Predator Review

MPAA Rating: R
Released: 1987

In Predator, a group of elite, tough-as-nails combat troops under the command of Arnold Schwarzenegger are flown to a deadly jungle in Central America to rescue hostages held by guerrilla forces. The team soon finds out their primary mission is a cakewalk when compared against the true danger that awaits them in the jungle: an alien hunter that kills humans for sport. Suddenly the hunters become the hunted...

Predator arrived on the scene in 1987 and became an instant sci-fi action favorite that is equally powerful and thrilling today. The plot details a group of hardened, buff combat soldiers under the command of Major Dutch Schaeffer (Arnold Schwarzenegger). Schaeffer's group is charged with the rescue of hostages that are being held by guerillas in the isolated jungles of Central America. Since each of the soldiers within the group is armed to the teeth and appears to be capable of taking out an entire army all alone, their combined might should make the mission a piece of cake, right?

Well, not exactly. Unbeknownst to Schaeffer's crew a hidden danger awaits them in the jungles… a danger that far exceeds the guerillas they must hunt down. An alien hunter from another planet hunts humans for sport, and this predator (Kevin Peter Hall) possesses overwhelming technology and a physique that dwarfs Schwarzenegger's!

If you are worried that an alien from another planet would make this movie the height of cheese, worry not. This predator is not a little gray fellow with a ray gun and bulbous head; he's a fearsome humanoid monster (designed by the gifted Stan Winston) that would make Michael Myers or Freddy Krueger run for the hills. The Predator isn't a horror movie, but it depicts a terrifying battle for survival nonetheless.

I won't divulge the details what happens during this movie, but you can rest assured you'll be treated to a generous serving of action and suspense. Schwarzenegger's films are almost always entertaining due to his natural charisma, but his acting was sometimes uneven. In The Predator he's on the top of his game.

In fact the entire cast was perfectly selected, a veritable who's-who of 80's action heroes. Carl Weathers, Jesse Ventura and Sonny Landham are just three of the buff actors under the command of Schwarzenegger's group, and each of them fit their respective roles perfectly. Every character in the force possesses his own individual personality and quirks, thereby making us want to root for the survival of them all!

There must have been something in the Mexican waters these actors imbibed during the filming of this movie, because The Predator has since become known as a springboard for actors-turned-politicians. Jesse Ventura was elected the governor of Minnesota in 1998, and Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected governor of California in 2003. Sonny Landham tried to make it a trifecta when he ran for governor of Kentucky in 2003, but unlike his two prior acting partners he failed in his efforts.

But I digress. If you're looking for a thrilling sci-fi action flick full of testosterone, violence and suspense all wrapped within that undeniably attractive 80's vibe, then you'll find this DVD to be an essential addition for your collection.

Movie rating: 8 stars

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