MovieChat Forums > The Predator (2018) Discussion > Surprisingly not bad

Surprisingly not bad

posted 6 years ago by BeenSavage (642)
21 replies | jump to latest

Just got back from watching it. Can't really pick one thing that rubbed me the wrong way. From the trailer I was convinced that I wasn't gonna like it based on the characters some of the lead characters alone like Keegan Key and Olivia Munn. I also wasn't sure if I was hot on the concept of a bunch of ill-equipped psychiatric soldiers going against the likes of Predators. With all this in mind they still managed to pull it off quite well. This sort of mini-review is judged mainly on the crap that we've had to endure of the past several years. Glad to see this is nowhere near as bad. Though I will say I wasn't too keen on the overemphasis of the "gifted son" or the lead up of a possible sequel (would've been content with a one-off) but both weren't deal breakers. For those still debating like I have been, give it a watch. You won't be too disappointed.

[–] kaze (349) 6 years ago

its the worst movie of the year.

[–] JohnMatrix (721) 6 years ago

I just saw it in a dollar theater yesterday and I still didn’t like it. I absolutely hated the cast. Not a single standout performance. I could’ve forgiven for all other shortcomings, like the story or action sequences, but not the acting. I guess perhaps the “super” enhanced Predator at the end had the best performance out of all actors.

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8759) 6 years ago

Definitely not the worst movie of the year.

Here you go:

The Commuter
The Hurricane Heist
Tomb Raider
Pacific Rim: Uprising
Unsane
Rampage
Deadpool 2
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Ocean's 8

All less entertaining than The Predator.

[–] Alex (1504) 6 years ago

you lost me at The Commuter...

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8759) 6 years ago

You're saying you liked that film?

[–] Alex (1504) 6 years ago

Your taste in movies is bad, and you should feel bad.

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8759) 6 years ago

You're the one saying The Commuter was better than The Predator.

[–] Alex (1504) 6 years ago

My afternoon shit today was better than this hot pile of garbage.

[–] AnubisRaydeen (7897) 5 years ago

In that list, I'd say that the new Tomb Raider was maybe a little better and maaaybe Deadpool 2 just because I got some laughs. I will say that Ocean's 8 was bland and poorly executed but at least it didn't infuriate me like this new Predator disaster. They're all bad, for sure.
The rest are indeed 10 more lbs of shit than the 50 lb shit bag that is The Predator. Still hurts: what became of the franchise. Predator is in my top 3 all-time.

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8759) 5 years ago

I thought The Predator was half of a good movie. The first half was pretty well-made and entertaining; the last half was just a mess. Basically, once the Super Predator shows up it starts to run off the rails.

Not sure if you're aware, but there were production issues and reshoots that lead to the final product feeling so disjointed. I still didn't hate it, but it's definitely not all that it could've been. Like I said, I think everything up to the introduction of the Super Predator is pretty good.

[–] AnubisRaydeen (7897) 5 years ago

Production issues would explain the characters teleporting around but not the autistic kid being "the one true warrior" nor would it excuse the predator dogs.

I feel that they could have saved this movie but the truth is that, IMO, that would mean changing 80% of the movie. The group of crazy GI's is a nice team idea. They should have started the movie in that transport van with all of them trading their stories. We should have met the lead when he gives his story last ... a reluctant "I saw an alien crash landed spacecraft." Other than the team and the presence of the hurt Predator in the military medical facility, I'd pretty much change everything else.

I need to rewatch all of them (other than this one). I don't have a very high opinion of most of them but it's been a long time and I only watched each of them once (except the first which I have seen a million times)

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8759) 5 years ago

The autistic kid storyline probably wasn't the best way to go, and the Predator dogs were a little silly, but they weren't deal breakers. That fucking Super Predator though was just ill conceived and poorly executed and the story goes from something that was interesting and entertaining to something that just felt messy, rote and dull.

Regarding the other films, I rewatched Predator 2 recently for the first time since the 90s and I actually thought it was a fun movie. I hesitate to say this, but I did a back-to-back viewing of Predator and Predator 2 and I think I actually had more fun with Predator 2.

Predators was boring, I though. Aliens vs Predator is a PG-13 popcorn movie, but if you can accept it on that level then there's stuff there to enjoy. AvP 2 is a piece of shit.

[–] AnubisRaydeen (7897) 5 years ago

I specifically need to rewatch P2. I didn't like it (although it has a pretty damn good script). My memory of it has holes. Although I do still remember the terrible ending. It has one of my most hated movie tropes.
I thought Predators was decent. I won't ever watch either AVP again.

[–] olioz (3706) 6 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Nate Adams SA23 (902) 6 years ago

I liked it too. Was a fun movie even if it’s over the top sometimes.

[–] Neckk (342) 6 years ago

Loved it. Thought it was a fun film for adults with great, under appreciated one-liners. Storyline should have been tighter, but the characters and their lines were on point. With as much humor as there was, I was suprised and relieved that it didn't turn out like Terminator 3. Can't help but think this is what a Hopkins led Predator movie would look like.

[–] jerryrip (57) 5 years ago

I don't understand moviegoers at all anymore. How can this film be rated only a 5.4? Are people watching the same movies as I am? This movie was a nonstop roller coaster ride from the get-go. It was so much more imaginative than some of the other Predator films (or for that matter, a lot of other sci-fi-horror entries), with lots and lots of action and gore for Predator fans and sci-fi action film fans alike. I saw no problem with the story: Predator comes to earth with a super anti-predator suit with a super Predator hybrid chasing after him to try and recover said suit. Along the way this super predator kills people as if they were tear-apart rag dolls.

I loved the ex-military characters who helped the lead character destroy the predator hybrid and the super-intelligent kid who gets bullied turn out to be the quasi hero of the movie. How can you not laugh at the scenes such as the helmet firing back at the a-hole in the house and reducing it to rubble or the scene where the a-hole government agent gets his head blown off by the predator's shoulder weapon when he turns to face the other way. There were so many scenes like that where I found myself laughing out loud.

The action sequences reminded me a lot of the original Predator movie and the characters were similar. It's also great that at least the film wasn't a remake; it was a great sequel. I also loved Boyd Holbrook. I think he has the potential to be another action star. And Olivia Munn is a babe! I haven't had this much fun watching a movie in a while. All in all a very satisfying action sci-fi film. I'd give it a 7.5 rating.

Flame away ex-IMDB haters.

[–] CallmeV (144) 3 years ago

Re-watched it earlier. The movie itself it's bad, however, what brings balance is the cast. The unit is, IMHO, fantastic from start to finish. Funny, likable, everything you want to have in a Predator movie.

[–] BeenSavage (642) 3 years ago

I think I may give it another rewatch myself. As a side note, I had to do a double take with this post. I barely remember creating it lmao.

[–] VanZan (906) 3 years ago

Reading some of these replies is scary as the movie was a complete shitstain on the franchise. From what I remember there were lots of unfunny crude "jokes", laughably bad Predator dogs and an ending that was like a kids movie. Oh and I remember some other garbage where he puts on a Predator suit or something at which point I considered hanging myself.

Always makes me laugh when they have the "setting it up for a sequel" type ending in a fucking turd of a movie.

To the people who defend this film I wonder what delusion they operate under as to why the studio didn't make any follow up? Sane people know it's because this film was shit. People who liked the film must be mystified why a trilogy wasn't made. Probably have all manner of bullshit excuses as to why we didn't have the continuing adventures of Quinn and his magic suit.

I remember when the first cast photo for this was leaked and it looked bad even then.

[–] pjl69 (2647) 2 years ago

Just watched it on telly. It was a stupid film, but had funny moments. Refreshing to see an R-rated movie in this genre for a change. There was gore and language, so I assume it was an R.