The first time I watched Predator, 13 years ago, all I can remember is thinking it was a pretty decent film. Having, for the second time in the last couple of years, caught it on the TV, I feel now it is one of those forgotten, under-rated classics. It's timing was unfortunate, coming in Swartz's career just after his most memorable film Terminator. As such it will always be eclipsed by this previous classic. However, I would rate this movie as an easy 8 out of 10. It's not the classic that could get a 10 or a nine. The final part to the film is pretty cliched. But the atmosphere and suspense building up through the film sets it way above nearly all movies of its genre.
Reviews
2 Reviews
Terrible. Makes Joan D'Arc seem like a looney dumb blonde.
26 November 1999
The movie is truly atrocious. Instead of being portrayed as the powerful and inspirational figure that she was, Joan D'Arc comes across as an insipid dumb blonde, and a looney. For most of the movie she alternates between seeming like a frightened rabbit (as somebody else commented) and a plain air-head. Not really the type of character you would expect to inspire the might of France, and strike fear into the English.
The Messenger gets off to a very poor start. Despite being based on real historic events it seemed completely contrived and unbelievable to the point of being stupid. A lot of this comes down to the choice of actresses to play Joan. Despite not seeing 5th Element, I'm told her non-talking part was fine. But in choosing his wife to play a role that required serious acting Luc Besson has doomed this movie to a very quick demise. Beyond the acting, much of the problem may have been the script and direction. Even John Malchovic, in my opinion one of the best actors in the world, ********* Many people seeing this movie may be more interested in the battle scenes than the acting or historical accuracy. About a third of the way through they won't be disappointed. The war scene in the middle is admittedly good. Unfortunately for the next 2 hours even the action buffs will have to put up with the intense boredom of the remainder of the film. All of the people I was with, half of who enjoyed the first part of the movie, were squirming in their seats by the end hoping for Joan to get burned so they could get out of the cinema.
That all said, 157 people in IMDB still did rate the movie a 10. So unless they are all friends in the industry somebody may have liked this movie.
The Messenger gets off to a very poor start. Despite being based on real historic events it seemed completely contrived and unbelievable to the point of being stupid. A lot of this comes down to the choice of actresses to play Joan. Despite not seeing 5th Element, I'm told her non-talking part was fine. But in choosing his wife to play a role that required serious acting Luc Besson has doomed this movie to a very quick demise. Beyond the acting, much of the problem may have been the script and direction. Even John Malchovic, in my opinion one of the best actors in the world, ********* Many people seeing this movie may be more interested in the battle scenes than the acting or historical accuracy. About a third of the way through they won't be disappointed. The war scene in the middle is admittedly good. Unfortunately for the next 2 hours even the action buffs will have to put up with the intense boredom of the remainder of the film. All of the people I was with, half of who enjoyed the first part of the movie, were squirming in their seats by the end hoping for Joan to get burned so they could get out of the cinema.
That all said, 157 people in IMDB still did rate the movie a 10. So unless they are all friends in the industry somebody may have liked this movie.
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