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Predator
- Review Date: December 17, 2007
- R
- Genre: Science Fiction
- 1987
Common Sense Media says
Arnold vs. alien action is violent, ultra macho.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this macho sci-fi action adventure has lots of bloody violence -- not to mention artillery and gun fetishism (although, in the end, it's the low-tech death traps that prove most effective...). The villain is a laser-wielding alien that cuts down many of the heavily armed heroes, leaving hideously skinned corpses in its wake. Lots of strong language; some drinking, smoking, and drug references. The lone female character doesn't get much to do compared to star Arnold Schwarzenegger and his fellow male soldiers.
What's the story?
Set in the jungles of Latin America, PREDATOR follows a team of super-commandos on a U.S. military rescue mission to liberate hostages taken by leftist guerillas. Only after eliminating the guerilla headquarters do the swaggering heroes, led by Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger) find out that their target was really a Soviet spy-invasion camp that the Pentagon wanted destroyed after an earlier Green Beret squad went missing. Meanwhile, an alien spaceship lands nearby and its deadly occupant observes the bloodshed. The creature is a tall, vicious extraterrestrial, and it was what killed the Green Berets. Now it's after the commandos, leaving Dutch to figure out how to overcome its invisibility and superior death-ray firepower. In the process, he runs out of guns and regresses to basic hand-made booby-traps and snares.
Is it any good?
Cited by those who keep track of such things as one of the ultimate "guy movies," Predator is a violent, militaristic, hyper-macho spectacle of biceps, bombs, and guns, with plenty of catchphrases tossed out by bigger-than-life actors (for example, Jesse Ventura's oft-quoted line "I ain't got time to bleed!"). If you can appreciate its cartoonish aspects -- for example, the fact that the cast members, despite having been savagely slaughtered, reappear for the end credits to take a bow and smile -- you'll likely be entertained.
Predator definitely is more fun than its 1990 sequel, Predator 2, in which the alien went hunting gangstas and FBI agents in a stereotypically hyper-violent Los Angeles, with Danny Glover grievously miscast in the Arnold role as a one-man-army cop. After that, the creature mainly appeared in video games and crossover comic books (even Batman fought the Predator!) until Alien Vs. Predator came along and filled in some of the questions about the Predator's eons-old interaction with the human race.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the appeal of scary movies. Why is it fun to watch something that puts you on the edge of your seat? How do the scares in a movie like this compare to those in a typical slasher movie? Which do you find scarier? Why? Families can also discuss how the time period in which a movie is made affects it (beyond the quality of the special effects, that is). What political and historical events does the movie reference? If you don't know, how could you find out?
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Kid, 11 years old
January 7, 2010
AGE
A bunch of ADVENTURE!
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Kid, 12 years old
April 10, 2010
AGE
I'm not really a fan of action violence or R-rated movies. But its a great movie.
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AGE
ADVENTURE!!!!!!!!!
One of my favorite altime movies! Some little children may be scared of what the Predator look like.
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AGE
Stick Around
Predator is good for 13 and up vilont but good
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AGE
Perfect for teen gore finatics but not kids not even tweens if they are going tho tell their younger siblings about it.
It is a good action movie but with no story. A group of army men are dropped in the jungle and are (warning this may sound graphic for young kids) skinned alive with their guts ripped out by the predator (a VERY high-tech alien) and of course (spoiler alert) schwarzenegger kills it. There is language throughout the movie, a very inppropriate joke is made twice and they smoke and chew tobbaco.
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AGE
Schwarzenegger does it again!
Excellent movie, but just one comment why doesnt this place have Predator 2?
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AGE
Great for tweens.
There is a few skinned bodies, and cutting. It is an amazing movie adventure.
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AGE
Bloody, in a Good Way.
Gory, but almost hilarious to watch. I watched it at a time when I was wanting action and more action - and I got just that.
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AGE
Predator
An awesome movie! I love the Predator movies and own every single one.
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| Studio: | Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment |
| Director: | John McTiernan |
| Cast: | Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bill Duke, Carl Weathers |
| Genre: | Science Fiction |
| Run time: | 107 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | May 27, 1987 |
| DVD release date: | December 26, 2000 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
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