Movie review: Predators ***

Our on-staff movie buff Leanne McGrath shares her latest candid movie review. Email feedback to her at [email protected].

Predators ***

Stars: Adrien Brody, Lawrence Fishburne, Alice Braga

Director: Nimrod Antal

Rated: R

Showing: Neptune Theatre week of Friday, July 16 – daily at 7:30pm except Sunday at 5:30pm  

Runtime: 106 minutes

Action/adventure/sci-fi

A sequel to the sci-fi classics starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny Glover, this pays no heed to the Aliens vs Predator spin-offs and returns to the concept that made this franchise a hit — man against monster in a battle to the death.

This time around the merciless dreadlocked killers kidnap a group of the planet’s most skilled warriors and take them to their own private game reserve to hunt them down for sport.

The eight-strong band of mercenaries, convicts and Yakuza must choose between being prey or predators and killing the aliens before they are slaughtered.

But as they soon discover, the predators’ advanced weaponry and famous camouflage means this is far from a fair fight.

Produced by Robert Rodriguez, the movie is packed with blood and bullets — the gore and violence is relentless and extreme.

The big action set pieces are well crafted directed by Nimrod Antal (Armored), who creates plenty of tension and keeps things moving at a swift pace. There is also sleek new alien weaponry and the addition of vicious predator dogs.

Pianist star Adrien Brody plays against type but is a convincing enough action hero, while Laurence Fishburne’s wise, oracle-type character isn’t a million miles from his role in The Matrix.

Watch if you liked: Predator.

For more information about film times, call 292-7296.