Man on Film: Predators

So it occurs to me that I am way behind here. You can thank moving, an increased workload thanks in large part to the absence of a dirty damned leprechaun, and a trip to New Orleans to have the shit rocked out of my ass like a goddamn hurricane. As it stands, I am three blockbusters behind and still have to keep my string of Nic Cage movies seen in the theater alive, so The Sorcerer's Apprentice is waiting in the wings.

Since I started this post about a month ago (that first paragraph really is that old), my output has been roughly nil.

So... Predators...

I saw that movie. It was a long time ago. If you interchanged the title of Predators into the chorus of the song "Breakfast at Tiffany's" with the titular film, that would probably aptly describe my feelings about the film at this point. In fact, here you go:

Aren't you kind of happy I did that? You know you're happier...

Back to the film, though, yes, it's been a while, and if we're being honest, I did miss most of the scenes with Montana Fishburne's dad because I fell asleep, but I didn't doze off out of boredom. I was tired as shit but needed to see this film.

I'm happy I did.

It was fun. It was closest in spirit to the original film of any of the subsequent Predator titles--well, unless we start talking about "To Catch a Predator." I like the hunters being hunted concept, generally, and I think it's used to great effect here. Any elements of trepidation I had going into the film were generally related to the weird casting, but Topher Grace and the ridiculously cut Adrien Brody actually both work quite well in their respective roles. The bonuses (boni?) of having Oleg "The Russian Bear" Taktarov appearing unexpectedly (making both Peter and I very happy to see our old UFC buddy making the most of his skill set) and having Danny Trejo and Walton Goggins* threatening to kill each other for nearly every instant they're on film is pretty damn fun, even if the bickering could be trimmed down just a bit.

*Goggins's turn on the first season of "Justified" was outstanding, and the series's initial season has long been calling out to have been covered here.

Now, don't get me wrong, this is not a great film by any stretch of the imagination. The plot is thin to say the least. It is basically just the super hunters from earth find themselves on a planet where they are the prey. That's about it. You can figure out what happens from there. Humans get picked off by Predators one by one while they try to find their way off the planet. This is immaterial for the most part.

You don't find yourself waiting for the film to be over (although this could merely have been a side-effect of having fallen asleep), the action is paced well, the suspense is built aptly, and it is a generally enjoyable film. Ultimately, that's what matters most. Was it fun? Yes. Am I glad I saw it? Yes. Was I the only one who felt that way when we walked out of the theater? No. That wraps things up pretty succinctly, while giving you a flavor of Robert Evans to close things out.