PREDTORS opens with people waking up in mid-air as they are being parachuted into a jungle.   The people discover they are the best killers in the world and they are on an alien world which is a big game reserve.  They are the prey for alien predators.

PREDATORS makes up for the mess of the two ALIENS Vs PREDATOR films.   The film echoes the feeling and setting of the first PREDATOR film.  It is a based on an old idea Robert Rodriguez had for a third PREDATOR film.  It builds the mystery in the first half before ratcheting it up further.   Laurence Fishburne is good as the crazy Noland (who isn’t in the movie enough).   Brody is seems too gruff while Alice Braga seems a little too human for a CIA assassin compared to the other killers in the group.   The sword fight between the Yakuza guy and the predator is pretty cool.    I liked the characters of Royce and Isabelle better on second viewing.   PREDATORS is the type of PREDATOR film I can watch over and over again where the AvP films show their flaws on repeat viewings.

The landscapes of Hawaii (never before filmed due to the unpicturesque nature) in addition to some Texas landscapes creates an alien world that demands more films.   It even leaves the door open for a sequel and one can even explore Noland’s experiences on the alien game planet as a prequel.  PREDATORS brings the alien hunter back to greatness.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Audio commentary by Producer Robert Rodriguez and Director Nimrod Antal

Rodriguez and Antal go into detail about the making of the film along with how fast they had to make it (short post-production period).  Also Rodriguez said he enjoyed this movie and he recalls his story of how he wrote a PREDATOR script back in the mid-1990s as Fox was trying to get Arnold to do another PRADTOR film. B Antal was impressed with Alice Braga’s performance and you learn about an alternate fate for one of the characters that was decided against after shooting the scene for it.

On the DVD are three Prequel motion comics on Isabelle and Mombosa (Moments of Extraction) and Crucified.  Two more prequel motion comics are on the Blu-ray disc.

UNCLOAKING THE INVISIBLE: ALIEN TERRAIN-   a fetaurette on filming in Hawaii and the Austin, Texas area in addition to the set (and prop design) at Troublemaker Studios in Austin

Also on the disc are the original theatrical traile rand previews for other Fox DVD releases.   Not on the DVD are additional featurettes and a collection of deleted and extended scenes that are only on the Blu-ray.   I wish the deleted scenes were included on the DVD.  I bought the 3 disc combo that is only available at Walmart which has the Blu-ray disc, the standard DVD, and a digital copy of the movie on the third disc.

FINAL ANALYSIS:   I love PREDATORS.  The combo is the way to go if you’re thinking of going Blu-ray in the future and still only watch DVDs.  Too bad the deleted scenes weren’t also included on the DVD (they’re just on the Blu-ray disc).

This DVD review is ©10-22-2010 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission.  Send all comments to lord_pragmagtic@hotmail.com