Like this, then watch ... PREDATOR - Tough guys finish first ua-cam.com/video/wId2ssYZYYY/v-deo.html ALIEN the chameleon effect ua-cam.com/video/EoyoFotOXgU/v-deo.html Psychoanatomy in THE THING ua-cam.com/video/psxFyMoqbJ8/v-deo.html
Mac says "any time" right before he kills the scorpion and the Predator says it right before he kills Dillon and both the scorpion and Dillon get impaled and lifted into the air.
Great vid, but I think you may have overlooked a very obvious setup in this scene. It's a gunslinger type standoff, like in a western. When the Predators eyes flash, it's a signal to draw.
lol like that 70s arcade game where you actually have to pull the gun out of its holster in front of a long deck between you and the video screen i loved that game
Totally. So instead of a horror movie it's an old spaghetti western. And that "rattling noise" is actually the sound of his spurs walking towards the shootout.
Love your channel, but, I don't think you're right on this one. Predator has no knowledge of cowboy movies, is watching him even before he raises his gun, starts the fight unfairly by signaling the draw with eye flashes, and finally uses a blade to finish him off. Predator is honorable in combat, would not cheat at a draw. Sorry! Seriously love your channel though. listening to it (rendlesham) on Spotify right now. lol
Always liked the scene when Mac spotted predator for the first time and started firing rounds and the rest of the team who saw nothing walked up and just joined in...no questions asked
That's actually a common response to an armed threat (albeit rather gratuitous in this case). Usually after a few seconds the order would be given to cease fire if it was obvious that there was no longer a threat.
Psyrus lol rather gratuitous indeed. There were several magazine swaps and many a thousand rounds from the mini and several grenades launched from Poncho...another fun fact is that his weapon of choice - which makes him so memorable (“you got time to duck?) - is a fictional weapon. He has his own page on Alien/Predator wiki. Anyway, you are correct that a quick burst of offensive fire transitioning to positions of cover would be a little more accurate. But this is a show of biceps and unlimited ammo, except the poor mini.
Blain: "I ain't got time to bleed." Poncho: "Got time to duck?" Blain is killed by a huge gaping wound in his chest that is cauterized by the predator's blast, and thus, no blood. Poncho is struck by a huge swinging log that he should have ducked. Mac is always shaving with that blue razor. He gets killed by the predator's blue blast effectively cutting off his head. Billy is superstitious and seemingly ritualistic in his suicide by predator. He gets his spine ripped out (suicide is a spineless way to go, maybe?) and has his bones ritualistically cleaned by the predator. Hawkins tells sexist jokes and dies chasing down a women, and then is stripped naked and emasculated. And Dillon? Remember the classic arm wrestling handshake? Gets his damn arm blown off - the same arm used in the handshake.
Nice! You found some deep ones. A great movie is always great because of the attention to details. We pick most of them subconsciously somehow, or they link up to make sense without us always figuring out. Good finds.
Couldn't agree more. Everything about it is A1. Plot structure, characters, cinematography, music, acting, special effects, etc. All extremely well done.
What I liked about "Predator" is that it almost seemed like a play on '80s "Big Muscle" action movies, especially the movies that Stallone and Schwarzenegger had starred in, especially the post-Vietnam "Commando" and "Rambo" movies. You have a bunch of big tough guys on a "black ops" type of mission, typical of those other movies. A lot of bravado and testosterone and you think these guys are unstoppable. Then, out of the jungle comes a monster that starts systematically wiping them out. You and the characters begin to realize that these tough guys are overwhelmed and they have gone from being the predators to the prey, the heroes to victims. While '80s action movies were enjoyable, this movie took this type of action movie in a completely new direction and introduced a very iconic sci-fi character - the Predator.
The director specifically stated in the bts that he was anti violence and parts of the movie were a parody of the hyper violence of movies in that era.
I've been saying this since I saw Rocky. I don't know if he was already famous in rocky 1 but he was fucking amazing in that and everything else he's in. Thank God he's still alive
@@vinobody yep , watch that scene from predator again when Arnold corners him at the raid about the cover story … when Arnold throws him up against the wall. Weathers is so into that scene his eyes are tearing up cause he’s so much into that scene . He is a hell of actor , he should have been offered more major roles, he was a professional football player after he played in college . , ps predator would not have been the same without him , Also the actors in the movie were cast perfect .
This is a masterpiece agreed only scene of the movie that wasn’t a 10/10 was the initial attack at the camp. Apparently that wasn’t the directors doing and wasn’t to the potential if he himself would’ve written it
@@youlittlerocket starting at 5:39 there's a branch that goes across the screen diagonally downwards from mid screen left to bottom right behind the fern. If you pause at any point from there and look to the left of that fern and up a bit, you can see the distorted camo silhouette of the predator, standing and observing.
@@dbstewart86 That is very chilling like I just realized that shot tonight. It makes you really wonder how many times the Predator was visible on screen and we didn't notice. Also, it makes me wonder if or how often the Predator got close to the team and they didn't know it?
I can watch predator over and over and never get tired of it. I can’t say that about movies now days. Not sure why but movies aren’t wht they used to be.
double-o G I saw it for the first time on TV, in 95-96 maybe, it blew my mind. “It’s just a movie where soldiers hunt a monster, and it has Arnold as the star” an now it’s the only Arnold movie I keep revisiting and never gets bored of
This is what happens when you have good cast, good director and good monster at the same place. It makes B movie into A+ movie. Alien is even better example.
baldieman64 so true. Studios are only interested in established IP's. Outside of the horror genre it's next to impossible to get something original greenlit with a decent budget.
In his earlier movies he would work for whoever could afford his hefty price tag, which turned out to be a pretty select group that gave him better projects; he also never shied away from difficult roles. Later he became envious of Jack Nicholson's back-end deal for Batman and wanted one for himself; this drove Arnold to the types of projects that relied on him so much, they'd let him stake out a huge claim on potential returns (ie., terrible projects).
Arnold apparently took a lot of cues and tips from Carl during the filming of the movie. It is arguably also one of Arnold's best acted and most naturally charismatic. No coincidence - Carl is great.
i met Carl Weathers once. we were at a geek fest, and he was randomly walking back from the bathroom, no one knew who it was until my friend stopped him and asked for a quick photo
When it comes on the TV the trick is not even to watch a little bit because you'll stay for the whole show, it would never have been the great cult movie it is without Little Richard belting out Long Tall Sally, what a genius idea !!
Yes exactly, the Predator running that fast could only make sense to me as Dillon's own point of view while still in shock, the whole sequence seems subjective to Dillon's emotions, like we're inside a nightmare of his. Great analysis pal.
The predator would absolutely be that fast, probably faster. when they show him escape the net trap and take to the trees he is up in the canopy in a second and then out of the area in only a few and that is leaping tree to tree. The scene when he is jumping on the rocks looking for Dutch he doesn't need to move fast, he needs to move with intention as he is trying to flush out his prey.
I mean it could def be that and that would play well with the idea of the scene being more interpreted as a kind of nightmare/dream. Also though, I think storyline wise the predator very likely could run this fast. When we see him actually move in the films, it's an actor in a suit doing the best he can. In actuality though, those predators are super super agile and strong. I always thought this running scene was supposed to come off as like a jaguar closing in and running down his prey for the kill.
There was a blood splatter on the plants. They just didn't see it because it was green like the foliage, and not red like they would instinctively look for. Watch that scene closer.
hes talking about the line itself, youre telling him to watch something closer a year after he posted this, but youre the one that needs to watch things closer! lmao are you autistic or just goofed up?
I remember when I was a kid my uncle told me “if you look real closely you can see the predator in the background for most of the movie”, bullshit or not, from that moment on I was always keeping my eyes pierced.
@@loveunderlaw Thank you! I always tell people to listen to David Paulides. It's interesting to me, living in Missouri, if you look at the maps they've put together, here in the Middle US there are virtually no disappearances. It's all concentrated in areas much closer to either coast. Still, I've spent a lot of my life outdoors, and after hearing his interviews, and watching the movies, I always keep an eye out when I hunt and hike, and never go out unarmed with both a firearm and a ham radio. I'm working on the personal locator beacon. It's just good safety advice for any trip to the wilderness.
My late father in law served in Burma during WWII. In late life he suffered several micro-strokes and didn't care for movies very much. I think he could no longer follow most of them. But when I put this on with Dolby Digital 5.1 he came down to my basement screening room and watched the whole movie. The 3-D jungle sound effects had totally captivated him.
Predator is the greatest film ever made. I used to get home from school and watch it everyday like a lunatic though it never fails to entertain me. It is easily one of the best action, sci-fi psychological thrillers out there and should be in the top ten of all best film lists and no mistake.
@Kenneth Bone Not the best movie ever made but one of the best. There's a reason why it will always be a classic while most other movies will be forgotten.
Linick really? only if you ignore the tons of errors. this scene described has an obvious fake arm visible behind dillon and the platform thrusting him into the air. this video clip does not have the full screen shown....it is there in the original.
What I always thought was interesting was how the body count ramped up in the last act of the film. We had Hawkins & Blaine killed within minutes but then a good 45 minutes before another death scene which was Mac, quickly followed by Dillon, Billy & last being Poncho. Those last 4 deaths all happening within 5 minutes or less of each other.
Dennis Byerly no because horror movies are scary. Predator arent monsters they’re bad asses but can be killed. Real horror movies consist of not being able to fight back.. like the monster isn’t effected by bullets.
It the clown , Jason , Michael , Freddy etc they can all be killed . Zombies , werewolf's , vampire's demons all of them and they're all considered horrors.
Actually it's Orson Welles, easy mistake I guess? (Not that I would...) Also Peter Cullen did most of the Predator's other sounds. *I am not kidding, look it up.*
The part where Dillon misses at point blank makes sense to anyone who's played Hunting Grounds. It's just really easy to get stressed then miss once this massive cloaked thing charges at you for a melee beatdown.
I was re-watching it on BluRay a few days ago and was impressed how well-made it is. While I bought it because of childhood nostalgia, I now realise how well directed it is- the buildup of tension, the slow narrative taking it's time to introduce everyone, the excellent transition to horror, etc. It is basically "Alien" meets "Deliverance", while almost mocking the macho action genre. No sequels or spin-offs come even close to the original.
Even though we can't elucidate our attraction for this movie so well in youth, I'm glad there's scholars like this guy's channel saying what needs to be said regarding it's absolute proven genius and outstandingly high quality it achieved, a real perfect storm of cinematic brilliance given to us.
@@Veldtian1 i think the second movie was good, but compare to the original it fail to make a point on the cop. the original had an ultra black ops group hunted down. Sequel had some cop that was somewhat in shape. lack the muscular build that the black op group did and they weren't moving as a unit. Not to mention the group the predator hunted were more random drug dealers. The original predator purposely hunted a group that was extremely dangerous. While the second stalk a groups that had no chance. They lack the weapons or the training that the first group in the first movie had. So instead of upping the anted it downgraded it. think had they done the two film but switch it. Where the first time we saw the predator it was huting the policeman and the later movie it was the commando group then both films were be praise more. As it is. The Prey in the second movie didn't match the one in the original.
@@Marverynactually the predator never actually hunted the cop in predator 2, it was the other way around, the predator actually spared him on 3 different ocassions in the first half of the film
Cheers. It's an incredibly smart film, but it does such a brilliant job on the basic commercial front that it's easy to assume there's nothing else to it.
The flaw with that lies with pretentious film critics that like to do that separation (which extends all the way to the oscars), not with the movies themselves not having value and merit. A proper film critic should be able to analise a movie of any genre and identify the quality in it and quantify the appeal to it's target audience, be it an action movie, a romantic comedy, a blockbuster, a B movie, etc.
I agree that artistic evaluation should be more democratic in nature. Thankfully, art appreciation has moved beyond objects that are merely interesting to the elites or otherwise signify upper social class status. The French sociologist Bourdieu wrote a book examining these types of class status signifiers in the art world (Distinction 1979). As someone that could never truly "get into" snobby, allegedly "intelligent" art house films* it is refreshing to finally start seeing popular/mass art being given its recognition. *note: films made for critics and snobs, not actual enjoyment.
Well, any "serious critic" doesn't bother with maintream works. ;) 80s action movies are a genre I've come to see very different than I used to 20 years ago. It's probably the filter of time coming into play that makes us only really think of the best works from that time, while we just forgot all the actual dumb explosion movies. But among these, there definitely were a good number of actually really good movies. Even if back at that time most people failed to see the difference. (Overall consensus at release seems to have been that The Thing is total garbage. How opinions have changed.)
the predator's blood on the leaf was caused by Mac when he initially found the predator and shot him point blank with his M60 but by the time the rest of the team showed up predator was long gone so the "team" really had nothing to do with the blood on the leaf
Alan Lloyd the Predator avoids the gun fire by climbing on the trees. That’s why later on in the movie, Arnold comes to the realization that he’s using the trees to maneuver around the team so efficiently, without setting off any traps.
@@TheTillmanSneakerReview As stated right above you and explained in the film; the predator uses the trees in the jungle to avoid certain things (like gunfire) The blood was used as a means of the woman in the film to see it, contemplate it, and later on address the soldier's about the stories in her native area about "The demon that makes trophies of man."
Brilliant breakdown. Some people over look the fact that John McTiernan's genius was his choices of camera angles, the use of slow motion and sound effects and it's proper use for each scene. It's a big reason why Predator is a timeless classic and not some 3rd rate corny monster flick.
P Monk Don't Forget editing! Hr rewrote Hollywood editing. Even having to fire multiple Academy award winning level editors on multiple of his earlier films like Die Hard. He always felt bad and gave them parts or Jobs in other movies. They just couldn't cut his movies like he requested. They were stuck in the 70s era of action editing. He also had a thing for using the latest cameras with antique lenses. Giving those unique looks and lens flares. They CGI those into modern movies. He was legit!
McTiernan also understood the importance of characters and the relationships between them. Predator is a fantastic example of an action movie that is elevated by the stakes that are created when the audience is invested in the people on screen. We are not just watching victims line up for the Predator to pick off like a slasher film. No, we see these men interacting, laughing, experiencing, and fighting together as a well oiled machine so when they start dying it matters. McTiernan is one of the all time greats, truly a pleasure to watch his work.
4:40 I think I have seen this movie 100 times and never thought about why the Predator picks up the scorpion (nice catch). For a long time I just thought it was a scene to show off the body heat camera; but maybe the filmmakers were giving the Predator a character moment. The Predator knows that humans are the most dangerous species on Earth so perhaps he has sympathy for the other species that can't defend themselves.
Please... Pred doesnt care about some bugs. Btw scorp is a nasty animal, which can kill a human. I believe Pred has some knowledge about that. That camera shoot was more like "you think thats easy prey... I'm gonna make YOU a prey".
segundajuganda Nah I think Sean's theory has some merit. The Predator is known for only hunting those who can fight back, it isn't into killing people who unarmed and defenseless. This is evidenced many times throughout the first two movies, like when it didn't kill Anna in the first movie, or the kid with the toy gun in the second movie.
My thoughts immediately lit up when he referenced the scorpion too! I mean, I know now being a filmmaker that specific scenes should not be seen as throwaway material. Consider that the Scorpion snuck up on Dillon, but Mac had his back. Predator realizes that these guys need to be separated before he can hunt them as they work together as a team and trust each other almost blindly, which is evident when they all fire into the trees without hesitation because Mac had a feeling about it. Also just the big fight against the rebels in the jungle, they didn't have any casualties, which would also confirm that the Predator saw how effective they work as a team. I gotta watch to see if he finds the scorpion before or after that moment, but it sure does seem like it's quite cluey that humans before these professional, may not have worked as a tight team with such trust. Because none of them are shown to be cowards and all die quite heroic-like too. So many thoughts buzzing in my head! Haha. Perhaps he does have sympathy for creatures that are defenseless against the powerful and felt humans kill without much thought?
This film is the best of all of them. When I saw this for the first time, I was absolutely mesmerized. This movie is over 30 years old, and it just seems like it has aged very, very well.
Some of them were getting up as early as 3 am to work out, and Arnold flew down a gym so that the entire cast and stunt crew could all work out together. They had to be big to have those guns. (Can't find the quote about why Ventura's gun was so big. lol)
@@talacocheta9001 Ventura would hear Schwarzenegger's alarm go off in the morning, rush down to the gym, throw a bucket of water on himself and start working out, Schwarzenegger would arrive to see Ventura seemingly drenched in sweat from a long workout, yet still able to work out at an intensity similar to his own. Not to be out done, Schwarzenegger would get up earlier and earlier every day until the point where they were getting up at 3am. Ventura said he had never worked out so hard, Schwarzenegger probably was thinking the same thing.
@John And Abbey yes its a weird case. "He is two months into a 12-month prison sentence for perjury and lying to the FBI during an investigation into a wiretapping scandal." www.theguardian.com/film/2013/jun/04/hollywood-director-john-mctiernan-prison
@John And Abbey Released in 2014, but he hasn't been hired since. www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/die-hard-director-john-mctiernan-683407. His career ended with the Rollerball fiasco.
Maybe the Predator respected the scorpion for fearlessly trying to attack Dillon, who is many times larger than it. Mac said "Anytime" after saving Dillion from the scorpion, so maybe the Predator repeats this after Dillion sees Mac's corpse to say "He's not here to save you now".
I think you missed the point with the "any time" callback. Mac says it after he crushed a bug. The predator repeats it after he kills Mac. The predator is comparing killing a human, to a human killing a bug. Also none of this really qualifies as subliminal.
One of the best scenes in my opinion is Billy's death. He throws his gun away, strips off his gear and slowly cuts his chest with his knife, the other characters leave knowing that he is going to face down the Predator in single combat, in an attempt to buy them enough time to escape. Normal movie logic tells us that there's going to be a one-on-one fight scene between him and the Predator, that he will buy them some time but ultimately be killed (I wouldn't be surprised if this was filmed but then cut in editing). Instead, in the very next scene the characters are mid-conversation when we hear a loud, blood-curdling scream from Billy's direction, and the camera silently zooms in to the jungle path from which the scream came. All we can see is the trees and foliage, and all we can hear is the ambient buzzing of the jungle, but it amplifies the tension and horror massively because in our minds we're desperately searching for any sign of the Predator, any sound or shimmer in the trees - exactly how the characters are feeling at that moment. The silence lasts just long enough to have this effect, then suddenly the Predator attacks again. Having an off-screen death for Billy is utter genius, because it subverts the expectation of the viewer in a sudden, jarring way which intensifies the horror. It also further increases our feeling of hopelessness and dread toward the Predator, as the strongest character whom we expected to have a showdown with the Predator dies *instantly*. The suddenness of his death and the speed at which the Predator is able to catch up tells us that he was simply no match for it whatsoever, and that it killed him quickly and with ease, which further emphasizes how powerless the characters are and how impossible to defeat the Predator is. Instead of *showing* us that in a traditional fight/death scene, the film allows us (and trusts us to be intelligent enough) to come to that realization *in our own minds*. This is why it's so effective, horror is something which happens in our mind, the fear, the racing paranoid thoughts etc. A film which *implies* something horrific and allows the audience to imagine it, is always more powerful than a film which merely shows or tells the audience horrific things. This scene always stands out for me when I watch the film, and I think it marks the absolute low-point of the film from the characters' perspective perfectly. This is in stark contrast to the third(?) film 'PredatorS' where there are multiple scenes where characters stay behind to face down the Predators, and I believe at one point someone fights and kills one with a katana. It really goes to show how intelligent the original film was and how the later films failed to reproduce it's quality and film-making genius.
You may be a bit confused, the Predator doesn't actually *immediately* chase and catch up with them. There is an entire graphic deleted scene which was removed from most theatrical versions where it moves Billy's gutted corpse to a high tree branch before ripping out his spine & skull, posing with them in victory. The speed it catches up with them afterward is still superhuman because it isn't human, that much is fair, but the whole point was him goading it's pride to the point that they could shorten the distance between the evac chopper and them. (But to be fair, Hanzo was *WAY* more skilled than Billy and wielding a weapon type he had trained with for years. The fact that he died while killing a Predator just goes to show you how skilled he was and how overconfident the hunter was...)
@@VerdeMorte no my man, you're the one who is confused. That scene which you mention of Predator ripping out Billy's spine was not deleted from the theatrical cut; it comes much later in the film. I do agree with you on the Hanzo vs Predator katana fight though. That is a well-done scene deserveing of praise in its own right.
@@denniscobos3306 Was unaware of that, though there may be several cuts as I was mentioning a cut that may have been for television, making much less sense. There has been talk of older movies having scenes rearranged from script to filming to editing though, so that could definitely explain my disconnect. I do know about footage that was intended to be filmed that involved further flight & battle between Mac & the Predator, but I think it may have been cut before filming... (PS: That Hanzo scene has no right to that level of amazing cinematography & pure awesomeness. If the entire film had been like this I could imagine it being far more popular than it became.)
You're right. I enjoyed the second with Danny Glover but it was no where near as good as the original. My uncle and I were talking about this the other day, gotta love how we are watched and listened to now smh
One detail that’s implied by this scene and was established earlier in the movie, is the fact that when Dillon and Mac are looking at the predator it can totally see them AND hear them.
The fact the Predator says 'anytime' just simply means it was watching them the whole time. Nice breakdown mate, and I'd never noticed the predator in the trees before the eyes flash either ! I think the eyes flash is maybe symbolic of a demon.
@@youngbn3056 that's dumb, light on the outside of the mask to indicate to the alien in the mask that its locked on.... not to mention they kinda always rely on camo which the glowing eyes goes completely against. I would hope the glowing eyes were put in for intimidation/fear factor
I remember back in 2014 The Playstation 4 and Xbox One servers were hit with a cyber ddos attack that took the services down temporarily. A group that claimed responsibility for it at the time was called Lizard Squad. I always used to post this on numerous forum sites. "You saying that PSN and Xbox Live were brought down by a fucking lizard? That's a bullshit psyche job. There's two or three men out there at the most. Fucking lizard".
Great video about my favourite film. I noticed later on in the film that the Predator is admiring Mac's skull with a burnt blast hole on the forehead, so it suggests that his entire head didn't explode, but that his brains left through an exit wound at the back. I think he valued the Mac trophy because he showed extreme courage by chasing and attempting to engage the Predator instead of fleeing.
Don’t see how it’s foreshadowing that. It’s a way to show how yoked Carl Weathers and Arnie got for this movie, and foreshadows Dillons arm being severed later.
Love the breakdown ! Thank you so much for your great analytical skills!! By far, it is one of my top 5 80s movies. I would like to give you some detailed information I have read and come across regarding the Predator (also one of my top 5 characters). His eyes flash yellow as he switches through different vision modes. Also that rattle sounds are actually from his mandibles. When it's time to claim his prize, he makes that clicking sound out of excitement. I have read this information, and I also noticed in the game Predator Hunting Grounds he also makes that rattle/ clicking sound when going into Cloak.
Predator is the greatest action movie of the 1980s (very close behind is Diehard). This movie has so much going on with brilliant direction, action, dialogue, and special effects. It's more than just gratuitous violence like many of the other action movies of the time (e.g. Rambo, Commando - although both are also excellent action movies). But Predator stands out to me as the best, and this video's dissection of poor Dillon's death scene illustrates the great and subtle aspects of this movie. Great interpretation in this video.
I always thought it was interesting that throughout most of the film the Predator hones in on billy (even adopting his laugh) and makes no attempt on him until Billy himself refuses to run. Saving his skull specifically instead of skinning him is indicative that the Predator saw Him and Dutch as the Alphas and with Billy's tracking ability and instinct might have even seen him as the superior. Doesn't play out of course but those little subtleties helped flesh the film out quite nice.
Billy was the tragic hero. He knew what was out there and he sacraficed himself anyway. This fictional character should have totally gotten the vote instead of Arnold and Jesse and Predator
Once saw that someone who "analyzes movies" said Aliens (2nd movie) had nothing to offer... after watching YOUR analyses i just chuckled to myself. You're a freak'n genius!
The predator is projecting the voice of mac saying "anytime" so that dillon will hear the word anytime. One of the traits of some predators is mimicry especially with a highly advanced species; human or in this case the predator. It's basic mind control he's letting dillon know that the one person who saved him from the predator earlier (scorpion) is now dead. Dillon knows at a subconcious level at this point that it's over for him but conciously? And the one person who could have given him any more time is now dead. Anytime? And the drum beat is to symbolise dillons final heart beats or/and macs.
mac whispered anytime - it's not even clear from the film that Dillon heard him say it... but the predator heard it. It'd be able to hear every whispered conversation going on like the one between mac and dillon at the top of the scene. I get the idea that the predator was working out how superior it's senses are to human senses as the movie progressed - maybe why it seemed to be toying with the humans rather than just exterminating them as quickly as possible.
“Anytime” is the predators version of a duck call. He observed them making these noises to each other earlier, these two characters in particular, so he repeats it to position his target.
I've always seen Predator as a deconstruction or satire of the archetypal 80s action movie, with all the bulky, hyper-Manly commandos effectively being killed from an entity from a completely different genre.
Rob Ager I just now recognized this, but Aliens did something very similar the year prior. I somewhat politically-charge Vietnam-inspired war movie mashed together with the aesthetic and titular character of the first Alien. Kind of "Platoon-meets-Alien." I realize Aliens came out the same year as Platoon so there probably wasn't that much of the latter influencing the former, but it makes me wonder, because I always thought that Predator and Commando, at least thematically, existed in the same universe. Both films were produced by Joel Silver, and what little information we're given about Dutch's backstory (some super-elite, super badass black operative who led a similarly-badass team) seems to match with his character in Commando. Just a thought.
Let's not forget the hyper sexuality and emasculation of the movie: Dillon loses his arm, the arm we see at the start with bulging muscles half-handshake, half arm wrestling with Dutch, almost like erect penises (hyper masculine/gay/penis simbolism undertones). So in his death scene, two metaphorical penises are being lost: the gun and the arm. More hyper sexuality: sexual tyranosaurus joke, pussy as big as a house joke, big muscles and big guns, Predator's vagina dentata face. More emasculation: Predator kills all the men, leaves the woman alive. Skinning and leaving the men hanging, naked and helpless. Only way to defeat the predator is by not using the guns (phallic symbols) (although he does get killed by a cut tree trunk, pretty phallic still...)
The sexual side of the film (or lack of it considering female presence) is interesting, but I don't see most of the connections you're making there. The film is certainly aggressively hormonal which is easy to misinterpret as primarily sexual. For me the film is about other things entirely ... said enough though as don't want to reveal full analysis content yet.
Very insightful analysis. Definitely learned a something about direction here. Predator is a vastly underrated screenplay as well. The believably quick way it establishes the camaraderie of the team is something SO many team action movies struggle with today. And the way Predator sells Blaine and Mac's BFF relationship with such subtlety is noteworthy - in the inbound chopper ride, Blaine has a jerk-off mocking demeanor about everyone but Mac... indicating he's either scared of Mac or really tight with Mac. By the 1st action sequence of the movie we see he ain't scared of anything (doesn't even have time to bleed) and we then later realize it's that the two of them were really tight friends. Most movies would try to oversell that and in the process mess it up. Predator, on other hand, nailed it with subtlety.
I recall Blaine saying the jungle 'there' made Cambodia look like Kansas--so I'm guessing one of them or both of them served in SOG operations in Vietnam-perhaps together. Heck Ventura and Richard Chavez were both in Vietnam in 'real life'.
I remember Action Jackson. I only watched it because "Apollo Creed" was in it (at that time I hadn't seen Predator). By no means was it a classic, but I do think it has had a very bad press over the years. Lots of the same villains as Die Hard and Commando. I thought it was quite entertaining and fairly under rated. I had heard it was intended to be the first film of a franchise, like Die Hard, 48 Hours and Lethal Weapon, but because of it's poor box office performance and negative press, it was discontinued, which is a shame. It was a good slice of 1980's cheese.
Most of the tilted shots are a result of the lack of flat ground. it add so much dramatic tension to the movie. Carl even said in the on set interview that they had to prop his chair up. Great analysis.
Predator is my favourite move of all time. That's dismissing the claim that you can have "more than one favourite", or "one of my favourites", as it defeats the purpose of the word. That being said, I noticed all of this long ago. It's really a complex movie, as well as being completely brilliant, macho and over the top. The themes present really reflect this. I just bought your analysis of the film in total (2 plus hours) and I"m really, really looking forward to watching it. I love your videos, not just this one. The Thing videos are really eye opening and as someone who loved (and feared) it as a child, I completely agree with the Childs theory. Please keep making videos! I wish that I found you earlier.
@@frankderoma9567 that's actually a good observation. And to tighten that analysis up, I would even say the predator regarded the scorpion, with respect to arachnids, as an apex predator, and felt a sort of connection to it.
The "anytime" whisper also indicates that the Predator was watching and studying them for awhile, long enough to hear and record that line from Mac. Makes you wonder how long it was out there.
lol The Predator (maybe) relating to the scorpion reminds me of a idea when I was younger that he would have let Dutch and the others go...until he saw Mac kills his pet scorpion he was trying to rescue from the guerrillas.
Any serious film lover (at least the most experienced) knows that John McTiernan is great film maker who can infuse action with so much film skills, turning this genre into an 'honorable' genre. In fact, any genre of film can be great if made with great talent like this guy, at least with his carreer debut (last films seems to be weaker). Predator was only his 2nd feature, after "NoMads".
I always say that a movie doesn't necessarily need deep themes. Entertainment is an art in itself, when it is masterfully crafted in a way that it becomes almost deceptively enjoyable. Although I think that Predator is an echo of the Vietnam war.
Great thoughts and yes, a seemingly simple theme can lead to a great film when masterfuly made. In our life, common situations made us live sometimes the best moments of our life. "God is in the detail" says the proverb (the real one), meaning little things are much bigger that we see first. This film is visceral, it take us down to our guts, inside our deepest fears (the unknown, the dark place of our soul). "Predator" feels like a nightmare someway. After the film finishes, we feel like we woke up after a strong dream. By the way, the great editor Walter Murch said that a film works very like a dream.
I always say that we have a need of both things: depth and just fun or a mix of those. There are times when we need to sit back and think, and then there are times when we just want to enjoy ourselves and life. Both have their justifications. Yes, I think the movie is effective in portraying our primal fear that a real predator might be lurking somewhere, and that we would be helpless against it. The music is great, too. It creates a unique feel for the movie, knowing when to slow down, when to speed up, and when to be just like the natural sounds of the forest. Off topic, but this reminds me just how forgettable many blockbuster film scores have become nowadays.
Music: totally agreed. Rob certainely put this in his full analysis. The almost quiet tambourine in the jungle is a genius idea. Again, it's primal, simple and effective. Fits totally in the mood. Modern music is too often saying what's to feel with big boots ("Tadaaaaam": be impressed...). - Reminds me the beginning of "Poltergeist" with nice friendly music showing a quiet little town with family bonds. Then the trouble starts and the mood changes. Today, they starts before the first shot with a dramatic scary score than unloads immediately the tension by provinding us no persepective at all. We only ear scary sounds, so we only knows a scary state who turn to be the norm in the context of the film. No fear anymore because something normal is not scary. Predator starts with usual military power music with drums (they are strong and will win) then the shit hits the fan and all turns over. Like said Sting Sniperscope, it turns over the archetypal power-armed-man.
Eddy Juillerat I have yet to buy one of Rob's complete analyses one of these days. I only discovered him some 2 or 3 months ago. So, nice to hear him speak about it, and thank you for telling me. And yes, I might be mistaken on this, but I have the impression that movie openings today don't use music the way they used to, if they use music at all. Back then they tried to set you in the right mood for the movie. Nowadays I feel like I don't see that anymore. It is right into the action as if they are too afraid to loose their audience if they don't do it, but I might be mistaken on this, and talking from the standpoint of a biased memory.
You guys ever notice that in Schwarzenegger’s movies in 80s and 90s he nearly always has a Hispanic/Latina woman as a sidekick? Even in real life he cheated on Maria with a Hispanic housekeeper. Although she was pretty fugly and old.
What a fantastic movie. GREAT breakdown, that's so kick ass that the Predator is visible in the first glimpse. I'd have to say, this movie and First Blood are 2 of my favorites. They both still hold up today. I really wish they made movies this good today
I literally just watched this film last night, so what a coincidence. And I consider it the best action film ever made, better than Die Hard or Raiders.
Lestov16. It wasn't by any chance on German television? Because I saw it also yesterday or so, and the terrible "Predators" the day before (didn't really watch it, once is enough, but let it run on tv while doing other things).
Malafakka No, I was watching it on my HBO subscription, but I'm glad they are airing it in Germany. Predators was not nearly as good as the original film or Predator 2, but it was better than either of the AVP films imo.
I just watched Predator for the 2nd time in 20 years (with my new analytical powers). I'm pleased you mention the music. I noticed how it is used to suggest and distract more than most films I've yet seen.
A doctor friend of mine said that Dillon would not necessarily immediately collapse from shock after his arm has been shot off by the plasma cannon. I always figured it was unrealistic but apparently not.
Dude!!! I really enjoyed watching this, you’re right on how he feels as if it’s a nightmare he can’t escape. I felt that way watching this as a kid. Love it man, love it!!!!
That was a very intricate breakdown. This is my second favorite scene as well. It tells a tale of the hunter's cockiness and toying with its prey before going in for the kill as it shows off it's true power and ability to kill whoever, whenever it pleases. Great job.
Hey, I know what the Predator flashing his eye's to Dillon meant. It was like "draw" in the old west or like the go light at a drag race. Which fits the Predator's sense of manners or "fair" combat. Come to think of it, does the Predator kill anyone not looking at him? Like sneaking up behind or something. I don't think so.
Awesome! the more comments i read, the more i like this movie. I didn't think it was possible to like it even more. I actually have a lot of respect for the Predator as a character. He's a class act.
+Andrew Galligan Not really, meaning Blaine is facing the direction of the predator and sees a hedgehog then gets shot at pretty much that same angle and then turns around and gets the death shot. Not the same thing like sneaking up behind and killing him at all.
well blaine had a massive weapon and was snot very respectful towards a fight, so he had to take the most powerful and dangerous one out first. Plus Blaine was distracted by some hedgehog so maybe predator found him stupid.
What a joy it must have been to have seen this for the first time in the 80's and experience the whiplash of the action genre being flipped. You expect a by-the-numbers action film: Big Beefs and Big Explosions with a side of corny. And while you get that, you also see for probably the first time them being knocked down a peg by something that's even Beefier. They're completely vulnerable, stranded, and at the mercy of a creature that is its own weapon; no guns, no bombs, no missiles. You, as a viewer, are finally able to relate to the Big Beefs in a way: YOU are being hunted, as a human. What ever plan you might conceive or action you take may not be good enough, despite numbers being in your favor. I dare say it's humbling! The appetizer was the introduction of the film, standard, light. The main course was the surprising thought that was put into it. It wanted to be more than just a genre film. While it certainly isn't meta, it flipped the script of the decade and because of that originality it's still highly regarded as an action and horror film. Ugh, so good.
Like this, then watch ... PREDATOR - Tough guys finish first ua-cam.com/video/wId2ssYZYYY/v-deo.html
ALIEN the chameleon effect ua-cam.com/video/EoyoFotOXgU/v-deo.html
Psychoanatomy in THE THING ua-cam.com/video/psxFyMoqbJ8/v-deo.html
MP% not MP4 wanker.
MP5
Mac says "any time" right before he kills the scorpion and the Predator says it right before he kills Dillon and both the scorpion and Dillon get impaled and lifted into the air.
Yes!
Nice spot!
Mister Ace yes, because Dillon’s men, along with Jim Hopper, were killed by the Predator.
Well spotted
Nice observation!
Great vid, but I think you may have overlooked a very obvious setup in this scene. It's a gunslinger type standoff, like in a western. When the Predators eyes flash, it's a signal to draw.
YOOOOOOOOOO thats whats up
Totally. Good one.
lol
like that 70s arcade game where you actually have to pull the gun out of its holster in front of a long deck between you and the video screen
i loved that game
Totally. So instead of a horror movie it's an old spaghetti western. And that "rattling noise" is actually the sound of his spurs walking towards the shootout.
Love your channel, but, I don't think you're right on this one. Predator has no knowledge of cowboy movies, is watching him even before he raises his gun, starts the fight unfairly by signaling the draw with eye flashes, and finally uses a blade to finish him off. Predator is honorable in combat, would not cheat at a draw. Sorry!
Seriously love your channel though. listening to it (rendlesham) on Spotify right now. lol
Predator is a masterpiece, beautifully made. The score is one of my all time favorites. Carl Weathers is underrated, he’s really a good actor.
"damn alligator just popped up! Took me down in my prime."
MANDO!
It is also well acted.I find all the characters and their behaviour very believable
But they always downplayed black guys in the 80s 90s 70s well up untill 12 strong first movie didnt male the black guy look weak
Slugga k1 not true haven’t you seen shaft or black shampoo?
Always liked the scene when Mac spotted predator for the first time and started firing rounds and the rest of the team who saw nothing walked up and just joined in...no questions asked
That's actually a common response to an armed threat (albeit rather gratuitous in this case). Usually after a few seconds the order would be given to cease fire if it was obvious that there was no longer a threat.
Psyrus lol rather gratuitous indeed. There were several magazine swaps and many a thousand rounds from the mini and several grenades launched from Poncho...another fun fact is that his weapon of choice - which makes him so memorable (“you got time to duck?) - is a fictional weapon. He has his own page on Alien/Predator wiki.
Anyway, you are correct that a quick burst of offensive fire transitioning to positions of cover would be a little more accurate. But this is a show of biceps and unlimited ammo, except the poor mini.
BroLaw
@Green Gecko that part was great. It was all quiet except the spinning barrel sound...
Billy knew there was something out there the whole time but didn't know what it was.
Blain: "I ain't got time to bleed."
Poncho: "Got time to duck?"
Blain is killed by a huge gaping wound in his chest that is cauterized by the predator's blast, and thus, no blood.
Poncho is struck by a huge swinging log that he should have ducked.
Mac is always shaving with that blue razor. He gets killed by the predator's blue blast effectively cutting off his head.
Billy is superstitious and seemingly ritualistic in his suicide by predator. He gets his spine ripped out (suicide is a spineless way to go, maybe?) and has his bones ritualistically cleaned by the predator.
Hawkins tells sexist jokes and dies chasing down a women, and then is stripped naked and emasculated.
And Dillon? Remember the classic arm wrestling handshake? Gets his damn arm blown off - the same arm used in the handshake.
Wow, you blew my mind with some of these, especially the Blain and Poncho ones.
Nice! You found some deep ones. A great movie is always great because of the attention to details. We pick most of them subconsciously somehow, or they link up to make sense without us always figuring out. Good finds.
Nice, awesome input there
A+
racewiththefalcons1 "What's the matter, Dillion?, The CIA got you pushing too many pencils?"
This movie is a goddamn masterpiece.
Couldn't agree more. Everything about it is A1. Plot structure, characters, cinematography, music, acting, special effects, etc. All extremely well done.
@@clarenceeugene9692 Amen!
I think you mean it's a GODDDAMN SEXUAL TYRANNASAUR....just like me ;)
I remember thinking that when I was a kid and was soo disappointed with the sequel, i knew it wasn't just Arnold
They hit the god damn Jackpot!
Fun Fact: the arm he lost is the same one the alligator took from him in Happy Gillmore.
That was the whole point genius
He's been a bit unlucky with that arm really, hasn't he !
He needs to stop growing arms. He is a sitting duck having two arms!
I always thought that was a little nod to Predator
But he tore one of that bastards eyes out
What I liked about "Predator" is that it almost seemed like a play on '80s "Big Muscle" action movies, especially the movies that Stallone and Schwarzenegger had starred in, especially the post-Vietnam "Commando" and "Rambo" movies.
You have a bunch of big tough guys on a "black ops" type of mission, typical of those other movies. A lot of bravado and testosterone and you think these guys are unstoppable. Then, out of the jungle comes a monster that starts systematically wiping them out. You and the characters begin to realize that these tough guys are overwhelmed and they have gone from being the predators to the prey, the heroes to victims.
While '80s action movies were enjoyable, this movie took this type of action movie in a completely new direction and introduced a very iconic sci-fi character - the Predator.
Thud Thud “you aint afraid of no man”
“Theres somethin out there waiting for us... and it aint no man”
Were all gonna die.
Hello reddit.
The director specifically stated in the bts that he was anti violence and parts of the movie were a parody of the hyper violence of movies in that era.
Arnold still won though! Team macho beats team alien.
Negative
Carl Weathers is such a incredible actor. I don’t think he gets enough credit specially in Predator.
Why do people say it tho, i give him a lot of credit
@@jirimarek8089 but who is you?
I've been saying this since I saw Rocky. I don't know if he was already famous in rocky 1 but he was fucking amazing in that and everything else he's in. Thank God he's still alive
@@vinobody yep , watch that scene from predator again when Arnold corners him at the raid about the cover story … when Arnold throws him up against the wall. Weathers is so into that scene his eyes are tearing up cause he’s so much into that scene . He is a hell of actor , he should have been offered more major roles, he was a professional football player after he played in college .
, ps predator would not have been the same without him ,
Also the actors in the movie were cast perfect .
@@HugoStiglitz88whoops.
Dillons scream is the most alpha masculine scream in movie history
Leon in the Professional/Leon .. right before the cops use a grenade launcher on his apartment door
I make my son listen to this scream every night before he goes to bed.
Alex Sutton you forgot about the Indian dude right before preditor skinned him alive.
You all forgot about Arnold's scream calling the Predator out. Makes my arm hairs stand up every time...
Ken Mabie - FIND ME ON BITCHUTE
Yes
This film is definitely an example of a "perfect film". It knows exactly what it wants to be and executes it flawlessly.
So said a French journalist at the time.
This is a masterpiece agreed only scene of the movie that wasn’t a 10/10 was the initial attack at the camp. Apparently that wasn’t the directors doing and wasn’t to the potential if he himself would’ve written it
5:42 I never realized the Predator was standing RIGHT there the whole time, and Dillon didint even see him. Holy shit
I had to watch it several times over to see it. Awesome detail.
Help a brother out, I'm struggling lol
@@youlittlerocket starting at 5:39 there's a branch that goes across the screen diagonally downwards from mid screen left to bottom right behind the fern. If you pause at any point from there and look to the left of that fern and up a bit, you can see the distorted camo silhouette of the predator, standing and observing.
The fuck that's amazing! I've seen it so many times yet never noticed this! Talk about "The Devil is in the details" holy shit.
@@dbstewart86 That is very chilling like I just realized that shot tonight. It makes you really wonder how many times the Predator was visible on screen and we didn't notice. Also, it makes me wonder if or how often the Predator got close to the team and they didn't know it?
I can watch predator over and over and never get tired of it. I can’t say that about movies now days. Not sure why but movies aren’t wht they used to be.
Thinking of comic book hero movies?
Maybe femmnazis taking over Hollywood has something to do with it.
I can't even remember anything I've seen in the past decade. Movies are just forgettable now.
Sho Jo Mary Sues but ten times worse
Movies are made for China and 14 old kids now
The music and the jungles brought great intensity into this film
Waylon Jones Fun fact, the same Composer who did both Predator movies (Alan Silvestri) also did the Back II The Future trilogy.
Chris Sullivan and did Rocky, and Weathers played Creed
Are you watch Mojo?
*bongos infesify*
Chris Sullivan damn, really? I always wondered why the Predator soundtrack sounded similar to Back to the Future.
3:57 "if you haven't seen this film in awhile..."
Who're you kidding? I've seen Predator at least 60 times at this point in my life.
double-o G I saw it for the first time on TV, in 95-96 maybe, it blew my mind. “It’s just a movie where soldiers hunt a monster, and it has Arnold as the star” an now it’s the only Arnold movie I keep revisiting and never gets bored of
Rookie numbers
Is that all
Right
This is what happens when you have good cast, good director and good monster at the same place.
It makes B movie into A+ movie. Alien is even better example.
An original concept helps too - something that Hollywood seems to have forgotten.
baldieman64 so true. Studios are only interested in established IP's. Outside of the horror genre it's next to impossible to get something original greenlit with a decent budget.
D Ceased if you mean as a whole franchise then maybe yes but these two movies not really
Don't forget Shane Black, with his jokes. 😂
No, d ceased...just, no.
Schwarzenegger was really good at picking the right projects, even in the low budget range.
In his earlier movies he would work for whoever could afford his hefty price tag, which turned out to be a pretty select group that gave him better projects; he also never shied away from difficult roles. Later he became envious of Jack Nicholson's back-end deal for Batman and wanted one for himself; this drove Arnold to the types of projects that relied on him so much, they'd let him stake out a huge claim on potential returns (ie., terrible projects).
He actually handpicked McTiernan to direct Predator, I mean talk about a good pick
Red Sonja especially! My favorite movie.
Somebody has never seen Hercules in New York
When the budget called for it, he also knew to go for the plasma rifle in the 40-Watt range 😎
I love how in the 80's they successfully combined sci-fi and horror for a lot of movies. Alien. Aliens. The Terminator. Predator. All come to mind.
yup, and they’re all timeless classics too
Sci-fi, horror, and combat
And The Thing!
as i 16 yr old i love 80s movies and songs, in fact terminator is my favorite movie of all time, i watch it religiously, seen it over 100 times
'Alien' is a '70s movie
Carl Weathers such an underrated actor!
Arnold apparently took a lot of cues and tips from Carl during the filming of the movie. It is arguably also one of Arnold's best acted and most naturally charismatic. No coincidence - Carl is great.
He only charges $1100 for acting classes!
Adam Whitehead yea, apparently it's all in the hips lol
It's all in the hips!
Action Jackson is an all time classic.
i met Carl Weathers once. we were at a geek fest, and he was randomly walking back from the bathroom, no one knew who it was until my friend stopped him and asked for a quick photo
Who else wants to watch the movie again after seeing this vid?
me
smokin poppa anytime
Luv Apollo Creed. I mean ACTION Jackson. I mean Carl Weather s
#Underratted
When it comes on the TV the trick is not even to watch a little bit because you'll stay for the whole show, it would never have been the great cult movie it is without Little Richard belting out Long Tall Sally, what a genius idea !!
@@FrozenExplosion first we gotta go get....the red? or the blue capsule? I keep forgetting which. Wait! It's just a movie...isn't it😲
Yes exactly, the Predator running that fast could only make sense to me as Dillon's own point of view while still in shock, the whole sequence seems subjective to Dillon's emotions, like we're inside a nightmare of his. Great analysis pal.
He's not actually running across the rocks though, I'd say he's carefully jumping across them, like a human would.
The predator would absolutely be that fast, probably faster. when they show him escape the net trap and take to the trees he is up in the canopy in a second and then out of the area in only a few and that is leaping tree to tree. The scene when he is jumping on the rocks looking for Dutch he doesn't need to move fast, he needs to move with intention as he is trying to flush out his prey.
I mean it could def be that and that would play well with the idea of the scene being more interpreted as a kind of nightmare/dream. Also though, I think storyline wise the predator very likely could run this fast. When we see him actually move in the films, it's an actor in a suit doing the best he can. In actuality though, those predators are super super agile and strong. I always thought this running scene was supposed to come off as like a jaguar closing in and running down his prey for the kill.
“We hit nothing.” One of the most spine tingling lines ever.
There was a blood splatter on the plants. They just didn't see it because it was green like the foliage, and not red like they would instinctively look for. Watch that scene closer.
hes talking about the line itself, youre telling him to watch something closer a year after he posted this, but youre the one that needs to watch things closer! lmao are you autistic or just goofed up?
@@jedediahbriggs3520
Glad he notices the scorpion allusion.
I remember when I was a kid my uncle told me “if you look real closely you can see the predator in the background for most of the movie”, bullshit or not, from that moment on I was always keeping my eyes pierced.
lol, its like a horror science fiction version of where's wally
THERE ARE THINGS IN THE WOODS THAT WILL SNATCH YOU UP. MISSING 411 WILL CLUE YOU IN...
@@loveunderlaw Thank you! I always tell people to listen to David Paulides. It's interesting to me, living in Missouri, if you look at the maps they've put together, here in the Middle US there are virtually no disappearances. It's all concentrated in areas much closer to either coast. Still, I've spent a lot of my life outdoors, and after hearing his interviews, and watching the movies, I always keep an eye out when I hunt and hike, and never go out unarmed with both a firearm and a ham radio. I'm working on the personal locator beacon. It's just good safety advice for any trip to the wilderness.
@@loveunderlaw. Where do you think some of these movies get their ideas from. Art imitates life
No joke, I still watch the trees carefully to this day 🤣😎
My late father in law served in Burma during WWII. In late life he suffered several micro-strokes and didn't care for movies very much. I think he could no longer follow most of them. But when I put this on with Dolby Digital 5.1 he came down to my basement screening room and watched the whole movie. The 3-D jungle sound effects had totally captivated him.
I'm not even sure if ever met anyone who said they didn't like the film.
Bill Vegas reading this warms my heart.
He certainly had good taste! If he's a WW2 vet he definitely deserves respect, may he rest in peace.
Collative Learning my friend says this movie is horrible but he is 300 pounds so who the fuck cares
Bill Vegas at any given time I feel people get those nice moments,it's cool be it you're father grandfather or uncle.
Predator is the greatest film ever made. I used to get home from school and watch it everyday like a lunatic though it never fails to entertain me. It is easily one of the best action, sci-fi psychological thrillers out there and should be in the top ten of all best film lists and no mistake.
Wayne Goddard ...i agree. What i take from it, besides how bad ass and well done it was, is how humbling it is..
I think Commando may give it a run for it's money ;-)
Wayne Goddard spot on pal!! Greatest 80s action movie and easily Arnie's best!! Git to ze choppa!!
Predator and T2 will always be my favorite files of all time.
Wayne Goddard me to lol
The voice or "rattle" of the predator is done by Peter Cullen. Optimus Prime
ROLL OUT!!!
c'mon you're kidding right? That's seriously Optimus doing the clicking? If so, that's fucking amazing. I never knew.
@@MrBoDiggety yeah Peter had told the story at a con about how he got the job. The video of it is here on youtube.
@@sirdroolsalot12 I just watched it. I always thought it was computer generated. Absolutely amazing!
YOU WIN❗️❗️❗️
Dillon's death scene is one of the most intense and unforgettable scenes in the entire history of cinema.
@Kenneth Bone Yes it is
@Kenneth Bone Not the best movie ever made but one of the best. There's a reason why it will always be a classic while most other movies will be forgotten.
Predator is a masterpiece of film-making. Great characters, music, story, setting, cinematography...everything is executed perfectly.
Linick really? only if you ignore the tons of errors. this scene described has an obvious fake arm visible behind dillon and the platform thrusting him into the air. this video clip does not have the full screen shown....it is there in the original.
John McTiernon.
Fof, so a movie can’t be a masterpiece? That’s stupid.
What I always thought was interesting was how the body count ramped up in the last act of the film. We had Hawkins & Blaine killed within minutes but then a good 45 minutes before another death scene which was Mac, quickly followed by Dillon, Billy & last being Poncho. Those last 4 deaths all happening within 5 minutes or less of each other.
This was not a action movie, this was straight up sci-fi horror. I love it!
Dennis Byerly no because horror movies are scary. Predator arent monsters they’re bad asses but can be killed. Real horror movies consist of not being able to fight back.. like the monster isn’t effected by bullets.
It the clown , Jason , Michael , Freddy etc they can all be killed . Zombies , werewolf's , vampire's demons all of them and they're all considered horrors.
The Predator mimics Billy's laugh when he sets off his mini nuclear weapon.
Actually it's Orson Welles, easy mistake I guess? (Not that I would...) Also Peter Cullen did most of the Predator's other sounds.
*I am not kidding, look it up.*
The part where Dillon misses at point blank makes sense to anyone who's played Hunting Grounds. It's just really easy to get stressed then miss once this massive cloaked thing charges at you for a melee beatdown.
I was re-watching it on BluRay a few days ago and was impressed how well-made it is. While I bought it because of childhood nostalgia, I now realise how well directed it is- the buildup of tension, the slow narrative taking it's time to introduce everyone, the excellent transition to horror, etc. It is basically "Alien" meets "Deliverance", while almost mocking the macho action genre. No sequels or spin-offs come even close to the original.
Yeah, I think that sequels just don't capture the right sorta vibe as the original
Even though we can't elucidate our attraction for this movie so well in youth, I'm glad there's scholars like this guy's channel saying what needs to be said regarding it's absolute proven genius and outstandingly high quality it achieved, a real perfect storm of cinematic brilliance given to us.
@@Veldtian1 i think the second movie was good, but compare to the original it fail to make a point on the cop. the original had an ultra black ops group hunted down. Sequel had some cop that was somewhat in shape. lack the muscular build that the black op group did and they weren't moving as a unit. Not to mention the group the predator hunted were more random drug dealers. The original predator purposely hunted a group that was extremely dangerous. While the second stalk a groups that had no chance. They lack the weapons or the training that the first group in the first movie had. So instead of upping the anted it downgraded it.
think had they done the two film but switch it. Where the first time we saw the predator it was huting the policeman and the later movie it was the commando group then both films were be praise more. As it is. The Prey in the second movie didn't match the one in the original.
@@Marverynactually the predator never actually hunted the cop in predator 2, it was the other way around, the predator actually spared him on 3 different ocassions in the first half of the film
I love that you're doing these films that are mostly overlooked as "serious" works.
Cheers. It's an incredibly smart film, but it does such a brilliant job on the basic commercial front that it's easy to assume there's nothing else to it.
The flaw with that lies with pretentious film critics that like to do that separation (which extends all the way to the oscars), not with the movies themselves not having value and merit. A proper film critic should be able to analise a movie of any genre and identify the quality in it and quantify the appeal to it's target audience, be it an action movie, a romantic comedy, a blockbuster, a B movie, etc.
Nice summary and totally agree. Even popular cartoons for toddlers are worthy of study.
I agree that artistic evaluation should be more democratic in nature. Thankfully, art appreciation has moved beyond objects that are merely interesting to the elites or otherwise signify upper social class status. The French sociologist Bourdieu wrote a book examining these types of class status signifiers in the art world (Distinction 1979). As someone that could never truly "get into" snobby, allegedly "intelligent" art house films* it is refreshing to finally start seeing popular/mass art being given its recognition.
*note: films made for critics and snobs, not actual enjoyment.
Well, any "serious critic" doesn't bother with maintream works. ;)
80s action movies are a genre I've come to see very different than I used to 20 years ago. It's probably the filter of time coming into play that makes us only really think of the best works from that time, while we just forgot all the actual dumb explosion movies. But among these, there definitely were a good number of actually really good movies. Even if back at that time most people failed to see the difference. (Overall consensus at release seems to have been that The Thing is total garbage. How opinions have changed.)
FYI: the predator didn't avoid the gunfire from the whole team..... You can see it's blood on a leaf
the predator's blood on the leaf was caused by Mac when he initially found the predator and shot him point blank with his M60 but by the time the rest of the team showed up predator was long gone so the "team" really had nothing to do with the blood on the leaf
Alan Lloyd the Predator avoids the gun fire by climbing on the trees. That’s why later on in the movie, Arnold comes to the realization that he’s using the trees to maneuver around the team so efficiently, without setting off any traps.
If it bleeds, we can kill it.
@@TheTillmanSneakerReview As stated right above you and explained in the film; the predator uses the trees in the jungle to avoid certain things (like gunfire)
The blood was used as a means of the woman in the film to see it, contemplate it, and later on address the soldier's about the stories in her native area about "The demon that makes trophies of man."
"It's using the trees"- Dutch
In the parlance of Samurai Jack, Predators "JUMP GOOD"!
Brilliant breakdown. Some people over look the fact that John McTiernan's genius was his choices of camera angles, the use of slow motion and sound effects and it's proper use for each scene. It's a big reason why Predator is a timeless classic and not some 3rd rate corny monster flick.
P Monk Don't Forget editing! Hr rewrote Hollywood editing. Even having to fire multiple Academy award winning level editors on multiple of his earlier films like Die Hard. He always felt bad and gave them parts or Jobs in other movies. They just couldn't cut his movies like he requested. They were stuck in the 70s era of action editing. He also had a thing for using the latest cameras with antique lenses. Giving those unique looks and lens flares. They CGI those into modern movies. He was legit!
It may be have been more corny if they'd stuck with Van Damme and his version of the predator
McTiernan also understood the importance of characters and the relationships between them. Predator is a fantastic example of an action movie that is elevated by the stakes that are created when the audience is invested in the people on screen. We are not just watching victims line up for the Predator to pick off like a slasher film. No, we see these men interacting, laughing, experiencing, and fighting together as a well oiled machine so when they start dying it matters. McTiernan is one of the all time greats, truly a pleasure to watch his work.
4:40 I think I have seen this movie 100 times and never thought about why the Predator picks up the scorpion (nice catch). For a long time I just thought it was a scene to show off the body heat camera; but maybe the filmmakers were giving the Predator a character moment. The Predator knows that humans are the most dangerous species on Earth so perhaps he has sympathy for the other species that can't defend themselves.
Please... Pred doesnt care about some bugs.
Btw scorp is a nasty animal, which can kill a human. I believe Pred has some knowledge about that.
That camera shoot was more like "you think thats easy prey... I'm gonna make YOU a prey".
Don't forget about the rat in the "he couldn't see me" scene that the predator spare
segundajuganda Nah I think Sean's theory has some merit. The Predator is known for only hunting those who can fight back, it isn't into killing people who unarmed and defenseless. This is evidenced many times throughout the first two movies, like when it didn't kill Anna in the first movie, or the kid with the toy gun in the second movie.
My thoughts immediately lit up when he referenced the scorpion too! I mean, I know now being a filmmaker that specific scenes should not be seen as throwaway material.
Consider that the Scorpion snuck up on Dillon, but Mac had his back. Predator realizes that these guys need to be separated before he can hunt them as they work together as a team and trust each other almost blindly, which is evident when they all fire into the trees without hesitation because Mac had a feeling about it. Also just the big fight against the rebels in the jungle, they didn't have any casualties, which would also confirm that the Predator saw how effective they work as a team.
I gotta watch to see if he finds the scorpion before or after that moment, but it sure does seem like it's quite cluey that humans before these professional, may not have worked as a tight team with such trust. Because none of them are shown to be cowards and all die quite heroic-like too.
So many thoughts buzzing in my head! Haha. Perhaps he does have sympathy for creatures that are defenseless against the powerful and felt humans kill without much thought?
Pretty glaring continuity error in that scene, as the scorpion has magically turned 180 degrees post crush.
This film is the best of all of them. When I saw this for the first time, I was absolutely mesmerized. This movie is over 30 years old, and it just seems like it has aged very, very well.
The muscle mass in this movie alone!
Some of them were getting up as early as 3 am to work out, and Arnold flew down a gym so that the entire cast and stunt crew could all work out together. They had to be big to have those guns. (Can't find the quote about why Ventura's gun was so big. lol)
Could level an entire suburb
See, this is what I wanted to avoid, a conversation about body mass
@@talacocheta9001 Ventura would hear Schwarzenegger's alarm go off in the morning, rush down to the gym, throw a bucket of water on himself and start working out, Schwarzenegger would arrive to see Ventura seemingly drenched in sweat from a long workout, yet still able to work out at an intensity similar to his own. Not to be out done, Schwarzenegger would get up earlier and earlier every day until the point where they were getting up at 3am. Ventura said he had never worked out so hard, Schwarzenegger probably was thinking the same thing.
John McTiernan: what a wonderful Director. Among others: Hunt for Red October, Die Hard and this.
And then jail.
@John And Abbey yes its a weird case. "He is two months into a 12-month prison sentence for perjury and lying to the FBI during an investigation into a wiretapping scandal." www.theguardian.com/film/2013/jun/04/hollywood-director-john-mctiernan-prison
@John And Abbey Released in 2014, but he hasn't been hired since. www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/die-hard-director-john-mctiernan-683407. His career ended with the Rollerball fiasco.
@@johnspence8141 A shame, at least regarding movies, he was a very good director
He also did The 13th Warrior.
Maybe the Predator respected the scorpion for fearlessly trying to attack Dillon, who is many times larger than it.
Mac said "Anytime" after saving Dillion from the scorpion, so maybe the Predator repeats this after Dillion sees Mac's corpse to say "He's not here to save you now".
I think you missed the point with the "any time" callback. Mac says it after he crushed a bug. The predator repeats it after he kills Mac. The predator is comparing killing a human, to a human killing a bug. Also none of this really qualifies as subliminal.
Maybe subtextual?
Well spotted!
Yeah... "I can take you anytime."
Deffo not subliminal 😅
Maybe the Predator sees the killing of the scorpion by Mac as dishonorable? I dunno mate?
i also saw it as predator trolling him too saying it can pick him off at anytime
"What's the matter? The CIA got you pushing too many pencils?"
Make it easy on yourself.
Rudie Obias: It's almost an entire movie of amazing one-liners.
One of the best scenes in my opinion is Billy's death. He throws his gun away, strips off his gear and slowly cuts his chest with his knife, the other characters leave knowing that he is going to face down the Predator in single combat, in an attempt to buy them enough time to escape.
Normal movie logic tells us that there's going to be a one-on-one fight scene between him and the Predator, that he will buy them some time but ultimately be killed (I wouldn't be surprised if this was filmed but then cut in editing). Instead, in the very next scene the characters are mid-conversation when we hear a loud, blood-curdling scream from Billy's direction, and the camera silently zooms in to the jungle path from which the scream came.
All we can see is the trees and foliage, and all we can hear is the ambient buzzing of the jungle, but it amplifies the tension and horror massively because in our minds we're desperately searching for any sign of the Predator, any sound or shimmer in the trees - exactly how the characters are feeling at that moment. The silence lasts just long enough to have this effect, then suddenly the Predator attacks again.
Having an off-screen death for Billy is utter genius, because it subverts the expectation of the viewer in a sudden, jarring way which intensifies the horror. It also further increases our feeling of hopelessness and dread toward the Predator, as the strongest character whom we expected to have a showdown with the Predator dies *instantly*.
The suddenness of his death and the speed at which the Predator is able to catch up tells us that he was simply no match for it whatsoever, and that it killed him quickly and with ease, which further emphasizes how powerless the characters are and how impossible to defeat the Predator is. Instead of *showing* us that in a traditional fight/death scene, the film allows us (and trusts us to be intelligent enough) to come to that realization *in our own minds*.
This is why it's so effective, horror is something which happens in our mind, the fear, the racing paranoid thoughts etc. A film which *implies* something horrific and allows the audience to imagine it, is always more powerful than a film which merely shows or tells the audience horrific things. This scene always stands out for me when I watch the film, and I think it marks the absolute low-point of the film from the characters' perspective perfectly.
This is in stark contrast to the third(?) film 'PredatorS' where there are multiple scenes where characters stay behind to face down the Predators, and I believe at one point someone fights and kills one with a katana. It really goes to show how intelligent the original film was and how the later films failed to reproduce it's quality and film-making genius.
Excellent commentary.
Awesome! Very well written sir...
You may be a bit confused, the Predator doesn't actually *immediately* chase and catch up with them. There is an entire graphic deleted scene which was removed from most theatrical versions where it moves Billy's gutted corpse to a high tree branch before ripping out his spine & skull, posing with them in victory. The speed it catches up with them afterward is still superhuman because it isn't human, that much is fair, but the whole point was him goading it's pride to the point that they could shorten the distance between the evac chopper and them.
(But to be fair, Hanzo was *WAY* more skilled than Billy and wielding a weapon type he had trained with for years. The fact that he died while killing a Predator just goes to show you how skilled he was and how overconfident the hunter was...)
@@VerdeMorte no my man, you're the one who is confused. That scene which you mention of Predator ripping out Billy's spine was not deleted from the theatrical cut; it comes much later in the film.
I do agree with you on the Hanzo vs Predator katana fight though. That is a well-done scene deserveing of praise in its own right.
@@denniscobos3306
Was unaware of that, though there may be several cuts as I was mentioning a cut that may have been for television, making much less sense. There has been talk of older movies having scenes rearranged from script to filming to editing though, so that could definitely explain my disconnect. I do know about footage that was intended to be filmed that involved further flight & battle between Mac & the Predator, but I think it may have been cut before filming...
(PS: That Hanzo scene has no right to that level of amazing cinematography & pure awesomeness. If the entire film had been like this I could imagine it being far more popular than it became.)
The original 1987 Predator is a classic....... the sequel's are a bit shite though.
Matthew Flanagan
Imo the sequel was still great, especially the ending. The rest are shite though.
It's better than the alien sequels after the second.
Part 2 not so bad. The one with the commando J#w wasn't terrible
You're right. I enjoyed the second with Danny Glover but it was no where near as good as the original. My uncle and I were talking about this the other day, gotta love how we are watched and listened to now smh
Yeah..let's see....limping ass geriatric Danny Glover vs....The Predator! I guess that wasthe unlikely box office attraction?
5:40 I never realized until now that the Predator is actually there right in the middle of the screen!
There's something out there Poncho....( and it ain't no man)....we're all-gonna-die.
He's doesn't say Pancho, sorry to be picky I just love the film it has to be right. 👌
if it bleeds, we can kill it.
Gives me chills lmao
Bullshit Billy, you ain't afraid of no man.
I almost passed out when the MP5 was called an MP4 lol. Great video anyhow :)
I caught that, too, along with MP4 being called an audio file format.
It's a video format. MP3 is audio.
Sure, MP4 can be used for pure audio but it's not solely an audio format. You made your point, stop shoving it in my face.
@Aziryse You took a guess, then googled it, and you were sooo glad you happened to be right, you just had to copy-paste the whole thing LOL
@Aziryse *every day
Experienced this movie at 8 years old, had terrifying nightmares for years. Still one of my tops, and thanks for detailing this incredible scene 👍👍
But it was worth it!
Turn around turn around. Over here over here...
ANYTIME !!
"HAHAHAHAHAHA"
"Want some candy" shit sorry wrong movie haha
B355Y i was going to do that one after the next person replied
Funny i came in drop that line too lol
Fk it..
Want Some Candy?
They did the same thing to Jim Hopper
nice one! made me laugh yo!
Even though it would've been short, I'd like to have seen the story of Jim hopper and his team.
They sent the poor guy into a meat grinder.
@@roshimocolon yeah like what if it was the intro to Predator 2 and it ends with the "years later" subtitles over LA
One detail that’s implied by this scene and was established earlier in the movie, is the fact that when Dillon and Mac are looking at the predator it can totally see them AND hear them.
Easily one of my favorite films of all time. I must have watched it 600 times now of the years and i love it every time.
The fact the Predator says 'anytime' just simply means it was watching them the whole time. Nice breakdown mate, and I'd never noticed the predator in the trees before the eyes flash either ! I think the eyes flash is maybe symbolic of a demon.
Its targeting locks onto dylan- Same sound effect when it locks onto the thrown rock later
It's eyes are like that to indicate it's locked onto its target
@@youngbn3056 that's dumb, light on the outside of the mask to indicate to the alien in the mask that its locked on.... not to mention they kinda always rely on camo which the glowing eyes goes completely against. I would hope the glowing eyes were put in for intimidation/fear factor
dillons reaction to anna saying the predator is like a lizard literally never fails to crack me up. top notch acting from everyone in this movie.
"Fucking lizard" haha
I remember back in 2014 The Playstation 4 and Xbox One servers were hit with a cyber ddos attack that took the services down temporarily.
A group that claimed responsibility for it at the time was called Lizard Squad.
I always used to post this on numerous forum sites.
"You saying that PSN and Xbox Live were brought down by a fucking lizard? That's a bullshit psyche job. There's two or three men out there at the most. Fucking lizard".
Great video about my favourite film. I noticed later on in the film that the Predator is admiring Mac's skull with a burnt blast hole on the forehead, so it suggests that his entire head didn't explode, but that his brains left through an exit wound at the back. I think he valued the Mac trophy because he showed extreme courage by chasing and attempting to engage the Predator instead of fleeing.
absolutely correct sir
The handshake earlier in the film is also foreshadowing Dillon's slighter inferiority to Dutch.
Or a moral failing
Its also the arm that gets blasted of by the predator as well
Don’t see how it’s foreshadowing that. It’s a way to show how yoked Carl Weathers and Arnie got for this movie, and foreshadows Dillons arm being severed later.
It is an interesting point, because they both get blasted in the arm by the predator and Dillon loses his arm and dutch has a mere flesh wound.
@@bconmoto always grand that a film like this has added details so minor till you really notice after a 2nd or 3rd viewing.
This is how films should be made, and whats lacking in modern movies. Old movies were so simple on the surface, yet so effective. And this is why.
They were simple but very unbelievable at the same time. They went out of the way to make certain characters look overtly badass or tough.
Because they had to be. Back then they couldn't hide fuckups with CGI blur i.e. "Transformers".
@@JohnLick96. depicting an elite Commando Force as anything less than badass would be unbelievable.
Great video brother , I'll watch anything to do with Predator , ANYTIME !!
Predator gave the USA two governors, no dumb film
Love the breakdown ! Thank you so much for your great analytical skills!! By far, it is one of my top 5 80s movies. I would like to give you some detailed information I have read and come across regarding the Predator (also one of my top 5 characters). His eyes flash yellow as he switches through different vision modes. Also that rattle sounds are actually from his mandibles. When it's time to claim his prize, he makes that clicking sound out of excitement. I have read this information, and I also noticed in the game Predator Hunting Grounds he also makes that rattle/ clicking sound when going into Cloak.
Another great analysis of an overlooked and usually misunderstood gem. Thanks Rob!
Predator! I can watch that movie "Anytime" (Mac Voice)
😄😄👍👍🤘🤘good one mate
Predator is the greatest action movie of the 1980s (very close behind is Diehard). This movie has so much going on with brilliant direction, action, dialogue, and special effects. It's more than just gratuitous violence like many of the other action movies of the time (e.g. Rambo, Commando - although both are also excellent action movies). But Predator stands out to me as the best, and this video's dissection of poor Dillon's death scene illustrates the great and subtle aspects of this movie. Great interpretation in this video.
I'm going to ruin the movie for everyone. Billy dies by slipping and falling off the log.
lmfao
He hits his testicles on a rock and they explode.
i loved that movie but hated how they didn't do Billy justice. BS.
I'm so happy I found this comment. I laughed like a little kid. Thank you...
makes sense
I actually think it’s a smart movie. A good example of that is when Arnold stays covered in mud to stay alive.
yea except that was movie bullshit and has been proven wrong multiple times..
Ken Mabie - FIND ME ON BITCHUTE There’s still some smart moments in this.
I always thought it was interesting that throughout most of the film the Predator hones in on billy (even adopting his laugh) and makes no attempt on him until Billy himself refuses to run. Saving his skull specifically instead of skinning him is indicative that the Predator saw Him and Dutch as the Alphas and with Billy's tracking ability and instinct might have even seen him as the superior. Doesn't play out of course but those little subtleties helped flesh the film out quite nice.
Billy was the tragic hero. He knew what was out there and he sacraficed himself anyway. This fictional character should have totally gotten the vote instead of Arnold and Jesse and Predator
Once saw that someone who "analyzes movies" said Aliens (2nd movie) had nothing to offer... after watching YOUR analyses i just chuckled to myself.
You're a freak'n genius!
The predator is projecting the voice of mac saying "anytime" so that dillon will hear the word anytime. One of the traits of some predators is mimicry especially with a highly advanced species; human or in this case the predator. It's basic mind control he's letting dillon know that the one person who saved him from the predator earlier (scorpion) is now dead. Dillon knows at a subconcious level at this point that it's over for him but conciously? And the one person who could have given him any more time is now dead. Anytime? And the drum beat is to symbolise dillons final heart beats or/and macs.
mac whispered anytime - it's not even clear from the film that Dillon heard him say it... but the predator heard it. It'd be able to hear every whispered conversation going on like the one between mac and dillon at the top of the scene. I get the idea that the predator was working out how superior it's senses are to human senses as the movie progressed - maybe why it seemed to be toying with the humans rather than just exterminating them as quickly as possible.
@@joinedupjon Good point
“Anytime” is the predators version of a duck call. He observed them making these noises to each other earlier, these two characters in particular, so he repeats it to position his target.
I've always seen Predator as a deconstruction or satire of the archetypal 80s action movie, with all the bulky, hyper-Manly commandos effectively being killed from an entity from a completely different genre.
Yeah it flips the tables on its own promotion of macho antics - action genre defeated by horror genre.
Rob Ager
I just now recognized this, but Aliens did something very similar the year prior. I somewhat politically-charge Vietnam-inspired war movie mashed together with the aesthetic and titular character of the first Alien. Kind of "Platoon-meets-Alien." I realize Aliens came out the same year as Platoon so there probably wasn't that much of the latter influencing the former, but it makes me wonder, because I always thought that Predator and Commando, at least thematically, existed in the same universe. Both films were produced by Joel Silver, and what little information we're given about Dutch's backstory (some super-elite, super badass black operative who led a similarly-badass team) seems to match with his character in Commando. Just a thought.
Let's not forget the hyper sexuality and emasculation of the movie: Dillon loses his arm, the arm we see at the start with bulging muscles half-handshake, half arm wrestling with Dutch, almost like erect penises (hyper masculine/gay/penis simbolism undertones). So in his death scene, two metaphorical penises are being lost: the gun and the arm.
More hyper sexuality: sexual tyranosaurus joke, pussy as big as a house joke, big muscles and big guns, Predator's vagina dentata face.
More emasculation: Predator kills all the men, leaves the woman alive. Skinning and leaving the men hanging, naked and helpless. Only way to defeat the predator is by not using the guns (phallic symbols) (although he does get killed by a cut tree trunk, pretty phallic still...)
james roe
You seem like a fun guy.
The sexual side of the film (or lack of it considering female presence) is interesting, but I don't see most of the connections you're making there. The film is certainly aggressively hormonal which is easy to misinterpret as primarily sexual. For me the film is about other things entirely ... said enough though as don't want to reveal full analysis content yet.
Very insightful analysis. Definitely learned a something about direction here. Predator is a vastly underrated screenplay as well. The believably quick way it establishes the camaraderie of the team is something SO many team action movies struggle with today. And the way Predator sells Blaine and Mac's BFF relationship with such subtlety is noteworthy - in the inbound chopper ride, Blaine has a jerk-off mocking demeanor about everyone but Mac... indicating he's either scared of Mac or really tight with Mac. By the 1st action sequence of the movie we see he ain't scared of anything (doesn't even have time to bleed) and we then later realize it's that the two of them were really tight friends. Most movies would try to oversell that and in the process mess it up. Predator, on other hand, nailed it with subtlety.
I recall Blaine saying the jungle 'there' made Cambodia look like Kansas--so I'm guessing one of them or both of them served in SOG operations in Vietnam-perhaps together. Heck Ventura and Richard Chavez were both in Vietnam in 'real life'.
It sure helped that in Predator, Full Metal Jacket, Aliens casts actually trained togethor.
Who remembers Action Jackson? Lol Damn I'm old and so are you if you remember!
I remember Action Jackson. I only watched it because "Apollo Creed" was in it (at that time I hadn't seen Predator).
By no means was it a classic, but I do think it has had a very bad press over the years.
Lots of the same villains as Die Hard and Commando.
I thought it was quite entertaining and fairly under rated. I had heard it was intended to be the first film of a franchise, like Die Hard, 48 Hours and Lethal Weapon, but because of it's poor box office performance and negative press, it was discontinued, which is a shame. It was a good slice of 1980's cheese.
Most of the tilted shots are a result of the lack of flat ground. it add so much dramatic tension to the movie. Carl even said in the on set interview that they had to prop his chair up. Great analysis.
Turn around, bright eyes
Every now and then I fall apart
Predator is my favourite move of all time. That's dismissing the claim that you can have "more than one favourite", or "one of my favourites", as it defeats the purpose of the word. That being said, I noticed all of this long ago. It's really a complex movie, as well as being completely brilliant, macho and over the top. The themes present really reflect this. I just bought your analysis of the film in total (2 plus hours) and I"m really, really looking forward to watching it. I love your videos, not just this one. The Thing videos are really eye opening and as someone who loved (and feared) it as a child, I completely agree with the Childs theory. Please keep making videos! I wish that I found you earlier.
Quite possibly the greatest action movie of all time
I just realized that perhaps the Predator was intrigued by the scorpion possibly due to its similarities to face -huggers!......
In the universe of aliens vs predator yes...but not in this movie its far fetch..but its a nice call ...they do look like face-huggers..lol
@@frankderoma9567 that's actually a good observation. And to tighten that analysis up, I would even say the predator regarded the scorpion, with respect to arachnids, as an apex predator, and felt a sort of connection to it.
No,avp is CANNON and the crossover comic wasn't even made when the first predator came out.
Its amazing how much of a master piece this movie ended up being considering what it started off as...
I always assumed the blast was more surgical because it was close range. that the Predator was able to adjust the "caliber" of the plasma bolt.
The "anytime" whisper also indicates that the Predator was watching and studying them for awhile, long enough to hear and record that line from Mac. Makes you wonder how long it was out there.
lol The Predator (maybe) relating to the scorpion reminds me of a idea when I was younger that he would have let Dutch and the others go...until he saw Mac kills his pet scorpion he was trying to rescue from the guerrillas.
Perhaps you felt empathy towards the scorpion. And thought perhaps the predator did as well.
The Scorpian represents the Predator. The Predator was also contemplating his own possible death.
Any serious film lover (at least the most experienced) knows that John McTiernan is great film maker who can infuse action with so much film skills, turning this genre into an 'honorable' genre.
In fact, any genre of film can be great if made with great talent like this guy, at least with his carreer debut (last films seems to be weaker).
Predator was only his 2nd feature, after "NoMads".
I always say that a movie doesn't necessarily need deep themes. Entertainment is an art in itself, when it is masterfully crafted in a way that it becomes almost deceptively enjoyable. Although I think that Predator is an echo of the Vietnam war.
Great thoughts and yes, a seemingly simple theme can lead to a great film when masterfuly made. In our life, common situations made us live sometimes the best moments of our life. "God is in the detail" says the proverb (the real one), meaning little things are much bigger that we see first.
This film is visceral, it take us down to our guts, inside our deepest fears (the unknown, the dark place of our soul). "Predator" feels like a nightmare someway. After the film finishes, we feel like we woke up after a strong dream. By the way, the great editor Walter Murch said that a film works very like a dream.
I always say that we have a need of both things: depth and just fun or a mix of those. There are times when we need to sit back and think, and then there are times when we just want to enjoy ourselves and life. Both have their justifications.
Yes, I think the movie is effective in portraying our primal fear that a real predator might be lurking somewhere, and that we would be helpless against it.
The music is great, too. It creates a unique feel for the movie, knowing when to slow down, when to speed up, and when to be just like the natural sounds of the forest. Off topic, but this reminds me just how forgettable many blockbuster film scores have become nowadays.
Music: totally agreed. Rob certainely put this in his full analysis. The almost quiet tambourine in the jungle is a genius idea. Again, it's primal, simple and effective. Fits totally in the mood.
Modern music is too often saying what's to feel with big boots ("Tadaaaaam": be impressed...).
- Reminds me the beginning of "Poltergeist" with nice friendly music showing a quiet little town with family bonds. Then the trouble starts and the mood changes. Today, they starts before the first shot with a dramatic scary score than unloads immediately the tension by provinding us no persepective at all. We only ear scary sounds, so we only knows a scary state who turn to be the norm in the context of the film. No fear anymore because something normal is not scary.
Predator starts with usual military power music with drums (they are strong and will win) then the shit hits the fan and all turns over. Like said Sting Sniperscope, it turns over the archetypal power-armed-man.
Eddy Juillerat I have yet to buy one of Rob's complete analyses one of these days. I only discovered him some 2 or 3 months ago. So, nice to hear him speak about it, and thank you for telling me.
And yes, I might be mistaken on this, but I have the impression that movie openings today don't use music the way they used to, if they use music at all. Back then they tried to set you in the right mood for the movie. Nowadays I feel like I don't see that anymore. It is right into the action as if they are too afraid to loose their audience if they don't do it, but I might be mistaken on this, and talking from the standpoint of a biased memory.
You guys ever notice that in Schwarzenegger’s movies in 80s and 90s he nearly always has a Hispanic/Latina woman as a sidekick? Even in real life he cheated on Maria with a Hispanic housekeeper. Although she was pretty fugly and old.
Arnold likes Latina spice
What a fantastic movie. GREAT breakdown, that's so kick ass that the Predator is visible in the first glimpse. I'd have to say, this movie and First Blood are 2 of my favorites. They both still hold up today. I really wish they made movies this good today
I literally just watched this film last night, so what a coincidence. And I consider it the best action film ever made, better than Die Hard or Raiders.
Lestov16. It wasn't by any chance on German television? Because I saw it also yesterday or so, and the terrible "Predators" the day before (didn't really watch it, once is enough, but let it run on tv while doing other things).
Malafakka No, I was watching it on my HBO subscription, but I'm glad they are airing it in Germany. Predators was not nearly as good as the original film or Predator 2, but it was better than either of the AVP films imo.
Lestov16 Yeah, it definitely is better than AVP.
Saving private Ryan is the goat
I just watched Predator for the 2nd time in 20 years (with my new analytical powers). I'm pleased you mention the music. I noticed how it is used to suggest and distract more than most films I've yet seen.
Such a recognizable score and fits perfectly in every scene, some of it very subtle too.
A doctor friend of mine said that Dillon would not necessarily immediately collapse from shock after his arm has been shot off by the plasma cannon. I always figured it was unrealistic but apparently not.
MP5 mate, it's an MP5, probably the most famous and widely used sub-machine gun in history
I think it's tied with the Uzi.
My weapon of choice on call of duty.
But the most recognized is the Tommy Gun
One of the greatest movies ever
Mark Zedd are you sure
Chris Z - After Conan the Barbarian
This is as good an action-adventure as you could ask for. Git to da choppa!
Dude!!! I really enjoyed watching this, you’re right on how he feels as if it’s a nightmare he can’t escape. I felt that way watching this as a kid. Love it man, love it!!!!
That was a very intricate breakdown. This is my second favorite scene as well. It tells a tale of the hunter's cockiness and toying with its prey before going in for the kill as it shows off it's true power and ability to kill whoever, whenever it pleases. Great job.
Watched this masterpiece back in 1991. Never thought there would be so many intelligent analysis in this comment section 30 years later.
That's an MP5 bruh.
It's an HK94A3
@Toby Lerone www.imfdb.org/wiki/Predator_(1987)
You're wrong
Prick
@@RexCymru it's a civilian carbine ment to be dressed up as a military mp5. Relax prick
@@hakureishrine So I'm right.
@@RexCymru Just take the L, mate. Besides, the POINT is that it's not an MP4. And yes, those guys are right.
Hey, I know what the Predator flashing his eye's to Dillon meant. It was like "draw" in the old west or like the go light at a drag race. Which fits the Predator's sense of manners or "fair" combat. Come to think of it, does the Predator kill anyone not looking at him? Like sneaking up behind or something. I don't think so.
Yep, a sort of acknowledgement. Her I am, let's draw.
Awesome! the more comments i read, the more i like this movie. I didn't think it was possible to like it even more. I actually have a lot of respect for the Predator as a character. He's a class act.
He does shoot Blaine from behind.
+Andrew Galligan Not really, meaning Blaine is facing the direction of the predator and sees a hedgehog then gets shot at pretty much that same angle and then turns around and gets the death shot. Not the same thing like sneaking up behind and killing him at all.
well blaine had a massive weapon and was snot very respectful towards a fight, so he had to take the most powerful and dangerous one out first. Plus Blaine was distracted by some hedgehog so maybe predator found him stupid.
What a joy it must have been to have seen this for the first time in the 80's and experience the whiplash of the action genre being flipped. You expect a by-the-numbers action film: Big Beefs and Big Explosions with a side of corny. And while you get that, you also see for probably the first time them being knocked down a peg by something that's even Beefier. They're completely vulnerable, stranded, and at the mercy of a creature that is its own weapon; no guns, no bombs, no missiles. You, as a viewer, are finally able to relate to the Big Beefs in a way: YOU are being hunted, as a human. What ever plan you might conceive or action you take may not be good enough, despite numbers being in your favor. I dare say it's humbling!
The appetizer was the introduction of the film, standard, light. The main course was the surprising thought that was put into it. It wanted to be more than just a genre film. While it certainly isn't meta, it flipped the script of the decade and because of that originality it's still highly regarded as an action and horror film. Ugh, so good.
I wish someone would do an analysis of "13th Warrior". Its been all but forgotten.
that movie is so awesome, and i have no idea why i love it so much
Underrated comment.
pmendes99 Its a McTeirnon flick. The man makes solid flicks.
Apparently it was poorly recieved by critics and audiences alike.
Couldn't agree more. It's like two different ages coming together, stone & bronze. One moves forward, one is left to history.