Predators (20th Century Fox)
Good Beginning, Lousy Ending
Predators is the fifth installment in this series of movies, and it starts out like it is going to be one of the best. But things go awry during the middle, and the ending is a complete bust. Stars such as Adrien Brody, Alice Braga, Walton Goggins and Topher Grace give it a good shot but their best efforts are not good enough.
The movie starts with a man named Royce (Brody) unconscious and free falling through space. He comes to just as his parachute opens and he lands. He has no idea of where he is or why he has been falling through space. He soon meets up with another man. His name is Cuchillo (Danny Trejo) and he also has no idea of where they are or why. In a few moments they are joined by Isabella (Braga), Stans (Goggins), Edwin (Grace), Nikolai (Oleg Taktarov), Mombassa ( Mahershalalhashbaz Ali) and Hanzo (Louis Ozawa Changchien).
Eventually the group determines they are on another planet in an area similar to a game preserve. It appears they are the game and there are alien predators after them. From that point on it is a game of cat and mouse as the game is picked off by the hunters.
Movies of this kind sometimes work but in this film there are a few twists that dont work at all. Then the ending arrives and it is poor to say the least. Some illogical occurrences make the fight between the hunters and the game a joke.
Brody is fine in the acting requirements of his role but buying him as a macho leading man is a bit of a stretch. Braga is better in her role as a tough woman with a conscience. She is fine in her acting capabilities as well in the physical requirements of the role.
Goggins stands out in the supporting cast. He plays Stans, a con who was on death row when he was abducted. He gives this character a standout unrelenting personality. Goggins is one of Hollywoods best character actors and makes every role unique in some way.
Laurence Fishburne appears halfway through the film in the mysterious role of Noland. The man is supposed to be a cipher but Fishburne pushes him way over the top. At the end you know less about him than you did in the beginning.
The movie is rated R for profanity and violence.
Action movies have their fans and sci fi movies have their fans. Both should be pleased by a film like Predators except for the fact the plot stumbles and the ending disintegrates. That is a one two punch that fights off any fans.
I scored Predators a stalking 3 out of 10.
