The Predator is worth hunting for. What a great horror action movie!

Rating: 8/10 (2 March 2017)

Set in the jungles of Latin America, 'Predator' follows a team of mercenary-commandos led by Major Alan "Dutch" Schaefer (Arnold Schwarzenegger) on a U.S. military rescue mission to liberate hostages taken by leftist guerillas; only to find themselves, secretly stalk and hunted by a mysterious otherworldly creature who is using the warzone as his own 'most dangerous game' safari. Without spoiling the movie, too much, this ultra-macho sci fi movie that inspired many sequels, spin off & remakes has more to offer than it seems. While, the violent, militaristic spectacle of biceps, bombs, and guns might seem more brawn than brain; in truth, the film is smarter than its leads us to believe. Surprising, it has a lot of Hitchcockism feel to it. First off, the movie directed by John McTiernan starts out with a McGuffin mission plot that is later, abandoned for the more intense, close encounters of the third kind. Then, there is the way, this movie is mostly view by the alien's point of view. It's almost voyeurism. Not since the days of 1975's 'Jaws', has an unseen monster viewpoint been so scary. Even the vantage point shots from the soldiers were suspenseful as hell, as one of the appeals of this film is trying to find the hard to see Predator, due to his light-bending camouflage suit. Yes, I know, this was done, because how limited the digital special effects were, back in the day, but it gave the first movie, a sense of thrills that current horror films seem to lack, by showing everything in trailers and in the opening moments of the movie. In truth, we don't need to see the monster, as much as we think, we do. I love films that built it up, until the end. When, we do, see the creature. It felt earn, as we invested, so much time on seeing, what this being, looks like. The pacing for this film is well-balance. Also, I have to give mad props to Stan Winston for the monster design, as the original suit look like crap. I can't believe, Jean-Claude Van Damme almost played an ugly giant cockroach. Muscles from Brussels obviously ended up leaving the film when he found out that he was little more than a stunt man, and ex-basketball player, Kevin Peter Hall took the role, and ran with it. Thank goodness, because I doubt JCVD can do, any of his martial arts with that heavy set suit. Despite that, this movie is led by an incredibly lethal military unit, made up of a cast of colorful characters, including Blaine Cooper, played by future-governor, Jesse Ventura of pro-wrestling fame & Colonel George Dillon played by Carl Weathers of 'Rocky' fame that gives the film, plenty of catchphrases. Whether they were getting to the "choppah" or not having enough time to bleed, it was the surprisingly amusing characters interplay that helped make Predator so successful in the first place, despite the actors had to put through a variety of hardships such as leeches, snakes, stifling humidity, heat and rough terrain. They were indeed tough. However, there were some flaws in their characters. First off, the whole 'mercenary code of ethics' message isn't well-delivered here, as the men do seem a say a lot of awful things & might be a little bit over cruel and kill happy with their enemies. Also, while the movie has brilliant choreographed, setting up the men for battle. The action scene with the easy to kill Communists forces seem to be, a bit cartoonish and over the top with certain shots, badly & generic repetitive shot. Not to mention, somewhat cheesy, as some of the jokes, fell flat. In fact, this whole segment kinda took me out of the movie, for a bit. I felt like I was watching 1985's 'Commando", than a great horror movie. There is obviously some sizeable tongue planted firmly in cheek here. It kinda hurt the film, as it impossible to take these men as a serious threat to the Predator with their Gung Ho approach to the camp ambush. Radioactive levels of machismo! Thank God, the Predator shows up, and what was a textbook Arnold action flick rapidly descends back to genuinely cat & mouse stalker film. Still, there were a few things, I was disappointed by the later part of the film, such as the off-screen fight between Billy Sole (Sonny Landham) & the Predator. Could it, really be that hard to show them, fight to the death!? Also, why did Anna Gonsalves (Elpidia Carrillo) go to the chopper, instead of escaping!? After all, isn't this jungle, her home!? She could had just join up, with the rest of their guerrilla fighters, instead of being a prisoner!? It's a win-win for her. Despite that, I do have to say, Arnold is by far, the best part of this film, even with his nearly impenetrable accent, and cartoonish physique. Schwarzenegger manage to bring the guns, and the 'guns' AKA 'muscle' to what was a very entertaining climax to the film. A very well-deserve fight. The music that follows it, by composer Alan Silvestri, and the end credit, bow & smile with the cast members was icing on top of a delicious well bake cake. Overall: For a movie inspired by a running joke in Hollywood about Rocky Balboa of the 'Rocky' series of films fighting 1982's 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial'. I can appreciate its evolution, magnificent and brilliantly take on the man vs monster aspect, even if it's a bit cartoony. I really do like this movie. I think you would like it, too. So check it out!