Predator Movie Review

Predator (1987)

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Written by: Jim Thomas & John Thomas (written by)
Directed by: John McTiernan
Starring:Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Kevin Peter Hall, Bill Duke, Jesse Ventura, Sonny Landham, Shane Black
Rated: R
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Plot
A team of commandos on a mission in a Central American jungle find themselves hunted by an extraterrestrial warrior.

Verdict
I hadn't seen this in years (decades?), and it holds up really well. It's focused and the tension is undeniable. A combat unit is on the run from an unknown assailant. The mission soon seems impossible. This movie doesn't reveal the antagonist too early, and even then only gives you enough to make you want more. While it certainly likes one liners almost to a fault, this becomes a battle between hunter and hunted that doesn't devolve just into a bunch of explosions and gunfire.
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Review
Director McTiernan had a great string of movies. With this being only his second movie, he did Die Hard and The Hunt for Red October next. While his career didn't end there, this was certainly his peak.

This was one of those movies I watched as a kid when I was probably too young. Having recently watched Prey, which is really impressive (a surprise) and reboots the franchise, I had to go back to see how they compare.

Carl Weathers, Arnold Schwarzenegger play Dillon, Dutch

This gives just enough characterization to the unit to distinguish them while wasting no time getting into the mission. This not only features Arnold, but also Apollo Creed Carl Weathers, and just retired wrestler Jesse Ventura. Things quickly go awry as they realize there is something in the jungle that isn't local wildlife. What follows is the unit trying, and failing, to survive.

This doesn't feel outdated, other than a penchant for one liners. Arnold was at his prime in this movie, and he does a serviceable job but he doesn't need so much dialog. Arnold's role basically was to be a very large human being in a fight against a monster.

Arnold Schwarzenegger plays Dutch

The movie does a great job of delaying the reveal of the Predator. We know just a bit more than the protagonists. When we finally get a glimpse of the Predator, we only see enough to ask more questions. That's a great thing about this movie of which many movies fall victim. This doesn't explain why the Predator is here. Skipping that exposition avoids an explanation that will never compare to what we imagine and ascribe.

This movie is better than I remembered. It's more than a typical '80s action movie. I like Prey just a bit more, but that movie certainly owes this one a debt. They both are focused, but Prey gives us a main character that is a better actor comparatively and has many reasons why we want her to win.