For those who may not remember, Predator is an action/horror flick from back in 1987.  The titular villain came flying at us from the jungle, skinning people and hanging them to dry.  That film was packed with beefed up biceps belonging to the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Jesse "The Body" Ventura and many more.  But only one proved to be a match for the murdering mystery guest from outer space.  Arnold slathered himself in mud and took out the savvy skinner in a head to head battle ending that begged for an awesome sequel.  We didn't get it. (See Bo's review of Predator 2)

FINALLY (a mere twenty-three years later) we get the film that should have followed the original.  It's not perfection (Topher Grace?  Wha-?) but it's pretty damned close considering what we've had to endure with its predecessors.  This time, Adrien Brody leads the charge as eight strangers find themselves stranded in an unfamiliar jungle after waking in the middle of an unplanned free fall.  They have no idea what brought them together, but they soon figure it out as they start to get picked off.  What do a mercenary, a Yakuza gang member, a convict, a drug enforcer, a serial killer, a doctor and some other random badass soldiers have in common?  It ain't Saturday detention.  They have been chosen for a hunt.  Specifically they are the hunted.

The "Hish" (so named by author John Shirley in his novelization) are a race of aliens who take pleasure in the challenge of hunting those that as murderous as they.  Armed with shoulder mounted laser canons, super strength, loads of cunning and thermal vision, they are tough to beat if not nearly impossible.  If you had fun watching the original Predator tear soldiers limb from limb, then this could be the summertime flick for you.  And as with any sequel, we get more of everything:  More aliens, more prey, more booby traps, more violence and more Topher Grace.  Wait.  I still don't get that part.  So it has a few glitches.
 

The "Hish" (so named by author John Shirley in his novelization) are a race of aliens who take pleasure in the challenge of hunting those that are as murderous as they.  Armed with shoulder mounted laser canons, super strength, loads of cunning and thermal vision, they are tough to beat, if not nearly impossible.  If you had fun watching the original Predator tear soldiers limb from limb, then this could be the summertime flick for you.  And as with any sequel, we get more of everything:  More aliens, more prey, more booby traps, more violence and more Topher Grace.  Wait.  I still don't get that part.  So it has a few glitches.

That being said, director Nimrod Antal (Vacancy) does his absolute best to make us feel as if little time has passed between the first time out and this one.  With send ups here and there to John McTiernan's classic (written by Jim and John Thomas), he makes it clear that this follow up film is determined to bring back all the hardcore, mean-spirited fun of the original.  Writers Alex Litvac and Michael Finch deserve some form of special praise for being able to recreate a memory from my teenage years without chewing it up and spitting it all over the fans.  Not only did they manage to keep the look of the villain intact, but they didn't overdo the special effects like you know they were dying to do since we've had so many advances in the past three decades.  Instead Antal keeps it close to what we know and love, right down to the awkward keypad bits.  Gotta love them for that.  It was just like going back in time...to a really scary place with lots of screaming and blood.  

The big question might be whether or not Brody can pull off such a beefy role.  For years we have watched him saunter across our movie screens, sideways glancing with those big, puppy eyes.  I never pictured him "swole up" and sweaty, toting a gun bigger than his leg and mowing down jungle monsters.  But by cracky, he did it.  Rounding out the cast is Danny Trejo, the MMA madman Oleg Taktarov, Alice Braga as the lone female badass, Walton Goggins,  Mahershalalhashbaz Ali, Louis Ozawa Changchien and Laurence Fishburne who was sadly underutilized.  Also Derek Mears, in a miraculous bid to wipe out the ick of Friday the 13th (at least that's how I choose to see it) dons the suit as the Classic Predator.  Oh yeah and Topher Grace.  Yeah, I don't know.  
 

they didn't overdo the special effects like you know they were dying to do since we've had so many advances in the past three decades.  Instead, Antal keeps it close to what we know and love, right down to the awkward keypad bits.  Gotta love them for that.  It was just like going back in time...to a really scary place with lots of screaming and blood.  

The big question might be whether or not Brody can pull off such a beefy role.  For years we have watched him saunter across our movie screens, sideways glancing with those big, puppy eyes.  I never pictured him "swole up" and sweaty, toting a gun bigger than his leg and mowing down jungle monsters.  But by cracky, he did it.  Rounding out the cast is Danny Trejo, the MMA madman Oleg Taktarov, Alice Braga as the lone female badass, Walton Goggins,  Mahershalalhashbaz Ali, Louis Ozawa Changchien and Laurence Fishburne, who was sadly underutilized.  Also Derek Mears, in a miraculous bid to wipe out the ick of Friday the 13th (at least that's how I choose to see it) dons the suit as the Classic Predator.  Oh yeah and Topher Grace.  Yeah, I don't know.  

I will admit that in light of recent disappointments, I was concerned about whether or not I would enjoy Predators.  My fears were soon plucked away much like some men's spines.  I had a good time and I'd do it again.  And if another installment helmed by Antal comes down the pipes, I will be there to cheer.