..pretty good movie..

Rating: 10/10 (14 May 2008)

Although I am not usually a sci-fi fan, I did enjoy watching "Predator". I had no idea it was so old - maybe that's why I enjoyed it ! As other users have commented, we see the space-ship coming from the universe, but don't ever see it again. If it could get here, why can't it stick-around ?? AND - after all that gun-play at the camp where the "minister" is supposed to be prisoner, what actually happened to the other members of his party? Did I miss that ? The scene where they shoot-up the camp is good, although one wonders how did they have all those weapons AND enough ammunition to continue to fire thousands of rounds in the jungle, at something they couldn't see ?
Director John McTiernan kept the suspense high and his actors busy, from Jim and John Thomas' script. Arnold ("Dutch") actually looked good, orange hair and all. Carl Weathers ("Dillion") was excellent in his role, although they could have left-out that arm-wrestling scene in the beginning. I suspect they had some phonies glued on Arnold's arms. Elpidia Arillo ("Anna") did what she could with all those macho guys. Bill Duke ("Mac") played his role well. Jesse Chaves ("Blain") also was good, as all the others were. Jesse Ventura was pretty good, too. The "creature" (Kevin Peter Hall) was imposing with his height and agility, but I DID see some human elbows between some of the plates.
Camera-work was excellent, as were the locations. They added to the tension as the film progressed. I agree the cast did a good job showing the terror of being hunted, after so much gun-play as hunters. I don't think the writers could have put in anything else to show Arnold in all his splendor.
Story-wise, not too bad. Because I waited so long to watch "Predator," and seeing the other sci-fi films mentioned herein before, I suppose it was no surprise to catch-on that "Dutch" would be the one to fight him face-to-face. I WAS surprised to see the 'copter was still in the jungle, after all that action. I remember, now, that I saw "Predator 2" first - I agree with all who liked "Predator" better.....it was better.
"Dutch" was right - "Predator" was not too pretty.....and he was smart. I must agree that he existed on the carnage he provoked; I was surprised there were no bananas hanging on the trees.
This movie was well-done, considering when it was released. Not too many special effects......but I saw a long list of stunt-people. All-in-all, I enjoyed watching "Predator" - I had no idea it was considered to be a "classic".....gave it 10.....