Update: Upcoming Feature: Robert Rodriguez's Predators

     If you've never taken the time to watch John McTiernan's (Die Hard, The Hunt for Red October) 1987 classic Predator, starring our Californian governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, then you might be interested in giving it a chance. Recently, the Predator concept (which had a sequel in 1990, starring Danny Glover) has blossomed into a full-blown franchise, mingling with the Alien franchise to satisfy the ever-hungry pit of Hollywood remakes and sequels. Alien vs. Predator, which came out in 2004, earned $172 million worldwide, plenty more than its predecessor (which earned $98 million worldwide back in 1988) if you don't adjust for inflation. Unfortunately, both Predator 2 and AVP 2: Requiem (2007) did much more poorly than their predecessors, earning $57 million and $130 million respectively.

     In my opinion, the box office figures do accurately represent the quality of the films. Predator is an amazing film, if a bit slow at times. Alien Vs. Predator is also surprisingly decent, taking the most frightful parts of Alien and mixing them with the thrill of the hunt in Predator. While these two films were well made, their sequels were less interesting. Predator 2 takes the hunt out of the jungle into a major city, where a police officer (Danny Glover) must fight for the city. It really was not that amazing of a movie.

     Likewise, AVP 2: Requiem took the concept of AVP out of its remote icy location and stuck them in a city. Stealing some concepts from the 1999 independent film The Interceptors (also called Predator 3: The Interceptors, even though it's not really a Predator film), placing the aliens and predators in a city that the government has quarantined... it really was not a very well written or well made movie.

     So the sequels weren't as good... big surprise. It's no wonder Hollywood pulled the plug on AVP 3. They did not, however, pull the plug on a new Predator franchise. Robert Rodriguez's Predators, set to release in July 2010, is supposed to "restart the franchise." It's directed by Nimród Antol (Kontroll - 2003 and Armored - 2009) and stars Topher Grace, Adrien Brody, and a Robert Rodriguez favorite Danny Trejo. Principle photography should finish within the year according to Comingsoon.net who recently spoke with Nimród about Predators, in an article you can read here. Be sure to check it out, and check back later for a trailer.




     Robert Rodriguez's revamping of the Predator series is well under way, set to release this summer. They've recently opened a website dedicated to the film, which will have a trailer on March 18th. Take a look!
http://www.predators-movie.com/
     The film is about a group of mercenaries, convicts, and murderers, led by Adrien Brody, are taken to a remote location, which they soon come to realize is an alien world inhabited by the most vicious of murderers: Predator Aliens. They must now fight for their lives and figure out what they were brought there for.