Predator (1987)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

John McTiernan

Writers:

Jim Thomas (written by) &
John Thomas (written by)

Release Date:

12 June 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

If it bleeds, we can kill it...

Plot:

A team of commandos, on a mission in a Central American jungle, find themselves hunted by an extra-terrestrial warrior.

Plot Keywords:

Jungle | CIA | Predator | Alien | Helicopter

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 wins & 4 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Wed. July 8

11:45 PM

MAX

Cast

Arnold Schwarzenegger	...	Dutch
Carl Weathers	...	Dillon
Elpidia Carrillo	...	Anna
Bill Duke	...	Mac
Jesse Ventura	...	Blain
Sonny Landham	...	Billy
Richard Chaves	...	Poncho
R.G. Armstrong	...	General Phillips
Shane Black	...	Hawkins
Kevin Peter Hall	...	The Predator / Helicopter Pilot

Also Known As:

Alien Hunter (USA) (working title)
Hunter (USA) (working title)
Primevil (USA) (working title)
Predator (Austria) (West Germany) [de]
Av (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Depredador (Spain) [es]
Ha-Toref (Israel: Hebrew title) [iw]
Le prédateur (Canada: French title) [fr]
O Predador (Portugal) [pt]
Predátor (Czechoslovakia) [cs]
Predator (Serbia) [sr]
Predator (France) [fr]
Predator - Jagten er begyndt (Denmark) [da]
Predator - saalistaja (Finland) [fi]
Predator: Den usynlige fiende (Norway) [no]
Ragadozó (Hungary) [hu]
Rovdjuret (Sweden) [sv]

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Germany:18 (re-release) (2001) (JK/SPIO) | West Germany:18 (video premiere) (cut) | New Zealand:M | Iceland:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Belgium:16 (video rating) | Finland:K-15 (TV rating) | Malaysia:18SG | Denmark:15 | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) | Singapore:PG (cut) | Brazil:16 | India:A | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Canada:R | Chile:18 | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:18 | Japan:R-15 | Norway:18 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R (certificate #28190) | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Jalisco, Mexico

Company:

Amercent Films

Trivia:

Cameo: [Sven-Ole Thorsen]Arnold Schwarzenegger's friend and frequent collaborator appears as the Russian Officer.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The Predator uses two large retractable blades, each probably close to 20 inches long and 4 inches wide, to kill Major George Dillon. The Predator stabs Dillon in the abdomen with enough force to actually lift him a foot or so off the ground. With the length of the blades and the location in which Dillon was stabbed, he certainly would have not been able to scream as long and as loud as he did. There simply would have been too much internal damage done by these large blades. Given their length and the fact that they did not exit his back, the blades would have had to go up, thus piercing his diaphragm and one or both of his lungs. Dillon could have, at best, only managed a gasp.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Major General Phillips: You're looking good, Dutch.
Dutch: It's been a long time, General.
Major General Phillips: Come on inside.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Pulse (2006/I)

Soundtrack:

LONG TALL SALLY

Very, very tense and murderously suspenseful

First of all, if you haven't seen this action, suspense and violence extravaganza, you most certainly are not a true action movie afficionado. The immediate grabbing feature of this movie is its score, very imaginatively composed and created by Alan Silvestri whose other credits include the Back to the Future series and other gems like Who Framed Roger Rabbit. The tempo and build up which the score lends to the film engage its viewers with feelings of fear and nerve wracking suspense for what lurks within the thick of the forest. Take note of Sonny Landham's comment;"there's something out there,and it ain't no man.

The action is fast, furious and merciless. The commandos are killed off one by one, leaving Arnie, Carl Weathers and the surviving members extremely terrified and on the verge of breaking down. Note the heated arguments that some of the commandos get into with each other. There is very animated and fiery action in the beginning (assault on the terrorist camp) but as we are introduced to the true terror of the jungle (or should I say, outer space), the action takes a turn for the more insane eg.Arnie running away armed only with a knife and trembling in fear, almost drowning in a waterfall and thereafter, continually pursued by the Predator). All this followed by a half hour long jungle battle mano a mano with spears, rocks and fists and hall deafening yells by both warriors. Very, very fierce and macho stuff I assure you all.

I shall not go into the other intricacies of the film and will leave it to the curiosity of potential/virgin viewers to find out for themselves. "Predator" is essentially one of the few action movies that truly lives up to its name and delivers the thrills and spills in no small amount and at breakneck speed. True connoisseurs of hard action.....YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!!!!! 9.5/10