"Predators" - REVIEW

Remaking and re-imagining the 80s has been all the rage in summer 2010, much like summer 2007 was the year of "based-on-the-popular-line-of-toys". The Karate Kid and The A-Team both opened last month, and they are now succeeded by Nimrod Antal's Robert Rodriguez-produced sequel/update of the 1987 AHNULD horror-actioner. After lambasted attempts at sequels and cash-ins (Aliens vs. Predators), the 1987 original has at last found a decent follow-up in Antal's film, despite some significant shortcomings. There may be no "getting back to" of "choppahs," but it's worth the ride.

The film opens with Royce (Adrien Brody) falling unconscious through the air, in what I can only assume is some unintentional metaphor for Brody's career path as of late. Royce awakens, and after much fumbling and panicking, his chute opens on its own. In an extremely quick (thankfully) manner, Royce meets up with a group of different-yet-similar characters, all of whom have backgrounds in killing (soldiers, mercenaries, drug cartel enforcers, CIA) and one with a background in saving (Topher Grace's disgraced doctor). As they unwillingly band together to figure out what the hell is going on, they discover that they may not even be on earth, but someplace different entirely. If you've seen the trailer, you know what the answer to that question is, but even so, for the first hour or so, Antal's film remains solidly suspenseful.

The introduction of spiked, dog-sized creatures indicates something larger than the "one preying on many" angle of the original film, and allows for a greater sense of mystery than "who/what is picking us off one by one?". The characters, thin as they are, are slightly more interesting than the original as well, if only because of the fact that they come from so many different forms of the same position. And while Antal seems to have more skill (or at least concentrate his efforts on) jump scares than sustained suspense, I'd be lying if I wasn't at least slightly anxious continuously during the first half. Unfortunately, the film can't sustain its energy and tension. As the predators are revealed more and more, the thrill evaporates; the film is more effective when we see less. Still, the film does benefit from cast members who are genuinely trying their hardest with the B-movie material that they're working with, and there are even a few solid moments of humor, for which is Grace's character is effectively used. Brody, best known for The Pianist, is in action mode here, significantly bulked up and surprisingly convincing as a mercenary. As far as the action, it's fairly standard, and is more exciting on the basis of how loud it is instead of how scenes are shot and the way fights are staged (a predator vs. predator fight and a predator vs. "samurai" fight are both horribly clumsy). By the time we reach these fights, we're well into the second half of the movie, and with the suspense and interest depleted, the last 20 minutes devolve into a series of blunt injuries and kills that bore more than thrill. Still, even with such a lackluster second half, the end does surprisingly leave me longing for a (better executed) sequel, because in spite of its faults, this new Predators introduces a B-movie universe that I'd actually enjoy revisiting. It may not having anyone getting back to a CHOPAH, but there's certainly enough here to make it worth your while (and if you're not normally a fan, it's really not that gorey, which surprised me).

Grade: C+