Who’s in it? Adrien Brody (The Pianist), Topher Grace (That 70’s Show), Alice Braga (I Am Legend)
What’s it about? A bunch of criminals are parachuted onto a strange planet which despite it’s beauty, has a whole ‘nuther reason for being.

Ever make plans to see a movie and then get there and it’s already started so you pick another that isn’t so great but you’re there anyway so you might as well just stay and suffer through it? That was my experience with Predators, the new sci-fi action flick in town.  The aim was to see Get Him to the Greek for a good ole’ fashioned laugh fest, but there we were, watching this incredibly slow-moving, stereotypical and incredibly boring “action” film. But then somewhere along the line it kicked ass! 

The storyline takes place years after the original Predators which starred that Austrian/Californian/governor guy, where a team of baddies fought off alien baddies and he was left standing. Royce (Brody) a mercenary who gets off on hunting man for sport, stands in quite admirally for the Terminator, right down to the maximum 5-word sentences and husky voice.  In fact, you could make a drinking game out of it…if anyone says more than five words in any sentence, down a shot!  His female counterpart and resident “hottie” Isabelle (Braga), only kills people in the name of her country so it’s not quite so heinous.  She, like the rest of the assembled motley crew is curious as to why a veritable United Nations of murderers have been stranded on this strange planet.

Unfortunately, the exposition section of the film takes wayyyy too long and I was starting to drift.  You know, betting which bad dude was going to get taken out first, wondering why the U.S. convict’s teeth looked so wooden, admiring the “Mexican” from his work in other films, praying the “African” killer would not be reduced to stupid clichés. 

And then Predators kicked ass!

The aliens are wicked, the action is incredible, the cinematography and special effects bring the fun and oohs for days. The movie is alternately spooky, scary, graphic, pulse-pounding, and terrifying with just a little bit of tenderness thrown in to keep it real. 

And, in a stroke of genius casting move, a very talented black actor who should know his way around the Matrix by now pops up in a pivotal cameo, and then the whole shebang is taken up a notch. Wayyyy up!

Predators, now showing at both theatres in Antigua.

4 popcorns out of 5 (loses points for a drawn-out first half and the distracting wooden teeth)

SHOWTIMES at Deluxe Cinemas in St. John's:
Thursday Jul 22: 8:30pm
Friday July 23: 8:15pm
Saturday July 24: 10:30pm
Sunday July 25: 5:30m
Sunday - Wednesday July 25-28: 8:15pm

SHOWTIMES Caribbean Cinemas on Friar Hill Rd:
Mon - Fri 6:55 PM, 9:20 PM
Sat 2:15 PM, 4:35 PM, 6:55 PM, 9:20 PM
Sunday and holidays 2:15 PM, 4:35 PM, 6:55 PM, 9:20 PM

Check out the 'Predators' trailer by clicking here.