Review of Predator (1987) by Griffen E — 29 Jul 2018

Schwarzenegger and John McTiernan team up for one of the better sci fi/action films made in the genre. What feels like a straight forward action film diverts around the half way point into something much more interesting.

Schwarzenegger is surrounded by characters who are just as large as himself and we spend the better part of the film, learning the trust they have with each other. Films of this nature normally lack this depth but this b movie plot is handed all the respect normally handed to drama films.

You only have to look at films that have developed into cult films to understand what one of the key ingredients is. It's characters. Predator might have sounded like a poor action film at the height of Schwarzenegger's popularity, but it has become one of his most beloved films.

This deserved a direct sequel but we were never treated to one with Schwarzenegger, which is a shame. Great action, only the film style of John McTiernan is a little dated now, he fell from glory with Rollerball, a poor man's reboot of another classic cult film.

I caught this on the big screen last night and must say it is much better than most of the offerings in 2018. 30/07/2018.