Summer Shocks 1987: Predator

I'm relieved to see that the early word on Predators is very positive. Personally, I think even a bad Predator movie is kind of fun to watch - unlike most fans I didn't entirely hate either of the AvP movies - but it'd be really cool to see a really great one again. In 1987, the original Predator was hot stuff, for sure, one of that summer's best.

I remember seeing the trailers for it and flipping out over the camouflage FX for the Predator. To see that shape jumping out of the trees with that kind of pixelated, shimmering view of the jungle reflected it on it was like - wow, I've got to check this out!

There wasn't much question that I'd be checking it out anyhow - it was a Schwarzenegger movie and that was an automatic event back then. In the '80s, he couldn't choose a losing project if he tried. Some movies hit bigger than others but nothing derailed him and Predator remains one of the highpoints of his career.

Growing up in the '80s, I believed that cool movies like this would always keep coming along. Over time, that hasn't always proved to be true and looking back on Predator now is an occasion to appreciate that a perfect summer movie is never something to take for granted.

To read my full Summer Shocks review at Shock Till You Drop, click here.

When Predators Go Plural

The news is out coutresy of Variety that Robert Rodriguez is involved as a producer with a reboot of the Predator franchise called Predators. I'm not always jazzed about Rodriguez's films but I can't imagine he doesn't have some good ideas on how to bring the Predators back in style - especially as he penned his own Predator screenplay back in the '90s (how much, if any, of that screenplay will make it into the new film is unknown). I think the Predator itself is hands-down the best monster that Stan Winston ever designed (sorry, Pumpkinhead!) and seeing it in action is always welcome. Plenty of fans hated on the two AvP movies but while I'm not a big fan of either I still thought the Predator material in both showed that even in a weak movie, the Predators come off looking good. If anything, both AvP's made me want to see the Predators go solo again. The first Predator is one of the few films I would call perfect and while the sequel was far from that mark, it definitely had its merits. While no plot information has come out on Predators yet, I don't think it's too early to put in an early casting suggestion to please, please, please get Jason Statham as the lead. I would really love to see Jason Statham kicking Predator ass. If we live in a world where that's the least bit possible, then by God it needs to happen.