6.6 | / 10 |
Users | 4.4 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.1 |
Set in Los Angeles in the year 1997, when the streets are ruled by Jamaican and Colombian drug dealers. A federal agent assists the LAPD in their investigation of the mysterious deaths of scores of drug dealers.
Starring: Danny Glover, Gary Busey, Rubén Blades, Maria Conchita Alonso, Bill PaxtonAction | 100% |
Sci-Fi | 75% |
Thriller | 74% |
Horror | 53% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.84:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: Dolby Digital 2.0 (224 kbps)
French: DTS 5.1
Spanish: DTS 5.1
French & Spanish: DTS 5.1 @768 kbps
English SDH, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
He’s on safari.
If ever there were a search to find the most generic, neither brilliant nor horrendous, watchable
but not memorable, sequel of all time, Predator 2 should be considered as one of the
primary candidates. The follow-up to one of the best pure Action/Sci-Fi movies of the past several
decades, an icon
of the 1980s, and arguably Arnold Schwarzenegger's best film, Predator introduced
moviegoers to one of cinema's most deadly, feared, and brutal bad guys, a towering, invisible,
well-armed, incredibly strong, and highly advanced alien with a thirst for the hunt and a want for
human skulls to adorn its trophy case. The epitome of the mediocre sequel, Predator 2
cashed in a meager $30 million during its domestic box office run, failing to recoup its budget by
$5 million. Behind the camera for this bland sequel was Stephen Hopkins, himself, much like his
movie, perhaps the very epitome of "average." With a filmography that includes a couple of
turkeys (The Reaping, A
Nightmare on Elm Street: The Dream Child), a few decent outings (Blown Away,
Lost in Space), and an underrated but certainly not super-great movie, Judgment
Night, Predator 2 probably represents his best work, a loud, action-packed
extravaganza that offers plenty of gunfire and gore but not much in the way of substance.
Something tells me this isn't the standard-issue LAPD sidearm.
Predator 2 arrives on Blu-ray with a 1080p, 1.85:1-framed transfer. Quite the opposite of its predecessor's Blu-ray transfer, this one sports a mostly grain-free image that lends to the visuals a smooth, somewhat artificial, and mostly flat appearance. Most of the visible noise may be seen over the darkest corners of the picture. Speaking of blacks, they are not bad, never straying towards a shade of gray or appearing too bright, but certainly not quite purely inky and true, either. Predator 2 appears drab, thanks to many nighttime scenes and an otherwise dark and hazy atmosphere. Only the film's opening action sequence during the hot, sun-drenched Los Angeles afternoon does the transfer see an abundance of color, and although the imagery here suffers from the problems associated with noise reduction, it never looks terrible and, indeed, probably represents the best overall sequence in the film from a technical standpoint. Detail suffices throughout, but this transfer will never be mistaken for The International in that or any other regard. Also featuring an adequate presentation of flesh tones and a few very minor instances of banding, this Blu-ray release of Predator 2 is fine, all things considered, but could likely look better in some future re-release.
Predator 2 hunts on Blu-ray with an aggressive DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The film is marked by scenes of unrelenting violence, and those sound that accompany that imagery -- gunshots, screams, and explosions -- play loudly through every speaker in the 5.1 configuration. Though neither completely clear nor an undefined jumble of sound but certainly overwhelming the aural senses with barrage after barrage of sonic activity, this track makes for a satisfying experience for its delivery of content loudly, efficiently, and seamlessly through the entire soundstage. The rear channels play an integral role in this presentation; gunshots and ricochets, for instance, are heard in the back in most every action sequence. The rear channels also work hard to create a realistic atmosphere throughout; the inside of police headquarters features phones, typewriters and keyboards, and plenty of chatter filling the soundstage and creating a good, almost seamless, environment. Dialogue, while generally solid, is sometimes lost under the deluge of loud music and sound effects. Bass thumps in spades throughout, making this a rowdy, loud, exciting, but not quite reference-quality sonic experience.
Predator 2 features a rather standard collection of extras. Two commentary tracks serve as the main interest here, the first featuring Director Stephen Hopkins. Delivering a decent track, Hopkins speaks on the special effects shots, the make-up of the characters, the process of shooting various sequences, the strengths each actor brought to the film, and more. Writers Jim Thomas and John Thomas talk up the film in the second track, recalling their work on the original Predator, their influences, the development of the Predator 2 plot and its themes and actions, some of the commentary on gangs and the environment in the film, life on the set and the background of the actors, the Predator technology, and more. A better commentary than the laid-back and average director offering, this writer track is worth a listen. Also included are several featurettes. The Hunters and the Hunted (480p, 35:41) looks at both Predator 2 and its predecessor and includes snippets from both films and plenty of Predator 2 cast and crew interview clips. This piece examines the contrasts and similarities between the films, the characters that populate them, make-up and creature effects, and more. Evolutions (480p, 8:24) takes viewers behind the construction of several of the film's visual effects -- Main Titles, Something on the Roof, Enemy in the Alley, and Subway Showdown. Weapons of Choice (480p, 6:49) takes a closer look at the Predator's weapons -- Gauntlet Knives, Self-Destruct, Plasma Cannon, Net Launcher, Smart Weapon, and Telescoping Spear. Hard Core Segments (480p, 7:05) offers a pair of the "Hard Core" news segments as seen in the film. Rounding out this collection of extras is Promotional Gallery, a collection featuring a trio of theatrical trailers (480p, 4:02), five TV spots (480p, 2:24), The Predator Goes to Town (480p, 3:03) promo piece, the International 'Making Of' Featurette (480p, 5:42), and Creating the Ultimate Hunter (480p, 3:40).
Far from a tragedy but certainly not on the same level as its classic predecessor, Predator 2 works in many areas but falls short in several others. It lives under quite a big shadow and cannot manage to emerge from it, though there is enough here that both recalls the first film (particularly Silvestri's fine score) and introduces new information into Predator lore to make it a worthwhile outing. Also featuring decent performances and plenty of violence, Action and Science Fiction movie lovers will like this one well enough. 20th Century Fox's Blu-ray treatment of Predator 2 isn't bad, but the studio has proven time and again it can do better. Featuring a loud, action-packed, but not always perfectly-defined soundtrack, a transfer that shows signs of noise reduction but doesn't look too terribly bad, and an average number of supplements, this Blu-ray release comes recommended for hardcore fans of the film and as a rental for all others.
3-Disc Set
2010
1987
Extreme Unrated Set
2007
2018
2004
1997
1992
Ultimate Collector's Edition
1986
40th Anniversary Edition
1979
Special Edition
2000
2004
2009
2012
2009
2002
Unrated
2011
2008
2010
Unrated Extended Edition
2005
2010