Last Movie Watched

[altcunningham]

Got my tickets. Hype.

 

[DarthDre758]

Just got back from seeing Predator: Badlands, and for going in with little-to-no expectations, I had a really good time with it! A surprising amount of heart and humor, while still sticking with that badassery we've come to expect when Yautja are involved. Really liked the dynamic between Dek and Thia, and Bud is an instant icon that I would kill for. Saw a lot of folks concerned that the PG-13 rating would keep it from being too violent, but I think it was appropriately so; I'd say it was just because the violence was contained to aliens and synthetics, so the lack of human blood was probably the biggest factor. It takes itself seriously, but most importantly, also remembers to have fun. Hope it does well; definitely recommend seeing it on the big screen if you can.

I saw it last night and these are my thoughts exactly. Fun movie, with some great action. And yeah, if Bud dies, we riot.

 

[SDcomics]

I saw two movies yesterday and they were both excellent.

First, Predator: Badlands. A fun movie that moved at a breakneck pace. The FX were really well done so see it in 3D of you can. I'm not normally a fan of 3D but it worked for this movie. Also, there were some nice little easter eggs for fans of the Alien and Predator franchises.

And then there was Frankenstein. Oh my Lord. What an amazing tour de force for Mr. Guillermo Del Toro. Guillermo has made a lot of great films but this is the one he'll be remembered for forever. It's an absolute masterpiece. If this movie doesn't get major academy award consideration it'll be a miscarriage of justice. Every aspect of this production was brilliant. The art direction and design, the sets, the costumes, the sound, the editing, the performances, the screenplay and of course the direction. When a movie can be both beautiful and horrifying at the same time the filmmakers really accomplished something.

Mary Shelley's novel is timeless and has a very simple lesson: Don't play God because nothing good ever comes from that.

 

[altcunningham]

I really hope NECA and Fox don't let toys down with Badlands. The back half has so much potential.

 

[joshsquash729]

I really hope NECA and Fox don't let toys down with Badlands. The back half has so much potential.

I definitely want

Spoiler

Dek's homemade armor- the little spitty worm, the organic mask, the glass blades, etc. Dek's Dad- DD, if you will- would be an amazing figure too; I love his horned mask. I don't know if I need a complete Thia, but I'd take a Tessa; really liked the eye thing she had going on. I'm sure there's a bunch of cool background Yautja designs too, but those are probably my main wants.

 

[Niko (protozoalord)]

Wasn't a fan of Badlands, probably my least favorite of the Predator movies so far. Not that it's terribly made or anything, but not anywhere near what I'm looking for. Felt like a very by the numbers hollywood action movie more akin to Avatar or Star Wars than what I'd expect from Predator. And I don't really like having Yautjas as properly speaking characters, it kills a LOT of the mystery and cool factor for me.

At the very least, once NECA gets to it, some of the toys will be really cool.

 

[altcunningham]

I definitely want

Spoiler

Dek's homemade armor- the little spitty worm, the organic mask, the glass blades, etc. Dek's Dad- DD, if you will- would be an amazing figure too; I love his horned mask. I don't know if I need a complete Thia, but I'd take a Tessa; really liked the eye thing she had going on. I'm sure there's a bunch of cool background Yautja designs too, but those are probably my main wants.

Spoiler

I don't need her complete, but to just get the legs would be hilarious for action displays. That whole Splinter Cell assault with the teammates was 110% for me. They knew the toys they had and had fun with it.

 

[altcunningham]

Wasn't a fan of Badlands, probably my least favorite of the Predator movies so far. Not that it's terribly made or anything, but not anywhere near what I'm looking for. Felt like a very by the numbers hollywood action movie more akin to Avatar or Star Wars than what I'd expect from Predator. And I don't really like having Yautjas as properly speaking characters, it kills a LOT of the mystery and cool factor for me.

At the very least, once NECA gets to it, some of the toys will be really cool.

I wish Avatar and the ST were as fun as Badlands was for me. A lot of the mystery and cool factor faded for me decades ago with the Dark Horse comics and Batman crossovers.

 

[Niko (protozoalord)]

I wish Avatar and the ST were as fun as Badlands was for me. A lot of the mystery and cool factor faded for me decades ago with the Dark Horse comics and Batman crossovers.

Frankly, I wish any of these new entries into franchises I've loved were much fun for me. This and TFOne both had me walking out confused about what the hype was over. The Sequel Trilogy (Last Jedi in particular) was my first experience being jaded with a major franchise.

Spoiler: Endless yapping, sorry

To me, the Predator as a creature is primarily defined by two things, contrast and derailment. The three films that really GET the creature (1, 2, and Prey, and I guess to an extent AVP:R but it's bad otherwise so let's not count it.) are films that could work on their own even without a Predator, that have their plots completely derailed by it. The creature needs to invade, to feel out of place, the sci-fi elements are nothing more than a light seasoning. Focusing the film entirely on it, its lore, and putting it in the exact sci-fi environments you'd be unsurprised to see it in just loses the point of its design a bit. And abandoning the weird body language, the parroting speech, etc instead replacing it with subtitled speaking just takes away its personality, like if Snake Eyes spoke. It just may as well just be ANY alien warrior, not specifically a yautja.

My personal elevator pitches for Predator movies:

• Predator invades Bridgerton
• Predator comes to China (John Woo crime flick or Han Dynasty era historical, pick your poison)
• Predator invades a CW drama
• Predator invades a spy thriller
• Predator takes on a family that races together

The Dark Horse comics and Batman crossovers were messy at times, and kinda repetitive with military and police plots being the focus of basically everything, but they were lots of fun reading when I was growing up. They're just part of the mythos to me. Same with the AVP games, Concrete Jungle, and Dead End(<3). Easier to be a bit more lenient with the extended fiction in other mediums, anyways.

 

[Chooch555]

The derailment point is well made, I hadn't ever thought of it that way. That said, still love Badlands.

 

[altcunningham]

I respect it and agree with much of what you say. I also adore that wishlist. Hopefully we get another anthology cartoon where they find your post.

I think Badlands does feel like a different script with certain Ooh Look At Thats thrown into the mix at some point. And to me the Predator wasn't even the star. And I did find it very predictable in a Black List, Save the Cat way. But it was also one of those movies where it was done so predictably it was comforting? Even in the beginning when they were walking through the planet I knew what was going to happen by the third act, and it did not disappoint me. In that intentional way that Save the Cat and Shane Black want you to anticipate and call it because then you feel smart and happy.

But like I said, I just feel they knew the toys they had and they actually played to that strength which a lot of sci-fi seems to shy away from these days.

So I still loved it and I hope the sequel is here sooner than later. I already want to own it just so I can watch the action scenes again.

 

[joshsquash729]

Great list, Niko. I'd happily watch any of those. I'd also (only half-jokingly) be morbidly curious to see:

- A Homeward Bound-esque movie of a dog and cat trying to make their way home from getting lost, only to run into the Predator.
- A Mr. Magoo/Baby's Day Out/Home Alone type movie where they humorously and impossibly avoid all attacks by the Predator
- A Sinners-style sequel where instead of vampires, they go up against the Predator, and music plays a big part/is a metaphor

 

[altcunningham]

Western or Southern Gothic Predator would be so up my alley.

 

[Damien]

nd I don't really like having Yautjas as properly speaking characters, it kills a LOT of the mystery and cool factor for me.

I was kind of done with the pitch for Badlands when it started with 'svelt Predator with a ponytail.' Like just... fuck off.

 

[Niko (protozoalord)]

The derailment point is well made, I hadn't ever thought of it that way. That said, still love Badlands.

Appreciate it! I can respect enjoying it either way, it's an easy to watch popcorn flick, it's bound to at least be fun.

I respect it and agree with much of what you say. I also adore that wishlist. Hopefully we get another anthology cartoon where they find your post.

I HOPE so, I quite liked Killer of Killers, but where it fell flat for me is that it felt more like a Deadliest Warrior "Who would win?", especially coming RIGHT off of Prey. If they make a follow-up, I'd drop the callbacks entirely (No recurring humans. No! And no pistol cameo again!) and get a bit weirder with the settings like ones I listed.

If Predator can get Badlands' next entry or stuff similar to it, and something more close to the special formula side by side, I got nothing to complain about.

- A Mr. Magoo/Baby's Day Out/Home Alone type movie where they humorously and impossibly avoid all attacks by the Predator

I almost had this in my list of ideas, but I couldn't figure out a reason the Predator would be hunting a kid that's not even past middle school. With a CW Drama type thing, you can just have the football team and bad boys all have switchblades or something. Maybe the dumb kid broke open his parents' firearm safe?

Western or Southern Gothic Predator would be so up my alley.

Yes. YES! Any gothic setting for Predator in general-- or a noir setting. Seeing how they'd design a Predator to contrast with that setting would be amazing. For a southern/western gothic, I could picture a design reminiscent of brand new silver plate armor.

I was kind of done with the pitch for Badlands when it started with 'svelt Predator with a ponytail.' Like just... fuck off.

Every other movie the Predators slowly get more and more human-esque and pretty... What if the next movie has a Predator with luscious lips and beautiful green eyes, like creamy jade?