Shane Black Directing Predator Sequel! - Part 2

[Aximili86]

Because...I've read a half-dozen reviews praising said qualities. While being down on the movie overall.

There are degrees of this. Failed experiments still have bright points people respond well to, unsuccessful scripts can still have a little ambition to them, movies that don't pan out well as a whole can still have some worth.

Which there's nothing wrong with. Many, many of these reviews don't hate it to the extent you do, even while being disapproving of the movie. Is my point, sole point. Nobody needs to hear the "I suspect Shane's intentionally screwing Fox & the fanbase over due to some deep-seeded hatred for the Arnold movie!" and "it's literally as bad as the Strausse Brothers effort!" hyperbole ad-nauseum. Your point's made, it doesn't need to bubble up every page with another alternatively-worded "it's cinematic dog****". You're entitled to it. You're also not representing what many others are saying on it on the RT page.


The Predator


Even the new ones there, consensus seems it's a mixed-bag at worst. Plenty of "nay"s, plenty of "moderate yay"s.

 

[TheVileOne]

All that consensus really seems to say is that they made another mediocre Predator movie at best.

 

[Spider-Fan]

People are really blowing this hate out of proportion. It's not even close to AVP2.

I never said it was THAT bad lol. But, it is bad. Not an abomination, just a bad movie. It happens.

 

[The Chris]

I'll give AVPR this, at least it had a bad mofo of a Predator in it (even though you couldn't freakin' see him). It's the worst still, but this one is the most disappointing for me.

 

[Monsieur Xavier]

So, it's a mindless entertainment movie and if you are into Predator mythologie it's borderline crap.
Nothing new on the front line since P2 ( and Predators to an extend ).

 

[Teelie]

I just got back from seeing it. Somewhat disappointed in it but it is nowhere near AVP:R in terms of awfulness. It was actually boring in places too surprisingly.

There are no spoilers below.

As far as franchises go this probably won't kick off a new sequel although my concerns about their upgrade/evolution were alleviated enough it made sense. The ending definitely is controversial but I would like to see where they take that. Though if they do, I really hope they improve on the story.

Munn was fine. I know some people have a problem with her but she's not a terrible actress and her character in this is not wasted.

There were obvious points where you knew who would die and who got to live. The story went where you would expect it to go although the ending was unexpected. My only nitpick is how they had to involve a climate change angle. It makes sense (they are a cold blooded species) but it felt silly. There were a few other eye rolling moments but the problem for me is this movie felt lacking.

 

[moviedoors]

I thought it started well enough, but basically the entire 2nd half is just a mess. Everything stops working: the plot falls apart, the humor stops landing, the action is confused and cheap looking, and the good gore gags just stop cold. And the ending: like, that's it? If you say so.

I'm most disappointed as a Shane Black fan. His previous three movies are all home runs and this is just a dud. It makes me appreciate PREDATORS even more.

 

[The Chris]

I think what was most bothersome for me was just how unthreatened and unafraid everyone acted near the predators. I had that problem with Alien: Covenant as well where the Xenomorph finally came in and instead of looking really scared and confused they come off like wannabe Rambo types. Arnold looked more terrified in the 3rd act than almost everyone in this. A highly advanced vicious alien shows up and you act like it's a normal Tuesday.

 

[Prettyricky]

it was good overall but that ending was really dumb and didn't leave me wanting more like past movies had. I almost laughed at one thing in particular.

 

[TheVileOne]

I'll give AVPR this, at least it had a bad mofo of a Predator in it (even though you couldn't freakin' see him). It's the worst still, but this one is the most disappointing for me.

The scenes with Wolf are the reasons I put Requiem above this piece of trash.

 

[Broseph44]

What is the ending I’m curious and also just how bad did those Pred Dogs look

 

[TheVileOne]

What is the ending I’m curious and also just how bad did those Pred Dogs look

This is the ending in a nutshell:

Spoiler

Sub the Xenomorph disguise for Predators.

 

[Broseph44]

This is the ending in a nutshell:

Spoiler

Sub the Xenomorph disguise for Predators.

Wtf

 

[TheVileOne]

Wtf

Spoiler

The Predator gives a weapon to humanity to fight the Predators. The weapon is Predator armor that makes humans look like a Predator wearing Iron Man armor, complete with dreadlocks. It's called the "Predator Killer." After seeing it, I wanted to vomit.

 

[Broseph44]

Spoiler

The Predator gives a weapon to humanity to fight the Predators. The weapon is Predator armor that makes humans look like a Predator wearing Iron Man armor, complete with dreadlocks. It's called the "Predator Killer." After seeing it, I wanted to vomit.

This is for real what they came up with? Jesus Christ.

 

[KaijuDude1992]

This was bad, but I honestly didn't hate it as much as I was expecting to. It's mostly just a messy, disjointed, tone deaf train wreck, but I'll admit that I did get some entertainment out of the predator carnage that was on screen even though so much of it is crappy CGI blood and guts. I really want to know just what the hell Shane Black and Fred Dekker were thinking when writing the script for this though. I mean turning the Predator franchise into some action/buddy comedy wannabe should have been a bad idea from the beginning yet they still chugged along with it for some reason. Also, that ending was godawful. If you think it sounds bad just reading it than you just wait until you actually see it lol.

 

[Teelie]

Spoiler

The Predator gives a weapon to humanity to fight the Predators. The weapon is Predator armor that makes humans look like a Predator wearing Iron Man armor, complete with dreadlocks. It's called the "Predator Killer." After seeing it, I wanted to vomit.

It was over the top but it definitely would do the trick. I liked it though I also realize that I am in the minority and know exactly why people hate it. A sequel going forward with that would most definitely need a better treatment than this movie or it could top AVP:R as the worst in the franchise.

 

[TheVileOne]

Spoiler

How though? How do you deal with the hybrid Predators with all the upgrades and DNA? The Fugitive Predator was no match for it. They were just barely able to beat the Hybrid Predator and that was not really through brunt force but with trickery, cunning, and luck. Plus a last minute save by the ****ing Predator Hound.

 

[Teelie]

If I gave it some thought I could probably figure something out. It is a toss up as to whether they had a sequel idea already in mind or just threw this in as a last minute addition.

 

[KaijuDude1992]

This is probably tied with AVP:R for me as far as quality goes, but I would honestly rather watch AVP:R again than sit through this. Like someone else said that movie at least had a pretty badass Predator in it that did some damage and actually felt like a threat. I found it really strange how little the human characters were actually concerned with the Predators in this, especially when you got the Deebo Predator running around. Any sense of dread or horror that those earlier movies invoked including Predators is just completely zapped out of this film anytime they were on screen which is unfortunate. I also didn't get the point of the Predator dogs being in this when it seemed like all they did was be there for either plot convenience or some lame gag.

 

[Teelie]

I thought they were a wasted effort too. Except they might be lining them up for a sequel if they followed this one. Which is unlikely. It was a mess and it could have been salvaged I think.

 

[Aximili86]

All that consensus really seems to say is that they made another mediocre Predator movie at best.

Yes. Yes, now you're getting it! Attaboy.

"Mediocre at best" seems to be the common denominator among the RT reviewers. That's a whole different point on the spectrum to your take on it.

Progress! Nobody's arguing it's not a disappointing movie, a pretty bad one even. You don't have to go full-on salivating Alex Jones with the thing though. Black didn't spend 30 years plotting & scheming some grand revenge over supposedly hating the original, he's not ****ing with the fans, it's simply a case of his movie turning out less-than what we'd have been hoping for.

Life. Goes. On. "Best since the original" is still up and above what we've been getting for 25 years bar one single movie: it's hardly a best-case scenario, but there's likely a couple grins & chuckles to be had throughout. Chillax, as the cool kids say. Or don't.

 

[Neno_Kos]

 

[Aximili86]

Seems semi-fair.

Gotta love how he's lamenting all the crazy guys only just being "a quirk" in terms of depth though, like somehow the guys in the Arnold movie were any more than that. Billy's a cliche Indian tracker, Blaiine's a giant macho badass d*ckhead, Hawkins is a dirty-mouthed signals operator, Weathers is the formerly-decent-dude turned ruthless CIA guy, Arnold's a pair of testicles with a gun.

Characterization has been two-dimensional in these since the start.

 

[Teelie]

Seems semi-fair.

Gotta love how he's lamenting all the crazy guys only just being "a quirk" in terms of depth though, like somehow the guys in the Arnold movie were any more than that. Billy's a cliche Indian tracker, Blaiine's a giant macho badass d*ckhead, Hawkins is a dirty-mouthed signals operator, Weathers is the formerly-decent-dude turned ruthless CIA guy, Arnold's a pair of testicles with a gun.

Characterization has been two-dimensional in these since the start.

In other words...