smartest use of mud in motion picture history

Rating: Null/10 (25 June 2004)

Several years ago, when I was still hacking my way through college, one of my psychology professors decided to bring up "Predator" during a lesson on adaptive intelligence. "Smearing mud on yourself may not seem smart," he said, "but if it blocks the Predator's sensors, this apparently meaningless act becomes an intelligent act." As it transpired, no one in the class had seen the movie but me, and one guy kept shouting, "I don't get it! How does spreading mud on yourself equal intelligence?!" My frustrated professor eventually declared that men who hadn't seen "Predator" didn't qualify as real men.
Just thought I'd share. Anyway, my professor was on to something; this is a really manly, tough guy sort of movie. And, like so many tough guys, "Predator" is both powerful and stupid at the same time.
There's lots to loathe about this movie, including Silvestri's monotonous and silly music score, the ridiculous opening scene packed with cliched dialog ("It's been a long time!"), and the totally unrealistic battle with the rebels, who can't even manage to kill a single American while they're being mowed down by the dozens. Then there's the dreadloked Predator itself, who is a memorable alien, but not nearly so memorable as, say, the Alien. He's a bit silly-looking, you know.
But then again, there's lots to love. Carl "Apollo Creed" Weathers can elevate even the lowliest material (well, maybe not - I haven't seen "Action Jackson" yet), and Arnold gives a very natural and laid-back performance. The Predator's cloaking effect still holds up, and some of the sequences are suspenseful. When the girl calls the Predator "the demon who hunts men's skins" (or whatever), I always get a little chill.
Still, this is a pretty silly movie, even if you're in a charitable mood. My biggest problem with the upcoming "Aliens vs. Predator" is that the former series is venerable (it produced three classics - yes, I count Alien 3!), whereas the latter series is tacky junk. But, thanks to Dark Horse comics, these two basically unrelated properties are now fused together into one ghastly whole.
I'm rooting for the Alien. But the Predator is still my goofy, manly buddy.