Note: I didn't forget Poncho in the character breakdown. He never fit into a defined role like the others and always came off as instead a constant reminder of the good parts of all them that can easily get overlooked as the film unfolds. What are your thoughts on the original Predator and the current state of the franchise?
Everyone should watch this movie. Both my daughters have seen it, my younger one and I do the “they’ve got you pushing too many pencils” hand shake daily.
You are not alone. My #1 is Predator. But I love "The Matrix", "BTTF" triology, "Alien" and "Aliens", "Terminator" 1 and 2, "John Wick" movies, "Fight Club" and "The County of MonteCristo".
😂😂😂😂 I wanted to add him in, but it was intentional. That's not to say uis character is not appreciated as much as the others, but he had less of a specific role in the group dynamics compared to the others. Poncho was a reflection of the best characteristics of all the others.
I completely agree with you. Prey had a female lead that was tough to like. She often lost common sense and logic in the pursuit to prove herself. This trait is a ver unlikeable one, often associated with an adversary or lesser character. In a horror survival movie; the protagonist uses their traits and skills to help the group overcome the enemy. In addition, they are not so blinded by their own goals and ambition that they dismiss the wisdom and advice of others. I always find it comical that Amber Midthunder's character is compared to Ellen Ripley or Sarah Connor. Glad to see I'm not the only one that saw through the praises of social media and critics. Great video.
One aspect in both this film and the original First Blood that I've never seen acknowledged is the fact both films have a moment where the hero has "won" by simply surviving, and has a chance to be content with just walking away, but instead choses to reengage their antagonist for some sense of personal honor. Rambo is considered forever lost in the mine and can simply blend into the population, and Dutch has caused his hunter to give up by successfully thwarting his heat vision. You might add Neo turning his back on the subway stairs, and just for fun I'd toss the final action scene of the Lethal Weapon franchise in there as well...
Prey frustrated me because that girl's actions resulted in the deaths of like half her tribe's strongest warriors just because she wanted to "prove herself".
And when they have the predator on the ropes but choose to attack 1v1 to be individually killed, found that scene poorly written. Then the girl finally kills the predator in a half arsed way.. some of prey was actually ok.. but ok at best.
Predator ends with Dutch physically mentally broken down after fighting for his life and losing all of his comrades. Prey ends with the smug girl and her I told you so attitude with no care to all her family she just lost
@@FUh_Que_- my issue was how can the predator (I hated the design by the way), out power a bear, kill a snake mid strike, but have all the trouble in the world killing a less than 150lb, 5’8 female? Also, it needed a battle scene like the base attack in the original, and the shootout like in the sequel.
Watch PREDATOR then watch PREY back to back. It’s so obvious to anyone with a functioning brain & good taste that PREDATOR is from start to finish a spectacular movie. PREY will bore you by comparison & expose itself as drivel.
Excellent take on a classic movie. I never saw Billy as offering himself up as the ultimate sacrifice to protect the others - I always saw it as him drawing first blood - but it's intetesting to hear a different perspective.
I always thought he was way ahead of everyone in realizing what they were up against. I think he didn’t just sacrifice himself for the group. I think he was extremely scared and borderline becoming mental unhinged. He’s actually the most mentally strong of the group. He confronted his fear knowing he will d*e. Even the predator admired his courage and kept his skull as a trophy,
A side note. Yes, Predator is a monument of masculinity...but, at the same time, according to McTiernan himself, Predator is also a satire of the macho movies of the 80's. Let's not forget it was launched a year after Commando, which is probably the peak of masculine movies, from that era. Kudos to Arnie, who had the balls of accepting a different kind of character, to which he was not accustomed before, especially right after Commando. He has all the masculine traits but also being very vulnerable, at the same time. Predator remains a timeless classic, no matter how many dull sequels will be coming our way.
I usually sneer at tough guy bullshit, but Predator is so well put together, with great characters, and sincere about it, that it's one of my favorite fims. Great analysis.
Predator 2 was a very good flick, starts off with a kinetically charged action scene and then takes us on a pretty wild ride. Both 1 and 2 have ensemble casts with great actors. Bill Paxton, come on. Ruben Blades, Maria Conchita Alonso, Gary Busey, Adam Baldwin. It never lets up right to the end. Danny Glover sweats his butt off the entire time. I liked the concrete jungle vs the real jungle contrast. 1 has more subtlety and subtext, see Rob Ager's analysis for some of that. 2 is a rock and roll concert, which is ok. Never saw Prey, and not sure I want to.
They took the single most bad ass group of people who ever lived in this country and ignored them for girl power. All we wanted was Commanche waging war against aliens.
I dont remember anyone complaining about a lack of masculinity in the 80s...because we werent a bunch of maggot pussies...we had He-Man for the boys, Arnold and Stallone(and many others) for the men, and women still though Burt Reynolds moustache and hairy chest was sexy...goddamn I need a time machine!
Once I learned to speak comfortable Spanish I love using the line from Predator, “el diablo que hace trofeos de los hombres means The Demon Who Makes Trophies of Men”.
Great new video, Vex. talking about the excellent original Predator film. I also love Predator 2 & Predators. but the other two films in the franchise after that, to me. dont exist.
So pissed I missed the debut of this vid. I knew you would hit it out of the park. Great insight as always, carry on. Maybe you will be the torch bearer for the next generation of Collative Learning. :D
Idk if we'll ever get this again but here's to hoping 🤞🏿 Awesome review and thanks for the lucid expression for how many of us felt about this legend of a movie
Pray is a missed opportunity to make a great action movie. I loved the frontier era and the predator franchise but it turned out to be another girl boss fiasco..
Great video but don’t disrespect Predator 2, that movie established VERY important Predator lore and the characters were still badass. Lt. Harrigan fought even harder than Dutch.
Great video Vex! I have to say that although the first Predator is indeed much better than anything that followed, Predator 2 was a rare sequel that at least attempted to do something different than its predecessor. Having the setting be Los Angeles was somewhat interesting and Danny Glover is at least a decent actor. Prey was a further step down, even from Predator 2 but there was a general idea at its core that I didn't completely dislike. Ultimately it was ridiculous that a little girl would beat a Predator so it was hard to take Prey seriously but I think it at least had potential.
Dang, I didn't expect there to be so many Predator 2 fans! Reading the comics now, the idea itself isn't bad, just the execution is what's terrible. Danny Glover was a poor choice in casting, the film leans into too many continuity issues to be as imposing as the first, and there's a complete lack of tone ofle thematic exploration. It really feels like a generic action film, which I suppose I wouldn't mind if it *weren't* a Predator sequel. Had the original ideas come through, I think that would've salvaged a lot of it, IMO. Thanks so muc much buddy! I hope you're feeling better 😊
@@PriceofReason Maybe of prey was released back in the 80’s when Hollywood knew how to make a decent film, it would be okay. I mean, even some of the cheesy straight to video action films back then that starred a female were actually pretty decent.
I love a lot of things about this movie. And how a lot of the team s past is implied, not told. None of these guys were randomly selected in Dutch s team. You got Billy who is not just fearless, but also has his native american thing, completely in tune with the forrest, and smells the bullshit the second he starts tracking. Bet your ass his instincts save their asses more than once. Blaine and Mac, who are both battle hardened and survived some mega heavy shit in Nam, both come from the same state or city or something like that, you can see it when they share the bourbon flask. Blaine, who probably is the demolition guy and responsible for heavy equipment, Mac, who for his size, is really stealthy and particularly good with a knife(a skill he definitely honed in Vietnam)- remember when Dillon slipped on the log, and Mac without a sound just gets in his face like a complete psycho threatening to pull his fucking guts out. He is also the one responsible with intel gathering after they fuck up the rebel camp. Poncho, spanish speaking chicano who is a small wiry guy does the climbing, Hawkins, the radio and tech guy( little screen time but I bet he had some mad improv Macguyver skills) who probably looks up to Billy, as a personal hero, and who, when is nervous tries to make him laugh with pussy jokes, but the only other guy that can make Billy laugh is Poncho. It s little shit like that that make this movie great. The only one that has no place in there was Dillon, who was the typical outsider, and gets ridiculed more than once.
11:17 You say the characters are not just fighters, but thinkers. It reminds me of something a modern "macho man" gun influencer says. "Thinkers before shooters." Travis Haley is an exemplary man in the modern world whom all men should look up to.
There's some good insight provided here regarding the storytelling in the original Predator. I especially like that you point out how a lot of the story is told through action because this is something I'm really drawn to-and it's why I spend so much time describing body language whenever I write characters because I think it's as important to communicate as dialogue. It's also why I love things like Samurai Jack and Clone Wars 2003, both made by Genndy Tartakovsky; the man is a master at telling a story through stylized action with little or no dialogue-and I think this is partly why season 5 of Samurai Jack suffered in quality because it relied a lot more on the characters talking. I haven't seen any of the Predator sequels, although I've been meaning to watch the second one out of curiosity. Prey seems like a massive missed opportunity because I really like the premise, but what little I've seen from it is awful; the brother honestly should've been the protagonist with the sister as support. I remember watching some scenes with him and thinking, "Why isn't he the main character?" The idea of having old school Amerindians fighting the Yautja is intriguing to me, but the execution looks mediocre at best. I don't understand how they screwed that up.
Awww thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it! It very much feels as though modern filmmaking has lost that art of storytelling through body language. There's very few instances where you can see it competently done and Tartakovsky is a great example, having only seen his show Primal. Asia cinema seems to do body language really well still. As for the Predator sequels -- you're not missing much. I'd argue Predators (2010) is the closest you get to the OG and even then, it's not very strong. Like you also said, the premise for Prey is interesting, the execution is very poor. On top, it would've worked far better if it wasn't in the Predator universe. Cheers!
I agree with your sentiments and feel a proper adaption of the Machiko Noguchi characters story could’ve worked, but we ended up with the watered down version and the lore has been butchered worse ever since. I was big into dark horse comics during its heyday and to see it die on the vine sucks to say the least.
Thank You ☺️ - what you’ve pointed out here is the delicious part of Literature - the layers of interactive metaphor. The invisible enemy, the primal arena of the jungle, the vague Mission turned misunderstanding. There’s a moment in Once Upon A Time In Mexico, where Johnny Depp, literally “Goes In Blind” … making him an Avatar of CIA & DEA involvement in the Drug War, and suggesting that ‘without a plan’ he wouldn’t have. 🥂 Vex-Us-Maxim-Us ❤
@Vex, if your going to mention the whole team, mention the whole team you left out poncho ''richard chavez" who actually served in vietnam as an infantryman
It was intentional as the character didn't explicitly fall into a role like the others. Poncho is instead a consistent reminder of the positive traits of the rest of the group that can easily be overlooked given the events of the film.
Predator was great. I loved watching that movie regularly when I was a kid. Love the Yautja and their lore. They’re among. My favorite sci-fi alien race. P2 was meh, Predators was f^cking awesome, hated The Predator, and the AvP movies are my guilty pleasures. That being said, Prey is my favorite Predator movie. It’s better paste, the movie shows that Naru is a very cleaver and smart hunter, able to pick up things the 1st time she see it, and she *EARNS* her k*ll upon the Predator by using everything she learned over the course of the movie.
@HannibalKing-e7e it's not simple either, neither is the predator. If it was so simple then why did the predator wipe out an entire para military group before Dutch figured out the COMPLICATION of trying to kill it?
@HannibalKing-e7e the details of the Predator and his high yield advantage doesn't make the plot simple. Nothing unraveled in the film until the liars begin to uncover. And with lairs come the COMPLICATIONS within the story.
@HannibalKing-e7e the details of the Predator and his high yield advantage doesn't make the plot simple. Nothing unraveled in the film until the liars begin to uncover. And with lairs come the COMPLICATIONS within the story.
This franchise is on the dry decay late stage, all the great "predators" had its chunk, the flys, the worms, insects and parasites too... Now its a pile of black goo and white bone for microorganisms had they turn...
I think it's kind of anti-masculine tbh. Nobody had ever seen an action movie like it before. The original masculinity of the 80s was "no humour, serious all the time, muscular, strong, and mentally unbreakable" Trust me, I'm from the 80s. Masculine movies like this were always an invincible muscles-out hero going on a relentless march of victory... constantly facing every element of danger with muscles and one-liners, and never being in any actual danger. Before Predator, there were movies like Commando, Rambo 2 and 3 (where Rambo went from relatable to invincible)... Cobra, The Running Man, The Terminator (to an extent)... Predator flipped the script by putting an entire group of them into the jungle, highly armed, and feeling invincible... have them quip one-liners all the time, act tough, chew tobacco, and generally be badasses. The flip on the script, was that all their bravado and masculinity is literally, figuratively and physically, stripped away. I mean, the Predator literally skins them, guts them, filets them... literally removing their physical prowess. Die Hard that came the following year, also by McTiernan, followed the same structure... having an everyman who had some training, and getting his ass kicked constantly as he literally lucks his way through the danger to save his estranged wife. Predator 2 did the same thing. Take the tough guys, and break them down. All the other Pred movies ignored that subtle writing.
THANK YOU!!! The video completes misinterprets how masculinity was the cause of their downfall, similar to how the hubris of the Colonial Marines was their doom. Additionally, what’s the difference between “brotherhood” and “family”? Naru and Tabe cared for each other deeply and Naru used the lessons she got from her brother to defeat the feral predator. There were some feline themes present In Prey that I didn’t need (I want be a hunter because they said I can’t), but the overarching themes were the same, that cleverness and planning can overcome raw strength.
As luck would have it, that’s exactly what the director said was the theme of this film. He also said it’s about taking away anything modern man would use and have him survive just by using what God has provided….nature. In the end, it’s about no matter how strong you think you are, someone out there is stronger
I completely agree with your analysis on both "Predator" the movie and the state of the franchise it spawned. The sequels have gotten so bad that I've heard people claim that there are only 2 Predator movies, the first and the second... which is just saying that everything after Predator 2 is so much worse that it makes Predator 2 appear better... it isn't. I watched Predator 2 back in 1990 and left the theater disgusted with what I had just witnessed. As for "Prey"... total woke feminist BS. Great review & please keep them coming!
Both Predator 2 and Prey have the same issue IMO: they would both work better of they weren't Predator films. I'm so happy you enjoyed this!! Thank you 😊
To be honest I never liked this narrative about some code of honor. The first Predator is about a joy of hunting and the tribal predator in every soldier. Predator plays by elite hunters‘s book.
I would say Anna embodies masculinity as well, but as a version that has to deal with bigger and stronger archetypes always present, and just trying to find your niche and how to navigate when they are always around.
I watched Predator a few days ago at random. Not really since I saw clips of it online and I just had to re-watch it for how good it was. I agree with your take on the franchise and how downwards we are heading after Prey and the abominationt that is "The Predator". I thought Prey was decent, nothing new or exciting as my take on the predators and the universe it has established was to be continuing into the future. From what I piece together, I love the first two, like the third one, and don't consider the fourth one canon because it ruins the integrity the previous entries and the first. The AVP series is, what I think, a gray area since we keep going back and forth in Weyland-Yutani running into them and with what happened in Antarctica 2004. I too do not get why the appraisal for Prey is so high since its just dabbles in a random point in time with a Native American tribe at the turn of the 18th century. What I comment each time of my opinion always results in responses like "misogynist", "honey, this wasn't catered to you", and "you just don't want to see a woman against the monster, do you?" Even though I said that I found it boring since it was in the forest and Feral died a very dumb way and just gave the character too much credit for the self-infliction kill. Besides that, the franchise is heading in the wrong direction since we are now focusing on perspectives than the idea as a whole established in the first film. The characters and villain share that common ideal with honor and fighting what is truly right. Predator 2, even though I love this film more than the first, muddies the water slightly since we were dealing with police versus gang members, but with the City Hunter as the third party conflictor. Predators, we see a different take on the honor system since we have a clan who goes against the code and hunts based on a free-for-all stance but with the high advantage because of their technology and themselves. With the later entries, we start to lose that sense of storytelling and fear these creatures instilled in the first two. I know I worded this before, but I think we should head in the direction more towards the mid-to-late 21st Century. I always said that we should have a what-if scenario like the game "Predator: Concrete Jungle" where the Predator's perspective is crafted well and gives us an idea of what would happen if a Predator fails to destroy itself and the technology actually falls in the wrong hands. We might have that the City Hunter left behind a lot of weapons and tech, which was shown in The Predator. I know I said a lot, but I am curious to see your take on Badlands once it comes out in the future!
You skipped over Poncho when looking at the squad mates and the facets of masculinity they represent. I'm a little disappointed because Poncho is my second favorite character in the movie.
That was intentional. Poncho serves as a bit of an amalgamation of everyone else in the platoon IMO and equally acts as a visual companion to all the hopeful parts of the others (ex. kissing his cross -> Billy's necklace; welcoming of Anna -> Dillon protecting her).
@@VexElectronica I disagree. Poncho is the most intelligent and caring of the squad. Poncho is the one that notices Blaine being shot and bleeding, leading to the memorable and badass line "I ain't got time to bleed" followed by the quip "You got time to duck?" That entire scene is a juxtaposition of Blaine's strength and power being unable to solve a problem while Poncho's intelligence and wit easily overcome the same problem. When comparing Duch and Dillon, you highlighted the differences between Dutch and Dillon in the parts of masculinity they represent. Those same differences are present in Poncho and Dillon's interactions with Anna. Dillon's interactions with Anna are based solely on the fact that she is a valuable asset and she was forced onto him after he lost Dutch's trust. Poncho, on the other hand, is actually empathetic towards her and speaks to her in her own language (something nobody else on the team is apparently capable of). His warmth and concern are genuine, while Dillon's is purely self-serving. Overlooking Poncho is to overlook the masculine presentation of intelligence and caregiving.
I think you kinda missed a theme running through Predator. One of my favorite movies ever. Let’s say it’s an ode to masculinity as you suppose. All these men in peak physical condition, certified badasses all of them. Armed with insane weapons that they wield expertly and fiercely. All the muscles, masculinity and weapons are utterly destroyed by a single being. All their muscles and guns rendered useless against the predator’s advanced weapons and physical size and agility. Dutch wins by out smarting him, not beating him up. Just like Naru does. One could view Predator as a film mocking masculinity, strength and firepower. One could view it many ways. Why not just enjoy the ride for what it is? It’s a movie, a fun ride. But I guess manufactured outrage gets UA-cam views, doesn’t it?
I didn’t have an issue with a teenage girl being the most fearsome warrior in Prey. Yes, it’s obviously political, but there are little kids who can best grand masters at chess, so I guess it’s possible. But my issue was…the film itself wussed out on its central idea that she was overcoming societal roles. There was nothing to overcome, the men in the movie were generally very modern and liberal in their attitudes. I think the writers might have realized if they did that, they could be accused of negatively depicting Native American culture. So they were caught between two woke ideas, and the movie just came across as a kinda childish.
Note: I didn't forget Poncho in the character breakdown. He never fit into a defined role like the others and always came off as instead a constant reminder of the good parts of all them that can easily get overlooked as the film unfolds.
What are your thoughts on the original Predator and the current state of the franchise?
I like the first one. But I prefer the second
Also, it's a damn shame they never made more than two
@@ArdentPardy LOL whatchu mean?! There's 5 movies
@@ArdentPardy I'm actually genuinely shocked by this. I felt the second completely butchered the first film and felt too "Hollywood".
As far as I'm concerned, there is only one Predator movie. The original.
Every man must watch this movie regularly.
It should be a prerequisite for a man card.
@@camerongage1237 Agreed. It should be required for men to watch it in order to be able to vote.
Everyone should watch this movie. Both my daughters have seen it, my younger one and I do the “they’ve got you pushing too many pencils” hand shake daily.
The original Predator is unashamedly my favorite movie.
You are not alone. My #1 is Predator.
But I love "The Matrix", "BTTF" triology, "Alien" and "Aliens", "Terminator" 1 and 2, "John Wick" movies, "Fight Club" and "The County of MonteCristo".
"I ain't got time to bleed."
"Think we call that a man-o-pause."
Brilliant 😂❤
As a 5 year old boy in '89 watching it on VHS for the first time was instantly my all time favorite! Definitely recommend this for todays children 😂
This film is action, war epic, suspense, thriller, sci-fi, and horror... perfect!
1:17, yes Ronald Reegan, I remember him well.
Imagine if they just Released Predator today. OMG the backlash
Because they're a bunch of slack jawed...
For what? Prey came out a couple years ago.
@Donner906 were talking about the real Predator buddy catch up.
@@MrEthos74 Real? Prey was good. The effects were great.
@Donner906 effects were great. I just didn't like that they had to kill off half her tribe of Warriors to make her a hero, What a laugh!
R.I.P. Poncho man, bro got completely forgotten about
😂😂😂😂
I wanted to add him in, but it was intentional. That's not to say uis character is not appreciated as much as the others, but he had less of a specific role in the group dynamics compared to the others. Poncho was a reflection of the best characteristics of all the others.
@@VexElectronica it still does his character a disservice to not acknowledge him in any way. I mean, he still was there.
Ponchobwas the most regular looking guy making the squad feel a bit less outlandish. Imho the coolest looking though
Make High T great again. This is Peak work VEX
Greatest movie of all time
I completely agree with you. Prey had a female lead that was tough to like. She often lost common sense and logic in the pursuit to prove herself. This trait is a ver unlikeable one, often associated with an adversary or lesser character. In a horror survival movie; the protagonist uses their traits and skills to help the group overcome the enemy. In addition, they are not so blinded by their own goals and ambition that they dismiss the wisdom and advice of others. I always find it comical that Amber Midthunder's character is compared to Ellen Ripley or Sarah Connor. Glad to see I'm not the only one that saw through the praises of social media and critics. Great video.
Arnold Schwarzenegger the myth is beautiful
What the real Arnold is , will make you enraged
One aspect in both this film and the original First Blood that I've never seen acknowledged is the fact both films have a moment where the hero has "won" by simply surviving, and has a chance to be content with just walking away, but instead choses to reengage their antagonist for some sense of personal honor. Rambo is considered forever lost in the mine and can simply blend into the population, and Dutch has caused his hunter to give up by successfully thwarting his heat vision. You might add Neo turning his back on the subway stairs, and just for fun I'd toss the final action scene of the Lethal Weapon franchise in there as well...
Great video. Predator was a great film. It is just a shame what hollywood has done to it over the years.
Thank you so much! Here's hoping the franchise gets a course correct at some point after Badlands.
Prey frustrated me because that girl's actions resulted in the deaths of like half her tribe's strongest warriors just because she wanted to "prove herself".
And when they have the predator on the ropes but choose to attack 1v1 to be individually killed, found that scene poorly written. Then the girl finally kills the predator in a half arsed way.. some of prey was actually ok.. but ok at best.
Predator ends with Dutch physically mentally broken down after fighting for his life and losing all of his comrades. Prey ends with the smug girl and her I told you so attitude with no care to all her family she just lost
@@FUh_Que_- my issue was how can the predator (I hated the design by the way), out power a bear, kill a snake mid strike, but have all the trouble in the world killing a less than 150lb, 5’8 female? Also, it needed a battle scene like the base attack in the original, and the shootout like in the sequel.
@@bryan81584 Big Facts 💪
Dutch: "He was a good Soldier..."
Mac: "He was...ah... my friend..."
RIP Blaine
He addressed Mac by rank, then, by his name. That hit me.
This is one of the best movie ever
I have been a fan of this movie since it came out. About time I see somebody in the tube that actually gets it. Subscription earned!
God damn that was some top notch analysis!
Watch PREDATOR then watch PREY back to back.
It’s so obvious to anyone with a functioning brain & good taste that PREDATOR is from start to finish a spectacular movie.
PREY will bore you by comparison & expose itself as drivel.
Excellent take on a classic movie. I never saw Billy as offering himself up as the ultimate sacrifice to protect the others - I always saw it as him drawing first blood - but it's intetesting to hear a different perspective.
I always thought he was way ahead of everyone in realizing what they were up against. I think he didn’t just sacrifice himself for the group. I think he was extremely scared and borderline becoming mental unhinged. He’s actually the most mentally strong of the group. He confronted his fear knowing he will d*e. Even the predator admired his courage and kept his skull as a trophy,
Just imagine what Dutch would do to the "Prey" "Predator".
Predators are the most downplayed characters in all cinema.
A side note. Yes, Predator is a monument of masculinity...but, at the same time, according to McTiernan himself, Predator is also a satire of the macho movies of the 80's. Let's not forget it was launched a year after Commando, which is probably the peak of masculine movies, from that era. Kudos to Arnie, who had the balls of accepting a different kind of character, to which he was not accustomed before, especially right after Commando. He has all the masculine traits but also being very vulnerable, at the same time. Predator remains a timeless classic, no matter how many dull sequels will be coming our way.
New subscriber
Toxic sent me
Great review
Aww thank you!! Cheers bud!
King Arthur 2004 is another good one.
Magnificent Seven 1965 is too.
Bloody good review with a true love for the film same as every man & woman who made a comment. Thank you Vex
I usually sneer at tough guy bullshit, but Predator is so well put together, with great characters, and sincere about it, that it's one of my favorite fims.
Great analysis.
3 of them were genuine military veterans 😁
Conan the Barbarian
The Terminator
T2: Terminator 2 Judgement Day
Predator
The best films of Arnold Schwarzenegger's career.
Change my mind.
True Lies has always topped his filmography for me. It's nowhere near as action-heavy as those others, but man, that movie was awesome.
Commando is in there too.
Where 1 man carried more firearms than one man could ever practically carry and the magazines never run dry. 👍
Total recall
@lewyg Total Recall- A tale of 3 titties. 😂😂😂
Total Recall should be up there too !
Predator 2 was a very good flick, starts off with a kinetically charged action scene and then takes us on a pretty wild ride. Both 1 and 2 have ensemble casts with great actors. Bill Paxton, come on. Ruben Blades, Maria Conchita Alonso, Gary Busey, Adam Baldwin. It never lets up right to the end. Danny Glover sweats his butt off the entire time. I liked the concrete jungle vs the real jungle contrast. 1 has more subtlety and subtext, see Rob Ager's analysis for some of that. 2 is a rock and roll concert, which is ok. Never saw Prey, and not sure I want to.
They took the single most bad ass group of people who ever lived in this country and ignored them for girl power.
All we wanted was Commanche waging war against aliens.
I dont remember anyone complaining about a lack of masculinity in the 80s...because we werent a bunch of maggot pussies...we had He-Man for the boys, Arnold and Stallone(and many others) for the men, and women still though Burt Reynolds moustache and hairy chest was sexy...goddamn I need a time machine!
Beautiful work - love it. Great commentary and breakdown
Ya-Oot-Ja I think is the pronunciation, I want to help your nerdy creditials LOL 😂
LOLOL there's several different ways and I don't know 🤣 @@POPS
Thank you buddy!!
Great video Vex!
Thank you buddy! Appreciate you!!
Once I learned to speak comfortable Spanish I love using the line from Predator, “el diablo que hace trofeos de los hombres means The Demon Who Makes Trophies of Men”.
Oh, I’m so glad this video exists. Hollywood needs to see that masculinity isn’t just appealing to men.
Brilliant stuff ❤
Awesome vid vex!
The movies a classic & still holds up!
Superb video. You have a new subscriber.
Great new video, Vex. talking about the excellent original Predator film. I also love Predator 2 & Predators. but the other two films in the franchise after that, to me. dont exist.
A woman breaking down Predator and in a positive light?
I think I found my wife.
@HannibalKing-e7e Are you saying AI doesn't need love too?
@HannibalKing-e7e (Also, no its not. You can literally see her face in live interviews. Nice b8 m8. )
Omfg thank you!! If you didn't make this video I would of 😂😂
Great video on Predator and masculinity
Predator Arnold ❤
Awesome clip!
This video deserves more views.
great analyse👍
Men don't even understand how important that shit is. Im retied army and I miss my brothers so fucking much, I wish I didn't retire when I did.
We need a Cannon Pictures.
Rest in peace Carl Weathers
So pissed I missed the debut of this vid. I knew you would hit it out of the park. Great insight as always, carry on. Maybe you will be the torch bearer for the next generation of Collative Learning. :D
Idk if we'll ever get this again but here's to hoping 🤞🏿
Awesome review and thanks for the lucid expression for how many of us felt about this legend of a movie
*insert Chad handshake*
Predator made me the man I am today 😎
That new movie is the epitome of GHEEEY
Good video.
Pray is a missed opportunity to make a great action movie. I loved the frontier era and the predator franchise but it turned out to be another girl boss fiasco..
Great video but don’t disrespect Predator 2, that movie established VERY important Predator lore and the characters were still badass. Lt. Harrigan fought even harder than Dutch.
Great video Vex! Here’s a comment to help Al Gore’s rhythm.
Great review.
Great video Vex! I have to say that although the first Predator is indeed much better than anything that followed, Predator 2 was a rare sequel that at least attempted to do something different than its predecessor. Having the setting be Los Angeles was somewhat interesting and Danny Glover is at least a decent actor. Prey was a further step down, even from Predator 2 but there was a general idea at its core that I didn't completely dislike. Ultimately it was ridiculous that a little girl would beat a Predator so it was hard to take Prey seriously but I think it at least had potential.
Dang, I didn't expect there to be so many Predator 2 fans!
Reading the comics now, the idea itself isn't bad, just the execution is what's terrible. Danny Glover was a poor choice in casting, the film leans into too many continuity issues to be as imposing as the first, and there's a complete lack of tone ofle thematic exploration. It really feels like a generic action film, which I suppose I wouldn't mind if it *weren't* a Predator sequel. Had the original ideas come through, I think that would've salvaged a lot of it, IMO.
Thanks so muc much buddy! I hope you're feeling better 😊
@VexElectronica Thanks, hopefully getting there. Danny Glover is a way better actor than that little girl in Prey. Just sayin'
LOL oh I'm not even gonna try to disagree with that one 🤣
@@PriceofReason Maybe of prey was released back in the 80’s when Hollywood knew how to make a decent film, it would be okay. I mean, even some of the cheesy straight to video action films back then that starred a female were actually pretty decent.
this film like many others should be mandatory for young boys to watch , just so they grow up to be men
I love a lot of things about this movie. And how a lot of the team s past is implied, not told. None of these guys were randomly selected in Dutch s team. You got Billy who is not just fearless, but also has his native american thing, completely in tune with the forrest, and smells the bullshit the second he starts tracking. Bet your ass his instincts save their asses more than once. Blaine and Mac, who are both battle hardened and survived some mega heavy shit in Nam, both come from the same state or city or something like that, you can see it when they share the bourbon flask. Blaine, who probably is the demolition guy and responsible for heavy equipment, Mac, who for his size, is really stealthy and particularly good with a knife(a skill he definitely honed in Vietnam)- remember when Dillon slipped on the log, and Mac without a sound just gets in his face like a complete psycho threatening to pull his fucking guts out. He is also the one responsible with intel gathering after they fuck up the rebel camp. Poncho, spanish speaking chicano who is a small wiry guy does the climbing, Hawkins, the radio and tech guy( little screen time but I bet he had some mad improv Macguyver skills) who probably looks up to Billy, as a personal hero, and who, when is nervous tries to make him laugh with pussy jokes, but the only other guy that can make Billy laugh is Poncho. It s little shit like that that make this movie great. The only one that has no place in there was Dillon, who was the typical outsider, and gets ridiculed more than once.
11:17 You say the characters are not just fighters, but thinkers. It reminds me of something a modern "macho man" gun influencer says. "Thinkers before shooters." Travis Haley is an exemplary man in the modern world whom all men should look up to.
Just discovered your channel. Fantastic analysis; I never viewed the team as different facets of masculinity.
Best wishes from Poland 🇵🇱!
Well said
They love to swap genders for equality. Yet, I´m still waiting for an Alien sequel with a male hero/protagonist...
Great point, no one lost their mind in 1979 when a woman took on a Xenomorph....
There's some good insight provided here regarding the storytelling in the original Predator. I especially like that you point out how a lot of the story is told through action because this is something I'm really drawn to-and it's why I spend so much time describing body language whenever I write characters because I think it's as important to communicate as dialogue. It's also why I love things like Samurai Jack and Clone Wars 2003, both made by Genndy Tartakovsky; the man is a master at telling a story through stylized action with little or no dialogue-and I think this is partly why season 5 of Samurai Jack suffered in quality because it relied a lot more on the characters talking.
I haven't seen any of the Predator sequels, although I've been meaning to watch the second one out of curiosity. Prey seems like a massive missed opportunity because I really like the premise, but what little I've seen from it is awful; the brother honestly should've been the protagonist with the sister as support. I remember watching some scenes with him and thinking, "Why isn't he the main character?" The idea of having old school Amerindians fighting the Yautja is intriguing to me, but the execution looks mediocre at best. I don't understand how they screwed that up.
Awww thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it!
It very much feels as though modern filmmaking has lost that art of storytelling through body language. There's very few instances where you can see it competently done and Tartakovsky is a great example, having only seen his show Primal. Asia cinema seems to do body language really well still.
As for the Predator sequels -- you're not missing much. I'd argue Predators (2010) is the closest you get to the OG and even then, it's not very strong. Like you also said, the premise for Prey is interesting, the execution is very poor. On top, it would've worked far better if it wasn't in the Predator universe.
Cheers!
Based Film.
Great Review Vex.
Thank you!
I agree with your sentiments and feel a proper adaption of the Machiko Noguchi characters story could’ve worked, but we ended up with the watered down version and the lore has been butchered worse ever since.
I was big into dark horse comics during its heyday and to see it die on the vine sucks to say the least.
Thank You ☺️
- what you’ve pointed out here is the delicious part of Literature - the layers of interactive metaphor.
The invisible enemy, the primal arena of the jungle, the vague Mission turned misunderstanding.
There’s a moment in Once Upon A Time In Mexico, where Johnny Depp, literally “Goes In Blind” … making him an Avatar of CIA & DEA involvement in the Drug War, and suggesting that ‘without a plan’ he wouldn’t have.
🥂 Vex-Us-Maxim-Us ❤
@Vex, if your going to mention the whole team, mention the whole team you left out poncho ''richard chavez" who actually served in vietnam as an infantryman
It was intentional as the character didn't explicitly fall into a role like the others. Poncho is instead a consistent reminder of the positive traits of the rest of the group that can easily be overlooked given the events of the film.
Predator was great. I loved watching that movie regularly when I was a kid. Love the Yautja and their lore. They’re among. My favorite sci-fi alien race.
P2 was meh, Predators was f^cking awesome, hated The Predator, and the AvP movies are my guilty pleasures.
That being said, Prey is my favorite Predator movie. It’s better paste, the movie shows that Naru is a very cleaver and smart hunter, able to pick up things the 1st time she see it, and she *EARNS* her k*ll upon the Predator by using everything she learned over the course of the movie.
I wouldn't call the original Predator plot "simple". As it follows, the plot gets complicated.
@HannibalKing-e7e Specify.
@HannibalKing-e7e it's not simple either, neither is the predator. If it was so simple then why did the predator wipe out an entire para military group before Dutch figured out the COMPLICATION of trying to kill it?
@HannibalKing-e7e the details of the Predator and his high yield advantage doesn't make the plot simple. Nothing unraveled in the film until the liars begin to uncover. And with lairs come the COMPLICATIONS within the story.
@HannibalKing-e7e the details of the Predator and his high yield advantage doesn't make the plot simple. Nothing unraveled in the film until the liars begin to uncover. And with lairs come the COMPLICATIONS within the story.
@@jessemathes5126 actually, they had several chances to kill it, they just didn’t react in time to do it.
One of us is in deep trouble
This franchise is on the dry decay late stage, all the great "predators" had its chunk, the flys, the worms, insects and parasites too... Now its a pile of black goo and white bone for microorganisms had they turn...
Interesting take, I think you could do a similar look at Gladiator. I know of few guys who don't love that film.
Vex can you please do the same type of review for Predator 2 as well?
Drinking Game ... have a drink every time the narrator says the word 'Masculinity'. !!!!!!!!
I think it's kind of anti-masculine tbh.
Nobody had ever seen an action movie like it before.
The original masculinity of the 80s was "no humour, serious all the time, muscular, strong, and mentally unbreakable"
Trust me, I'm from the 80s.
Masculine movies like this were always an invincible muscles-out hero going on a relentless march of victory... constantly facing every element of danger with muscles and one-liners, and never being in any actual danger.
Before Predator, there were movies like Commando, Rambo 2 and 3 (where Rambo went from relatable to invincible)... Cobra, The Running Man, The Terminator (to an extent)...
Predator flipped the script by putting an entire group of them into the jungle, highly armed, and feeling invincible... have them quip one-liners all the time, act tough, chew tobacco, and generally be badasses.
The flip on the script, was that all their bravado and masculinity is literally, figuratively and physically, stripped away.
I mean, the Predator literally skins them, guts them, filets them... literally removing their physical prowess.
Die Hard that came the following year, also by McTiernan, followed the same structure... having an everyman who had some training, and getting his ass kicked constantly as he literally lucks his way through the danger to save his estranged wife.
Predator 2 did the same thing.
Take the tough guys, and break them down.
All the other Pred movies ignored that subtle writing.
THANK YOU!!! The video completes misinterprets how masculinity was the cause of their downfall, similar to how the hubris of the Colonial Marines was their doom. Additionally, what’s the difference between “brotherhood” and “family”? Naru and Tabe cared for each other deeply and Naru used the lessons she got from her brother to defeat the feral predator. There were some feline themes present In Prey that I didn’t need (I want be a hunter because they said I can’t), but the overarching themes were the same, that cleverness and planning can overcome raw strength.
Bunch of slack jaw f@&;!*;
As luck would have it, that’s exactly what the director said was the theme of this film. He also said it’s about taking away anything modern man would use and have him survive just by using what God has provided….nature. In the end, it’s about no matter how strong you think you are, someone out there is stronger
Get to the Choppa!!!!!!!!!
Yeah! What she said!
If this gets "re-made" it's your fault ..
Predator and predator 2 are amazing the rest are forgettable
I completely agree with your analysis on both "Predator" the movie and the state of the franchise it spawned. The sequels have gotten so bad that I've heard people claim that there are only 2 Predator movies, the first and the second... which is just saying that everything after Predator 2 is so much worse that it makes Predator 2 appear better... it isn't. I watched Predator 2 back in 1990 and left the theater disgusted with what I had just witnessed. As for "Prey"... total woke feminist BS. Great review & please keep them coming!
Both Predator 2 and Prey have the same issue IMO: they would both work better of they weren't Predator films.
I'm so happy you enjoyed this!! Thank you 😊
Predator is awesome. Arnold's best. But I really lined Prey
To be honest I never liked this narrative about some code of honor. The first Predator is about a joy of hunting and the tribal predator in every soldier. Predator plays by elite hunters‘s book.
I would say Anna embodies masculinity as well, but as a version that has to deal with bigger and stronger archetypes always present, and just trying to find your niche and how to navigate when they are always around.
You shoudl check out Rob Agers analysis of Predator too. Does a very interesting deep dive into how the film reflects tribalism
I watched Predator a few days ago at random. Not really since I saw clips of it online and I just had to re-watch it for how good it was. I agree with your take on the franchise and how downwards we are heading after Prey and the abominationt that is "The Predator". I thought Prey was decent, nothing new or exciting as my take on the predators and the universe it has established was to be continuing into the future. From what I piece together, I love the first two, like the third one, and don't consider the fourth one canon because it ruins the integrity the previous entries and the first. The AVP series is, what I think, a gray area since we keep going back and forth in Weyland-Yutani running into them and with what happened in Antarctica 2004.
I too do not get why the appraisal for Prey is so high since its just dabbles in a random point in time with a Native American tribe at the turn of the 18th century. What I comment each time of my opinion always results in responses like "misogynist", "honey, this wasn't catered to you", and "you just don't want to see a woman against the monster, do you?" Even though I said that I found it boring since it was in the forest and Feral died a very dumb way and just gave the character too much credit for the self-infliction kill.
Besides that, the franchise is heading in the wrong direction since we are now focusing on perspectives than the idea as a whole established in the first film. The characters and villain share that common ideal with honor and fighting what is truly right. Predator 2, even though I love this film more than the first, muddies the water slightly since we were dealing with police versus gang members, but with the City Hunter as the third party conflictor. Predators, we see a different take on the honor system since we have a clan who goes against the code and hunts based on a free-for-all stance but with the high advantage because of their technology and themselves. With the later entries, we start to lose that sense of storytelling and fear these creatures instilled in the first two. I know I worded this before, but I think we should head in the direction more towards the mid-to-late 21st Century. I always said that we should have a what-if scenario like the game "Predator: Concrete Jungle" where the Predator's perspective is crafted well and gives us an idea of what would happen if a Predator fails to destroy itself and the technology actually falls in the wrong hands. We might have that the City Hunter left behind a lot of weapons and tech, which was shown in The Predator.
I know I said a lot, but I am curious to see your take on Badlands once it comes out in the future!
The Interstellar bit earned you a subscriber. 🤌🏽
Excellent take on an old favourite. Subscribed. It's nice to hear a woman talk about masculinity without shitting all over it.
Great video, Prey was trash
Goddamn but do I love me some Vex!
STICK AROUND
Why only bring up masculinity when we had women like Sigourney Weaver and Linda Hamilton?
You skipped over Poncho when looking at the squad mates and the facets of masculinity they represent. I'm a little disappointed because Poncho is my second favorite character in the movie.
That was intentional. Poncho serves as a bit of an amalgamation of everyone else in the platoon IMO and equally acts as a visual companion to all the hopeful parts of the others (ex. kissing his cross -> Billy's necklace; welcoming of Anna -> Dillon protecting her).
@@VexElectronica I disagree. Poncho is the most intelligent and caring of the squad. Poncho is the one that notices Blaine being shot and bleeding, leading to the memorable and badass line "I ain't got time to bleed" followed by the quip "You got time to duck?" That entire scene is a juxtaposition of Blaine's strength and power being unable to solve a problem while Poncho's intelligence and wit easily overcome the same problem. When comparing Duch and Dillon, you highlighted the differences between Dutch and Dillon in the parts of masculinity they represent. Those same differences are present in Poncho and Dillon's interactions with Anna. Dillon's interactions with Anna are based solely on the fact that she is a valuable asset and she was forced onto him after he lost Dutch's trust. Poncho, on the other hand, is actually empathetic towards her and speaks to her in her own language (something nobody else on the team is apparently capable of). His warmth and concern are genuine, while Dillon's is purely self-serving. Overlooking Poncho is to overlook the masculine presentation of intelligence and caregiving.
I think you kinda missed a theme running through Predator. One of my favorite movies ever. Let’s say it’s an ode to masculinity as you suppose. All these men in peak physical condition, certified badasses all of them. Armed with insane weapons that they wield expertly and fiercely. All the muscles, masculinity and weapons are utterly destroyed by a single being. All their muscles and guns rendered useless against the predator’s advanced weapons and physical size and agility. Dutch wins by out smarting him, not beating him up. Just like Naru does. One could view Predator as a film mocking masculinity, strength and firepower. One could view it many ways. Why not just enjoy the ride for what it is? It’s a movie, a fun ride. But I guess manufactured outrage gets UA-cam views, doesn’t it?
I didn’t have an issue with a teenage girl being the most fearsome warrior in Prey. Yes, it’s obviously political, but there are little kids who can best grand masters at chess, so I guess it’s possible. But my issue was…the film itself wussed out on its central idea that she was overcoming societal roles. There was nothing to overcome, the men in the movie were generally very modern and liberal in their attitudes. I think the writers might have realized if they did that, they could be accused of negatively depicting Native American culture. So they were caught between two woke ideas, and the movie just came across as a kinda childish.
Pway!
PWAAAAY!!!