Predator… Arguably one of the best Arnold movies next to T2 in existence. Yeah, I said it, how can you not like this movie?
Let’s just look at the cast… I mean, we have heavy hitters like Schwarzenegger himself, and also Carl Weathers and Jesse "The Body" Ventura (also see: previous governors of Minnesota).
Plot:
The film begins with the arrival of an Army Commando team at a US military outpost somewhere in Central America. After a short briefing, they learn they have to rescue a ‘Cabinet Minister’ who was in a helicopter that was shot down flying over enemy territory. (sounds fishy to begin with… doesn’t it?)
Here’s the catch: they are accompanied by a CIA operative. Even fishier. As they head deep into the jungle; things aren’t as they seem. Almost immediately, they find the desecrated bodies of a US military team (Green Berets) who have been skinned alive in a most atrocious way. I guess you really can’t get skinned alive in a nicer way… so that’s an unnecessary comment.
After that, they head to the enemy camp, but this is where they find out the CIA is using them to get military intel from the bad guys. Arnold is pissed. That’s when it starts happening…
Something is hiding in the jungle, watching them, stalking them. An advanced and powerful alien that hunts only the most badass prey in the universe. They call it the Predator.
He has the acrobatic talents of Kerri Strug, and he can blend into his surroundings like the invisible man Don’t forget about his insanely advanced alien weaponry.
Team member after team member start getting picked off. Basically, everyone dies except Arnold. This is when the governator gets PISSED, and starts fighting back.
It’s a pretty interesting story line, but Obviously the acting is horrendous (see: Arnold, Jesse Ventura). I have to dock it a few points for that fact, but still very solid.
Quotable Lines:
For any one that ISN’T aware, Any movie Arnold is in is quotable beyond belief. Heck, that’s the reason half of his audience watch his movies anyway! This movie is one of the CLASSIC Arnold quoteables.
Here are a few examples:
Sergeant Mac Eliot: You’re ghostin’ us, motherfu@%er. I don’t care who you are back in the world, you give away our position one more time, I’ll bleed ya, real quiet. Leave ya here. Got that?
Dutch: [the Predator pulls off his mask] You’re one… ugly motherfu*@er!
Poncho: You’re bleeding, man.
Blain: I ain’t got time to bleed.
Dutch: If it bleeds, we can kill it.
Dutch: [lying on the ground after being hit by Predator shoulder cannon, he motions to Anna] Run! Get to the chopper!
Dutch: Billy, Get Down!!
Gore & Action Factor:
This movie has some SICK scenes.. dudes getting skinned alive, killed left and right… and the bodies. It’s pretty wild. I also have to say the weapons the Predator (I have to capitalize his name, or he gets mad) uses are beyond cool. That shoulder cannon? And the ending scene when he uses his arm band to blow himself up (presumably along with Arnold, but he’s quicker than that). THAT is timeless.
Overall:
This is a timeless guy movie. I honestly can say I could watch this bad boy 2, maybe 3 times in a row in the same sitting. Yeah, that’s how classic it’s become for Action loving guys around the world. The quotes… the plot… its all there.
Ladies, if you haven’t seen it, give it a chance! Even 20 years later, this thing is STILL badass.
