A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Weekend Movie Forecast: <em>Predators</em> Vs. <em>The Kids Are Alright</em>

Perhaps attempting to replicate the success of the second, more action-packed Alien film entitled Aliens, the Predator series is hoping that plural, rather than numerical, equals popular with its new installment Predators. The "s" is all well and good, but the film seems to be missing something that was essential to the success of the first film, namely: Body Mass. Instead of the bulging, pulsating musculature of Arnie, Carl and the sexual Tyrannosaurus, we have Adrien "physique of a holocaust victim" Brody. Even with the green-screen madman Robert Rodriguez producing, the film is already about 700 pounds of muscle too light. The film follows Brody and a bunch of other mercenaries, death-squad members, and degenerates as they fight an impossible battle on another planet against a platoon of predators. If Arnie could barely kill one, the odds are pretty bad for these fellows.Reviews have been all right for an action movie, with Stephen Holden from The Times saying: "This genre-savvy film, directed by Nimrod Antal (Control) from a screenplay by Michael Finch and Alex Litvak, stuffs Mr. Brodyâs mouth with handfuls of sticky verbal popcorn."Noisy, overstuffed with special effects and embellished with pretentious visual quotations from Apocalypse Now, Predators might be taken as a karmic morality tale whose human predators finally get their comeuppance. But as its momentum accelerates, and its special effects transform it into a pulpy cartoon, Predators loses its judgment and turns into a frantic, clichÃ©d chase film. This chaotic stew of fire, blood, mud and explosives is so devoid of terror and suspense that any metaphorical analysis is rendered moot." — Gothamist

Published Jul 9, 2010

Modified Jul 9, 2010

We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2025. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Click on the film stills above for more details and reviews on this week's new releases and repertory screenings, which include Predators, The Kids Are Alright, Around a Small Mountain, Despicable Me, The Girl Who Played with Fire, Grease, Racing Dreams, La Cuerda Floja, Winnebago Man, and Pink Flamingos.