Predator 2, as a story, does everything it had to do as a sequel to John McTiernan's classic. Like the Dark Horse comic book that preceded it, the film has a contemporary city setting, all the action potential that crime ridden environment can offer, and a cliched loose-cannon cop for the alien hunter to face off with.
The big surprise is that the bad-ass cop turned out to be Danny Glover, a bit of a surprise since he's following in Schwarzneggar's footsteps...not to mention he's best known as playing an aging policeman who's "too old for this shit". Danny's lack of physical presence (compared with Arnie) is made up with an Avery Brooks-esque bluster as he rants, spits and energetically lollops around the streets of L.A. like a man possessed by a pissed of gazelle. Like the first movie, the action hero has a memorable team of hard cases with which to trade one-liners from Bill Paxton's cocky rookie, Maria Conchita Alonso's tomboy and Ruben Blades smooth, best buddy.
Filling the Carl Weathers role as the 'untrustworthy' guy on 'our' side is the incomparable Gary Busey, proving he's a match for Glover in the bluster department. On the flip side, TV actor Kent McCord delivers the cliched, chisel-jawed department head with remarkable blandness, perhaps trying to cancel out Robert Davi's cliched, furious, Police Chief routine.
Without John McTiernan's adult euro style direction, this Predator movie feels more bullshitty than it's predecessor. The direction and editing are more conventionally Hollywood, the unsubtle (but impressively gritty) photography is extremely dated, as are the 90's fashions on display, once so cool, now looking like an M.C. Hammer fan club reunion. Still, this is still at the leading edge of enjoyable, dumb-but-fun action thrillers. Once the police procedural set up is established then it's straight on to cast members being dispatched inventively by the Predator, before Danny goes mano-et-mano with the creature.
The climax, set on the Predator's spaceship is inspired (unfortunately setting up the disappointing AVP movies too) and the plentiful quips (which replace characterisation and plot) are magnificent. "Fucking Voodoo magic, man" and "Shit happens"...all delivered in a broad Jamaican accent...are now part of geek culture forever.
1 comment:
Yeah, I love Predator 2. It’s a load of daft fun, though not a patch on the classic original. It may be cheesy and bullshitty but it is still a million times better than both of the lame AVP efforts. Let us hope that the Robert Rodruigez produced Predators can restore some of that old pussyface magic.
"Want some candy?"
"The lions, the tigers. Oh my!"
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