The idea seemed like a simple one. With Rocky having defeated Russia in Rocky IV, brothers/writers Jim and John Thomas wondered what was left for him to face and conquer. You add the caveat of an alien being dropped off on earth to hunt, and you have the initial ingredients of the Predator franchise. Being kicked off by opponents Arnold Schwarzeneggar and his band of commandos in 1987, the Predator character has lived on in movies, comics, and video games. With writer/director Shane Black bringing the character back to the screen this month, I bring Matt and Alyx on to look at the cinematic incarnations of the character, and cap it off with a look at The Predator, determining whether he has been used up to its full potential.
It took twenty years for someone to step up and bring the Predator back in a film within his own franchise (let’s face it, the AvP films don’t count). That someone was Robert Rodriguez, and in 1994 he wrote a treatment that would eventually be spiced up by another team of writers and turned into 2010’s Predators. How did they do? How’s Adrien Brody in the Ah-nold role? How well did Laurence Fishbourne eat while hiding from Predators? We discuss all that and more, below.
Shane Black, as is established on the podcast, is very well liked within the Binge offices. The guy has had quite the show business career. But some people do not know that he started as a member of Dutch’s team in the original Predator, as the then up and coming writer was brought on by John McTiernan to not only play Hawkins, but also to maybe spice up the script. Cut to 2018. He is now in charge of the latest entry, The Predator. But bad press and a once again tweaked by 20th Century brass shoot has all been blamed for a decent, but not great showing by the movie at the box office. Is all of the bad press warranted? Listen below as all of us have our own opinions on it, and share whether there is a good film to be had here.
And that covers yet another retrospective here at the Aftertaste. As always, I’d like to thank my co-hosts for bringing their A-game, and be sure to listen as I give the schedule for the rest of the year. Note: people who like hearing Matt be tortured are going to love it.
Binge On!
Predators (2010) (?/10, ?/10, ?/10)
The Predator (2018) (?/10, ?/10, ?/10)
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