Predators

The premise was great. The resolution could have been better. The resolution was fine. But with that premise they could have come up with amazing, and I would have welcomed it. Fine is fine. But the movie had a LOT more going for it than the first two. And I liked the first one.

Let's see. The doctor being bad was not a surprise. Why else would he be there?

I feel like we didn't get good closure with Nolan. Laurence Fishburne deserved better.

I'll tell you why the teaser was great, and one of the better movie teasers I've seen. It grabs you before the title card. But what I responded to is it's brief and not drawn out. That is not the mindset of most action movies. Usually the explosive high octane shit is drawn out as long as possible, for as much tension as possible. Counterpoint: I think that actually lessens tension when they do that. As far as making action and violence a visual spectacle goes, it numbs the audience, and means less in the long run. That short jolt followed by the title card made the right first impression for the movie.

The was billed as a reboot, but the events of the first film are mentioned, so it's a sequel. Take note that although the events of the crappy second film are not mentioned, the film doesn't go so far as to retcon them. So far, the first three Predator films all fit together still.

I liked it. But I feel like I should have been allowed to love it. Not quite. 4 stars.

Motion Comics

Promotional Motion Comics. I love it when films have tie-ins like this. Unfortunately, the Motion Comics here actually suck. Overall: 1 1/2 stars.

Moments Of Extraction

This details what the human monsters in the film were doing right before they were abducted. This is shit I did not need to know. Overall: 1 1/2 stars.

Isabelle

This makes Isabelle's hectoring about Royce's immorality seem annoying in hindsight. 2 stars.

Cuchillo

Arguably the worst thing about the movie is that Danny Trejo is killed off first. 2 stars.

Hanzo

He doesn't say much in the film. 3 stars.

Mombasa

Awful. Awful. 1 star.

Crucified

This is supposed to explain why the new Predators crucified the Classic Predator. You know what? It still doesn't explain it to my satisfaction. 2 1/2 stars.

Deleted And Extended Scenes

Most of the deleted scenes involve some of the characters I kind of liked being assholes. Which I hated. Which is almost certainly why it was all cut. Overall: 2 stars.

Dead Man's Parachute

I'm torn. This is legit funny. Which sort of eases the tension a little too much. But isn't that a good thing? Doesn't that make the gunfire seconds later more of a jolt? The more I think about it, the less I think this scene should have been cut, even if this isn't a funny movie otherwise. 4 stars.

Cuchillo And Isabelle

Wise cut. Makes you dislike Cuchillo. 1 star.

Team "Oriented" Group

Ick. Turns out a lot of unnecessary misogyny was cut. Good. 0 stars.

Third Most Wanted

The movie toned down a :LOT of the unsavory aspects of the characters, even Stans. Probably the right call. 2 1/2 stars.

Cuchillo Unleashes

It's not completely sexist, but over and over again it paints a bad picture of Cuchillo. I'm glad all this shit was cut. 2 stars.

"Why Are You Here?"

It's a great scene, and as the ending reveals Edwin is a sociopath, he's probably lying here (off the top of his head no less!). But I think including it would confuse the ending too much. 4 stars.

"They're Smarter Than That"

It's not a long scene, and it IS more Laurence Fishburne, but it doesn't add anything either. 3 stars.

Stans And Isabelle Naked

I never expected it to deliver what it promised, but you know it's STILL dumb to promise that, right? 3 stars.

"They're Still Coming"

It's not much of a scene and didn't NEED to be cut. But it didn't add anything either. 2 1/2 stars.

Theatrical Trailer

Smart playing up the Robert Rodriguez pedigree. Good trailer all around. 4 1/2 stars.