Amazing, way back in the 80's this film actually had a diverse cast and no one even thought about it because it just blends in and it didn't feel forced.
I grew up in the 80's and yeah, we never noticed the diversity because it didn't matter. Nobody watched this and thought "oh cool, they cast PoC's as main characters!". Nobody watched Alien/Aliens or Terminator 2 and fawned over women in main roles - because they were balanced and well-written characters first, and "minorities" second, and they didn't run around screaming "GIRL POWER!!!" while beating up 250lb bodybuilders. Their race or gender wasn't the main reason they were there, the filmmakers weren't trying to shove some message down our throats, and it showed because these films still hold up 3+ decades later.
@@gilly9666 That's the point. None of us watching the film back then were counting "diversity" check boxes. This just told a fantastic story with natural casting.
Back in the 80s it was ok to be a different race,gender, different culture, it was just different no big deal. friends had your back and even your enemies didn't snitch
Billy's death scene is actually one of the best ever filmed. In fact, realizing his death is inevitable, he stops to die standing defiantly on his feet, facing down his foe, and even draws first blood on himself so his enemy can't. Damn.
Apparently the actor playing Billy, Sonny Landham (who was a Green Beret, I think) had a couple of bodyguards, not to protect him from anyone, but to keep the cast and crew safe - yikes.
This movie almost ended my High School romance. Imagine a 17 year old getting all that you can wish for at 17 and she leans over in the middle of this film and says "I want to go" cause she is scared. (She hated horror films) In that moment, the entire relationship hung in the balance and I said to her "I AM NOT LEAVING" I knew then that I was witnessing what was to be one of the greatest films of the 80's and I had call her bluff. She did not leave....the theater or me.... that day.
Someone nowadays: "What a diverse cast! I hope they get along!" Me: "They get along all right...." Moments later. Someone nowadays: "Why...why are there guns here? Why did they kill everyone? Corpses in the trees?!" *cry* Me: *sips beer and Red Bull* Yes.
I grew up watching Red Dwarf and only recently on a documentary about it did someone point out that 2 of the characters are black. Obviously I knew that but it was something I'd never given any thought too. Red Dwarf is just a brilliant comedy with 5 great characters. End of. If it came out today then it's 'diversity' and 'representation' would be it's only marketing point. You can identify with each character as we're all capable at times of experiencing the same negative traits. I don't look like all them but each can represent me at different times. As long as the people in a film are human then I can identify with them regardless of their appearance, a concept completely lost on film and TV producers today.
As a female (not that I can speak for us all), I don't have a problem with real men and I enjoy this film. However, in the real world where men are not scripted, some have given the rest of you a bad name.
@@goratron1 Maybe we wouldn't be threatened if there weren't legitimate threats to our lives waiting out in the world. A lot of men and women may be good people. But don't pretend there isn't a threat.
@@goratron1 I'm pointing out why we feel threatened. The original comment is talking about how people used to not be threatened by real men. I'm pointing out why we might feel threatened... so yeah actually it has a lot to do with the original comment.
I was a naive, innocent, pre pubescent 12 year old child when I first watched Predator. 1 hour 47 minutes later I had hair all over my body, voice was rough, body chiseled, and was smoking a cigar and drinking Laphroaig.
@@matthewvice721 that is the sign he truly became a man
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The final act has just a couple of spoken lines. The whole story is beeing told through action. The final scene is so iconic. The Predator realises he is facing an ordinary human, removes his gear and honors his opponent with a fair fight. The final interaction between them when Dutch finally defeats him... So good and impactful.
yup, they had diverse characters as part of their well written storys, now replaced by diversity that tries to be or replace the story, which of course makes for very hollow and boring movies.
The funny thing about those well written characters is at no point did they need to point out their race, etc. The characters were just people, believable people.
Yeah, you could believe that these guys had been tossed together from all different walks of military life and become a team of professional operators (Hollywood style, that is...) that was more than the sum of its parts without losing their individuality, and gradually became a band of brothers. Yet it's never spelled out: you just see it and hear it, just as you see their "diversity" while hearing through the dialog the diversity of personalities and worldviews that makes this so effective without race being mentioned once. But again, movies had to be smart back then. They had to be well-paced and tightly directed. Now they're sloppy seconds...
I just wanna live long enough to watch one nurse at the old folks home change my shitty diaper before I take my last draw of scotch, spit tobaccy on the feckin floor and keel over. Oh here she comes.
@@osets2117 it does say they use self-destruct devices to prevent the technology from getting into other hands but it doesn't actually say it's nuclear, unfortunately it's pretty vague about what it is about although technically it could be some type of fictitious Fusion since that's what most scifi advanced civilizations use. There are books out there that describe Dutch having something similar to radiation sickness after the movie but it's never fully elaborated.
Back in the 80s men were men, women were women, some men were also women, and some women were also men, because the SJW amber herd didn't invent genderbending. Just ask Bowie, Annie Lennox, and Prince. And they did it all without crying in their safe space about how oppressed they were.
The really sad thing is we now have a whole generation that doesn't really remember a time before crazy blue haired intersectional feminist/SJWs/letters people/victimhood/oppression. A time when communism and socialism were the enemy, and we were in the Cold War against them. ....now they're running for public office.
One thing to note about Poncho as far as him just being "there," he's apparently their scout and the team translator. As far as character is concerned, he's definitely there as the human element. He reacts to everything around him with a kind of amused disbelief ("Oookay... you got time to duck?" and "Bullshit, you ain't afraid of no man." come to mind), meaning he sees things with eyes that aren't clouded by either machismo or inhumanity - consider how he reacts to Harper's skinned team compared to everyone else. He's literally the viewer expy, and they gave us a grenade launcher!
The blue hair land whales think it’s toxic because they don’t understand masculinity. Nothing toxic about the way those guys act and are to each other brothers. That’s how family acts and what is truly missing in masculinity in 2020.
Imagine being raised up on a diet of Marvel movies, woke James Bond, Kurtzman, Jar Jar Abrams etc and then seeing a real masterpiece like this film. I'd rather re-watch Predator for the 1000th time than the tripe that comes out of Hollywood these days.
The problem with tripe is that it’s tasty. Some people call it “schlock”. Easy to digest. Mindless. No thought needed. I hate new action movies, because an increasing percentage of movie goers are developing their taste for “tripe” and influencing the atmosphere of entertainment
The problem is modern Hollywood THINK they know what the film is: Ghostbusters is JUST a comedy film, the Terminator films is JUST an action film and look down on films, like Predator, because it's just "same-old, same old" when if they looked into it, the films are more complex than they think due to luck or writing: Ghostbusters was meant to be scary (and used actual scenes from old horror / scary movies) and added gallows humour; the Terminator series was about the question of destiny, artificial intelligence and family boiled down to "are we to be killed by what we make?" and Predator, action movie? It goes from action, horror and then sci-fi in one film: all showing that - to an alien - no matter how badass humanity is, we could be utterly fscked by them but - like with Independence Day - some aliens need to stop trying to iceskate uphill with humans :D
Agree with everything, but one thing you missed was the final scene when Dutch is extracted. Unlike a lot of other action movies of the time, this one didn't end in a high note or a one liner, rather one of sadness. You see the shock on the General's face seeing Dutch standing among the destruction and somehow surviving whatever the hell just happened to when the camera pans toward Anna, shedding a tear because she knew the cost and what Dutch went through. Then there is the final shot of Dutch, clearly exhausted and depressed. The look on his face says it all, PTSD. He came out of the fight victorious, but he didn't feel as if he won as the cost was too great. No words were spoken, yet the scene said so much.
@Klausbärbel Fömm wish i could shake your hand sir. Predator in my 38 years is Arnolds best film and in the top 5 for me of all action. It's a fucking master piece that i showed my 12 year old when he was 10. He loves it. Christ shane black let me down. Like why couldn't you recreate a tenth of this film? Imagine seeing an older Arnold living with the events of this film 30 years later and a new special ops team that needs to call him in since he survived? Fuck
Fun fact: the alien ship approaching earth at the beginning wasn't McTiernan's idea. Apparently the studio went over him and filmed it without his knowledge. He didn't even know it existed until he saw a final cut of the film. Honestly, it ruined the reveal of the Predator, but it's still a great movie, one of my top faves of all time.
@@SimpMcSimpy Sorry, but I would disagree. The whole first half of the film is designed to be a mystery: is this an army? a super soldier? a secret weapon? and slowly it unveils the Predator where you see the camouflaged version and it could still be a man, then later you see him and it still might be a man in a suit, but then you get the idea that you're not dealing with a human, and then, when you think you've got a sense of what it looks like, they remove the mask! It's a brilliant slow reveal, and the ship in the beginning destroys the mystery for the first half.
I have been looking through the comments to find a mention of Predator 2. I actually prefer it to the first, despite the flaws. The grizzled, slightly over the hill super cop against the most deadly murderer in the galaxy.
A good remake I should give a re-watch it's been a while, I love how they set it up with the heat wave so the Predator can go there, just great writing continuity. Danny Glover was a great casting choice coming in hot off the Lethal Weapon movies.
Predator 2 the alien was younger and more badass careless too taking out many people at a time, columbines, Jamaicans the train and slaughter house attack. King willy, poor Danny boy Atmosphere scenery in heatwave los Angelas and start of film i like it went from jungle looking to moving up to the city concrete jungle Badass movie Predator (10 Predator 2(9)
I didn't like Predator 2 much when I first saw it. When I recently re-watched it - my son insisted after seeing the original for the first time - I freaking *loved* it. Whereas the first film takes its premise about as seriously as possible (and executes it extremely well) the sequel is an unrepentant B-movie in which all the actors were given free reign to cut loose. Bill Paxton (RIP) is basically workshopping the character he'd eventually play in True Lies.
Fun theory: The predator isn't the name of the alien in this story. The predator is Dutch himself. The alien in the story is supposed to be the ultimate hunter, who takes pride in his skill and only hunts the best of the best from other species. Meanwhile compared to him, Dutch and crew just super casually slaughtered a bunch of their own species, and it's not about pride for them, it's just another tuesday for them. In the end, Dutch asks the alien: ''What the hell are you'', to which the alien replies with the same question. Yeah sure he was playing back Dutch. But I feel like the aliens sentiment was the same as the question. He is an intergalactic hunter with alot of experience and super great technology. Yet Dutch managed to beat him at his own game, despite the dozen disadvantages he has. So maybe the title of the movie doesn't refer to the alien hunter, but instead to the ultimate predator that beat said hunter: Dutch?
I always thought it was supposed to be ambiguous, that the argument could be made either that both or either is the Predator. That said, yours was a very well-thought-out argument for the one.
They set up these characters perfectly in the archetype of the invincible soldier, only to have them get casually picked off one by one. I just never saw it coming, how it switched genres halfway through the movie. The way it lured you in with the typical 80's action movie macho commando bravado... then effortlessly transitioned into a horror movie is why I love _Predator._
This is a movie from the times that movies were simple, unpretentious fun. And it's shows very clearly how a good script and good casting can flesh out a rather thin premise.
Perfect analysis. I'd never seen anything like it when it came out. Admittedly, I was 11ish, so I hadn't seen much, but still. They really nailed it. This and Robocop set the action standard for my entire life, that year.
I really really wish more films can pull this level of nuance but the fact is that, whether it was a stroke of luck or just a lack of talent, there's more here than the people making films nowadays can handle or think they know.
I was about 10 when my dad put this movie in our VHS player for the 1st time and he did something I never knew about til I watched it a 2nd time on my own a couple weeks later. He told me to go to the bathroom before the movie started so I wouldn't have to go during the movie and he fast forwarded thru the title sequence where the alien ship air drops the predator from outer space. So I had no clue there was anything extraterrestrial in the movie. So when it started I thought it was just gonna be another kick ass arnold action movie but it really changed the scope of the movie and from then on out whenever I played the movie for someone who hadn't seen it yet I'd get the movie "ready" before hand so they could experience it the way I had for the first time. Fun Fact: John Mctiernan the director didnt want the opening scene with the alien craft in the movie but the studio forced it in bc they thought audiences werent smart enough to realize a 7ft reptilian humanoid with thermal vision, green blood, and plasma weaponry is obviously an alien. But i love it all the same. This movie is a 2 way tie with T2 for both my greatest action and sci-fi movies of all time. It's truly an incredible film. There's a reason almost 40 years later the Predator creature still captures the imagination of millions of people and is widely regarded as one of the best movie monsters of all time.
This movie kicks ass from start to finish. Quotable lines, great soundtrack, amazing location etc. And when you're, done, give Predator 2 a second chance. Its underrated as hell.
I disagree, Predator 2 is super underrated and 10 times better than the garbage The Predator 2018 or Predators....well, Predators is a 50/50 for me anyways. Danny Glover and his team were memorable and had their moments. He didn't even use mud as camouflage, he just beats the shit out of it. SO STAY THE F**K OUT OF HIS WAY! Its Lethal Weapon with a Predator, what more can you ask? You guys should check out Rageaholic's review of Predator 2. Its pretty good, makes the film even more badass. Although there is a goof in the movie, the predator still sees with his inferred vision even after removing the mask...oh well, maybe it was VOODOO MAAGIC MAAN.
Still doesn't hurt the film. It tried to be different and they did a solid job. They could have done the same thing in the same location. They took risks which I appreciate. Is it better than the first one? No but its pretty good. Its simple, you killed one of my friends, now its personal. The Predator was still a badass and not a joke like the last one.
The banter and camaraderie between the soldiers feels real in part because the cast included a lot of real-life military veterans- Jesse Ventura was in the Navy UDTs, Arnold Schwarzenegger drove a tank in the Austrian Army, and I believe Sonny Landham was in the U.S. Army as well. Carl Weathers also had a lot of experience working with teams of tough men at a highly physical job from playing in the NFL. Hollywood should get back to hiring actors who actually have some interesting life experience behind them; it shows on screen.
Yeah, whoever cast this did an amazing job. It feels like they probably talked this way OFF camera with each other too, just a bunch of guys hanging out. It comes across as very genuine, and you really believe it when Mac loses his mind because his best friend is dead. I can remember thinking 'they're all gonna die' when I first watched that scene, it was truly horrifying in the right movie sense. Brilliant...
As you pointed out the thing is one of my favourite flims great plot acting and tension just a fantastic flim again from the eighties kurt Russell put in one of his best performances as well as all of the rest of the cast
1980's were glorious as far as action movies went. Thank god I was a kid in that era and my parents let me watch these testosterone packed masterpieces
I can pick his work in some films after being bought up on Predator, even recognised his score in Avengers Endgame before I saw his name in the credits.
The score was a major element as with all the other aspects raised by TCD in making this movie so fantastic imo. Added to the tension & action brilliantly. A masterpiece by Silvestri as is Predator 2 OST even though its a derivative of the one used in this movie
Totally. Completely listenable, too. My brother and I played the most recent _Predator_ game using this soundtrack over it and it was like we'd been dropped right into the film.
The brilliance of Predator was the 80s 100%Testosterone fulled action meets sci-fi. The elite kill team lead by Dutch became the hunted, only then for Dutch to reverse the situation and become the hunter using the aliens tactics against him only with low technology - truly proving he is the better 'Predator!'
This really is one of Arnold's most understated performances as an actor. It was one of the few movies he was in where he really seemed to actually become a character, not just be Arnold Schwarzenegger. There is some genuine acting in his fear, his realization that things are wrong. I would say that even though he was born to be the Terminator, this was one of his best roles as a genuine actor.
That's bc their was a story floating around about a group of men in Vietnam whom had the same experience. But that was real. Also being in a jungle like that can bring you a world of hurt, makes CAMBODIA LOOK LIKE KANSAS
You may want to check out, “Maggie” on PlutoTV or Tubi right now. He plays a father who’s daughter has been bitten by a zombie. Ignore the zombie, because the movie is about how as a father he must come to grips with what he has to do with his only child. His performance reminded me of Stallone’s in “Copland”.
@@kevinbuja4373 Was just going to type that but had to cancel it. I did like him in "Maggie". As well as the movie. It was a nice take on the zombie story.
RIP, Carl Weathers. This was my favorite part of his. Not the handshake. When Dutch (Schwarzenegger) tosses an extra gun at Dillon (Weathers) and he's all ripped and his abs are standing out as he breathes, I can guarantee that (almost) every guy watching was like "To hell with Arnold, I want to look like THAT." Good show.
That's what's good with these films. You can quote a line and everyone of a similar age will add theirs, I've done it at work sometimes. Gets you through the day a bit easier :)
One of the things that legendary movies have is the immortal dialogue. Aliens and Predator are just full of it. My favorite is "I ain't got time to bleed". In the midst of the macho bravado that takes the cake.
And Hollywoke has been chasing that same success ever since... Don't get me wrong, the second movie comes pretty close; every 'sequel' after that, though..? _Pffffft..._
I love this film so much. Real creativity, real location (an actual jungle, not flipping green screen), perfect cast, real stunts (not flipping CGi). Oh, how I miss these days
I distinctly remember seeing Predator when it came out that weekend in '87. Went with a bunch of gaming friends (yeah, think of the gang from Stranger Things and that was us). We're watching this flick when BAM! it goes from straight up action film to sci-fi horror! We were all "holy shit! this thing is unstoppable! nobody is going live!" Yeah, you don't even think Dutch is gonna make it out alive. It's because in the first act, you do get the sense that these guys are elite spec ops. Best of the best. They've been in the shit and lived...but then this thing shows up and turns their whole world upside down. They panic! It's beyond their comprehension, at least at first. Then Dutch sees the blood trail... "If it bleeds, we can kill it." Truly the best of 80s action films.
RIP to Peter Holmes that played the Predator. Saw an interview with him chatting about his role as the Predator. Given he was a big fast man wearing the Predator costume in a dank, steaming rain forest he did an amazing job. Check out the interview Peter was hilarious
There are two things McTiernan is really, really good at: - Action coupled with suspense - Showing groups of men as a functional unit of individuals Think back: Predator, The Hunt for Red October, The Thirteenth Warrior etc. McTiernan manages to make these guys memorable. You know who everyone is and what they do. And that wasn't even his idea in the first place. Schwarzenegger came up with it for Predator (only McTiernan's 2nd movie at that time) - he wanted this to be a Magnificent Seven style operation, and not just a vehicle for himself. Poncho, btw, isn't just there. I feel you've mischaracterised some of the guys. Poncho is their medic and also serves as interpreter in the apparently Spanish speaking country. He doesn't need to be as bulky as most of the others, because he's the morphine-and-language guy. Hawkins is the radio operator, i.e. sort of their tech guy, so he neither needs to look like The Hulk's illegitimate son. There are in fact some very good reasons for the guys' different body shapes. It's all very functional. Billy isn't psychic. He's just a tracker, and a very good one. I don't think he needs spidey senses to notice the alien: He hears it sneaking around, but can't see it. That's what confuses him. He can most likely tell by the sounds of the jungle (like birds and monkeys going silent), that there's some large predator in the area, but finds no footprints, hair, clawmarks on trees, snapped twigs, partially eaten carcasses, poop etc. Remember, they're surprised when they realise that the Predator doesn't even walk around much, but prefers to move from tree to tree and can attack them from above. A big cat (which is the most likely predator for this region) would leave at least some of the signs of its presence, that I mentioned. That tells Billy, that it's not an ordinary animal, and that the thing can to some degree predict their behaviour. It has an idea how well-developed their senses are, and how to avoid detection - and he can tell they're being stalked. None of that requires "Indian magic".
True - but also, continued perceptible pressure from unseen enemy might be stirring some terror from childhood stories, primitive part or lizard brain asking 'maybe there was grain of truth after all in creepy-pastas' of old.
Yet when Blain is killed Mac goes completely ape-shit with anger and grief. These were all manly men, but not one-dimensional caricatures. Another sign of an excellent screenplay.
Excellent review. I was born in 1961 - so, egad - I'm turning 60 this year. I have to agree with your assessment of the "Greatest Arnold Films", and that the younger generation needs to be exposed to their greatness. 💯 Also, "Blue Haired Land Whales" completed the review. It was the cherry on top. 🤣
This is genuinely one of the best action film ever made. It just hits the nail on the head for what people want to see when it comes to a movie of this genre. Dare I say it: a masterpiece?
Yeah, after my son saw this movie, I had to hear "Get to the Chopper!" for probably a year! He was 10, lol! 😂 I'm a single mom, what? Love this movie, total toxic masculinity!💞❤
The detail in the opening scenes is amazing as well. When Dutch asks the General dude "why send us? Why not the real military?!" You can see the general dude visibly struggling to form a good reason...then dillon off camera cuts the tension and interjects "because somebody said you were the best" ( quote not accurate sorry) but it's just beautiful direction and acting which subconsciously foreshadows the dangers ahead.
@@MrBrachiatingApe Personally, it's in with The Big Lebowski, Fear and Loathing and Forrest Gump as the films I quote daily. I converse using quotes too much...haha! But that's just my opinion, man.
@@FranktheBunny666 I remembered my first time watching The Descent. Never seen the trailers or read about it. Poster looks like a cool. Then halfway in, BOOM. It will always be one of my favorite holy shit moments. Descent II was more horror/campy as i remembered correctly. Still enjoyed it.
I Saw it when it came out as a birthday Present to myself .. My girlfriend looked over while watching And said I never looked Happier ... It was awesome especially when They fired into trees.. that was special
You know, I never tied together the Predator randomly firing at Dutch with the jungle scene. That's damn clever and makes me want to watch a movie I've seen at least 40 times again. Good stuff, Drinker.
This movie is actually extremely clever, well written and subversive af. It starts of,like your typical 80´s "commandos in the jungle" macho-action flick.Lots of one-liners,explosions,big guns and badass motherfuckers as the main characters. Then,out of the blue it turns into a slasher movie,only instead of having some crazy killer ala Jason stalking dumb teenage high-school chicks we have a badass alien with high-tech weaponry,stalking a bunch of Rambos who are also armed to the teeth. The whole psychological side is also very well done.Just look how these battlehardened men are slowly losing their shit and panic. In the 3rd act,the movie then flips the roles of Arnie and the Predator. And the best part is: Arnie doesn´t defeat the Pred,because he´s stronger or has more guns. He defeats him,because he´s smarter and more cunning.
I remember when this first came out my father and I thought it would be the typical Arnold campy guilty pleasure like Commando. But man were our minds blown. This movie was unexpectedly awesome for all the reasons you mentioned. Kind of the like the original Die Hard. Back then, the thought that the dude from Moonlighting could be a legit action star seemed comically absurd. But that movie too was such a surprise! It saddens me that Hollywood hasn’t been able to surprise this century.
Oh c'mon, Heath Ledger being cast as The Joker? Nobody believed that the blonde kid from A Knight's Tale who plays a heartthrob could ever play The Joker convincingly.
I remember feeling like that all over again when I saw the first John wick, keanu wasn't in the best of movie streaks back then and I wasn't expecting John wick to even be an action movie but oh man was I blown away!
S0CIALHUNTER: I agree. John Wick has been the biggest and best movie surprise of this century, except for Lord of The Rings. Those films are in a class by themselves.
The part about people never seen or heard of The Predator..I feel that. It surprises me how many people never seen this classic 80s film when Arnold was in his prime 💪.
I have to point out that Billy isn't fatalistic in essence, he became increasingly distraught by his own fear ("I'm scared, Poncho" - "BS, you ain't afraid of no man") instilled by this incomprehensible devilish entity, in the end he concluded that the only way to escape that fear wasn't flight but fight it like a warrior (he is a proud native), despite his inevitable death, so the fatalistic tone of this character.
This movie has masculinity, anti racism, a good story. Everything the modern day Hollywood hates. If people still need another reason to like this movie, I would suggest them to watch Ghostbusters 2016.
@@Replica_Films2000 I get what he means tho...one of the strengths of movies of that era is that this heavy handed, on the nose, in your face overt moralising is just not a thing.
I've rehearsed doing such a battle roar because of that very scene but not at my place because I have a lot of neighbors and I'd get the cops called on me 🤣🤣
I always loved how the film sets up how utterly awesome Dutch and his team are, only to have them wiped out relatively easily by the Predator. Which raises the stakes for an epic finale. The film is built so well.
I'm a woman, and I loved this movie! Can't believe there are people who haven't seen it yet. It is truly timeless, even the special effects are amazing, probably because they were used sparingly. Are special effects even special anymore? When you can CGI every damn thing in the film while ignoring a good story and interesting, believable characters, there is really nothing special about the movie at all.
That is the reason many new movies action movies are so boring. Because action like most things should be used sparingly, so they stay memorable. E.g. Original Jurassic Park looks still good but it has about 12 minutes of CGI (and thus dinosaurs) in it.
@@tubetorpedo Original Jurassic Park was ...for lack of term god-level-class in SFX, combination of CGI and practial AND creativity. The best ever effect (ripples in plastic cup) was created with baseball bat :D Same happened to video games - when graphics wasn't that compelling, you had to have "playability" - HoM&M III, Worms, Lemmings, The Incredible Machine and game design like balancing fractions etc was at its peak. Hell, Blizzard used to lag a bit in graphics (admitedly, beautifully styled) when they put most effort into game mechanics and story.
@@piotrd.4850 Yes. It's the content that matters in the end. E.g. Avatar was visually nice but in the end totally forgettable as a movie. Especially the ending was so generic Hollywood shit I just tuned out. The smurfs won, I think. Blizzard always had gorgeous animations (at the current time) and decent to good story and good playability. HoMM too is legendary. I liked even firsts two but III was naturally the peak level goodness.
"Get to the Choppa!" I saw this movie on New York Times Square back in 1987 with a couple of friends and a movie ticket was $5 dollars. This came out the same year as "Running Man." One of the best Arnie movies in the late 80's and no sequel can't touch this classic not by a long shot.
It was an ok follow up Glover was good and changing the scene from the jungle to the city was new. But what it lacks is Arnie and the comaradeship of others
This is one of the few flaws in the movie it wasn't that Arnie told her where the helicopter was located and even she did found it would they even believe her. Sloppy script writing
Watched Predator first time as 10year old kid back in early 90s, and was spooked and scared shitless but I loved it, and right after I saw freshly made sequel "Predator 2" with Danny Glover, not as good but still kickass awesome movie which hold its own pretty good against first Predator.
This is how a diverse cast should be: A diverse cast is great when you don’t notice or think about it. If you can picture a character being played better by another person, then wrong casting.
That's how you do it. Nothing was forced in this movie. You don't even pay attention to skin color of actors because how well written everything is. You just focus on the story. This movie is a pure perfection.
John McTiernan is somewhat underrated and underappreciated today, but he directed the holy action trilogy of Predator, Die Hard and The Hunt for Red October. He deserves a reassessment.
@james cowboy yep great movie. The first time I saw it was on Halloween and a friend of mine saying it waa really more of an action movie but it had these scary elements to it. It did have those elements and is kinda underrated!
I did a rough calculation of the number of time’s I’ve seen this movie over the last thirty odd years, although I’ll never really know the true figure I’m settled on 87. The number of times I’ve watched this review over the last 18 months isn’t far behind. Pure joy, thank you Drinker.
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Drinker, when are you going to review the greatest movie of all time: The Fifth Element?
I thought the location is cambodia? I think they mention it in Predator 2?
Vikings...thoughts?
btw my good gentleman drinker.
Mud especially, wet clay would probably insulate Dutch's body heat.
Any chance of reviewing the Blade films starring Wesley Snipes?
Amazing, way back in the 80's this film actually had a diverse cast and no one even thought about it because it just blends in and it didn't feel forced.
I was thinking about the same thing while watching this review.
First time I ever thought about it was today... and I watched Predator like 50 times.
Who saw them as diverse? I just saw a team working together at no point do you think thats a white man black man or red indian 🤫
I grew up in the 80's and yeah, we never noticed the diversity because it didn't matter. Nobody watched this and thought "oh cool, they cast PoC's as main characters!". Nobody watched Alien/Aliens or Terminator 2 and fawned over women in main roles - because they were balanced and well-written characters first, and "minorities" second, and they didn't run around screaming "GIRL POWER!!!" while beating up 250lb bodybuilders. Their race or gender wasn't the main reason they were there, the filmmakers weren't trying to shove some message down our throats, and it showed because these films still hold up 3+ decades later.
@@gilly9666 That's the point. None of us watching the film back then were counting "diversity" check boxes. This just told a fantastic story with natural casting.
Back in the 80s it was ok to be a different race,gender, different culture, it was just different no big deal. friends had your back and even your enemies didn't snitch
The best handshake ever captured on film.
Fucking A
Mustaches and chest hair grow automatically when watching this scene.
Comparable only to Thanos's snap...
The basis of countless memes!
Without a doubt!!!!!
Billy's death scene is actually one of the best ever filmed. In fact, realizing his death is inevitable, he stops to die standing defiantly on his feet, facing down his foe, and even draws first blood on himself so his enemy can't. Damn.
I saw that as a kid and never forgot it
I agree and disagree due to the fact that you get no visual reference of Billy's attempt to take it on with a blade.
Maybe it's better that way.
_I love your comment, dude!!! Super based as f*ck!!!_
Apparently the actor playing Billy, Sonny Landham (who was a Green Beret, I think) had a couple of bodyguards, not to protect him from anyone, but to keep the cast and crew safe - yikes.
When Billy finally laughed. the audience joined in.
"Then a white knight comes and saves her from his toxic masculinity."
😂😂 You never disapoint, Drinker.
my sides split at this one 🤣
You have a terrible sense of humor.
almost spit my coffee
“Blue land whale”
@@Scoupe400 i thought it was Barney Gumbo dressed up as Marge for Halloween hahahaha
This movie almost ended my High School romance. Imagine a 17 year old getting all that you can wish for at 17 and she leans over in the middle of this film and says "I want to go" cause she is scared. (She hated horror films) In that moment, the entire relationship hung in the balance and I said to her "I AM NOT LEAVING" I knew then that I was witnessing what was to be one of the greatest films of the 80's and I had call her bluff. She did not leave....the theater or me.... that day.
This is gold.
You choose... wisely.
Ok you've got me hooked, now I need to know how that relationships panned out? I'm hoping for a "and we've been happy together ever since"
@@Impulse_Guy sadly, just a few years later, Total Recall undid us.
MrBoz1968
Had a GF tell me the bike ( BMW R50/2 ) or her. Once my driveway dries out I’ll fire up the bike. That 35 years ago
1987: the year of Predator, Robocop, Evil Dead 2, The Lost Boys, Full Metal Jacket, Running Man, Lethal Weapon, Princess Bride, Hellraiser…
Replace what you said with any 1980s year and there would be a list of now classic movies.
An massively pivotal year of my life... I migrated halfway round the world as well as watching all of these epic movies!
I was 6 years and old enougyh for these films to be impressionable on me. These films are what make up the core of my being
Last starfighter..
Give it a viewing if you haven't
Shit that's a pretty good year!
Today was the first time I thought:"Yeah, this film has diverse cast." Because someone pointed that out.
Someone nowadays: "What a diverse cast! I hope they get along!"
Me: "They get along all right...."
Moments later.
Someone nowadays: "Why...why are there guns here? Why did they kill everyone? Corpses in the trees?!" *cry*
Me: *sips beer and Red Bull* Yes.
I read a comment somewhere stating, "I enjoyed diversity till I was forced to enjoy diversity."
I grew up watching Red Dwarf and only recently on a documentary about it did someone point out that 2 of the characters are black. Obviously I knew that but it was something I'd never given any thought too. Red Dwarf is just a brilliant comedy with 5 great characters. End of. If it came out today then it's 'diversity' and 'representation' would be it's only marketing point. You can identify with each character as we're all capable at times of experiencing the same negative traits. I don't look like all them but each can represent me at different times. As long as the people in a film are human then I can identify with them regardless of their appearance, a concept completely lost on film and TV producers today.
Same, didn’t even notice it back then. Now it’s just contrived and shoved in your face.
Yeah Diverse without it being shoved in your face.
Back when society didn't feel threatened by real men.
Good times!
As a female (not that I can speak for us all), I don't have a problem with real men and I enjoy this film. However, in the real world where men are not scripted, some have given the rest of you a bad name.
@@moonlitskylight5740 and whats your point with the statement?
@@goratron1 Maybe we wouldn't be threatened if there weren't legitimate threats to our lives waiting out in the world. A lot of men and women may be good people. But don't pretend there isn't a threat.
@@moonlitskylight5740 what are talking about, your point has nothing to do with the original comment. Go somewhere else.
@@goratron1 I'm pointing out why we feel threatened. The original comment is talking about how people used to not be threatened by real men. I'm pointing out why we might feel threatened... so yeah actually it has a lot to do with the original comment.
The 80's: when kids still played outside and rode bikes without helmets.
and 3 wheelers!!
Rookie Pilot And jumped off roofs.
...feels like something out of a history book.
Yes, we could actually have fun without adult supervision.
Ahh the days when ya mum had to smack ya round the head to make ya go home 🤪
I was a naive, innocent, pre pubescent 12 year old child when I first watched Predator. 1 hour 47 minutes later I had hair all over my body, voice was rough, body chiseled, and was smoking a cigar and drinking Laphroaig.
Good taste in movies and whiskey. Nice.
😂
@@matthewvice721 that is the sign he truly became a man
The final act has just a couple of spoken lines. The whole story is beeing told through action.
The final scene is so iconic. The Predator realises he is facing an ordinary human, removes his gear and honors his opponent with a fair fight. The final interaction between them when Dutch finally defeats him... So good and impactful.
As a Marine in the 90s I can honestly say there isn't a movie more accurate of the military back then
You fought aliens?
@@caveresch😂😂😂😂
Good old days when the reason for diversity was to add more interesting character interactions and not just to check some politically correct boxes.
yup, they had diverse characters as part of their well written storys, now replaced by diversity that tries to be or replace the story, which of course makes for very hollow and boring movies.
The funny thing about those well written characters is at no point did they need to point out their race, etc. The characters were just people, believable people.
Yeah, you could believe that these guys had been tossed together from all different walks of military life and become a team of professional operators (Hollywood style, that is...) that was more than the sum of its parts without losing their individuality, and gradually became a band of brothers.
Yet it's never spelled out: you just see it and hear it, just as you see their "diversity" while hearing through the dialog the diversity of personalities and worldviews that makes this so effective without race being mentioned once.
But again, movies had to be smart back then. They had to be well-paced and tightly directed.
Now they're sloppy seconds...
@@shadowwolfmandan It's almost like we were post-racial back then, until later when we were told we weren't. 🤔
This is why today's bullshit movies are truly fucked!
“They smoke, they drink on the job and they chew tobacco because why the f*** not.” - Critical Drinker sums up manhood
@Mr Lesir You wanna live forever?
I just wanna live long enough to watch one nurse at the old folks home change my shitty diaper before I take my last draw of scotch, spit tobaccy on the feckin floor and keel over. Oh here she comes.
I think I speak for many people when I say
Ok you fucking Boomer
@@sbraypaynt never was the generation gap more revealed than by this comment
MEN dont censor swear words, you fucking pansy.
"And Anna pretends to give Poncho the dick eyes so she can escape"
This is one of many HONEST comments on a movie that make you a god!!!
What's worse is that he fell for it lmao
@@michaelgamble2848 What? You never got any action when you are in the middle of a covert mission and having to backtrack to a LZ? :D
Honest how? Just vulgar
@@legion999 Show us on the doll where The Drinker's hilarious joke hurt you.
I showed my pet bird this movie. He is now a sexual Tyrannosaurus.
Just like me
Just like me
Arnold survives a nuclear explosion in this movie and he didn't need a refrigerator to do it!
Mike Doonsebury it was a feminist kamehameha
@Mike Doonsebury the lore states they use low yield nuclear weapons to prevent their tech from falling into "primitive" hands. Xenomorph fart 😂
Catzilla that, son, is because the man is a fucking boss.
no...nuclear explosion survived Arnold
@@osets2117 it does say they use self-destruct devices to prevent the technology from getting into other hands but it doesn't actually say it's nuclear, unfortunately it's pretty vague about what it is about although technically it could be some type of fictitious Fusion since that's what most scifi advanced civilizations use. There are books out there that describe Dutch having something similar to radiation sickness after the movie but it's never fully elaborated.
Ah the 80s, where men were men, women were women, and there was no such thing as a woke SJW feminazi dominance. Cheers Drinker🍻
Charles Caballero best comment of all time
Back in the 80s men were men, women were women, some men were also women, and some women were also men, because the SJW amber herd didn't invent genderbending. Just ask Bowie, Annie Lennox, and Prince. And they did it all without crying in their safe space about how oppressed they were.
Amen
And when you tell kids nowdays they dont belive you.
The really sad thing is we now have a whole generation that doesn't really remember a time before crazy blue haired intersectional feminist/SJWs/letters people/victimhood/oppression. A time when communism and socialism were the enemy, and we were in the Cold War against them. ....now they're running for public office.
One thing to note about Poncho as far as him just being "there," he's apparently their scout and the team translator. As far as character is concerned, he's definitely there as the human element. He reacts to everything around him with a kind of amused disbelief ("Oookay... you got time to duck?" and "Bullshit, you ain't afraid of no man." come to mind), meaning he sees things with eyes that aren't clouded by either machismo or inhumanity - consider how he reacts to Harper's skinned team compared to everyone else. He's literally the viewer expy, and they gave us a grenade launcher!
Good call. Drinker also shows the “strap this on your sore ass Blain” clip (one of the best comebacks ever), while saying Poncho is just “there.” 🤷♂️
That and he's one of the actors in the cast who actually served in Vietnam.
Definitely a great take away.
Billy had the most manly laugh ever! Nothing comes close.
except larry wheels
The actor playing Billy Bear (full injun name) made a career outta playing big Indians named Billy Bear (im injun, I know injun stuff) hooahh!!!
So manly, even the Predator had to record it and decided it would be the last thing he ever played.
Predator is pure, unrefined, grade A toxic masculinity.
.
.
.
.
I love it.
Bullshit. Nothing toxic about it
The blue hair land whales think it’s toxic because they don’t understand masculinity. Nothing toxic about the way those guys act and are to each other brothers. That’s how family acts and what is truly missing in masculinity in 2020.
Agreed, but the sequel is even more masculine and violent. Glover may not be Arnold, but he sure cut himself a big chunk of Predator prime rib...
I'm a chick and this is one of my favorites in the genre..😀👍🤘
@@jennrat513 Yessss. I'm a chick and this is one of my favorites in general.
60% of men who grew up in the 80s prefer this movie to their wife. FACT.
@mike bond The now EX-wife... ;)
I prefer this movie to their wife too but I'm a woman 🤣
The rest are gay for their wife.
I grew up in the 80s, am unmarried but still prefer this movie to my fictional wife.
Just 60%?
Imagine being raised up on a diet of Marvel movies, woke James Bond, Kurtzman, Jar Jar Abrams etc and then seeing a real masterpiece like this film. I'd rather re-watch Predator for the 1000th time than the tripe that comes out of Hollywood these days.
The problem with tripe is that it’s tasty. Some people call it “schlock”. Easy to digest. Mindless. No thought needed. I hate new action movies, because an increasing percentage of movie goers are developing their taste for “tripe” and influencing the atmosphere of entertainment
Fuck yeah, John. I 💯 agree with you, brotha. 👊🏾
Marvel movies from 2008-2019 were pretty good, though.
The problem is modern Hollywood THINK they know what the film is: Ghostbusters is JUST a comedy film, the Terminator films is JUST an action film and look down on films, like Predator, because it's just "same-old, same old" when if they looked into it, the films are more complex than they think due to luck or writing: Ghostbusters was meant to be scary (and used actual scenes from old horror / scary movies) and added gallows humour; the Terminator series was about the question of destiny, artificial intelligence and family boiled down to "are we to be killed by what we make?" and Predator, action movie? It goes from action, horror and then sci-fi in one film: all showing that - to an alien - no matter how badass humanity is, we could be utterly fscked by them but - like with Independence Day - some aliens need to stop trying to iceskate uphill with humans :D
my whole body shivered when i read kurtzman
Arnold really has an all time classic in action-horror, action- Sci Fi, and action-fantasy. What a legend
Agree with everything, but one thing you missed was the final scene when Dutch is extracted. Unlike a lot of other action movies of the time, this one didn't end in a high note or a one liner, rather one of sadness. You see the shock on the General's face seeing Dutch standing among the destruction and somehow surviving whatever the hell just happened to when the camera pans toward Anna, shedding a tear because she knew the cost and what Dutch went through. Then there is the final shot of Dutch, clearly exhausted and depressed. The look on his face says it all, PTSD. He came out of the fight victorious, but he didn't feel as if he won as the cost was too great. No words were spoken, yet the scene said so much.
I always thought that the end scene was really deep. Well said!
Chris M.... Man that was beautiful. Couldn’t have said it better myself. I felt the same way during the ending.
@Klausbärbel Fömm wish i could shake your hand sir. Predator in my 38 years is Arnolds best film and in the top 5 for me of all action.
It's a fucking master piece that i showed my 12 year old when he was 10. He loves it.
Christ shane black let me down. Like why couldn't you recreate a tenth of this film?
Imagine seeing an older Arnold living with the events of this film 30 years later and a new special ops team that needs to call him in since he survived?
Fuck
Sorta reminds me of
Luke in TLJ but Rian dropped the ball on reasons why.
Totally!. After watching it the first time, sadness was the feeling I left with.
Fun fact: the alien ship approaching earth at the beginning wasn't McTiernan's idea. Apparently the studio went over him and filmed it without his knowledge. He didn't even know it existed until he saw a final cut of the film. Honestly, it ruined the reveal of the Predator, but it's still a great movie, one of my top faves of all time.
Monkey Hammer-the game I suppose it’s fun if one is into scat.
It is better with that alien ship intro. It puts you into different mood. You know something landed down on the Earth and it's spooky and mysterious.
@@SimpMcSimpy Sorry, but I would disagree. The whole first half of the film is designed to be a mystery: is this an army? a super soldier? a secret weapon? and slowly it unveils the Predator where you see the camouflaged version and it could still be a man, then later you see him and it still might be a man in a suit, but then you get the idea that you're not dealing with a human, and then, when you think you've got a sense of what it looks like, they remove the mask! It's a brilliant slow reveal, and the ship in the beginning destroys the mystery for the first half.
@@monkeyhammer-thegame39 Scat?
@Dr. M. H. well.. I dont know about good but there is A list pornstars... maybe I should have said failed
This move is so fucking manly I grew a beard immediately after watching it at the age of 12!
Predator 2 is underrated. Not the same masterpiece of course, but it works well
I have been looking through the comments to find a mention of Predator 2. I actually prefer it to the first, despite the flaws. The grizzled, slightly over the hill super cop against the most deadly murderer in the galaxy.
@@tristansmith6819 and we find a bit more about the predators too. and their code of honour etc.
A good remake I should give a re-watch it's been a while, I love how they set it up with the heat wave so the Predator can go there, just great writing continuity. Danny Glover was a great casting choice coming in hot off the Lethal Weapon movies.
Predator 2 the alien was younger and more badass careless too taking out many people at a time, columbines, Jamaicans the train and slaughter house attack.
King willy, poor Danny boy
Atmosphere scenery in heatwave los Angelas and start of film i like it went from jungle looking to moving up to the city concrete jungle
Badass movie
Predator (10
Predator 2(9)
I didn't like Predator 2 much when I first saw it. When I recently re-watched it - my son insisted after seeing the original for the first time - I freaking *loved* it. Whereas the first film takes its premise about as seriously as possible (and executes it extremely well) the sequel is an unrepentant B-movie in which all the actors were given free reign to cut loose. Bill Paxton (RIP) is basically workshopping the character he'd eventually play in True Lies.
I can’t wait until the next reboot “Predator 2100” with Kristen Stewart, Melissa McCarthy
& James Corden.
Great casting!
Wokeator.
With the Predator played by a 95-pound fashion model who knocks bodybuilders around. Because girl power, or something.
I've already given that a 1 star on IMDB
You forgot Leslie Jones
Fun theory: The predator isn't the name of the alien in this story. The predator is Dutch himself. The alien in the story is supposed to be the ultimate hunter, who takes pride in his skill and only hunts the best of the best from other species. Meanwhile compared to him, Dutch and crew just super casually slaughtered a bunch of their own species, and it's not about pride for them, it's just another tuesday for them. In the end, Dutch asks the alien: ''What the hell are you'', to which the alien replies with the same question. Yeah sure he was playing back Dutch. But I feel like the aliens sentiment was the same as the question. He is an intergalactic hunter with alot of experience and super great technology. Yet Dutch managed to beat him at his own game, despite the dozen disadvantages he has. So maybe the title of the movie doesn't refer to the alien hunter, but instead to the ultimate predator that beat said hunter: Dutch?
Interesting take, I'll drink to that! 👍🍻
Thats a well thought out theorie !
Salute !
And drink....
I always thought it was supposed to be ambiguous, that the argument could be made either that both or either is the Predator.
That said, yours was a very well-thought-out argument for the one.
Never saw it that way. Very intresting theory.
I love that take. Congrats.
The score in this movie is its own character. It carries the movie along, and gives a genuine sense of wonder and tension.
Rest in Peace, Carl Weathers (1948-2024)
They set up these characters perfectly in the archetype of the invincible soldier, only to have them get casually picked off one by one. I just never saw it coming, how it switched genres halfway through the movie. The way it lured you in with the typical 80's action movie macho commando bravado... then effortlessly transitioned into a horror movie is why I love _Predator._
Yeah and how they become actually, believably scared. And how they cope with it.
This is a movie from the times that movies were simple, unpretentious fun. And it's shows very clearly how a good script and good casting can flesh out a rather thin premise.
Perfect analysis. I'd never seen anything like it when it came out. Admittedly, I was 11ish, so I hadn't seen much, but still. They really nailed it. This and Robocop set the action standard for my entire life, that year.
I really really wish more films can pull this level of nuance but the fact is that, whether it was a stroke of luck or just a lack of talent, there's more here than the people making films nowadays can handle or think they know.
I was about 10 when my dad put this movie in our VHS player for the 1st time and he did something I never knew about til I watched it a 2nd time on my own a couple weeks later. He told me to go to the bathroom before the movie started so I wouldn't have to go during the movie and he fast forwarded thru the title sequence where the alien ship air drops the predator from outer space. So I had no clue there was anything extraterrestrial in the movie. So when it started I thought it was just gonna be another kick ass arnold action movie but it really changed the scope of the movie and from then on out whenever I played the movie for someone who hadn't seen it yet I'd get the movie "ready" before hand so they could experience it the way I had for the first time. Fun Fact: John Mctiernan the director didnt want the opening scene with the alien craft in the movie but the studio forced it in bc they thought audiences werent smart enough to realize a 7ft reptilian humanoid with thermal vision, green blood, and plasma weaponry is obviously an alien. But i love it all the same. This movie is a 2 way tie with T2 for both my greatest action and sci-fi movies of all time. It's truly an incredible film. There's a reason almost 40 years later the Predator creature still captures the imagination of millions of people and is widely regarded as one of the best movie monsters of all time.
This movie kicks ass from start to finish. Quotable lines, great soundtrack, amazing location etc. And when you're, done, give Predator 2 a second chance. Its underrated as hell.
Fully concur
I disagree, Predator 2 is super underrated and 10 times better than the garbage The Predator 2018 or Predators....well, Predators is a 50/50 for me anyways. Danny Glover and his team were memorable and had their moments. He didn't even use mud as camouflage, he just beats the shit out of it. SO STAY THE F**K OUT OF HIS WAY! Its Lethal Weapon with a Predator, what more can you ask? You guys should check out Rageaholic's review of Predator 2. Its pretty good, makes the film even more badass. Although there is a goof in the movie, the predator still sees with his inferred vision even after removing the mask...oh well, maybe it was VOODOO MAAGIC MAAN.
Still doesn't hurt the film. It tried to be different and they did a solid job. They could have done the same thing in the same location. They took risks which I appreciate. Is it better than the first one? No but its pretty good. Its simple, you killed one of my friends, now its personal. The Predator was still a badass and not a joke like the last one.
Yes love Predator 2, you gotta love anything with Gary Whackadoodle Busey in it
@JRPGFan20000 Very inexperienced Predator in the 2nd movie?
The banter and camaraderie between the soldiers feels real in part because the cast included a lot of real-life military veterans- Jesse Ventura was in the Navy UDTs, Arnold Schwarzenegger drove a tank in the Austrian Army, and I believe Sonny Landham was in the U.S. Army as well. Carl Weathers also had a lot of experience working with teams of tough men at a highly physical job from playing in the NFL. Hollywood should get back to hiring actors who actually have some interesting life experience behind them; it shows on screen.
Yeah, whoever cast this did an amazing job. It feels like they probably talked this way OFF camera with each other too, just a bunch of guys hanging out. It comes across as very genuine, and you really believe it when Mac loses his mind because his best friend is dead. I can remember thinking 'they're all gonna die' when I first watched that scene, it was truly horrifying in the right movie sense. Brilliant...
Guy playing Poncho actually fought in Vietnam.
When Carl Weathers is like the fourth toughest guy in the film, you have one helluva film.
Predator + The Thing + Robocop + Terminator. The 80's definitive masterpieces. Alien deserves to be rounded up from 1979 to join them too!
Well aliens was an 80's movie and it was just as brilliant.
As you pointed out the thing is one of my favourite flims great plot acting and tension just a fantastic flim again from the eighties kurt Russell put in one of his best performances as well as all of the rest of the cast
Well said! All great movies 👌
1980's were glorious as far as action movies went. Thank god I was a kid in that era and my parents let me watch these testosterone packed masterpieces
@@es-ed5ug Same here ,thank god my dad wasn't a pussy and let me watch that shit all the time with out worring about my mental health :)
The background score was a character by itself. Silvestri at his peak.
I can pick his work in some films after being bought up on Predator, even recognised his score in Avengers Endgame before I saw his name in the credits.
@@aperry383 I had the same experience with Back to the Future, sounds surprisingly like Predator
A Perry Same for Infinity War. The scene where the ladies are fighting each other in Wakanda.
So true. What a great soundtrack.
The score was a major element as with all the other aspects raised by TCD in making this movie so fantastic imo. Added to the tension & action brilliantly. A masterpiece by Silvestri as is Predator 2 OST even though its a derivative of the one used in this movie
I would like humbly point out that music score from this movie is amazing and one to be recommended as well.
Alan Silvestri is a titan
This! That score is incredible
Totally. Completely listenable, too. My brother and I played the most recent _Predator_ game using this soundtrack over it and it was like we'd been dropped right into the film.
Man I recently rewatched Predator last year and came to the same conclusion that is one of the best action movies ever.
The best part was not knowing the outcome
The brilliance of Predator was the 80s 100%Testosterone fulled action meets sci-fi. The elite kill team lead by Dutch became the hunted,
only then for Dutch to reverse the situation and become the hunter using the aliens tactics against him only with low technology
- truly proving he is the better 'Predator!'
And if there were any elders around they would've revealed themselves and given him a badass trophy
This really is one of Arnold's most understated performances as an actor. It was one of the few movies he was in where he really seemed to actually become a character, not just be Arnold Schwarzenegger. There is some genuine acting in his fear, his realization that things are wrong. I would say that even though he was born to be the Terminator, this was one of his best roles as a genuine actor.
I think he's an awesome actor but an acquired taste. Admittedly, I am a fan of the man and all his accomplishments so... Biased
That's bc their was a story floating around about a group of men in Vietnam whom had the same experience. But that was real. Also being in a jungle like that can bring you a world of hurt, makes CAMBODIA LOOK LIKE KANSAS
I always found his performance in End of Days to be underrated too
You may want to check out, “Maggie” on PlutoTV or Tubi right now. He plays a father who’s daughter has been bitten by a zombie. Ignore the zombie, because the movie is about how as a father he must come to grips with what he has to do with his only child. His performance reminded me of Stallone’s in “Copland”.
@@kevinbuja4373 Was just going to type that but had to cancel it. I did like him in "Maggie". As well as the movie. It was a nice take on the zombie story.
The Critical Drinker is just legendary at analysing movies. Love this guy.
RIP, Carl Weathers. This was my favorite part of his. Not the handshake. When Dutch (Schwarzenegger) tosses an extra gun at Dillon (Weathers) and he's all ripped and his abs are standing out as he breathes, I can guarantee that (almost) every guy watching was like "To hell with Arnold, I want to look like THAT." Good show.
"If it bleeds, we can kill it."
Best Arnold quote ever.
That's what's good with these films. You can quote a line and everyone of a similar age will add theirs, I've done it at work sometimes. Gets you through the day a bit easier :)
Crush your enemies, see them driven before you and hear the lamentation of their wamen
Of course I misremembered the quote. Actually it was even better. "Contemplate this on the Tree of Woe. Crucify him."
@@WJSchmitt The quote is cool per se, but... when it's said by James Earl Jones, everything turns to pure awesomeness.
It was when he realized he was facing an overwhelming foe who could be beaten.
"blue haired land whales..." LOL! So much gold!
Terrifying jump scare. 😱
Yup, when he said that, and the picture popped up, I nearly choked on my drink!
One of the things that legendary movies have is the immortal dialogue. Aliens and Predator are just full of it. My favorite is "I ain't got time to bleed". In the midst of the macho bravado that takes the cake.
"And then it has a good laugh and self-destructs." Phenomenal.
This movie is immortal in my eyes. A true 80's action masterpiece with everyone capturing lighting in a bottle.
And Hollywoke has been chasing that same success ever since...
Don't get me wrong, the second movie comes pretty close; every 'sequel' after that, though..?
_Pffffft..._
That is a great way to describe this movie, immortal!
It's ageless
Not gonna lie, I enjoyed the Drinker's synopsis more than the movie itself.
@@FU05241960 NAAAAHHH..
My daughter is 6 weeks old and I am counting down the days to show her this masterpiece.
Amen
That's so sweet but don't show her until she's 15 it's too gory specially for a girl
My son is 13. We’ve already watched this, Alien and Aliens .... then he spoiled it all by watching Alien 3 and subsequent sequels. Youth of today ....
Artuurs Z. Go easy buddy. He’s my son and he’ll learn eventually
My son is almost 2, and I'm thinking that's just about the right age for his first screening.
I love this film so much. Real creativity, real location (an actual jungle, not flipping green screen), perfect cast, real stunts (not flipping CGi). Oh, how I miss these days
It was like a textbook for making a perfect action movie. I've always had the greatest respect for this film.
I distinctly remember seeing Predator when it came out that weekend in '87. Went with a bunch of gaming friends (yeah, think of the gang from Stranger Things and that was us). We're watching this flick when BAM! it goes from straight up action film to sci-fi horror! We were all "holy shit! this thing is unstoppable! nobody is going live!" Yeah, you don't even think Dutch is gonna make it out alive. It's because in the first act, you do get the sense that these guys are elite spec ops. Best of the best. They've been in the shit and lived...but then this thing shows up and turns their whole world upside down. They panic! It's beyond their comprehension, at least at first. Then Dutch sees the blood trail...
"If it bleeds, we can kill it."
Truly the best of 80s action films.
Were you the fat kid?
Die Hard is great too. Pretty close but I agree.
I was born in 1995, and even I miss the 80s.
Klausbärbel Fömm “ok boomer”
Born in 2001, I miss both of these -_-
I saw this movie 34 years ago. I was a wee lad. The blind fire scene is still my favorite scene of all time.
RIP to Peter Holmes that played the Predator. Saw an interview with him chatting about his role as the Predator. Given he was a big fast man wearing the Predator costume in a dank, steaming rain forest he did an amazing job. Check out the interview Peter was hilarious
Kevin Peter Hall
This is one of the greatest action films of all time. My favorite Arnold film.
" stick around "
Ain't got time to bleed.
"There's someone out there drinking.......and it ain't no man."
*Snooki from Jersey Shore squats down, urinating on the pavements, knocking over her Bacardi Breezer*
Unrated statement... ^^^ Well done Sir, well done.
WHUAHAHAAAAHHAAAAAA (Indian dude laugh)
A gem of a comment really. Lets face it. Like a genius book burried under loads of written crap.
Well played.
"If it bleeds, we can kill it". Classic.
There are two things McTiernan is really, really good at:
- Action coupled with suspense
- Showing groups of men as a functional unit of individuals
Think back: Predator, The Hunt for Red October, The Thirteenth Warrior etc. McTiernan manages to make these guys memorable. You know who everyone is and what they do.
And that wasn't even his idea in the first place.
Schwarzenegger came up with it for Predator (only McTiernan's 2nd movie at that time) - he wanted this to be a Magnificent Seven style operation, and not just a vehicle for himself.
Poncho, btw, isn't just there. I feel you've mischaracterised some of the guys. Poncho is their medic and also serves as interpreter in the apparently Spanish speaking country. He doesn't need to be as bulky as most of the others, because he's the morphine-and-language guy.
Hawkins is the radio operator, i.e. sort of their tech guy, so he neither needs to look like The Hulk's illegitimate son.
There are in fact some very good reasons for the guys' different body shapes. It's all very functional.
Billy isn't psychic. He's just a tracker, and a very good one. I don't think he needs spidey senses to notice the alien: He hears it sneaking around, but can't see it. That's what confuses him. He can most likely tell by the sounds of the jungle (like birds and monkeys going silent), that there's some large predator in the area, but finds no footprints, hair, clawmarks on trees, snapped twigs, partially eaten carcasses, poop etc.
Remember, they're surprised when they realise that the Predator doesn't even walk around much, but prefers to move from tree to tree and can attack them from above.
A big cat (which is the most likely predator for this region) would leave at least some of the signs of its presence, that I mentioned. That tells Billy, that it's not an ordinary animal, and that the thing can to some degree predict their behaviour. It has an idea how well-developed their senses are, and how to avoid detection - and he can tell they're being stalked. None of that requires "Indian magic".
Also: actor playing Poncho is not only service veteran, but combat veteran. There's a reason for him being 'quiet one'.
True - but also, continued perceptible pressure from unseen enemy might be stirring some terror from childhood stories, primitive part or lizard brain asking 'maybe there was grain of truth after all in creepy-pastas' of old.
One of the most manly films ever.
What about "You can't stop the music"?
And yet, it has a diverse cast but doesn't shove it in your face, unlike today.
Yet when Blain is killed Mac goes completely ape-shit with anger and grief. These were all manly men, but not one-dimensional caricatures. Another sign of an excellent screenplay.
@@johnreynolds7996 absolutely
You have to admire how The Drinker is doing this one for the kids.
Excellent review. I was born in 1961 - so, egad - I'm turning 60 this year. I have to agree with your assessment of the "Greatest Arnold Films", and that the younger generation needs to be exposed to their greatness. 💯
Also, "Blue Haired Land Whales" completed the review. It was the cherry on top. 🤣
This is genuinely one of the best action film ever made. It just hits the nail on the head for what people want to see when it comes to a movie of this genre. Dare I say it: a masterpiece?
Yeah, after my son saw this movie, I had to hear "Get to the Chopper!" for probably a year! He was 10, lol! 😂 I'm a single mom, what? Love this movie, total toxic masculinity!💞❤
That's what I call good parenting:)
👏
GEDDD DUU DAHHH CHOPPAAHHHH!!! :)
And it's glorious
Mary Ashmead I smelled class in here! Hey Mary!
"a white knight comes in to save her"
Pissed myself lmao
That line was hilarious
Yea that made me lol.
With extreme prejudice!!!
But she gave him the "dick eye" 😂
That was gold, I'm still laughing at it.
The critical drinker's vocal pitch goes up when talking about his favorite movies! 👍🏻👍🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
I find myself rewatching this movie every now and then. Best predator movie ever.
When they reboot this movie they're going to do it with an all female cast and Chris Hemsworth as the comic relief.
Joe Syxpack and Chris will be the best part
It smells shyte.
How shitty red dawn was
Korea attacks a town in america like they dont know with america the most militair bases on the planet lol
And thandie newton as the predator 😐
I watched this movie with my girlfriend. She is my boyfriend now.
Ooph tough trade
I don't know if I really get that, but I do know it made me laugh really hard
I guess you mean high testosterone
🤣🤣🤣🤣
@The Old Bad Gamer in space no one can hear your dad jokes
The sounds design was extra memorable as well. One of my favorites.
Love how the subtitles take Arnold’s “you set us up” and translates it to “ you sell sausages often” roflmfao
The detail in the opening scenes is amazing as well. When Dutch asks the General dude "why send us? Why not the real military?!" You can see the general dude visibly struggling to form a good reason...then dillon off camera cuts the tension and interjects "because somebody said you were the best" ( quote not accurate sorry) but it's just beautiful direction and acting which subconsciously foreshadows the dangers ahead.
“Because some damn fool accused you of being the best.”
@@rawheadrex1972 Predator has basically as high a classic quote-per-minute density as Hamlet or the King James Bible.
@@MrBrachiatingApe Personally, it's in with The Big Lebowski, Fear and Loathing and Forrest Gump as the films I quote daily. I converse using quotes too much...haha! But that's just my opinion, man.
The way this movie suddenly splits into a different type of movie reminds me of how I felt when I first watched 'From Dusk Till Dawn'.
‘The descent’ does that as well, switches from serious drama to horror in the space of a second.
@@FranktheBunny666 I remembered my first time watching The Descent. Never seen the trailers or read about it. Poster looks like a cool. Then halfway in, BOOM. It will always be one of my favorite holy shit moments. Descent II was more horror/campy as i remembered correctly. Still enjoyed it.
Love movies like these movies that turn upside-down halfway
One of my all time favourites
I Saw it when it came out as a birthday
Present to myself ..
My girlfriend looked over while watching
And said I never looked Happier ...
It was awesome especially when
They fired into trees..
that was special
You know, I never tied together the Predator randomly firing at Dutch with the jungle scene. That's damn clever and makes me want to watch a movie I've seen at least 40 times again. Good stuff, Drinker.
Yeah me neither...nice. any excuse mate, any excuse
This movie is actually extremely clever, well written and subversive af.
It starts of,like your typical 80´s "commandos in the jungle" macho-action flick.Lots of one-liners,explosions,big guns and badass motherfuckers as the main characters.
Then,out of the blue it turns into a slasher movie,only instead of having some crazy killer ala Jason stalking dumb teenage high-school chicks we have a badass alien with high-tech weaponry,stalking a bunch of Rambos who are also armed to the teeth.
The whole psychological side is also very well done.Just look how these battlehardened men are slowly losing their shit and panic.
In the 3rd act,the movie then flips the roles of Arnie and the Predator.
And the best part is: Arnie doesn´t defeat the Pred,because he´s stronger or has more guns.
He defeats him,because he´s smarter and more cunning.
Neither did I. I think that's fantastic.
Coincidentally, Cinemassacre made a video about Predator like a month ago. And stating the exact same think. Just saying.
When can I watch Predator again?
Anytime...................
I remember when this first came out my father and I thought it would be the typical Arnold campy guilty pleasure like Commando. But man were our minds blown. This movie was unexpectedly awesome for all the reasons you mentioned. Kind of the like the original Die Hard. Back then, the thought that the dude from Moonlighting could be a legit action star seemed comically absurd. But that movie too was such a surprise! It saddens me that Hollywood hasn’t been able to surprise this century.
Oh c'mon, Heath Ledger being cast as The Joker?
Nobody believed that the blonde kid from A Knight's Tale who plays a heartthrob could ever play The Joker convincingly.
I remember feeling like that all over again when I saw the first John wick, keanu wasn't in the best of movie streaks back then and I wasn't expecting John wick to even be an action movie but oh man was I blown away!
They got Disney now.
S0CIALHUNTER: I agree. John Wick has been the biggest and best movie surprise of this century, except for Lord of The Rings. Those films are in a class by themselves.
The part about people never seen or heard of The Predator..I feel that. It surprises me how many people never seen this classic 80s film when Arnold was in his prime 💪.
I have to point out that Billy isn't fatalistic in essence, he became increasingly distraught by his own fear ("I'm scared, Poncho" - "BS, you ain't afraid of no man") instilled by this incomprehensible devilish entity, in the end he concluded that the only way to escape that fear wasn't flight but fight it like a warrior (he is a proud native), despite his inevitable death, so the fatalistic tone of this character.
This movie has masculinity, anti racism, a good story. Everything the modern day Hollywood hates. If people still need another reason to like this movie, I would suggest them to watch Ghostbusters 2016.
Make sure you watch Predator afterwords as a palate cleanser
Wow that 2016 movie was absolute trash. Lol
@@logicplague2077 Start with the original Ghostbusters as a palate cleanser, THEN move on to Predator for a hearty meal.
there is no message of anti racism in this film
@@Replica_Films2000
I get what he means tho...one of the strengths of movies of that era is that this heavy handed, on the nose, in your face overt moralising is just not a thing.
Arnold’s battle cry in this is the best I’ve ever heard in a film.
Hey Arnold what should you paddle a boat with? "OOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRRE!!!!"
He’s the Scream King of the Jungle.
I've rehearsed doing such a battle roar because of that very scene but not at my place because I have a lot of neighbors and I'd get the cops called on me 🤣🤣
Great atmospheric film. Vintage Arnie. You don't hear him talked about much but McTiernan has made some great action films.
Notice how as the movie goes on, the sleeves get shorter and shorter until they stop existing
I’ve watched this movie several times. Yet for some reason I’m sitting through a review for a 33 year old movie and enjoying it. 🤔
Same
Same. I was thinking "why is he doing this?" as I'm watching it and loving every minute 😂
I was going to get testosterone replacement therapy, but then I watched the predator.
And this deserves an UP
Nice one
Laughs in [Billy]😃
I always loved how the film sets up how utterly awesome Dutch and his team are, only to have them wiped out relatively easily by the Predator. Which raises the stakes for an epic finale. The film is built so well.
This was the first movie I ever watched 😁 back when VCRs first came out, I remember my grandfather came home with this as the showpiece movie.
I'm a woman, and I loved this movie! Can't believe there are people who haven't seen it yet. It is truly timeless, even the special effects are amazing, probably because they were used sparingly. Are special effects even special anymore? When you can CGI every damn thing in the film while ignoring a good story and interesting, believable characters, there is really nothing special about the movie at all.
That is the reason many new movies action movies are so boring. Because action like most things should be used sparingly, so they stay memorable. E.g. Original Jurassic Park looks still good but it has about 12 minutes of CGI (and thus dinosaurs) in it.
@@tubetorpedo Original Jurassic Park was ...for lack of term god-level-class in SFX, combination of CGI and practial AND creativity. The best ever effect (ripples in plastic cup) was created with baseball bat :D Same happened to video games - when graphics wasn't that compelling, you had to have "playability" - HoM&M III, Worms, Lemmings, The Incredible Machine and game design like balancing fractions etc was at its peak. Hell, Blizzard used to lag a bit in graphics (admitedly, beautifully styled) when they put most effort into game mechanics and story.
@@piotrd.4850 Yes. It's the content that matters in the end. E.g. Avatar was visually nice but in the end totally forgettable as a movie. Especially the ending was so generic Hollywood shit I just tuned out. The smurfs won, I think.
Blizzard always had gorgeous animations (at the current time) and decent to good story and good playability. HoMM too is legendary. I liked even firsts two but III was naturally the peak level goodness.
My favorite movie with practical effect is The Thing from John Carpenter not the 2010's CGI bore fest.
hahahahaha " the blue haired land whale" had me in stitches
This movie will always be legendary
"Get to the Choppa!" I saw this movie on New York Times Square back in 1987 with a couple of friends and a movie ticket was $5 dollars. This came out the same year as "Running Man." One of the best Arnie movies in the late 80's and no sequel can't touch this classic not by a long shot.
I don’t know man. Predator 2 is pretty good.
It was an ok follow up Glover was good and changing the scene from the jungle to the city was new. But what it lacks is Arnie and the comaradeship of others
This is one of the few flaws in the movie it wasn't that Arnie told her where the helicopter was located and even she did found it would they even believe her. Sloppy script writing
hank964 movies are still $5 on Tuesdays thank me with a like
Wow that's neat
"Dillon, you sonofabitch' "
Best intro. EVER.
@@terriblefez Haha! Me too!
Watched Predator first time as 10year old kid back in early 90s, and was spooked and scared shitless but I loved it, and right after I saw freshly made sequel "Predator 2" with Danny Glover, not as good but still kickass awesome movie which hold its own pretty good against first Predator.
Good sequel,entertaining.
1982-1989 had some of the greatest movies and music
I doubt another movie like this will ever be produced
This is how a diverse cast should be: A diverse cast is great when you don’t notice or think about it. If you can picture a character being played better by another person, then wrong casting.
Never even noticed it was "diverse".
Today half the team whould have to be women.
Absolutely Correct!
That's how you do it. Nothing was forced in this movie. You don't even pay attention to skin color of actors because how well written everything is. You just focus on the story. This movie is a pure perfection.
Yeah, when you sign post diversity it ceases to be diversity but virtue signalling, which sums up modern culture.
John McTiernan is somewhat underrated and underappreciated today, but he directed the holy action trilogy of Predator, Die Hard and The Hunt for Red October. He deserves a reassessment.
The best action director of all time. #2 is James Cameron.
He did make a few duds of the 12 movies he directed.
N D M English Rollerball being possibly the biggest dud of them all.
@james cowboy underrated movie for sure
@james cowboy yep great movie. The first time I saw it was on Halloween and a friend of mine saying it waa really more of an action movie but it had these scary elements to it. It did have those elements and is kinda underrated!
I did a rough calculation of the number of time’s I’ve seen this movie over the last thirty odd years, although I’ll never really know the true figure I’m settled on 87. The number of times I’ve watched this review over the last 18 months isn’t far behind. Pure joy, thank you Drinker.
How I feel watching a 21st century reboot of an 80's classic:
"I'M HEEERRE! KILLMENOWWW!"