Predator 2
|
List Price: Our Price: $6.52 You Save: $8.46 (56%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.45 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Canada
Movie Reviews of Predator 2
Movie Review: A Very Worthy Sequel
Summary: 5 Stars
In 1987, one of history's greatest movie monsters hit the screen: an extraterrestrial known as The Predator. The vicious alien warrior dropped in for some slaughter among the South American jungles, ultimately facing off with Arnold "Terminator" Schwarzenegger in what now has become a classic. But in 1990, The Predator hit the screen again in search of more slaughter, and found his game in the rough-n-wild habitat of Los Angeles, California. Too many times, sequels to great films have been disappointing. But bloody hell, Predator 2 could not have been better!
Danny Glover plays the driven cop, Mike Harrigan, in the middle of a town seemingly run by criminals. To make his job even harder, a new killer has come to play in the grim city, and this thing isn't human. It kills as it pleases, collecting the skulls of it's victims. It's equipped with dozens of out-of-this-world gadgets, including a cloaking device, laser blasters, a wicked spear, and more. It's a hunter of the worst kind, and it seems absolutely unstoppable. To make matters worse, there is a group of reseachers that don't want to defeat the creature, but rather capture it and learn from it. They try, of course, but you can predict the outcome. Whether he likes it or not, Harrigan seems to be the only one capable of stopping the monster. The enemy realizes this, and all hell breaks loose. It becomes a battle between the vigilante cop and the terrifying creature, right down to the very end where they face-off in the predator's spaceship!
Don't worry about cheesiness here. Just as the first one, Predator 2 succeeds in a terrifying roller coaster ride of realistic monster mayhem, packed full of action. Even a concept such as a fight scene in a spaceship (which, upon reading it, would sound silly) keeps the tense mood, refusing to let your mind drift from the horrific world of this man and his other-worldy enemy. The predator itself is just as mesmerizing. Sticking to basically the same full-body-suit as the first film, you could swear the alien is a living breathing thing right in front of your face. It remains one of the most terrifying and interesting creatures ever created. A great film crew (and cast) assist the predator in making this sequel well worth the purchase.
Movie Review: Sci-Fi Sequel Surprise
Summary: 5 Stars
Predator 2 can now stand proud alongside the previous classic entry, not because pitting Glover's team of investigative cops against the Alien is somehow on the same par with Arnie and his commandos, but because it is non-stop action from start to finish, in an urban landscape, with lots of very memorable scenes to boot. It was a good call to have Stephen Hopkins direct this piece because of his art design background making the set pieces all look uniquely convincing and highly original. We also have great generation actors all coming together for this vehicle - Glover, Paxton, Busey, Baldwin and Davi.
Memorable stuff includes a great urban drug shoot out at the start, Jamaican voodoo (King Willie is a classic character), alien artefact evidence, DEA hunting aliens with high tech weaponry, the subway massacre, slaughterhouse slicing and the final battle with a twist. Hopkins may sacrifice a little plot development, character depth and the suspension of disbelief, including actors who suddenly hit their target spot on when missing all the time before (yeah that sort of forgivable stuff) but you can not deny that this has twice as much action than the first, a way more Predator and much details about this creature. And for that it lives up to it title in aces where others did not (Predator 1 was really more about Arnie and the latest one is for kids).
The fact that Predator 2 does not pause for breath is the reason why it gets the five start treatment. This is great science-fiction through and through, even though it is a sequel. You will remember this one more I think.
Also I find it interesting that at the end an old gun reads "1715 - Raphael Adolini". Although the name means nothing I believe this was to set up Predator 3 in the 17th century. That never emerged but would certainly be more interesting than the vs. Alien instalment.
Predator 2 is a well worthy entry in anyone's action/horror/sci-fi collection.
Movie Review: Great Film - But It Raises Some Issues
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a good alien-invasion movie in general, and a terrific sequel in particular. Setting the story in L.A. with protagonists Glover, Paxton and Busey made for quite a tale.However, the film raises some extremely serious questions. When the predator first attacked, and people realized what they were dealing with, why didn't any of them pause and ask, "Why does he hate us?" The people acted terrorized by the violent actions of the predator, and struck back for the purpose of killing him. Was that sort of response compassionate, diverse, tolerant or inclusive? Rather than unilaterally attacking the predator with an army headed by three cowboys, shouldn't everyone have attempted to form a coalition (perhaps involving the United Nations) and worked to appease the predator? Shouldn't they have settled for passing some resolutions against the predator, then employing inspectors to verify his compliance? And if that had not worked, shouldn't they have given the inspectors more time? The people gave no thought whatever to the predator's cultural or religious background -- they just tried to kill him as soon as possible, apparently thinking that was the only way to protect themselves from a totally irrational being. Can you imagine how things would be in real life, if the good guys merely killed terrorists as quickly as possible, as was done in this movie? Obviously if you kill them, they can't harm anyone any more -- but is that a compassionate, inclusive, tolerant and diverse manner in which to react to a murderous terrorist? Giving the inspectors more time is the best way to deal with a predator, obviously.
Movie Review: AWESOME SEQUEL- profound ending
Summary: 5 Stars
I fail to understand how anyone who liked the 1st Predator, would NOT like this one. Whats not to like? This is a VERY different movie from the first. It's set in the CITY, not the jungle, and you get to see the predator a whole lot more, with his sweet weapons and technology. Kevin Peter Hall (the predator) is as imposing as he was in the first one. The movie is fast paced and keeps you on the edge of your seat, while using some humor here and there to cut the tension. I cant stress how much I love this movie.
OK, one thing I understand can confuse people- Arny is NOT in this movie at all. I thought Danny Glover did an excellent job of pulling the viewer in, and making you want to watch. Don't get me wrong, I love Arnold, but I'm no Arny FanBoy like some of the posts around here. I think having him in this movie, in a totally different environment from the first, would have seemed contrived and very "Arny was in the first, so we have to put him in this one."
Without ruining the end, I must say I loved it. Now here's another point of confusion- alot of people I've heard just dont get the ending. Without ruining it for you, without saying a word a predator leader tells Danny Glover "We've been visiting your planet for a long time, and we'll be back."
-Cant wait for Aliens vs Predator to hit theaters on 08.06.2004
Movie Review: Rocked me profoundly
Summary: 5 Stars
Man! What an important film this is. Many movies attempt to capture, distill, un-distill, then sauté one's emotions, but fail. Now let me tell you, Predator 2 is one movie where they aren't afraid to poor on the drama, and they do it with five-gallon pitchers. The "Predator" long misunderstood as a frightening, evil, and bloodthirsty ... um ... um ... predator, is in fact shown in this film to really be a poor mixed up kid in the hell bound world of 1997 LA. Many will say that the Predator's tendency to kill, skin, and hang from scaffolds innocent people is extreme and sinister. I'm sure that we've all engaged in a little tom-foolery ourselves from time to time, and if he were on his planet following his own ancient and beautiful customs, that's all anyone there would make of it, tom-foolery. Furthermore, detractors might say that the Predator's cloaking ability is both unfair and dastardly, but it is in fact representative how frightened he is of life in general and his unwillingness to confront his problems, like puberty, head on. All in all, the Predator is just like you and me. God I love oysters.