Predator has stood the test of time as a great and suspenseful action movie and one of Arnold's best performances. Featuring the likes of Jesse Ventura, Carl Weathers, and Bill Duke alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the starring role, this movie is great! Predator features great camera work, exciting action sequences, an element of horror/suspense, great costumes and a villain designed by the legendary Stan Winston. All of this plus a classic hunter becomes the hunted story adds up to a great movie.
First off, this is one of Arnold Schwarzenegger's best roles, if not the best( it is close between this and Conan for me). He brings a perfect mix of his usual over the top self and a down to earth soldier fighting to survive. The supporting characters are all great and everyone who has seen the movie will never forget that initial helicopter ride in. Rumor has it that the movie was based on a joke circulating around Hollywood at the time that to top Rocky 4 Stallone would have to fight an alien. The script based on that joke eventually made it into the hands of Joel Silver. James Cameron was also said to have suggested the famous Predator mandibles. If this story is true what came out of it was certainly no joke.
Another thing that makes this movie great is that they shot so much on location. You get that claustrophobic feeling of really being trapped in the jungle with a threat that can come from any direction. The shoot was said to be excruciatingly cold during the day and even more cold at night, with one production interview mentioning that heat lamps were required constantly. Arnold also mentioned that to film the epic final confrontation he had to spend all day covered in mud for three weeks, now that is dedication.
The special effects in Predator are very well done. I think even people who haven't seen the movie recognize that Predator vision effect. The Predator's face looks genuinely alien and is I think more intimidating without the helmet. The effects work on the mouth really sell the creature as top of the food chain. The soundtrack by Alan Silvestri is well done and memorable providing a perfect background for the trek through the jungle and the subsequent battles. Little Richard's "Long Tall Sally" makes the opening ride into the heart of the jungle fun and exciting.
I have loved Predator since I saw it for the first time when I was twelve and I still re-watch it today. They just don't make action movies like this anymore. It was the perfect team, at the perfect time, with the perfect cast and helmed(for his first studio movie) by John McTiernan who would later go on to make Die Hard and The Hunt for Red October. I don't know if Hollywood has just lost it's mojo or what but modern action movies hardly ever make me want to see them again, and for that alone Predator is special.
This movie is great, see it if you haven't, re-watch it if you have, I know I will. Thanks for reading and I'll leave you with a great clip.
NSFW
