THE PREDATOR (2018) – My rating: 8/10

The Predator is a science fiction action film directed by Shane Black and written by Black and Fred Dekker. It is the fourth installment in the Predator film series (the sixth counting the two Alien vs. Predator films), following Predator (1987), Predator 2 (1990), and Predators (2010). Black had a supporting role in the original film, while John Davis returns as producer from the first three installments. The Predator follows a group of PTSD-afflicted soldiers who’s mission is to destroy a pair of alien Predators.  This is not a film I wanted to see but after sitting through it, I decided it was pretty entertaining and even exciting.

** SLIGHT SPOILERS **

A Predator ship crash-lands on Earth. Army Ranger and Sniper, Quinn McKenna (Boyd Holbrook) and his team are attacked by a Predator while on a hostage retrieval mission. Quinn incapacitates the Predator (Brian A. Prince) and has its armor mailed to his estranged wife, Emily McKinna (Yvonne Strahovski) and son, Rory McKenna (Jacob Tremblay).  At the behest of government agent Will Traeger (Sterling K. Brown), Quinn is captured and interrogated while Traeger sends the captured Predator to a lab for experimentation and observation. Evolutionary biologist Casey Bracket (Olivia Munn) is tasked by Traeger to study the captive alien. As Casey was conducting test, the Predator awakens, breaks out of its bonds, kills the lab workers, but spares Bracket before leaving.  Meanwhile, Quinn, along with a group of other government captives, including ex-Marine Gaylord “Nebraska” Williams (Trevante Rhodes), a military veteran named Coyle (Keegan-Michael Key), a military veteran from the Afghanistan and Iraq wars who is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder named Baxley (Thomas Jane), a helicopter pilot named Nettles (Augusto Aguilera), and Lynch (Alfie Allen), another ex-Marine is bussed out to the military base where the Predator is held captive. As the bus arrives, they witness the Predator escaping from the lab, thus proving his existence to all.  Instinctively, Quinn and the rest of the crew take over the bus and commence fighting off the Predator.  Taking Bracket with them, they head over to Quinn’s estranged wife, Emily, where he expects to find the Predator’s armor he mailed. However, Quinn’s autistic son Rory has gone trick-or-treating while wearing this armor, in hopes of avoiding detection from bullies.

Of course The Predator gets more and more interesting.  There are Predator Dogs, big Predators and small Predators, just to name a few of the surprise scenarios.  I thought this was one of the better Predator films given where we are technically and scientifically.   The acting was brilliant and the adventure had lots of little twist.  The plot made as much sense as it could, considering the fact that this is a science fiction movie — they can make up anything they desire, but  it has to be believable to us.  I’m not sure about this one, you’ll have to see it for yourself to determine whether or not the story is  believable. the story.  I liked it, so I recommend it — check it out!

 

LOGAN (2017) – My rating: 8.7/10

Logan turns out to be a fantastic farewell to this third and final film solely focusing on Wolverine while opening up a host of possibilities as it says hello to a new chapter of young mutants. While I’m sad to see X-Men, as I knew it, fade into the sunset, I realize, we all get old. Today’s action films are so physical, it’s a wonder super heroes like Tony Stark last as long as they have. As you can see, the likes of Spiderman, Superman, Batman and Catwoman have all changed actors with many more to come. Logan (Hugh Jackman) happens to be a picture of beauty as far as the body goes however, we can’t account for what’s inside. While still looking good, he is now out of the action hero game, probably taking on roles more suited to his age. I must say, he did a fantastic job parting as Logan. Not only did he manage to keep up with the new young talent he also managed to look great doing it. The story was great, the acting was extraordinary and the special effects were spectacular. A little too much killing for my liking but that hardly seems to be a problem these days. I did feel some of the killings were unnecessary, as it would have been nice if some of the nicer people had lived, I’m just saying.

The final sequel is set in 2029.  James “Logan” Howlett, formerly known as Wolverine, (Hugh Jackman) has aged greatly because the adamantium fused to his bones has started poisoning him and impeding his healing factor, due to his body progressively growing weaker over the years. He spends his days working as a chauffeur and hustling prescription drugs in Texas. He and albino mutant Caliban (Stephen Merchant), who can sense and track other mutants, live in an abandoned smelting plant across the border in Mexico, where they care for Professor Charles Xavier’s (Patrick Stewart), who is suffering from a neuro-degenerative disease, which causes him to lose control of his telepathic abilities to a devastating effect. Charles is on major medication, and has to be looked after at all times, as well as kept hidden from society because of his superior brain power. Every time Charles misses taking his medication, he goes into seizure that caused catastrophic results, killing hundreds of people. This is why Logan solicited the help of Caliban, who is a mess himself. To make a bad situation worse, Logan reluctantly takes on an 11 year old girl Laura/x-23 (Dafne Keen) who is being sort after by cybernetically enhanced Donald Pierce, (Boyd Holbrook), Chief of Security for Transigen, an organization of cybernetically enhanced enforcers called The Reavers.  Logan’s story get very involved from this point, as Laura was made from his DNA so she is technically Logan’s daughter.  If you are an X-Men fan, Logan is a must see — if you are an action hero fan, Logan is still a must see.  All in all you will love this sequel, it’s history in the making and well played by all.

RUN ALL NIGHT (2015) – My rating: 7.5/10

Hollywood  may be fearing redundant movie plots.  Run All Night is not the same old thing but I have a problem with all the “Taken” films Liam Neeson has starred in.  I couldn’t stop relating Run All Night to his Taken character.  Lately, Liam Neeson seems to star in the same types of movies.  Aside from that, Run All Night has a decent plot.  A mobster, Shawn Maguire (Ed Harris) and his gang of thugs, including professional hit man Andrew Price (Common) go after hit man, Jimmy Conley (Liam Neeson) and his son Michael Conley (Joel Kinnaman) because Jimmy was forced to shoot Shawn’s son, Danny Maguire (Boyd Holbrook) as Danny was about to shoot Jimmy’s estranged son, Michael.   Michael has a pregnant wife and 2 children and drives a limousine for a living.  Because of this shooting, the two men have to team up for their survival.  Shawn is hell bent on killing Jimmy and Michael as revenge for the death of his son, even if his son was totally in the wrong.  The action is pretty good and the direction is thorough.  I enjoyed Run All Night but didn’t find it fantastic, just interesting with lots of excitement.  It has nothing to do with the Taken movies.   Overall, you wouldn’t be missing anything if you wait for the DVD.