Frigid watched Predators

[frigidmagi]

I just got back from watching Predators with a group of my coworkers, their so's and oddly enough fathers (it was an odd group).

Predators gives us an good sized cast of characters solidly and well acted by good actors. The story is simple but well executed. There aren't to many surprises but the ones there are are done well.

In Predators we have a group of killers, some of them are military, others are really... well scum and others are hovering in between. This unhappy band of life enders has been kidnapped by the Predators to serve as moving targets on a artificial planet sized game preserve. The reveal on this is spectacular with the characters trying to figure out where they could until they get a clear look at the sky. That skyline also tells us the planet (or moon) is artificial as there are waayyyyy to many planets wayyy to close for it to work as a natural orbiting body. The reference to the first film is classy, but easy and the rest of the films are rightly ignored. This is Predator's true sequel.

While giving us a good action movie this movie through the characters and their own words an actions gives us a view at the various reasons a person would have to be a killer and how he (or she) would behave. We are given a spectrum that ranges from the convict to the military members.


Spoilers below.






The convict leaves us with no doubt that he is the scum of the fucking earth. Our introduction to him has him trying to kill a man he's never seen before in his life for no reason he ever gives (I suspect either for his weapons or because the guy is black and the convict is white). When they find a place to hide and rest for a while he declares that when he gets back, he's gonna get high as a kite on cocaine and I qoute "rape me some fine ass bitches." Whatever he did, I'm pretty sure he rates being executed, in fact let's do it to him twice just to be sure. That said, I have to give him points for the manner of his death. In death he managed to rise above the piece of shit he was in life.

Several steps up the scale from him are our paid killers. The Mexican enforcer and the Yakuza hitman. These guys seem more motivated by feudal loyalty in the case of Honzo the Yakuza and ficanical gain in the case of Cuchillo the enforcer. Honzo is clearly a throw back, if he had been born in earlier days, he would have happily been a samurai for his Damiyo. Cuchillo seems to be hardcase from a hard life who just pick a way to get ahead. I can't condemn him for that, but I wouldn't trust him either.

I can't make up mind as to whether or not the Death Squad soldier is tied with those two, under them or above them. He does however save the convict's life after the guy tried to kill him, so I'm gonna put Mombosa ahead of them.

Then we got Brody's character whose name isn't revealed until the last scene. He's a mercenary who is frankly suffering from a case of PTS syndrome. Some of you who have seen the movie are likely going "huh?" I'll explain. He's been fighting so long that's he on perament survival mode and likes it. When men are cut off from long periods of time or live under combat conditions for longer, alienation and dissociation set in. While they're not crazy and capable of rational thought, it becomes harder for them to operate in a group or to work as part of a team. In some cases they can't or don't want to stop fighting, it's all that feels real to them anymore. Brody being a high end operational sufferer becomes a mercenary so he doesn't have to work in a group or stop. He isn't a cold blooded or mad dog killer, but he is willing to use the team as bait or leave the wounded behind if they slow him down.

Then we have Isabella, who is a CIA sniper recruited from the IDF. She attempts to keep the group together and keep them from killing each other. Part of this is penance for letting her spotter die on a mission. Another part of it is that deep down she's still an idealist and believes in the countries and causes she was fighting for. She's often the voice of reason and now and again the fist of reason. Isabella also depends to much on her scope narrowing her field of vision but we'll let that go.

The Russian soldier fighting in Chechnya is actually the most positive character here. Surprise, surprise. He attempts to protect his teammates, especially the doctor who is easily the weakest among them. In fact he goes out of his way to be protector and refuses to leave the doc behind. Saddly he shows everyone pictures of his two little boys and marks himself for death.

I've left out the doctor and Lawerence Fishborne's character, a crazed survivior of 10 hunting seasons who used to be army air cav. To perserve the plot. Although I'm gonna be honest, they give away the doc's twist telegraphing it a bit much. As always Hollywood underrates the power of grenades and other weapons and overrates the power of knives and swords. I however, will not penalize a movie for a fault of the system that produced it.

I'm giving this movie a high B. While not very deep or overtly thoughtful if you want a good action Sci-Fi. This is the way to go.

[Hotfoot]

I saw it with friends, it was a good action flick. We put it under Predator and above Predator 2.

[Charon]

I saw it and loved it. Not quite as good as the original Predator but definitely better than anything that has born the name since.

Spoilers and whatnot.






On a side note, my friends and I have been texting each other at five o'clock going "It's bitch raping time" because we thought that line was hilarious.

I thought the introduction of perhaps a caste system in the way the Predators work was extremely interesting and I kind of see what happens with that in later movies. As Brody explained, the enemy of my enemy. But then again any development on that front would have to be handled very carefully or any movie involving it would be utter shit.