Review of Predator 2 (1990) by Alec B — 15 Mar 2010

It's a movie about an alien visitor, who hunts humans in war-torn areas of the world. It's a violent, gory affair that ignores much of the mystery of the first movie and drops you right into the chaos from scene one. Since this movie was set in the then futuristic Ls Angeles year of 1997, it's surprisingly dystopian view of the drug wars and social turmoil mimics that of similar Swarzenegger movies of its era; think Total Recall and The Running Man. Predator 2 is also not that dissimilar in cinematic presentation to Verhoeven's RoboCop. While the special effects and budgetary increase presented some exciting and memorable set-pieces, the injection of humor into the mix was in complete contrast to the violence and intensity of the action. Danny Glover's lead role as an intense, bad-guy bunting veteran cop is believable and exciting, as is the relationship to his team.

While a lot of the sequences were repeats of the original movie, their transference from jungle to urban make a lot of sense and it helps that the Predator has a whole plethora of new toys. It didn't detract from the physical presentation of the Predator and with Danny Glover's intense delivery during fight scenes, is just as intimidating and exciting as the first time Arnold stepped up to that "Ugly mother ******!" While the frequently injected full-frontal nudity and numerously placed scantily clad women were a commercial choice for target audiences, there are some truly classic scenes here that are original and clever; the invisible Predator stomping through the puddles in the alley, one that always sticks in my mind.

While the script is at times basic, it's simplicity justifies the science-fiction subject matter. I just wish they'd have left out the comical relief in a movie that should do for Predator what Aliens did for Alien; ramp up the risk, the action and the desperation. It does, at least, do two out of three. Which is why I love this movie and am glad that it expanded on the world of these deadly, Alien Hunters.