Film 16 (9/5/2005)

Predator (1987)

Director: John McTiernan

Recommended by: nobody

Has Fentablar seen this before?: Yes.

Well, I started this project by viewing AVP and it left a bad taste in my mouth. So, for Labor Day I am watching Predator and Alien, back-to-back, to make sure that AVP is not my last memory of these two stories. First up: Predator.

Amongst several good American action films in the 1980s (Lethal Weapon, Aliens, Die Hard - to name a few), Predator stands out in my mind as the most original. It begins as a military-style action film, then turns briefly into an action/suspense film, then back into an action film a la First Blood. The style transitions are flawless and virtually unnoticeable, with help from one of the more memorable scores for an action film.

There is a moment at the very end, however, that I'm sure a few people don't find believable, which is Dutch surviving the Predator's self-destruct device. I don't really think this affects the film as a whole - moreover, it fits the action genre very well.

A very entertaining film.

Ratings (scale of 1 to 5):

Plot Effectiveness: 5/5. This film keeps you wondering "what the hell is this thing?" and leaves you with "whoah, that was cool!".

Cinematography/Shot Selection: 4/5. A couple minor details keep me from giving this a perfect score, but to mention them would be to ruin the film (there must be SOMEONE out there who hasn't seen this!)

Overall Acting: 4/5. Everybody did their job here.

Score/Soundtrack: 5/5. Alan Silvestri did a magnificent job of writing a score which hightens both the action and suspense elements of this film. One of my most remembered scores - far more so than Star Wars.

OVERALL RATING: 4.5/5

~Fentablar~