Predators (Movie Review)

Hurtling toward a dense, jungle planet Royce (Adrien Brody) awakens in time to deploy his shoot and crash land into the canopy. Upon reaching the ground his disorientation turns to horror as he meets eight other humans -- well trained killers all -- who have also awakened to find themselves on this distant world. These unlikely teammates come to realize that they are part of an intergalactic hunting expedition put on by a group of highly evolved Predators. The group must stick together and distinguish friend from foe if they are to survive.

After two mediocre "Alien vs. Predator" films it was high-time that the series return to the more standard human vs. predator format, and that is accomplished quite successfully here. Director Nimrod Antal and crew lean heavily on Predator lore as the set the scene and let the mayhem unfold. "Predators" features over-the-top weaponry, great hand-to-hand combat, and some lush, beautiful alien scenery. What truly lifts this film above other similar also-rans is the deft use of violence and gore. By setting loose such a motley crew of trained killers, Antal and company were able to highlight various styles and modes of battle. The predators move and behave in familiar ways, but they are challenged more by their foes -- which means more wild times for genre fans. The direction creates enough suspense to drive home the action, and while it's not hard to see the ending coming, the conclusion is sweet nonetheless.