"You're one ugly motherfucker..."

[1godzillafan]

Is it just me? Or is Predator the ultimate "guy's" movie?

Oh sure, as far as Schwarzenegger flicks go, I prefer the Running Man and True Lies, but in terms of sheer machoness, no action flick I've ever seen has pulled it off as beautifully as Predator.

Since AVP comes out on DVD next week (already preordered it from Amazon), I decided to dig through my DVD collection and pull out my copies of Predator, Predator 2, and the Alien Quadrilogy. Didn't have time to watch them (will probably do that sometime next week), but I took a little bit to reflect on the good times I had watching these movies. None of them moreso than Predator however. Oh sure, the original Alien has it's moments, Aliens is a rush, and Alien³ was wonderful, but Predator on the other hand, I just love every minute of. I love the action, the alien design, the one-liners, Alan Silvestri's excelent score, and, of course, Arnold himself.

I'm not sure if any sequel could have ever done this film justice, even though they did try. Predator 2 was a neat idea, but a little too camped up. AVP had the misfortune of being written by Paul WS Anderson, a man who I believe has wonderful ideas but doesn't know how to execute them in any other way other than guilty pleasure (he just might be this generation's Ed Wood. He seems to have a passion for what he does, people can't stop badmouthing his movies, and yet I can't stop being amused by them). Plus, the Predator just isn't the same without the Alan Silvestri score to back him up. I liked them both on their own terms, but compared to the raw, down and dirty original, I'm not even sure I could mention them in the same breath.

Ah well, the original will always hold my heart. Nothing will ever change that, no matter the sequel. I'm pretty sure the die hard Alien fans feel the same way when it comes to Alien: Resurrection.

*sigh* I am destined to have bad timing when it comes to DVDs though. :( I got the original Predator single disc DVD for Christmas back when I was sure that two disc set would never reach America, and it did just last year. Also last year I bought the quick dollar Predator 2 DVD because I was certain that Fox wouldn't take a chance for a special edition with a movie this unpopular, and that 2 disc set comes out next week along with AVP. I'd buy the new sets, but I refuse to pay for the same movie twice. It's a little pet peeve of mine. But just you watch, the day after my AVP DVD comes in the mail, they're probably gonna announce a better edition for that as well.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B000244EMO.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0006BGWR8.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00005JMZK.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

[eSJayBee]

You are too right, 1GF. I loved the first Predator. (I think I may buy that one). It was very enjoyable. More so than Predator 2. And AvP left me empty.

Even the Predator design still looks sweet to me after all this time. I certainly wouldn't have minded it being as popular as Aliens became. Their sequels certainly weren't as bad.

[Amirius]

Eh, i'm still probably going to buy AVP next week, if only for the hope of a Director's cut edition and seeing some more elaborate killing than just seeing the shadow or some blood on teh Predators blade.

Predator 1 was certianly the best though. Been a long ass time since i've seen it though, maybe gonna have to check Amazon or something to try to find it.

[Captain Bryan]

Wasn't Danny Glover in Preditor 2?
I'm going to hold out on AvP and hope for a better version.:D
And I think I'll try and get Preditor 1 soon too:)

[1godzillafan]

Yeah Danny Glover was in Predator 2.

As for the R-Rated Director's Cut, I'd hate to shoot down hopes, but that looks unlikely. I'm just as disappointed as everyone else will probably be when they read this. From IMDB (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0370263/trivia):

"Around the time of the film's release, it was reported that at a special industry screening director Paul W.S. Anderson said that the film was always planned as an R-rated movie and shot that way, but only three weeks prior to release the studio changed that by severely cutting the film for a lower PG-13 rating. This account has been heavily disputed by original "AVP" writer Peter Briggs . It was later revealed that this "press-screening" never took place, and was only an internet rumor started by fans. Anderson has claimed in interviews that the film seen in theaters is the version he intended audiences to see."

Anderson, you are a lying bastard! You promised when you took this job that you'd be aiming for an R! Oh well. I guess by PG-13 standards the movie was still pretty hardcore. It concentrated on the Alien gore rathar than the human gore. But even after hearing this, I still blame the PG-13 on Fox. They could have at least left the "You're one ugly motherfucker..." line intact.

But the DVD will contain and Extended Edtion. Problem is that it only adds two minutes, which I think is entirely devoted to a new opening (and that is pretty confirmed by this DVD review (http://dvd.ign.com/articles/580/580031p1.html)). I need to hear what Anderson personally has to say on the subject of the R-Rating though, hopefully he'll mention it on his commentary.

[Captain Bryan]

Fox does that a lot, don't they:(

[Amirius]

Yes, they do and it pisses me off >.<

[Godzilla2000]

Well, considering that the Predator doesn't seem to personally kill anyone of the female species, I wouldn't necessarily call it a guy film.

[1godzillafan]

Originally posted by Godzilla2000
Well, considering that the Predator doesn't seem to personally kill anyone of the female species, I wouldn't necessarily call it a guy film.

Considering Anna served no purpose whatsoever except for show, I would.

[Godzilla2000]

She survived didn't she? ;)

[1godzillafan]

Originally posted by Godzilla2000
She survived didn't she? ;)

Yes, but only because of Dutch who wouldn't let the load use a gun. Male dominance rules the movie.

Who dies in the movie is not relevant anyway. A lot of men died in Commando, does that make it a "chick flick?"

[Captain Bryan]

Originally posted by 1godzillafan
Yes, but only because of Dutch who wouldn't let the load use a gun. Male dominance rules the movie.

Who dies in the movie is not relevant anyway. A lot of men died in Commando, does that make it a "chick flick?" Yes, and so is Rambo:smad:

[1godzillafan]

w00t! My AVP DVD shipped today from Amazon. I plan on writting a DVD review for it, so keep your heads up.

I also ordered the Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury. I haven't seen it, but knowing how much I love Riddick, it'll probably be worth at least what I payed for it.

[1godzillafan]

Originally posted by 1godzillafan
But just you watch, the day after my AVP DVD comes in the mail, they're probably gonna announce a better edition for that as well.


It may not have been a day afterward, but did I call that or what? (http://www.superherohype.com/news.php?id=3370)

But this one does have an extended cut. I don't mind buying those. Just as long as it's not a flat out double dip, I'm fine.

[Captain Bryan]

It'll be out in November.. That's almost a year after the original DVD came out.:)

[Amirius]

Originally posted by Amirius
Eh, i'm still probably going to buy AVP next week, if only for the hope of a Director's cut edition and seeing some more elaborate killing than just seeing the shadow or some blood on teh Predators blade.

Never happened ^_^ . Saw the "extended" edition shortly after it was released, wasn't worth the money to buy it.

I do have copies of both Predator (got it for like $5 at a local collectables store) and Predator 2 (shelled out $20 for the special edition re-release). Least I can watch them whenever I want now:).

Btw, has anybody heard if Ridley Scott has decided to direct Alien 5?

[Movies205]

Sin City is the ultimate guy film in my opinion....

[1godzillafan]

Originally posted by Amirius

Btw, has anybody heard if Ridley Scott has decided to direct Alien 5?

He was going to do it, rumor has it with James Cameron writing the script, but he dropped the idea. Said the franchise was getting way too stale.

[Movies205]

Originally posted by 1godzillafan
He was going to do it, rumor has it with James Cameron writing the script, but he dropped the idea. Said the franchise was getting way too stale.

I heard otherwise that Fox decided to go with AVP instead :(

[1godzillafan]

Originally posted by The Silent Avenger
I heard otherwise that Fox decided to go with AVP instead :(

I think that's the reason he dropped it. I think they were willing to do both, but Scott thought doing AVP was the last nail in the coffin.

Too bad. The franchise needs one last movie. Resurrection was definatly not the right way to end anything. Maybe if they can get someone like David Twohy, seeing how IMDB-wise Pitch Black was a better recieved movie than the last three Alien movies combined.

[Movies205]

Originally posted by 1godzillafan
I think that's the reason he dropped it. I think they were willing to do both, but Scott thought doing AVP was the last nail in the coffin.

Too bad. The franchise needs one last movie. Resurrection was definatly not the right way to end anything. Maybe if they can get someone like David Twohy, seeing how IMDB-wise Pitch Black was a better recieved movie than the last three Alien movies combined.

There was a better way to end teh franchise it was called alien 3 :(

[1godzillafan]

Originally posted by The Silent Avenger
There was a better way to end teh franchise it was called alien 3 :(

Damn straight. Totally underrated movie.

[Movies205]

Originally posted by 1godzillafan
Damn straight. Totally underrated movie.

It's hated because of the beginning, it's kind of funny that the first minute of a great movie tottally killed it for the fans, people are bitches though, if anything I like how everything is stripped away from Riply in the beginning of ALien 3, because it's like Fate continually laughs at her, she gets away from the Alien in Alien 1 but only to stranded in space for 70 years, she manages to find a new life by the end of Aliens only to have it be taken away by the very thing she hates, and then at the end of Alien 3 she realizes the only way to end this nightmare and these aliens is by sacrificing herself, it's actually a beutiful and epic tragedy in away, and because it's her clone in ALien 4, I kind of don't even consider that part of the series.

[1godzillafan]

Originally posted by The Silent Avenger
It's hated because of the beginning, it's kind of funny that the first minute of a great movie tottally killed it for the fans, people are bitches though, if anything I like how everything is stripped away from Riply in the beginning of ALien 3, because it's like Fate continually laughs at her, she gets away from the Alien in Alien 1 but only to stranded in space for 70 years, she manages to find a new life by the end of Aliens only to have it be taken away by the very thing she hates, and then at the end of Alien 3 she realizes the only way to end this nightmare and these aliens is by sacrificing herself, it's actually a beutiful and epic tragedy in away, and because it's her clone in ALien 4, I kind of don't even consider that part of the series.

I personally would have liked to have seen Michael Biehn at least reprise his role from Aliens. He's a great actor. Plus considering how much hell Fox put Fincher through, it might have been nice to see what he really could have done with the movie. That extended cut on the Quadrilogy DVD was great.

But still, even in it's theatrical form, I thought the flick turned out pretty outstanding. When I first saw it, I was in total shock since a good portion of the reviews on IMDB said it was terrible.

Sigh. Now I need to watch it again. But my cousins have had my Quadrilogy set since January.:( Time to go annoy them for it back.

[Movies205]

Originally posted by 1godzillafan
I personally would have liked to have seen Michael Biehn at least reprise his role from Aliens. He's a great actor. Plus considering how much hell Fox put Fincher through, it might have been nice to see what he really could have done with the movie. That extended cut on the Quadrilogy DVD was great.

But still, even in it's theatrical form, I thought the flick turned out pretty outstanding. When I first saw it, I was in total shock since a good portion of the reviews on IMDB said it was terrible.

Sigh. Now I need to watch it again. But my cousins have had my Quadrilogy set since January.:( Time to go annoy them for it back.

I love the bonus features on those discs, I watched all of Alien Bonus Features but found the Special Effects parts boring, I watched half of Aliens and haven't gotten around to other parts yet. Personally Alien is my favorite out of the series and Aliens gets worse with repeated viewings and is over-rated and I need to rewatch ALien 3 the DC.

[1godzillafan]

Originally posted by The Silent Avenger
I love the bonus features on those discs, I watched all of Alien Bonus Features but found the Special Effects parts boring, I watched half of Aliens and haven't gotten around to other parts yet. Personally Alien is my favorite out of the series and Aliens gets worse with repeated viewings and is over-rated and I need to rewatch ALien 3 the DC.

I like all the Alien movies for different reasons.

Alien has wonderful set designs and HR Gieger's costume design is a masterpiece. However I don't hold it nearly as high as others do. To me the tension in the film is like a rubber band to the skin, the harder you pull it, the more it will hurt. Unfortunatly most of the time in the movie they pull the rubber band so hard that it snaps in two and the tension is gone. I still like it, but I never really thought it was a suspense masterpiece.

Aliens is just plain fun. It's got a pumping pace and great characters. I love Cameron's work (although True Lies is his best, followed by the Abyss) and this film is no exception. He executed a different take on the franchise brilliantly.

I've thought of Alien³ as a masterpiece since day one. And I'll always stand by that.

Alien: Resurrection I have complicated feelings for. My love of b-monster-movies prevents me from hating it completly, and I enjoy it from time to time in a primitive sort of way. In fact, the first time I watched it, I thought it was rathar good. However, it's quality has declined over the years, especially in comparison to the other films. But still, there's something about Ron Perlman duking it out with the Aliens that makes me want to pop it into my DVD player when I'm in the mood for a stupid b-movie.

Alien vs. Predator was a lot better than it's reputation. However, I didn't really care for it's slow first half, it's poor acting, and Paul Anderson's seemingly rushed script. However the sets are beautiful, the fights rock, and Anderson is a better director than he's given credit for. There may not be much to it, but I love it as a simple creature feature.

But in my easily distracted by shiney objects opinion, Predator is more of my thing, and Arnold rules, so I always opt to watch that one above any of them.:)

[Movies205]

I own predator but find it slightly boring IMO, much more a fan of the Alien series :(

[1godzillafan]

Originally posted by The Silent Avenger
I own predator but find it slightly boring IMO, much more a fan of the Alien series :(

I have only one thing to say to that...

:smad:

Just kidding. I guess it's that I'm a major Schwarzenegger fan. But Arnie aside I still think think it's a unique and cool blend of action and suspense. Plus an Alan Silvestri score cannot be topped.

[Captain Bryan]

Well.. It can be..
But not very often..:p

[1godzillafan]

Originally posted by Captain Bryan
Well.. It can be..
But not very often..:p

NEVER! His Back to the Future score is boss.

OK, Jerry Goldsmith's Star Trek scores are up there, but Silvestri owns.