Shane Black Directing Predator Sequel! - Part 2

[TheVileOne]

You know I use to think the Alien franchise couldn't much worse after AVP:R and then Alien:Covenant came along. As bad as AVP:R is Alien:Covenant was damn near insufferable for me to sit through and that is saying something considering I actually thought the first AVP was ok and as much as people hate Alien 3 and Resurrection I'd rather watch those a million times before I have to sit through something like Alien:Covenant again. Maybe that's just me though lol.

I understand the feeling even more after watching The Predator. I merely thought AVP was sort of a mediocre popcorn film. The Predator I thought was offensive and a slap in the face to the franchise even more than AVP turning it into PG-13 was.

IMHO Predators is a masterpiece compared to this. Like I don't even think Predators is a great film, but there was some actual tension and suspense there. Here there is virtually none. The Hell Hounds were also scary and pretty menacing. The Predator Hounds here are god awful.

 

[TheVileOne]

I like the first AVP movie enough not to consider it trash. It was a hamfisted modern story that would have done better in the future, on another planet or at least a space station but instead they crammed in this awful story taking place in Antarctica.

Requiem was every trapping AVP managed to avoid in setting it up in modern times on Earth with a sloppy, lazy story.

AVP sort of annoyed me because you had the Matrix-Fu facehuggers, and you also had the chestbusters gestating in like a minute of screen time. But that pales in comparison to what this film does.

Here's my official review of the 2018 film. Predators is a masterpiece compared to this and has aged considerably better.

 

[C. Lee]

Technically I was not so impressed.

Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Manasrepublic]

AVP sort of annoyed me because you had the Matrix-Fu facehuggers, and you also had the chestbusters gestating in like a minute of screen time. But that pales in comparison to what this film does.

Here's my official review of the 2018 film. Predators is a masterpiece compared to this and has aged considerably better.

Wow that is a brutal review! Thanks for the lengthy detailed write up. I really appreciate reviews like these that go into depth as opposed to so many reviews which are brief and flimsy.

 

[TheVileOne]

Wow that is a brutal review! Thanks for the lengthy detailed write up. I really appreciate reviews like these that go into depth as opposed to so many reviews which are brief and flimsy.

Thank you for the feedback, but honestly I only scratched the surface IMHO.

Just curious, does anyone else think the 2010 Predators has aged a lot better? I'm starting to think Predators was pretty underrated all things considered.

Like Predators had obvious flaws, but I still think it had a lot going for it I would've like to see expanded.

 

[C. Lee]

For me, the 2010 PREDATORS is still a fun watch.

 

[TheVileOne]

For me, the 2010 PREDATORS is still a fun watch.

I agree, and I like the Hell Hounds. IMHO, they were the best addition to the franchise lore.

 

[KaijuDude1992]

Well I think so, but I can't speak for any one else. I re-watched it pretty recently too and while I do still prefer the first two over it it's a solid entry in the franchise in my opinion. My biggest gripe with it is probably the Predator's getting taken out a bit too easily, but other than that I do enjoy it for the most part, especially because of the more serious/darker tone. Not saying there's anything wrong with humor being in a Predator movie, but I keep hearing everybody describe this as having MCU type humor which just sounds horrible and that's coming from someone who is an MCU fan.

 

[TheVileOne]

Predators is downright dry compared to The Predator.

It definitely feels like Black is trying to make The Predator compete with the MCU but doing it the wrong way.

Honestly, it's not so much MCU humor to me. You know what the humor actually reminded me of? The crazy dialogue scenes in Transformers 1-3.

It feels more like this junk:





Very juvenile.

 

[C. Lee]

The good thing is....a few years ago Shane Black said he wanted to make a DOC SAVAGE movie....it's sounding like we missed a bullet on that one.

 

[Rjones1325]

From director Shane Black, the guy who starred in the original “Predator” while he started screenwriting (and long before he went into directing), is the first guy who attempts to rejuvenate a franchise that never had a chance to establish its own identity by delivering... a comedy??

Here's my review for #ThePredator :The Predator Review: Campy Thrill Ride That Feels Awfully Familiar For Fox

 

[Micromind]

Some of the Top Critics at RT are really liking it.

Best of all, Black understands the geography of an action sequence, and the advantage of an R rating.

- Barry Hertz, Globe and Mail

Black has captured the spirit of that bygone era of adrenaline-junkie junk without getting all retro-fussy about it.

- A.A. Dowd, AV Club

What ?

With a fantastic cast and razor-sharp pacing, the fact is that this is what you want from a movie called The Predator.

-Brian Tallerico - RogerEbert.com

Black's movie is so cleverly over-the-top that it's easy and pleasurable enough to watch, though never exactly scary or suspenseful.

- Jordan Mintzer, Hollywood Reporter

 

[Aximili86]

I saw it. It's definitely a disaster. It's worse than AVP Requiem.

I haven't even seen the film yet, but know this is a ridiculous statement. Chill.

Sounds like it's just got a lot of that Monster Squad Dekker thing going on, combined with the Black ultra-R action comedy thing. Lots of people are going to dig that (seems about half the critics actually are), even if it's not entirely pulled off to complete satisfaction.

Also, Hulk dogs (and '03 Hulk as a whole) rule. Psh, heathen.

 

[Nathan]

I can't judge the entire Movie, since I haven't actually watched it yet myself. But reading how this Movie ends, it's the worst ending in the entire franchise. Even including Aliens.

 

[TheVileOne]

I haven't even seen the film yet, but know this is a ridiculous statement. Chill.

Sounds like it's just got a lot of that Monster Squad Dekker thing going on, combined with the Black ultra-R action comedy thing. Lots of people are going to dig that (seems about half the critics actually are), even if it's not entirely pulled off to complete satisfaction.

Also, Hulk dogs (and '03 Hulk as a whole) rule. Psh, heathen.

I don't say these things lightly.

The comedy in this movie just wasn't funny.

 

[Aximili86]

Aliens, Nathan?

The hell is wrong with the ending to Aliens?

Ehh, Vile, gonna have to wait and see personally on that. I can buy it not entirely hitting home, but you're really coming off majorly hyperbolic with your reactions here. Shane's never really written an unfunny film before, so whether or not it's taken too far, seems skepticism over you rather than him is the order of the day for now on that front.

The thing's comparable reviews-wise to Predators so far (which I wasn't over the moon about, but it's fine, it's a solid movie), higher than Predator 2 (Predator 2's awesome, even if inferior to the first), just not buying the Requiem comparisons one iota.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

For me, the 2010 PREDATORS is still a fun watch.

I watched it the other night for the first time in a while. It is a very neat idea and I enjoyed it quite a bit. I do wish it had a bit more of a budget and had a better director. But yeah, a good time.

 

[TheVileOne]

Aliens, Nathan?

The hell is wrong with the ending to Aliens?

Ehh, Vile, gonna have to wait and see personally on that. I can buy it not entirely hitting home, but you're really coming off majorly hyperbolic with your reactions here. Shane's never really written an unfunny film before, so whether or not it's taken too far, seems skepticism over you rather than him is the order of the day for now on that front.

The thing's comparable reviews-wise to Predators so far (which I wasn't over the moon about, but it's fine, it's solid), just not buying the Requiem comparisons one iota.

Assuming he means it's the worst ending including all the films in the Alien franchise and the Predator franchise. And I would personally agree. It is the worst ending between both film series.

To me there's not even really comparison...it's just like benchmarks. If Requiem was the worst before...than The Predator is the worst now.

The fact is...I wish I was being hyperbolic. I walked out of the screening in utter disgust.

 

[Nathan]

Aliens, Nathan.

Sorry, there's a misunderstanding here. I meant the whole Alien franchise that gave us Movies like Resurrection and Covenant.

 

[TheVileOne]

Sorry, there's a misunderstanding here. I meant the whole Alien franchise that gave us Movies like Resurrection and Covenant.

I figured that's what you meant.

 

[Aximili86]

Alrighty then.

Just sayin', you do know you're comparing the guy who directed Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, The Nice Guys, Iron Man 3 (love it or hate it, it did well with critics and the public), wrote Lethal Weapon, The Long Kiss Goodnight, to...a couple of special effects guys who, Requiem aside, are best known for directing a Nickelback video and a scifi flick that got 16% on RT, right?

It doesn't exactly come off level-headed and objective. Might be, but it's a hard pill to swallow given the creative teams. Skeptical on it, especially given the critics seem split positive/negative and it's not universally hated.

EDIT: Yeah, that makes more sense with the Alien thing. Ehh, I didn't particularly love Prometheus or Covenant, but don't really have any striking problems with the endings. Resurrection's kind of a mess, but ehh, it is what it is.

 

[TheVileOne]

Alrighty then.

Just sayin', you do know you're comparing the guy who directed Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, The Nice Guys, Iron Man 3 (love it or hate it, it did well with critics and the public), wrote Lethal Weapon, The Long Kiss Goodnight, to...a couple of special effects guys who, Requiem aside, are best known for directing a Nickelback video and a scifi flick that got 16% on RT, right?

It doesn't exactly come off level-headed and objective. Might be, but it's a hard pill to swallow given the creative teams. Skeptical on it, especially given the critics seem split positive/negative and it's not universally hated.

EDIT: Yeah, that makes more sense with the Alien thing. Ehh, I didn't particularly love Prometheus or Covenant, but don't really have any striking problems with the endings. Resurrection's kind of a mess, but ehh, it is what it is.

Yeah Aximili86, and I'm totally befuddled and mystified. My working theory is that Shane Black secretly has hated and resented the original movie all these years and has wanted to basically destroy the franchise from within. Basically, I think Black wanted to experiment and see if he could really kill and ruin a franchise.

Also, you make it sound like a guy with a nice resume is incapable of making a flop?

Even The Rock makes something like Baywatch sandwiched between Fast sequels and Jumanji Welcome to the Jungle. I

Also, I'm not particularly a fan of Long Kiss Goodnight either.

 

[Nathan]

Alrighty then.

Just sayin', you do know you're comparing the guy who directed Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, The Nice Guys, Iron Man 3 (love it or hate it, it did well with critics and the public), wrote Lethal Weapon, The Long Kiss Goodnight, to...a couple of special effects guys who, Requiem aside, are best known for directing a Nickelback video and a scifi flick that got 16% on RT, right?

It doesn't exactly come off level-headed and objective. Might be, but it's a hard pill to swallow given the creative teams. Skeptical on it, especially given the critics seem split positive/negative and it's not universally hated.

And yet, he wrote the worst ending anyone could have possibly come up with. It goes even beyond the worst fan fiction fantasies. Worse than Dutch leading his own tribe of Predators. I won't spoil anything. But when you see it, you'll understand.

From what I've read, the Movie is actually enjoyable for the most part. But it's honestly a matter of preference. Some will like the tone, some will hate it. It's like 90% of the Movie is an enjoyable ride, and the last 10% smack you in the face by doing a complete 180 turn.

 

[TheVileOne]

I don't even know why Jake Busey is in this movie, apparently playing the son of his dad's character from Predator 2.

Like in Predator 2...the Gary Busey character has an actual role in the movie to play. Jake Busey does not.

 

[Aximili86]

Yeah Aximili86, and I'm totally befuddled and mystified. My working theory is that Shane Black secretly has hated and resented the original movie all these years and has wanted to basically destroy the franchise from within. Basically, I think Black wanted to experiment and see if he could really kill and ruin a franchise

Ri-friggin-diculous.