Genre – SciFi Action
Movie Total Runtime – 1 Hour 46 Minutes
Spoilers: Yes
To pretend to avoid the problem of audiences knowing new franchise films are just sequels, some franchises have opted to drop the ever increasing number from the titles. This does nothing save to cause confusion and consternation to the people trying to figure out which movie is which. I’m just going to call “Predators” “Predator 3” because that’s what it is.
This was on a multi-movie set with the movies I actually wanted – 1 and 2. It is also from 2010, twenty years after the previous installment, so you just know it’s done for the love of the franchise… But it was at least before the obvious sequel churn of 2018-2025.
We get introduced to the white guy, Danny Trejo, and the Russian who have all been abducted and dumped into a jungle. Of course, the tiny woman gets the drop on them. Because of course she does. Asian dude follows undetected. (They do eventually find him and confirm he is Yakuza). The gang finds more one-dimensional fodder fighting, but showing up with guns convinces them to join up.
We get basically ten seconds introduction to each character, without any reason to give a crap when the inevitable starts. The filmmakers idea of characterization isn’t particularly deep or complex, I suppose they figure why waste time. In fact, Sixteen minutes in, and I’m not sure of anyone’s names. I think only the Russian actually gave a name, but I’ve already forgotten it.
From a cinematography standpoint, the film is sometimes well done, but other times you go “How did none of them see that thing just off camera? The characters should have seen it, even if we couldn’t. The lack of character beyond “these are dangerous people” leads to a serious case of “I don’t care what happens to these people”, a detriment to the telling of the classic Predator story.
At the 25 minute mark we do get a misstep in cinematography. There is a brief wide angle shot of the multiple celestial bodies in the sky, indicating that they’re not on Earth anymore, but before it can sink in, they decide that it’s more important to dedicate screen time to the facial expressions of the actors than let the scene have an effect on the audience. Linger a bit on the wide shot, then react. Some trouble with game animals gives us the first actual action scene. Shame they’re mediocre CGI.
The problem with the lack of characterization kicks in when the Predator kills off Danny Trejo and I have run out of named characters. At least the characters are being believable in their responses, and after figuring out they’re being hunted, decide that running would just work in the Predator’s favor, leaving only trying to hunt the hunter.
The practical effects of the trophy camp are suitably gruesome, and make me lament the mediocre CGI even more. The fight in the trophy camp is actually fairly well done, and doesn’t outlast its welcome, moving on to the next set piece locale. The reveal of the Predators themselves afterwards was a bad move. The faceless cloaked hunters were working better – even if we know them from earlier installments. Since it was only a panning shot of them decloaking, they might revert back to what was working. Fingers crossed.
At the halfway point, they make the characters even more caricatures, probably why they killed off the African war criminal before this.
I’m starting to wonder if two writing teams worked on this – one for the behavior and Predator plot, the other for the character. And it’s as if the second stringers worked on characterization. Because half the movie works really well, the other not so much.
We get a surprise Lawrence Fishburne showing up as someone who hasn’t been killed yet from a previous hunt running around with salvaged alien tech and holed up in some sort of ruin. It’s distinguishing characteristic is that it still has power, but the machinery is broken. Laurence provides some exposition about how the hunt works and the Predators adapt and that he’s crazy from having been stuck here ten seasons.
The character team never misses an opportunity to make the death row inmate even worse of a human. While white guy and tiny woman are discussing plans for escape, Laurence turns on them, because he’s round the bend and six more mouths to feed isn’t worth the company. They lure the Predators to him in retaliation – which means they now have to deal with having Predators nearby. Rather than a set piece, they opt for tension in escaping the ruin, playing to the dark claustrophobia of the set.
…and we come to an immersion breaking moment. After the Russian gets shot from behind with a plasma blast, he has a fist-sized hole in his chest dead center where the heart should be, yet is still mobile enough to try to crawl away and spit in the mask of the Predator after it skewers him with the wolverine claws and lifts him up. You have a hole that size through spine and thoracic organs, you’re not going anywhere. They follow this up with a cheapass CGI explosion and fireball. Fire your CGI team and get the practical effects guys back in here.
The writers are told it’s time to start culling the cast, so after the Russian, Death Row and the Yakuza each get a fight scene with a Predator in the style of their stereotype. After all that, we are down to one Predator, the White Guy, Tiny Woman, and Useless Doctor. Useless Doctor gets caught in a high tech bear trap. We still don’t know what makes useless qualified for abduction in the first place, but the way he uses the picture of the Russian’s kids to claim to have a family indicates he is some sort of liar at least.
Unrelated, I know that the depth of the Predators’ eye sockets is a result of the practical makeup, but from an evolutionary standpoint, I can’t see how that doesn’t impede their vision by narrowing the field of view.
Back to the plot.
Helping useless gets tiny woman caught in a net as white guy goes to try to negotiate with a trussed up Predator we’d seen in the Trophy camp. Somehow this appears to work, as prisoner Predator sets their ship to fly back to earth as the last hunter arrives with the net. Hunter is pissed at that and the two Predators fight. It’s dark, and I can’t tell them two apart.
White guy has an attack of humanity as it cuts between him just outside the ship taking off and the people from the net. Hunter Predator wins as the ship leaves. Useless poisons Tiny Woman with Chekhov’s plant venom. Hunter Predator remote self-destructs the ship and goes after the last two. Useless monologues his backstory as a serial killer without using exact words.
White Guy returns, having not gotten on the ship, hauls Tiny Woman and useless out of the pit where they’d been held. Then ambushes useless when he tries to kill him. Not sure what kind of injury he inflicted, because useless was still alive and laid out as bait for the last Predator. The grenade trap doesn’t prove fatal, as this is the climax, and they had to have a shirtless mud scene. Lighting lots of incendiaries, white guy screws with the infrared tracking before starting to engage directly.
The poison wearing off, tiny woman crawls for her rifle. White Guy learns that he is not a match for a Predator in fisticuffs, but Tiny Woman saves him with a well-timed shot. Since it was still not dead, White Guy axes the Predator a few questions.
With less than eight minutes to go, White Guy and Tiny Woman finally introduce themselves by name. Movie ends with a new group of victims being air dropped into the preserve. The last 5:40 are Credits…
I will give credit where it is due. I expected worse. That may be faint praise, and I may have nostalgia goggles for the originals, because I couldn’t tell you much about the special ops team members individually from the first movie. It isn’t a bad movie, but I probably wouldn’t rewatch it. Still, it exceeded my expectations.
I realized several flaws in the article that could use re-writing, but it was already scheduled at the time.
My proofreading eyes are apparently worse than my regular vision.
Sir, oh sir. You’re supposed to wear your [this space saved for a funnier joke], not use your super-editing vision. You’re sitting too close.
You need a woman, you have too much spare time.
A woman will keep you busy,
/old man advice
They may also keep you broke.
/Tres Cool advice
Pre-read thoughts: Predator is a fucking fantastic film, no sarc. Arnold v alien, suspenseful action in an isolated jungle? It knows what it is, summer popcorn fun-fare, but it’s pulled off really well. Great fun. Fantastic visuals for what they had to work with. Fantastic villain. And Jesse Ventura! The show- not-tell of the alien simply being out trophy-hunting is fun. I’m glad no exposition is given, cuz I’m positive it’d be stupid and add nothing to the ‘story.’
Predator 2 had maybe one fun sequence in a quite worthless cash-in. There are no other Predator movies. I’ve long-said Reese in Terminator would be my #1 in ‘Pick My Survival Team.’ He and Dutch’d make a fun coffee date.
I liked Predator 2.
It has been quite a while since I’ve seen it, I admit.
While Predator is a superior film, Commando might be my ‘favorite’ Arnold flick. Damn, that movie has *everything.*
(Well. Other than a coherent ‘story’ or a ‘point,’ duh.)
Commando…that takes it back. Young me was enamored with young Alyssa Milano and Rae Dawn Chong’s smile.
Are we sure Commando wasn’t parody? It’s so close. It does have some of my favorite lines.
Bennett was such a laughable villain. Wells was hilariously out of shape.
Ironically, Arnold really had to act in those fight scenes. They were still bad but he did what he could to make them credible.
Any movie that has Gary Busy, Morton Downey, Jr. and Teri Weigel in the same cast can’t be all bad.
” He doesn’t care. He doesn’t feel pity he doesn’t feel anything and he will stop at nothing until you are dead”
“A phsaed plasma rifle in the 40 watt range”
“Sorry pal just what you see”
“Unrelated, I know that the depth of the Predators’ eye sockets is a result of the practical makeup, but from an evolutionary standpoint, I can’t see how that doesn’t impede their vision by narrowing the field of view.”
Evolution can’t hear you in space.
I enjoy how ‘theoretically’ completely not-racist Hollywood can’t help but add every stereotypical everything they can to simplify the characters and ‘overcome’ their inability to actually *write.* Flick that’s best at such fights, and not-ironically one of my faves? Bloodsport.
“Who cares if Bruce Springstein’s his shidoshi?!”
Prey animals typically have wide fields of vision, to spot threats. Predators have good depth perception, which requires a relatively narrow field of vision.
Sunday, Slutty Sunday.
https://archive.is/MxGCM
😥
You couldn’t bring me tattoo-free redheads?
They all took advantage of the high pain tolerance thing to get tattoos, sorry.
😭
I thought it was low pain tolerance.
How was your last dentist visit, GT?
Piece o’ cake! 😁
Go, Chefs.
Didn’t someone try to open an indiginous food restaurant but fail to open for lack of a head chef – they could only find Sioux Chefs.
🤨
Perhaps they should have focused on the elderly market. They’d like it because they wouldn’t have to chew mash.
Im using that.
I don’t know whether to cry foul and let loose a flurry of yellow flags, or steal that joke.
I’m stealing it. I know a Chiefs fan .
I have a friend who is Chumash. I will tell her that one.
Without quality amounts of lobster and only 4oz tails that I could source locally, I managed an excellent lobster bisque.
When we first arrived in Northern Kentucky we found a nice restaurant, Bourbon and Biscuits.
Now, we dont eat out a lot but man…their food went downhill. $16 for two buscuits, two eggs and bacon? GTFOH.
You been to Jungle Jims yet?
There are 2. 1 in NKY, and one in Cinci. I’d advise Cinci, but it’s a must visit.
But then you have to go into Cincinnati.
Cincinnati riverfront is awesome….beyond that, its just a city. Covington NKY is better, tougher and the right amount of “will I get mugged or share a beer” vibe
Neither is NKY, or in Cincinnati proper, one is in Eastgate, the other in Fairfield.
I was charged thirty bucks for burned corned beef hash, greasy eggs, potatoes, toast, and fake orange juice during my last visit to NYC a few months ago. I had similar experiences during each of three or four previous visits since I moved away a couple years ago.
It used to be that bad restaurants – especially diners – didn’t survive long there because the competition was so fierce. Those days are clearly over.
Yikes.
Last time I went to a diner 2-1/2 years ago, breakfast was nearly $20 with the tip down in Poughkeepsie.
I don’t go out to eat much.
I’ve noticed the average ratings are way up. Nothing under 4 stars except for fast food chains.
Yeah most fast-food chains are garbage now but “fast casual” remains pretty decent if much more expensive than it used to be. At a minimum you can expect consistency from a chain outlet – which can be good or bad.
I do actually check reviews before I go anywhere – including the place I mentioned. Obviously, online reviews are complete bullshit.
They are both in Cinci…yes I have been.
Viking Day is next weekend at the renfair. A bit outside the time period but what the heck, we are going and I will wear a nonconical period piece of a helm with horns.
Been to Flavor Flav’s yard sale ?
Yes, but that’s where teh clock necklaces came from, not the hats.
In Vegas…no, but saw him all the time. He is actually a really down to earth dude. Same with Tyson. Unless you see him in a gym, then Tyson is annoying.
Go as an ancient Greek or Roman.
Saw some social media report that Lamar quit on the Ravens. That he faked his injury.
I hope it’s true.
Why do you want to make OMWC sad?
I hate Mike Tomlin so much that I’ve gotten to the point where I hope the Steelers lose. Every game. Every single one besides when they play the Ravens.
And I will never forgive that fraud for losing not one, but two playoff games to Baltimore.
Prior to his arrival, the Steelers had never lost a playoff game to a divisional opponent. Under his watch, it’s happened 3 times. Twice at home.
I just feel sad whenever I see a pug. With eyes ready to fall out of their sockets and the borked up respiration…
They seem like happy little clowns to me. I knew one who’d dart under my long skirts.
There were only two Predator movies, just like there was only one Jaws movie.
Exactly this.
Jaws 3 was awesome. Full of Firsts and the biggest shark in the series.
“Only one Jaws movie”
Jaws 3: The Revenge, right?
“I have never seen the film, but by all accounts it was terrible. However I have seen the house that it built, and it is terrific.”
lol I saw Jaws 3D in the theater when I was 14 and the only thing I remember was a brief scene with Dennis Quaid topless.
We have…very different life experiences.
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Daily Caller has a report from an anonymous pharmaceutical insider who says by 2018, the evidence that tylenol was leading to higher rates of autism was getting “heavy.”
While the administration jumped the gun in a very public way making this shit public, there are so many clowns out there who just take everything the Trump administration says and dismiss it because of team politics. Like, there were studies on this subject. There was evidence behind what they said.
The dumbest shit is when I see morons say that autism existed before Tylenol, so of course Tylenol can’t be causing it. No one ever said Tylenol is the sole cause of autism, you fucking tards.
I tend to be pretty skeptical about a lot of these connections with autism.
BUT: I’m baffled by the scientific and medical communities not having an interest in investigating the increase in things like autism.
It could well be just better diagnosis, but why not study that?
The wrong sorts of people (the uncredentialed) started making the wrong sorts of assumptions. And if the answer to the rise in autism is shit that the pharmaceutical and food companies are pumping into us, I can’t imagine the government is too keen on getting answers. And who funds most of the research on this shit to begin with? Who would have helped create those problems by being in bed with the industries they are supposed to regulate for our supposed protection?
But I may be more cynical and conspiratorial about the state of academia and research than you are.
It seems like it has been studied but no one is allowed to discuss it because politics.
Why this particular issue is so politicized is a mystery to me too. Was it like this before Donald?
Study it? Like study it so we can make money?
“Study it” = “How can we profit off this”
I would bet those morons would scoff at the notion that there was murder before guns, so of course guns can’t be causing it.
Our 20 year venture in war coming home to roost? Both NC and Michigan shooters were vets….
Veterans are an unstable lot in general. Yea, most are fine, but there tend to be a lot of extreme personalities attracted to that lifestyle. So I’ll wait to see what motivated these wack jobs before drawing such conclusions.
The US military has around 2.1 million members (active and reserve). Ratio that out and tell me what percentage the threat is.
20 year?
What is with the giant puffy helmet on one of the Cheesehead players…?
Guardian helmet that supposedly does a better job protecting against concussions.
Huh, interesting. I thought it was some “statement” I was missing.
I’m a little pissy about all these protections. I’m not trying to be a cunt about this, BUT
The whole point of a contact sport is to MAKE CONTACT. I’m not a lookie-loo gleefully waiting for injuries. I don’t wish them on anybody. I’m sorry when they have them. But injuries are a NATURAL CONSEQUENCE of this sport. You know that going in. This isn’t a secret. You are paid VERY WELL for the use of your body in the service of this magnificent display of testosterone. Padding up like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man makes things not fun for the rest of us because we all know that not only are you wrapped up in a mattress, we ALSO know you’re holding back.
Dementia pugilistica has been a known thing for decades if not longer.
Sorry, should have added: people act as though the NFL were keeping some big secret from the players.
But the league has money, and football is disproportionately liked by the wrong kind of people.
All right, people. I hear bad things have happened the last few days. Chez Mojeaux has had its own pretty drastic issues this week.
BUT I GOT MY FUCKING TAXES DONE!!! (Yes, I filed an extension. I was dealing with Cunty Aunt.*)
My Tax Deductions are no longer deductible. 😕 Barely scraped by with a small return, but at least I don’t owe.
*So, I didn’t go to church today. It’s at 9 a.m. and no. Just no. Dumb reason not to go to church? Sure, till you can’t fall asleep until 3 a.m. ANYWAY, husband did go to church, and what did he spy with his little eye?
My mom. Sitting with her sisters.
I am not dealing with this well.
An excellent if accidental reason not to go to church.
What did hubs do/say?
He wasn’t happy but he’s not going to say anything to my mom, especially since I’ve already lied through my teeth and told her it didn’t bother me. (That’s the first time I’ve lied to my mom in probably thirty years.)
He happened to be talking with a friend (more mine than his) (yes, I have one), and Cunty Aunt went by without so much as a glance, much less a hello, and my friend went, “That did NOT just happen.” Yeah, it did. Told you it was bad. My friend just heard about this (from me) and she’s pissy because she’s pretty sure her MIL and aunt were on that gossip-party train.
😈 Who’s the healthiest among the sisters?
Well, that’s hard to say.
Cunty Aunt’s had all sorts of shit my mom hasn’t, but she just keeps going like she can’t be killed.
Millie’s a little tetched in the head, but she’s also had a hard, tragic life. If SHE came to me, acknowledged what she did/said was wrong, and gave me a sincere apology, everything would be copacetic with her, but at heart, she’s really just a soggy dishrag. I’m not sure what all she has going on physiologically.
Sometimes it’s like a tontine with no prize.
You could call me but I know it’s late even for you.
I’m not sure how much (secular) help I could be, but I’m house sitting for at least a week, so offer stands.
Thanks for the offer. My level of pisstivity is severe irritation and a little hurt, but it is what it is. 🙄
Hon, sometimes it seems like the prizes go to the mis-behavers. All very Alice in Wonderland.
I wish y’all the best, with special regards to Mo. Hope everything can be resolved with as much parsimony as possible.
Should be a cheerfully chill day at work, at least. Interesting Eli Lily opening (Associate – Content Editor) that’ll take priority post 2pm. (Getting Crush to giggle is an ongoing priority, so far met with much success. *quizzical Hrm* Munchkin, currently in MN, has un-ghosted me and we’re back in cahoots. *She* casually brought up an old thing we’ve talked about, if it comes down to it, being roommates as we gain new long-term employ in these United States together. She is fucking miserable up in Lewis Sinclair-land, MN. Us being teammates would be a big boon. No shit, we’d be a fantastic sit-com.
(I had an idea: She was working Family Services up there and hated the fucking moochers, ~80% of applicants, and wanted to help the few who actually needed assistance. Jokey idea was for my character, a phlebotomist, to hire goofy blood donors to take down the moochers so Munch could Robin Hood re-distribute their benefits to those who actually needed. Have some fun notes from our talks about that. A fun bit, certainly.
No MLB today, and DAMN it must suck to be a Mets fan at the momo. (Sorry, Rhy?) Up 15 games in the division and collapsed out of the playoffs altogether. Cubs are hosting the Padres on my Tues and Wed afternoons ‘off’ (from scheduled work). Fantastic timing.
Kick ass, and stay out of my lanes. Unless you’re cute and need my ‘assistance.’ In which case, slowly meander into my hips. (Great condomints down there.)
Morning, Ev. What issss it like talking to you in person? 🤔 Never mind, our eccentric diamond.
Would be keen to zoom later so ya can see.
Think less Agile Cyborg, more an outward Kramer w a strong inner Costanza.
Will shine on.
I don’t Zoom, unfortunately.
Happy national coffee day to all you caffeine addicts.
☕️🤪☀️
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEpfvTdR5-U
🎶🎶
Who are you calling an adddict?
I’m a tea addict. Does that make me friend or foe?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IP-2Ck-wak
I like Irish Breakfast with milk.
Good morning, Sean, TO’G, Efe, Ted’S., and Roat!
Morning.
Had to go acquire breakfast Salad or I’d have been here sooner.
Mornin, Ustedes.
Good morning, U!
How are both/each of you this morning?
Morning.
That is, if you were talking to me. Otherwise, ignore me
I’m out of it, GT
“Diet Dew IV! STAT!” 😉
The question was directed both to you and to TO’G. No rush to answer until you’re back into it. 🙂
I was actually trying to answer Toxteth.
Mornin’ all
I am of like minds on breakfast salads.
Hanging on!
Good morning, (((Jarfy. How are YOU today?
I am well. Not even grumpy yet. 🙂
Breakfast salad?
It is a salad for breakfast. It’s all right there in the name.
What sort of witchcraft is this?
Breakfast salad: I’ve been rocking a Cobb salad for 9am ‘lunch’ for a while now. Bacon, egg, cheese. Boom.
Gotta like blue cheese tho. Many don’t, and that’s fine. More for me.
UnCiv: Next summer you should get he BLT breakfast at Triangle. It’s basically a breakfast salad if the croutons were left whole and the dressing was hollandaise.
So it’s on jaw-shatteringly hard bread?
Moj, if you’re still there:
A) Your mother has known your sisters (and presumably the church; dunno about the parish) longer than she has known you.
2) It’s not fair, is it.
(Not saying 2 stems from A. I had better stop trying to improve anything.)
suh’ fam
whats goody
TALL LOCAL CANS!
/Im doing a project in SW Ohio for once, and Im not in a hotel all week. Actually feels weird.
BD 🙂
Too many podcasts are like reading Zerohedge comments. No matter the subject it eventually hits “It’s the Jews!”
W respect to the Left’s pro-Hamas boner, I’d say that’s a succinct explanation for their fervor.
Thing is these are mostly “right-wing” podcasts.
“A young trapeze artist died after plummeting to the ground in front of horrified spectators during a daring circus performance, according to reports.
Marina B, 27, died immediately after she fell 16 feet to the floor Saturday night in front of almost 100 people during a solo performance at the Paul Busch Circus show in Bautzen in Germany, the Sun reported.”
https://nypost.com/2025/09/29/world-news/trapeze-artist-27-falls-and-dies-in-front-of-horrified-families-at-circus/
Sixteen feet doesn’t sound that far.
At that height I think how you land and on what makes a big difference.
That’s far enough to break your neck or rupture organs.
Good morning!
Your head might disagree
Howdy!
“An avid rock climber in Montana who broke multiple bones after he was struck by a hulking boulder and plunged off a cliffside attributed his miraculous survival to a simple piece of safety equipment often disregarded by advanced adrenaline-seekers: a helmet.”
https://nypost.com/2025/09/28/us-news/montana-rock-climber-struck-by-boulder-knocked-off-cliffside-credits-miraculous-survival-to-basic-safety-item/
Related, did anyone mention this ober the weekend?
https://nypost.com/2025/09/26/world-news/indonesian-gymnast-naufal-takdir-al-bari-dies-after-training-exercise-injury/