Predator: Killer of Killers

[Andrew NDB]

I think it's like an anthology? In any case, it appears to give the low-energy fans what they wanted ("wat if a Predator was in Feudal Japan? or this other cool time period?").

[IMJ]

Looks pretty interesting actually. Now unabashedly taking the "Assassin's Creed" route and going "Character across history" with it, although I suppose that's not entirely new to the franchise given the dialog going back to the very first movie.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by IMJ

Now unabashedly taking the "Assassin's Creed" route and going "Character across history" with it, although I suppose that's not entirely new to the franchise given the dialog going back to the very first movie.

To me it's just the most obvious, empty-headed direction to go: just repeating the same tired Predator movie structure (group of unsuspecting people, usually in an unforgiving environment, getting whittled down until someone goes against the odds and outsmarts and defeats a random Predator at the end) but changing the setting. That's not growing the franchise or giving us anything new, it's just putting the same Predator burger in a slightly different wrapper.

[IMJ]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

To me it's just the most obvious, empty-headed direction to go: just repeating the same tired Predator movie structure (group of unsuspecting people, usually in an unforgiving environment, getting whittled down until someone goes against the odds and outsmarts and defeats a random Predator at the end) but changing the setting. That's not growing the franchise or giving us anything new, it's just putting the same Predator burger in a slightly different wrapper.

I sort of agree with this, but you know man - some I.P.s are that simple. There isn't very much you can do with the Predator franchise to build an "epic" series out of it. It's aliens who hunt humans.

And the formula has been proven to work basically when they are in a jungle (the original movie and the Adrian Brody movie were solid), and then it worked in Prey. It is what it is.

[frank_one]

Originally Posted by IMJ

I sort of agree with this, but you know man - some I.P.s are that simple. There isn't very much you can do with the Predator franchise to build an "epic" series out of it. It's aliens who hunt humans.

It has been that simple until now, yes, but that doesn't mean they couldn't push the story a little forward and expand the Predator lore. Creativity is the limit.

[Andrew NDB]

We may get it with that other Predator movie they're making. Where its supposed to be entirely from the perspective of a Predator.

[IMJ]

Originally Posted by frank_one

It has been that simple until now, yes, but that doesn't mean they couldn't push the story a little forward and expand the Predator lore. Creativity is the limit.

Not that I disagree with this, but what would you look for to enhance the franchise? Some kind of history of the species? Hell, they tried to enrich the lore by establishing some kind of deep-conflict with the Xenomorphs and that led to two disasterous flicks. Then we had the Shane Black movie that was supposed to launch.... something... but we all know how that went.

3 good Predator movies out there - the first one, Predators and Prey. Honestly, that lore expansion might have best come from "Predators" had they followed up the story after they escape with the alien ship from the game-planet. That would have forced a space-story.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by IMJ

Some kind of history of the species?

No, you definitely don't want to demystify them too much. You do that and you run the risk of neutering them, or their allure.

And yes, you point to Predators and The Predator as the only examples of where TPTB tried to do "something different" with the franchise. Predators in that it showed us there isn't just the one type of Predator and that "other stuff" is going on in their culture with multiple factions. The Predator did the same thing, albeit in really, really stupid ways compounded with "little kid who has autism suerpowers." And we didn't REALLY learn much new about the Predators, other than they they're constantly evolving (with Prey ran with as well, in the other direction).

I think, let's see how this other Predator movie does, that's supposed to be entirely from the Predator's POV. Let's see what they do there. I think it also wouldn't kill us to have the same Predator show up in more than 1 movie.

[Andrew NDB]

Watched it on Hulu. Holy crap... that was kinda great! I knew it would be super gory and all, but I thought maybe they'd use the animated aspect to make it seem a bit "unreal." I was sold the whole way through, and that script was just about airtight. Everything pays off and very well! There really isn't any reason this couldn't have been live action beyond it probably needing about a 400 million dollar budget.

Definitely recommend.

[Allio]

Really enjoyed the film. Was a little worried since this would have been four Predator films back to back with the same formula (prey being the first) but luckily the segmented shorts in this were … well short enough… that you didn’t feel the “okay, we did this song and dance before” before going to the next segment .

[Mad Dog McMutt]

Originally Posted by Allio

Really enjoyed the film. Was a little worried since this would have been four Predator films back to back with the same formula (prey being the first) but luckily the segmented shorts in this were … well short enough… that you didn’t feel the “okay, we did this song and dance before” before going to the next segment .

There are 3 Predator films after Prey? I guess I have a lot of catching up to do.

[Allio]

Nah, I was counting the three segments in the anthology as seperate to drive the point of reusing the same formula essentially four times in a row (1. Prey, 2. Shield, 3. Sword 4. Bullet)

[Andrew NDB]

So the film's epilogue has been expanded today. Arnold and Danny Glover now appear at the very end! It just premiered at San Diego but is live on Hulu. If you watch it now you'll see it there.

https://share.google/rIuPh2q0BrohtqQyf

[Jester]

Watching it now. The 2nd segment gives me some Yoshi v. Saki vibes.