Saw the Panel for Badlands at San Diego Comic-Con. They showed us the first fifteen minutes of the film and had a short discussion with Elle Fanning, the director Trachtenberg and Dimitrius Koloamatangi. Got really excited for the movie got tickets for this afternoon. Really glad you liked it.
I love the first Predator movie, but in a lot of ways, I like the sequel more. Danny Glover is no Arnold, but in some ways, he's much more human. Also, the supporting characters are all really good. You care more about what happens to those cops than you do about the Predator mercenaries. Even Gary Bussey's end is kind of disturbing, sawed in half by the predator's frisbee weapon. That said, everything after that, except maybe Prey, has ranged from forgettable to just plain bad.
Yeah, I love the sequel at least in part because it has as much in common with NEW JACK CITY or MENACE II SOCIETY as it does the original Predator. Like: It's a 90s urban crime movie, not a sci-fi-horror-thriller. Or maybe it's both, in tandem.
Like Aliens, it's the best kind of sequel, because it pays a little homage to the original, while advancing the story and character arc (at least of the villain), without just regurgitating the same story in a different form. Plus, it's a little less oppressive and a lot more fun than the original, also like Aliens. I agree, it is both in tandem, that make them great.
All of that said, I watched the sequel to Hot Tub Time Machine last night (I know, but I had nothing better to do). Maybe the worst sequel I've seen, outside of Weekend at Bernie's II and the universal "worst sequel in history", Caddyshack II.
Also, apparently, Richard Dreyfuss. (His son told me about going to the premiere of the film where he was the only person to give it a standing ovation at film's end; everyone else was kind of confused by it.)
I'm going to recommend a series called "The Deathworld trilogy" by Harry Harrison. A heavy gravity world that constantly evolves into deadlier things. Think someone might have read this in designing the world. definite similarities.
I would like to suggest another "perfect" movie. "Black Sunday" (1977) an attempt to kill everyone at the Superbowl. To this day, like the first time I saw it, I just sit back and enjoy. I also agree on "The Last Action Hero." Didn't care for it at first but rewatched it and now it's a favorite.
I think the second Aliens movie was pretty near perfect, especially if you watch the director's cut that has Ripley's backstory and that awesome scene with the sentry guns in the access tunnel. Great story. Great suspense, great cast, and great ending.
The thing about LAST ACTION HERO, and I think I've written this somewhere before, is that it was "meta" about ten years before mainstream audiences really understood what that meant. Like, its closest relative isn't actually any action movie but SCREAM.
A great review, and such a helpful explanation of the distinction between a "best" and a "perfect" movie! On the "perfect movie" front, I'd also nominate another Schwarzenegger piece, *Terminator 2: Judgement Day*; and *The Sting*, which is perhaps the perfect "perfect" movie.
Saw the Panel for Badlands at San Diego Comic-Con. They showed us the first fifteen minutes of the film and had a short discussion with Elle Fanning, the director Trachtenberg and Dimitrius Koloamatangi. Got really excited for the movie got tickets for this afternoon. Really glad you liked it.
I love the first Predator movie, but in a lot of ways, I like the sequel more. Danny Glover is no Arnold, but in some ways, he's much more human. Also, the supporting characters are all really good. You care more about what happens to those cops than you do about the Predator mercenaries. Even Gary Bussey's end is kind of disturbing, sawed in half by the predator's frisbee weapon. That said, everything after that, except maybe Prey, has ranged from forgettable to just plain bad.
Yeah, I love the sequel at least in part because it has as much in common with NEW JACK CITY or MENACE II SOCIETY as it does the original Predator. Like: It's a 90s urban crime movie, not a sci-fi-horror-thriller. Or maybe it's both, in tandem.
Like Aliens, it's the best kind of sequel, because it pays a little homage to the original, while advancing the story and character arc (at least of the villain), without just regurgitating the same story in a different form. Plus, it's a little less oppressive and a lot more fun than the original, also like Aliens. I agree, it is both in tandem, that make them great.
All of that said, I watched the sequel to Hot Tub Time Machine last night (I know, but I had nothing better to do). Maybe the worst sequel I've seen, outside of Weekend at Bernie's II and the universal "worst sequel in history", Caddyshack II.
So, I guess you and I are the only people who liked "The Last Action Hero?" Good to see you, sir!
Also, apparently, Richard Dreyfuss. (His son told me about going to the premiere of the film where he was the only person to give it a standing ovation at film's end; everyone else was kind of confused by it.)
This warms my heart!
I've felt this way about the Predator movies for a long time, but didn't KNOW I felt this way until you put the words together, Sonny. Thanks!
I'm going to recommend a series called "The Deathworld trilogy" by Harry Harrison. A heavy gravity world that constantly evolves into deadlier things. Think someone might have read this in designing the world. definite similarities.
I nominate Ronin as a perfect movie.
I'll allow it.
I would like to suggest another "perfect" movie. "Black Sunday" (1977) an attempt to kill everyone at the Superbowl. To this day, like the first time I saw it, I just sit back and enjoy. I also agree on "The Last Action Hero." Didn't care for it at first but rewatched it and now it's a favorite.
I think the second Aliens movie was pretty near perfect, especially if you watch the director's cut that has Ripley's backstory and that awesome scene with the sentry guns in the access tunnel. Great story. Great suspense, great cast, and great ending.
yep
The thing about LAST ACTION HERO, and I think I've written this somewhere before, is that it was "meta" about ten years before mainstream audiences really understood what that meant. Like, its closest relative isn't actually any action movie but SCREAM.
A great review, and such a helpful explanation of the distinction between a "best" and a "perfect" movie! On the "perfect movie" front, I'd also nominate another Schwarzenegger piece, *Terminator 2: Judgement Day*; and *The Sting*, which is perhaps the perfect "perfect" movie.
Terminator 2: Judgement Day is my favorite Terminator movie, and that series has been better overall than the Alien or Predator series have been.