The most macho film in history....

Rating: 8/10 (6 September 2002)

...and that is by no means a bad thing.
'Predator', once seen as the cheap and cheerful bastard son of 'Aliens' and a like, is now picking up speed on its way to becoming regarded as something much more, and can now be mentioned in the same sentence as Jim Cameron's film without fear of the standard cine-(il?)literate snob mockery. Its about time.
'Predator' is such a huge success for the same reasons as McTiernan's other 80's masterpiece (Hey! Deal with it), 'Die Hard'. Firstly, McTiernan (the most underrated Hollywood film maker by a country mile) knows how to crank up tension and suspense like nobody else. Secondly, the film is suitably ridiculous, and everyone involved is in on the joke. Thirdly, Schwarzenegger is easily at his most appealing here - attitude and pure charisma dripping from his every word and movement. Fourth, the editing is truly superb and fifth, the predator itself is an all time great movie monster. Oh, and the script isn't too shabby either, for what it is.
And thats it. Besides PERFECTLY epitomising 1980's Hollywood product to an absolute tee, 'Predator' is nothing other than what it is supposed to be - a wonderfully entertaining Saturday night rollercoaster.

The term "classic" has been used to describe far lesser works.....