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All this film was being criticised for on the brink of its release was that it is like a possible spoof of the Alien franchise but I must admit that I think the Alien franchise must have led something to make Predator and the rest of the films (aswell as Alien Vs. Predator and its sequel). When I first saw Predator (which was actually only early 2010), I was both horrified and blown away by it and there are many reasons for this! Obviously it was really scary and I feel that it should be known as one of the most spine-chilling thrillers that have ever been made. However, where I was blown away by Predator was that despite that story is obviously rather silly but the story just felt so real from the start to the end. It felt a lot like it was the audience who were the Predator's prey in the film too because we were fooled by a character like we are going to be killed and ripped apart by a random alien.
Despite its real randomness and its main purpose just to entertain, it is perhaps the manliest film one will ever watch as well as a total badass film too like the Alien franchise. I think what is so special about this franchise aswell as the Alien franchise too is that despite how fictional the characters are, it just feels so real and you are journeying alongside the characters in a terrifying ride which certainly does leave you off the edge of your seat as it did to me when I watched it for the first time and every time I watch it now after seeing it once.
The film begins with the arrival of a specialist Army Commando team (led by Alan 'Dutch' Schaeffer) at a US military outpost somewhere non-disclosed in Central America. After a short briefing from the commanding officer there, they learn that they are to rescue a 'Cabinet Minister' whom was in a helicopter that was shot down whilst flying over enemy territory. Accompanied by a CIA operative, they head deep into the jungle; only things are not as they seem. Almost immediately, they find the remnants of another US military team, Green Berets; who have been skinned alive by some unknown enemy. A short while later, they strike the enemy encampment; only to find that they have been set up by the CIA to bring back important military intelligence information, rather than effecting any rescue. But something else is hidden, waiting, watching in the jungle: an immensely advanced and powerful alien that hunts only the most dangerous prey in the universe - the Predator. One after another, the team is picked off as they desperately attempt to escape the jungle by reaching the extraction point as the enemy guerrillas and the Predator close in on their position, can any of them survive this nightmare?
Arnold Schwarzenegger was perhaps one of those actors who were in Hollywood's good books back in the 1980s especially for his roles in The Terminator and Commando but he proves once again in Predator that he is the most badass actor of all time despite that he is the actual prey this time not his enemies in the films he is in. His performance as Dutch was really good and I loved his character because he is the leader of the unit in the journey so it is his responsibility to be there for the rest of the unit. Plus, I admire that when Dutch seems to be the only person left in the jungle, he chooses to stand and fight against the Predator. Kevin Peter Hall was just badass also as the Predator but bloody hell! Just when we thought there wasn't anybody who is bigger in body build aswell as taller than Arnold Schwarzenegger, there happened to be Kevin Peter Hall! What makes the Predator character so great is that he isn't a CGI or modelled character like some characters like him are but because this alien is portrayed by a man, it makes him seem more real and more terrifying to watch especially just when the Predator unmasks. Kevin Peter Hall, may you rest in peace.
The direction from John McTiernan was just fantastic! There were moments where the directing was a bit like films such as Jaws, Alien and even Psycho with the very suspenseful music and the fact that a lot of the violence in the film looked totally real. I would've loved to have seen McTiernan's response when he saw Predator 2 seeing as that one was a massive disappointment to this one.
Overall, Predator is an absolutely fantastic action-science fiction-thriller that is definitely one of the best films of the 1980s. Arnie, you are one badass actor! Predator certainly is the most manly film one will ever seen aswell as one of the most badass films ever. It also deserved its rightful place as one of the best thrillers and science fiction films of all time. Unfortunately, Predator 2 was a huge failure to this one but thankfully, Predators was the sequel that Predator deserved. The film aswell as the Predator certainly is an ugly motherf**ker to watch!
9/10
