The only decent Predator film...and it's a winner.

Rating: 10/10 (16 May 2005)

Predator is one of those films that, after you watch it, just seems like it was so COOL. The premise of the film is simple enough - Schwarzenegger and a team of Mr Universe competitors are dropped into the jungle to engage in commando-style warfare. Unfortunately, before they got there, an alien (who's even taller and stronger than THEY are) has landed, to hunt humans and collect himself a few trophies.
That represents a big change for Schwarzenegger, compared to his other films - it's the only one where he isn't the biggest, strongest and tallest thing in town. The alien is armed to the teeth, equipped with super-high-tech technology, stronger than any two of the Commando team added together and - to add to their misery - damn near invisible, through the use of a stealth suit. Suddenly, the elite commando unit so used to beating enemies who are higher in numbers and lower in skill have the tables turned; there's only one thing hunting them, but it has the advantage, just like they were used to in their own missions.
This film's tension, created by the inescapable alien and the vast, unyielding environment, combines wonderfully with the total coolness of the alien predator. Nobody, having seen this film, does NOT want one of the stealth suits that the Predator wears while he's hunting them down. There's a definite macho aura about the team - none moreso than the man himself, the Governator - but it seems somehow fitting for the kind of people that they're meant to be.
Stereotypical? You betcha - the team is stocked to the gills with stereotypes. The film has its share of Hollywood moments, too, such as one when Schwarzenegger is struck by fire from the Predator's weaponry. One of his commando team had his insides turned into outsides by the self-same attack, but Schwarzenegger? Scorched shoulder. Yeah, of course. This guy has iron alien-weapon-proof skin, don't you know.
But somehow, all those little things just don't MATTER in this film. It's as if you really aren't meant to care about them - it's not trying to be a drama, or a political commentary, or even to really take itself any further than the simple premise that kicks off and drives the whole film from start to finish - what if some alien used high-tech weapons to hunt US, just like we use ours to hunt animals?
The film is pure, well-paced entertainment, combined with tension, a small note of horror and a high note of ugly, tall and indescribably cool alien. Without any shadow of doubt, this film is the crowning achievement of Arnold's action-hero days.
Gotta love it!