Predators wasn't a bad movie within the usual parameters of the franchise (although the most recent ones set the bar rather low), but it was also a frustrating one, because it hints at, and then avoids, a couple of what would have been very interesting innovations.

( Serious spoilers under the cut.Collapse )

I think we can no longer pretend that, at least narratively speaking, ugly guys with heavy weaponry, bulletproof armor, infrared vision and cloaking devices are inhumanly super-scary. Have you seen what the US infantry gets (when they are well equipped)? Predators is closer to Tom Clancy than to sci-fi these days, and therein lies the problem.

A Predators ficlet:

Three Predators. Eight Humans.

Throw them in a jungle. Watch the survivors.

Repeat.

How else could mankind prepare itself for the unavoidable war?

.finis.

( And a second one, this time post-movie, and thus a bit spoilery.Collapse )