot was conceived in 1994, when Robert Rodriguez was working on Desperado (1995). He presented a draft of the script to 20th Century Fox, but they turned it down, because the budget required was too large. Fifteen years later, the studio decided to follow through with his script; in the end, an updated version of his script.

• Laurence Fishburne filmed for just two days.

• The original script contained cameo appearances by Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and Michael Harrigan (Danny Glover), the protagonists of the previous Predator films. However, these appearances were ultimately cut out.

• One of the mandates for the production team was that they only looked to the original Predator (1987) for reference points.

• The classic Predator, from the original Predator (1987) is seen for the first time in over twenty years.

• When asked where he drew his inspiration for how to make a "Predator" film, Robert Rodriguez responded he was inspired what to do from Predator (1987), and what not to do by Predator 2 (1990), Alien vs. Predator (2004), and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007). Furthermore, he added he drew no inspiration whatsoever from the "Predator" comics.

• One indication that the Predators have been using the hunting grounds for a very long time: when they first come into the Predator camp (just before they see the classic Predator on the totem pole), there is a Neanderthal skull next to a human skull on the ground as a trophy. The Neanderthal subspecies became extinct forty thousand years ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaG1KZqrLvM

• Although no mention is made in the movie, the character Keyes played by Jake Busey is the son of Peter Keyes, the government official from Predator 2 (1990) who died during the hunt for the Predator. Peter Keyes was played by Gary Busey, who is Jake's father in real life as well.

• When the Predator grabs its mask from the display case, the original Predator mask from the 1987 movie is briefly seen right next to it.

• The film was originally conceived as a reboot of "Predator" until Shane Black came aboard and confirmed he would be making a sequel instead, as he wanted to continue to explore the "Predator" mythology.

• Adrien Brody expressed interest in reprising his role from Predators (2010).

• The film was a box office flop ultimately, with a record-setting opening weekend of $24.6 million, the worst possible opening weekend for film on more than 4,000 screens, $7 million lower than previous record holder The Mummy (2017).

• One of the biggest reasons why test screenings of Shane Black's first and very rough cut of the film from November of 2017 failed so badly is because all the effects weren't finished, including ones for all the major sequences, specially entire original third act of the film. Instead the version of the film which test audiences saw and disliked had some rough CGI effects, which only ended up making more of the already unfinished film completely incomprehensible. Even some of the first trailers for the film show evidence of this, like for example Upgrade Predator having different look in each new trailer that was released. Workprints of all different cuts of the film do exist, and Shane Black did try to talk 20th Century Fox into finishing up and releasing his original 2 + hours long cut or at least all deleted footage, but they refused because it would have been way too expensive.

• This movie is the fourth official installment of the Predator saga. Given the fact that this movie references Alien vs. Predator (2004), this means that the two crossovers Alien vs. Predator (2004) and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007) could also be parts of the Predator continuity. In that case, this would be the sixth installment.