We Don’t Have to Hunt for ‘Predators’ Plot, We Already Know It By Art Byrd

A few days before seeing “Predators,” I watched “The Bachelorette” with some friends who are fans. Ali, the bachelorette, had to choose one of four bachelors to go. It was like a game for my two female friends to guess which bachelor would be kicked to the curb. They were right, too. Remember that for later.

It’s been a long time since a Predator movie has been in theaters. The first “Predator” in 1987 was a wild ride, the action was insane and the Predator creature was an awesome alien with the dreadlocks, strange eyes and the funky mouth. The wrist band with the codes was a nice touch.

I’m not even going to delve into “Predator 2” or “Alien vs. Predator.” Now there is a new Predator movie with a different twist. Filmmaker Robert Rodriguez (“Sin City,” “Spy Kids”) is not directing but producing the film. Nimrod Antal is directing. I believe Rodriguez should have directed and given the movie his spin.

The cast is top notch with faces we have seen before. Oscar winner Adrien Brody plays Royce, the leader, who of course gets a big-hero moment; Alice Braga (niece of Sonia Braga) is Isabell, the lone woman; Walton Goggins (“The Shield,” “Justified”) plays death-row inmate Stans; Danny Trejo (upcoming “Machete”) makes a brief appearance as Cuchillo. Hmm, I wonder what happens to him…wink, wink!  

A good casting move comes in the form of Topher Grace (“Spiderman 3,” “That ’70s Show”) as Edwin, a doctor who is wondering what is going on and has some comedic moments. Lawrence Fishburne (“CSI,” “The Matrix” movies) plays Noland, a crazy guy who has survived the Predators by himself.

The story centers on the cast being dropped in the jungle with guns. They don’t know why they’re there and don’t know each other. One good twist is that there are about four Predators. After a few encounters with the Predators and new creatures that are like Predator Dogs, because they look Predators on four legs, the group realizes that they are on a different planet -- and being hunted.

The movie falls-back on the classic storyline where the Predator creature starts killing the group one by one. Now here is where “The Bachelorette” factor comes into play. The movie became a game for me. Could I pick who was going to be killed by the Predators, and in which order? 

The action was good with lots of gunfire. The gore -- except for some hanging corpses -- was kept to a minimum. The special effects were a little cheesy. The infrared shots the Predators use to detect the body heat of prey were still cool.

But “Predators” didn’t give me any “wow” moments. We’ve seen the Predator creature before, quite a bit, so it’s not so scary. The Predators seem invincible, but we know there is a weakness and the hero will find it. I would like to know why is it is so much fun for the Predators to hunt down humans. They must have something else better to do.  

As for picking who was going to be killed, that was fun, and I was right on who was going to be killed -- but wrong in the order. I guess I needed my two friends, Milly and Choochie, to help me out.  Maybe for the next sequel, “Predators, Predators,” I’ll get a better score.

Edited by Michele Ristich Gatts