Predators
My most abiding memory of watching the first Predator was of the second feature which followed. With the tactful title of ‘Revenge of the Nerds 2: Nerds In Paradise’, its’ silly capers were a stark contrast to the Arnold Schwarzenegger classic. Not that the drive-in which I saw them in 1987 could have cared less, as such cinematic odd couples were a staple of those now near extinct places. Thankfully Predators’ action armada erases any thoughts of bespectacled geniuses, as it effectively expands on the background of the beastly predatory warriors.
Royce (Adrien Brody) is a mercenary who has been captured by an alien race known as Predators. Masters in the art of combat and deadly in tactical skill, they use him as a tool in its latest round of warfare. Released onto their planet with seven other people, he becomes an unwitting pawn in an ultimate game of survival. With Predators on their tail and trust a low commodity amongst the band of miscreants, the hunt is on to find the victors amongst the most savage of war games.
A question arising from any sequel is: does it add anything new to a franchise? In Predators case the answer is yes, as it reverses the earth bound setting of previous films to land the humans onto their alien territory. This works in re-setting the rules in how the monsters behave and restores their menace which gradually diluted with the recent ‘Alien vs. Predator’ series. There’s no witty banter with these creatures - just a pure military precision making them very unpredictable foes. The way they toy with their human prey – who each have a different set of fighting abilities – shows a dangerous intelligence lurking underneath their horrific appearance.
Given it’s a continuation rather than a remake, Predators reflects the times like the others. Where the first had gung-ho action and the second had an urban city setting, Predators has a grungy realism mirroring its choice of cast. Adrien Brody is almost the anti Arnie, with his whippet frame the opposite to the ‘Austrian Oak’s’ biceps. Although he tries a little too hard with the ‘serious raspy voice’ most he-men affect, he makes for an engaging lead as do the other actors who give their all. Nimrod Antal’s direction moves the story along whilst having fun with the guns and crawly monsters at his disposal.
Predators is a decent sci-fi monster movie which does the job as expected. Although it can never compete with the original, it gives it a good go with some sequences returning the nasty beasties to the gallery of notorious alien races.
Rating out of 10: 6
Avatar
James Cameron’s name has become synonymous with big productions. From the Terminator series to Titanic, his moniker is enough to establish brand recognition. Those wondering where he’s been since Titanic sailed to box office glory in 1997 will find their answer in Avatar. Utilising 3-D technology and around $300 million worth of CGI, Avatar’s gigantic spectacle should further aid Cameron’s mystique.
In 2154, Earth is suffering from an energy crisis. Looking for a source to help its populace, the US army finds this on the planet Pandora. Filled with a native tribe called the Na’vi, the army has created an Avatar program where the user can impersonate one of them. Enlisting the services of marine Jake (Sam Worthington), they believe they have found their perfect candidate. Little do they realise the consequences of using this headstrong individual who, aided by scientist Dr Augustine (Sigourney Weaver), becomes a conduit in the ultimate battle between nature and machine.
Whatever can be said of Cameron’s story-telling skills, he doesn’t skimp on visual gloss. Almost every scene bursts with colour with the CGI and live action sequences blending perfectly. It’s not difficult to see why he took so long to make this as the detail in creating a fictional world is very impressive. In a way he’s much like many directors determined to control their own environment with their imaginations the only barrier in crafting their tales. His ideas certainly run wild here with the machismo of the military war machine gamely battling the indigenous warriors.
Despite its splendid look, Avatar falters with its story. Puffed full of self importance and desperate to educate about the evils of man’s mis-treatment of nature, its plot is nothing new. Whenever it concentrates on delivering its messages, the film grinds to a halt with the overlong running time seeming never-ending. You don’t go and see a James Cameron film to be taught a lesson, you go to be entertained and, save for the fantastic last half hour, much of the film is a bit of a chore. The actors do their best, with Weaver pleasingly showing she still has the gumption which made her so famous in the Alien series.
After such a long wait, Avatar is a bit of a disappointment. Although wonderful to look at, the plot’s structure is too weak to sustain its overlong ode to the wonders of CGI. More like The Abyss than Titanic, Avatar only provides a muted return for a director eager to continually push the technological limits.
Rating out of 10: 5