Predator 2
|
List Price: Our Price: $6.50 You Save: $8.48 (57%) 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: Drawn to Areas of Conflict...
Summary: 4 Stars
'Predator 2' is the sequel to the Arnold Schwarzenegger blockbuster, aptly titled 'Predator.' In 'Predator,' Arnold lead a group of Marines into central America to take out a drug cartel. Along the way, they discovered an alien being that hunted humans for sport. In the sequel, Arnold makes way for Danny Glover, who plays Mike Harrigan, an L.A. police officer. After witnessing how much trouble Arnold and his team of muscle bound marines had trouble with the original predator, Danny Glover in the leading role for the sequel seemed like a dubious choice--yet after watching the movie, Glover seemed like the perfect choice.
In the sequel, another Predator has found his way to Earth to hunt humans for sport. Much like the Predator in the first movie, he has selected an environment ravaged by conflict. In this movie Central American Drug Cartels, Jamaican Drug cartels, the FBI, and the L.A. police are engaged in a drug war the likes of which this country has never seen. Much like the jungle of the original movie, the urban jungle that is Los Angeles gives the Predator countless opportunities to use his special abilities, which if you haven't seen the movies, I won't reveal here.
What makes this movie such a great sequel is that it succeeds where other sequels starring new leads usually fail. Granted, this is a science fiction movie, so some disbelief has to be suspended, but this movie doesn't implausibly force the lead character from the previous movie into a situation where he faces the same challenges in a second movie. Rumor has it that a deal could not be reached with Schwarzenegger to star in this movie. The producers of this movie wisely chose not to simply recast his character, but made up a whole new character in Glover's Harrigan.
Danny Glover's character is reminiscent of his character from the 'Lethal Weapon' series, Roger Murtaugh, only without the 'too old for this...." jokes. Also in the cast are Gary Busey, another veteran from 'Lethal Weapon,' who plays an obsessed Federal Agent that is a little too mysterious for Harrigan's crew. Bill Paxton, a veteran from the 'Alien' series, plays the most recent addition to Harrigan's crew, and is a rather stereotypical young hotshot detective.
I found this movie highly enjoyable. Its one flaw might be the over-the-top violence and gor that marks the opening action scene (and that was so prevalent in movies of the late 1980's and early 1990's). After that, the movie settles into an intriguing story. Because of the violence and gore, I would not recommend this movie for young children, and older children might need adult supervision. Science fiction fans, particularly those that like the 'Alien' and 'Terminator' series, should like this movie. Best of all, you don't need to know a single thing about the original movie in order to understand this one. The DVD contains a few extras, but the true fan might want to wait for the 'Special Edition' that will be released in the next week. Overall: 4 stars.
Movie Review: It's Hunting Season Again...In a Different Kind of Jungle
Summary: 4 Stars
This sequel to 1987's highly popular and successful PREDATOR is not nearly as suspenseful as the original, but it is still exciting and action-packed. Though star Danny Glover does not generate the same commanding screen presence that Arnold Schwarzenegger did in the first film, he is nonetheless a very talented and experienced actor, and he and his fantastic supporting cast--the gorgeous Maria Conchita Alonso, the always-delightful Bill Paxton, Hollywood staple Gary Busey, and Panamanian character actor Rubén Blades--are able to raise 1990's PREDATOR 2 several notches above the average quality level of film sequels.This time the eponymous extraterrestrial is on safari in the (then) futuristic Los Angeles of 1997, and it is Columbian and Jamaican drug lords, mon, that seem to be his prey of choice. But when he spots the crime-fighting juggernaut Lieutenant Mike Harrigan (Danny Glover) in action, he feels he's finally found the king of this urban jungle. Harrigan then becomes the main object of the hunt, and the inevitable but exciting showdown takes place on the upper levels of a high-rise apartment in the L.A. slums.
The special FX of this sequel are not as fresh as they were in the original PREDATOR, but they are still adequate for the story and action. The Alien, when visible, gets more screen time than he did in the first film, and genre fans will be delighted to see that Stan Winston and his staff manage to make the E.T. look just as cool as before.
In short, PREDATOR 2 is not as fresh, classy, or suspenseful as its progenitor, but Danny Glover--who, though no Arnie, is a talented and interesting actor--creates an urban hero who is both compelling and sympathetic.
THE DVD from Fox offers a nice anamorphic Widescreen transfer and good Dolby Digital sound, and in addition to the theatrical trailer, the extras include a pretty cool behind-the-scenes featurette that was filmed during the movie's original production. Good movie and good DVD, but be sure to also get the DVD version of the even better original PREDATOR.
Movie Review: Far better than the first movie (and I mean FAR better!)
Summary: 4 Stars
A million times better than the first movie!, whilst Predator 1 played out like a standard Hollywood slasher movie (half a dozen unlikeable characters being killed off one by one in the woods by a barely seen killer who wears a mask (the makers of Friday the 13th movies should sue!); Predator 2 wisely loses the vile macho grunt characters mumbling horrible dialogue in the jungle of the first film and relocates to the hunt to Los Angeles.
Predator 2 sees Danny Glover investigating a gang war between rival drug gangs only to find out that each gang is getting slaughtered by an unknown foe and Glover assumes their deaths are caused by the other gang, however when the predator starts murdering members of Glovers own team and starts following him around LA, he soon realizes that he up against a far more deadly adversary.
The LA backdrop offers a significantly more cinematic feel to part 2 than the trees n' leaves setting of the first, Director Stephen Hopkins amps up the action scenes as you would expect of any action movie sequel (lifting a whole scene from Aliens along the way) and moves the movie along at a damn fine pace (including a 40 minutes chase scene for the second half of the movie).
Danny Glover whilst a little miscast as the action hero, still manages to bring charm and determination to the lead role, which is more than can be said for old arnie in the first movie who simply smoked cigars and made James Bond style quips.
The movie fleshes out far more of the predators `hunter' mythos than the first, which really adds an extra dimension to the movie than your standard monster movie, which no doubt went a long way to establishing the Predator as an iconic Hollywood bad guy.
The movie like the first, is available everywhere at a very reasonable price on DVD; if you like your monster movies with a great bad guy, bristling with action and damn good make up effects, pick this one up, you wont be disappointed.
Movie Review: Underrated sequel
Summary: 4 Stars
Okay, so Arnold's not in it. What's the big deal? If Sigourney Weaver hadn't needed to be the star of the very very big universe that the "Alien" movies are set in, then THOSE flicks might not have gone so astray just halfway into the series. Although Danny Glover has always been an excellent actor, the PREDATOR is the true star of these movies, and if there's one thing that both "Predator" films have established, it's that the Predators have been hunting on Earth for centuries. "Predator 2" works very nicely as an expansion of the original concept (vs. being just another cheap knockoff with the same star for added marketability). "Predator" is a concept which can span endless enviornments with endless characters, and I'm proud of the makers of "Predator 2" for taking advantage of that. Taking the franchise to the big city of L.A. lends a dynamic that is wonderfully different from the first movie's more isolated jungle setting, and allows the story to be truly expanded by showing us more significant details about not only the hunting ethics of the Predators, but the fact that humans are aware of their presence and have (for years) been actively seeking to confront and capture them. Rather than stagnating on the same old premise that was introduced in "Predator," "Predator 2" actually has the courage to evolve it (much like "Aliens" did for "Alien"). Sure, the basic idea is now familiar, and yes, the killings are more predictable and notably less suspense-inducing than in the original movie, but it's definitely a step in the right direction for the evolution of a fine movie series that hopefully has not ended here!Movie Review: 10 years later
Summary: 4 Stars
Predator 2 ten year have gone buy since the first incident. The goverment is know aware of the predotors existence. Another predator lands on Earth attrached by the Conflict in Los Angles between the police and the Cuban Drug Lord.Lots of action violence bad language and gore just like the first one. This one was not big strong Arnold Dutch from the firts movie is replaced by a puny African American police cop. The location change into the city made the movie less scary and suspenful than it's prodescure.
Interesting thing there is several predators on earth this time instead of just one. The main Predatopr does not die by self destruct like the on it Instead he bleeds to death from the inside after his chest area is slice open.
There have been some changes made the predator has a view new eapons he did not have in the last film. These include a long sharp spear. A net made of some sharp materal that can cut flesh. His must deadly weapon a buzzsaw slash bommerang like weapon. Just like at the end of the first one there is and explosion.
Instead of the predator it's the predators ship the cheezy part was when the predator gave him the only gun from the 1700s before the ship self destructs. Not as good as the first Predator but still a good movie. Hopefull Alien Vs Preadtor which comes out this august will do as well as the last 2 did.