Logan Sork Film Reviews
Predator 2
The first Predator film is among the greatest action films ever made. It had amazing action, fun characters and excellent monster thrills. It showed it was not afraid to be an action film, but that it could also manage to be an alien horror film was well. It was also very creative, finding unique ways to subvert generic expectations while also being fun and entertaining. The first film was a financial success, so that meant that a sequel would be made. The sequel is fun and entertaining in its own right, but also fails miserably to improve upon the unique blend of genres that the original film had. This resulted in a fun, albeit, somewhat stale and over the top film.
Predator 2 moves the action away from the mysterious jungles of South America and places the Predator in the middle of a war-torn Los Angeles. The film follows Mike Harrigan (Danny Glover), an LAPD officer who is caught in the middle of a war between multiple gangs that ravages the streets of LA. After stumbling upon a slaughter scene in the middle of a war zone, he suspects, that the gangs had nothing to do with it and believes that a new threat has arrived in the city. His suspicions are raised when a government task force prevents him from investigating the situation further. Not trusting the agents, he and his partners go off their own to investigate the cause of these heinous crimes and put a stop to the source before the terror spreads further.
So, what works about this movie? One element it defiantly improves upon from the previous film is the Predator. In the original it was a mystery of what the creature was and what it was capable of, it only really attacked from the shadows. This film knew that everyone going in knew what the Predator was capable of. As a result, the Predator moments in this film were dialed up to an eleven. In this film, the predator gets new gadgets and the film makers come up with even more gruesome ways for the Predator to take down his prey. There are loud over the top moments for the Predator to shine, but there are also some great moments of tension that are created as he hunts down his foes from the shadows. One of these moments is in the third act, which is one of the best final showdowns I’ve seen in an action film.
The main story is also kind of interesting as well. While it initially seems weird for the Predator to show up in a city, it does make for some interesting concepts and impressive visuals. But there is also a sense of unease that is lost, as the city of Los Angeles is a crowded place, which is very different from the dark misty jungles of south America featured in the first film. The story is also an intriguing mystery. Yes, to those knowing that predator is involved, you know what’s happening. But for any newcomers who don’t know, the mystery is intriguing. The film takes inspiration from police dramas and tells its story like a crime thriller. However, while there are some original elements, the film’s plot is mostly the same only with it being set in a city rather than a jungle.
The main problems with the film are found in its characters and its action sequences. The action sequences in the original film were fun to watch even without the Predator. The action sequences not featuring the Predator in this film are awful. The gang members that the police fight are loud and obnoxious, resulting in an unpleasant viewing experience. Even the supporting police officers are irritating. Thankfully, Danny Glover’s Mike Harrigan is interesting and funny enough that you won’t mind spending most of the run time with him. As for the rest of the supporting characters, they are simply not interesting in the least bit, which is a real shame when you can tell all the actors are doing their best. The whole government sub plot is also very boring, serving only to catch viewers up with the events of the previous film.
There is also a lack of innovation in terms of blending the genres. What made the first film so special is that it managed to strike a fine balance between action and horror. While there are some subtle moments in this film, they are few and far between. Yes, there are some cop drama elements that are added, but his is mainly due to compensate the change in location. Even these moments are loud and over the top like the rest of the action sequences. There are genuine moments of terror in the first film, this is not the case with the sequel.
So, while there is plenty to like about this film, from the Predator moments to the interesting change in location, it is ultimately let down by a weak script that feels like it was copied and pasted (even some of the one-liners), lack of innovation and annoying characters. Those who are fans of the original should defiantly check this one out as it by no means is a horrible movie, but it is simply nowhere near the level of first film in terms of ingenuity, wit or originality.
5/10