If it bleeds, we can kill it
Starring:
Sonny Landham
Warwick Davis
Rating: 8/10
Running Time: 107 minutes
UK Certificate: 18
On DVD
'Predator', much like 'The Terminator' before it, is vintage Arnie. At one fairly early stage in this monstrous piece of sci-fi, the stubble-jawed Austrian stabs someone against a wooden post with a great big knife and says 'shtick around', before kicking down the door of a hut, quipping 'knock knock', and shooting everyone in sight. Already, you suspect, the 1987 cinema audience must have gotten what they paid for. To be honest, that opening half-hour or so now seems more than a tad laborious. With more than a hint of the 'Rambo'-esque, it follows Arnie as Dutch, the leader of a crack Army rescue team sent deep into the South American jungle with the apparent intention of rescuing a Cabinet Minister from some terrorists. But, as Dutch and his team wander around making macho chit-chat, something is watching. Something terrifying. Something with heat-sensitive vision and a natty set of dreadlocks. Like all the best monsters (most notably 'Jaws'), chances to get a decent look at the Predator are few and far between. We do know, however, that he's arrived from outer-space, he can camouflage himself against his jungle backdrop, and he collects human skulls which, let's face it, is a bit creepy. God knows what his bedroom at home must look like. He's also played by Kevin Peter Hall, who we can assume is wearing a costume and isn't really that badly in need of both a dentist and a manicure. So Predders picks off Dutch's team in convenient order of importance, until we reach what is one of the finest climactic 20 minutes in Hollywood history. John McTiernan's direction is spot-on, whilst Alan Silvestri's score builds the tension perfectly as we inevitably reach the man-to-man battle between a mud-caked Arnie and his alien foe. There's also some impressive FX for the time, particularly as the barely-visible beast leaps around the tree-tops scaring the living snot out of the US soldiers.
It's Got: Fantastic action scenes and a cracking ending.
It Needs: To answer certain questions, such as what the monsters doing on Earth in the first place.
DVD Extras Commentary with John McTiernan, If It Bleeds, We Can Kill It documentary, 7 Inside the Predator featurettes, out-takes and deleted scenes, special effects segments, predator camouflage tests, photo gallery and Predator profile. DVD Extras Rating: 9/10
Alternatives:
Alien, First Blood, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Goblet Of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order Of The Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Prisoner Of Azkaban, Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, Predator 2, The Terminator, WillowSummary
One of the most memorable movies of the 80s, worthy of any DVD collection.