What I Think Of: Predators (2010)

Here's an early review of a recent film release. Since we've been a bit tardy with the latest podcast (sorry guys but a new show will be released at the end of this week. No really it will!), I've decided to give my quick thoughts on this reboot/sequel to the original 1987 film, Predator (let's all try to forget the 1990 Predator 2 where a predator is defeated by out of shape Danny Glover ever happened). So here we have Predators, where elite human killers are dropped on an alien world to be hunted. Directed by Nimrod Antal (of Kontroll, Vacancy and Armored fame), the film stars Adrian Brody as an elite special opts soldier who must team up with a ragtag group of survivors to fight and fend off their captors. Upping the stakes is that while Arnold barely defeated one in the original film, washboard abs Brody must defeat 3, because the best things in life come in three's (and yes I'm including the 3-set of breasts in Total Recall).

Since we'll be reviewing the movie later this week for the podcast, I'm going to make this short and sweet, so here are some of my initial thoughts concerning this film.

• I've been waiting most my life for a true sequel to one of my favorite sci-fi horror franchises, and Predators does not disappoint. While I thought it might be decent if not cheesy, Predators is surprisingly well written, action packed and stays true to the original film.
• On that note, initially I thought that there was no way "serious" actor Adrian Brody could pull off an action lead, especially one that Arnie made famous, but he's damn good here. He's gruff, he's mean, he has a six-pack, I mean Brody just went up miles in the "man" factor in my eyes. Everyone I talk to about this movie keeps asking, "you say it's good, but I mean come on, Adrian Brody is in it. How good can he be?" He's f-n fantastic here people. The biggest surprise of the year.
• If there's one thing director Nimrod Antal knows it's how to shoot and pace action scenes. This movie is just filled with some great set pieces, great beats of humanity and characterization between action scenes- it's a film that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The film doesn't try to be anything more than it is, a B-movie action flick with an A-movie budget, and Antal just works wonders here.
• I just love actor Danny Trejo and he makes a cameo here. Why? I'm sure it's because the film is produced by Robert Rodriguez and Trejo is starring in Rodriguez's upcoming movie, Machete. But yeah Trejo is just awesome and playes my favorite character in the movie. And I think I'm in love with Alice Braga. Ever since I saw here in the disappointing Repo Men movie, yeah I can't get enough of her and she's fantastic here as well, being the only woman in the movie and yet not only being able to keep up with the guys, but also showing them how its done.
  
• Just like I always say, practical creature/monster effects are always better than cheap cgi effects. The predator costumes are just great, with a nice throwback to the original but still feeling fresh and updated.
• Lastly, if you liked the original film, you'll love this one. There's just so many homages, so many references that any fan of the original will have a blast during the film picking out everything. Thank you dvds and repeat viewings!!

So yeah, there you have it. Predators is a great reboot/sequel to the classic 1987 film, and is a true throwback to all the great genre films of the 80's and 90's that modern cinema is sorely lacking. Listen to our upcoming podcast to hear my full review, but this one is a definite must watch.

Movie Talkback - Spiderman To Be Rebooted?!!

Here's some pretty stunning and potentially frustrating news. Nikki Finke and former Variety’s chief newshound Mike Fleming, have just found out a massive story. Appears that the upcoming Spiderman 4 movie directed by Sam Raimi and starring Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst and John Malkovich (as the Vulture) is dead, and not just Spidey 4, but Rami's and the rest of the casts involvement!!! Appears that studio execs want to move into a new direction with the Spiderman franchise and are looking to reboot the whole series sending Peter Parker back to highschool.

Here's some choice quotes from the recent studio press release:

Peter Parker is going back to high school when the next Spider-Man hits theaters in the summer of 2012.

Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios announced today they are moving forward with a film based on a script by James Vanderbilt that focuses on a teenager grappling with both contemporary human problems and amazing super-human crises.

The new chapter in the Spider-Man franchise produced by Columbia, Marvel Studios and Avi Arad and Laura Ziskin, will have a new cast and filmmaking team. Spider-Man 4 was to have been released in 2011, but had not yet gone into production.

And lastly from Raimi himself...

“Working on the Spider-Man movies was the experience of a lifetime for me. While we were looking forward to doing a fourth one together, the studio and Marvel have a unique opportunity to take the franchise in a new direction, and I know they will do a terrific job,” said Sam Raimi.

So yeah, there you have it. Frankly I am floored. While I do understand Sony Pictures position on things, the best days of Spidey are when he's single and younger (even Marvel just totally did away with 30 years of continuity in their comics by making Peter single and young again), I'm scared of the whole "reboot" tag. I mean if I have to sit through another hour long origin story about how Peter's nerd is picked on then gets bit by a radioactive spider, I just may cry. And if I have to sit through another 3 movies where the main badguy is the Green Goblin, then well, I may have to stay away from the new movies. However, there is just such a wealth of material Sony can draw from that would be perfect for the movie (the Sinister Six, Kraven's Last Hunt, Rhino, the death of Gwen Stacy) that a fresh look at things may just be what the movie franchise needed. Also, if Sony does what Universal Pictures did wth their The Incredible Hulk reboot where the events took place after Bruce Banner became the Hulk and there were brief flashes on how he became the monster, then it would be perfect.

I would just like to say, thanks for the memories Sam Raimi. The film, the universe you crafted showed that comicbook movies could be done right, done interestingly, and be profitable, foreberring the wealth fo comicbook movies we have now. It's all because of you and your Spiderman vision. Comic fans everywhere thank you for that, thank Maguire and Dunst for that, and I can't wait to see what projects you do next.