I watched the first Predator film shortly after it was released thinking it was simply an Arnie action-vehicle. Some cynics might say this is a fair description of the film, however I see it as something more. The film placed a group of marines (friends to be honest) in an isolated environment and had them hunted and stalked, killed off one by one. This idea has been done many times but this was different as the enemy was a good mix of being more primal and yet more technical that the hero's, giving them no advantage to fall back on.
The success was such that a sequel was a definate and the decision made to take this alien warrior to 'The Urban Jungle' and have the battle on the streets of LA.
Swarzeneggar didn't want to be part of this and so Danny Glover came in, fresh from his Leathal Weapon success, and was joined by various other mid-eighties action favourites (Gary Busey, Bill Paxon, Maria Conchita Alonso). Then we are all set for the carnage!
The action is more wall to wall in this film, although this means that the tension is lessened. The death count is probably at least 3x that of the first film and sometimes you feel the plot is straining for who to kill next. As well as the police force, who are trying to hunt the predator there is also a top secret military unit (isn't there always) as well as a gang war going on between stereotypical Columbian and Jamacian henchmen. Basically lots of cannon fodder.
One of my favourite aspects for the film is that it adds alot to the Predator legend. He is given alot more screen time than the first but we also learn a little more about them, like their weaponry, their origins and more on their honour system of not harming an innocent. There are several excellent scenes, one in a slaughter house and another on a train and the gore is still kept at a high level for those that enjoy the sight of blood. The supporting cast are colourful and entertaining.
For me the major dissapointment of the film was the Predator himself. At time he seems unstoppable, then suddenly he spends the last 15 minutes of the film running away. This seemed out of character for a successful hunter who is supposed to face any challenge head on - the Predator in the first film was more than a match for Arnie and yet this one has huge trouble with Danny Glover!
The DVD extras are ok, but I think they are more something special for fans who were going to buy the DVD anyway, rather than directly affecting a purchase. They include:
Production Year: 2002 - Action/Adventure - Director: Vincenzo Natali - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:Lucy Liu, David Hewlett, Anne Marie Scheffler, Joseph Scoren, Matthew Sharp, Jeremy Northam
Action & Adventure - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Melissa George, Ron Rifkin, Jennifer Garner, Ricky Gervais, Quentin Tarantino
Production Year: 1977 - Action/Adventure - Director: Clint Eastwood - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring:Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Pat Hingle, William Prince, Bill McKinney
Production Year: 1964 - Action/Adventure - Director: Cyril Endfield - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring:Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth, Michael Caine, Nigel Green
This sequel to Predator finds the police force of 1997 Los Angeles (including hard bitten ... more
cop Danny Glover) losing the battle against the drug lords and the gangs of thugs who control the streets. Suddenly, the killers are the victims of a dread locked...
Predatorwreaked havoc in the jungle and struck box-office gold, so Hollywood logic ... more
dictated thatPredator 2should raise hell in the big, bad city. Los Angeles, to be specific, and this near-future L.A. (circa 1997) is an ultra-violent playground for the...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Predatorwreaked havoc in the jungle and struck box-office gold, so Hollywood logic ... more
dictated thatPredator 2should raise hell in the big, bad city. Los Angeles, to be specific, and this near-future L.A. (circa 1997) is an ultra-violent playground for the...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
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