"OK, Pussy-face...it's your move." - Lt. Mike Harrigan
Year of Release - 1990
Region 1 - NTSC - Rated R
DVD Release - 20th Century Fox - 2003
Running Time - 107:53
Director: Stephen Hopkins
Starring: Danny Glover, Gary Busey, Ruben Blades, Maria Conchita Alonso, Bill Paxton, with Robert Davi
Music: Alan Silvestri
Predator was a hit and a sequel was almost inevitable. Predator 2 had the fortunate situation of being written by the same people who wrote the first movie, Jim & John Thomas. This is a situation that most sequels don't find themselves in and they often come up short.
Australian director, Stephen Hopkins, who had previously directed A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child, was given the task of directing the movie. Arnold Schwarzenegger did not take part in Predator 2, the lead role given to Danny Glover.
SYNOPSIS
The Los Angeles of 1997 has become even more violent. The city has become a warzone between two rival crime gangs, the Scorpions a Colombian drug cartel and King Willy's Jamaican Voodoo Posse, with the LAPD caught in between.
Lt. Mike Harrigan (Glover) is one of Metro Command's most decorated officers. He is also one of the most volatile and violent. But in his view, he's in a war, and his way is the only way to survive. He commands a small, but dedicated group of cops. Danny (Blades) is his partner and best friend. Leona (Alonso) is a no-nonsense cop who doesn't take shit from nobody. And Jerry Lambert (Paxton) is a smart-ass up-and-coming cop, nicknamed "The Lone Ranger" who is new to Harrigan's team.
The Colombians are in a shoot-out with the Police, when Harrigan arrives, he decides to finish it. Leading from the front, he and the police manage to drive the Colombians back into their hide-out. Ignoring the order to leave them to the Feds, Harrigan takes a group into the building to take the Colombians out. But they discover that someone has already taken them out. Somebody beat them to it.
Harrigan is warned by the Police Cheif (Davi) that he should have let the Feds handle it. The Feds in question, led by Special Agent Peter Keyes (Busey) are apparently the D.E.A., sent to stop King Willy's Posse.
The next night, the penthouse one of the top men of the Scorpions, whilst in the midst of a night of passion, is invaded by a group of King Willy' Posse. He is killed in a Voodoo ritual. They're laughing it up when the Predator attacks and slaughters them all. Shit happens.
Harrigan and his team are again chased off the crime scene by Keyes and his "butt-boys". He and Danny decide to wait until later that night, so they can have a snoop around the crime scene. However, Danny goes in without Harrigan and is killed by the Predator.
Now it's personal. Harrigan will stop at nothing to get who is responsible for the death of his friend. What is Keyes' real agenda? And what can Harrigan do once he finds out that he is up against the Ultimate Hunter?
VIDEO
Predator 2 is presented in it's original aspect of 1.85:1 and is enhanced for 16:9 Televisions. The picture has a few minor artefacts, but on the most part is very clean. The Director of Photography is Peter Levy (Broken Arrow, Lost in Space) who also worked with Hopkins on A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child. Combined with Hopkins' already stylish flair, the film has a great look to it.
AUDIO
The English track is in Dolby Digital 5.1. There is a Spanish and French track, both in Dolby Surround 2.0.
Alan Silvestri provides the score to Predator 2, using his previously established themes and adding some new elements to his themes. His scores for Predator 1 & 2 are some of his coolest work.
EXTRAS
Predator 2 Featurette
This 05:41 Featurette is prety good. It was made duirng filming and is the usual publicity featurette. It features clips and brief interviews with the actors and the director. The actors do actually provide a bit of insight into the characters.
If you have read my Region 4 review of Predator 2, this is the Featurette that was on the Australian Video pack.
Predator 2: Creating the Ultimate Hunter - Featurette
This 03:40 Featurette focuses on the Predator itself. Made during the same time as the previous featurette, it even has some of the same sound bytes and clips as the previous featurette. Its not too bad really.
Theatrical Trailer
This US trailer, running for 00:59, is of varying audio and video quality.
OVERALL
People are divided over which Predator film is better. Most would say the original film is hard to beat, but there are very passionate Predator 2 fans out there.
Personally, I find it difficult to compare the two films in terms of which is better. The first was a great film, with the Predator built up and revealed gradually. Set in the jungle against a team of elite soldiers, it has an unreal feeling to it to begin with, so the premise is easier to believe. With Predator 2, the Predator is known by the audience, so the "Jaws Factor" is not present. The movie has to rely on good characters, a good plot and solid Acting and Direction. Set in a more realistic setting of Los Angeles, albeit set in a ultra-violent near-future scenario, gives the presence of the Predator added weight because he is invading your comfort zone. "Who cares if there is a monster in the jungle, I live in the city!" Well there can be monsters in the city too.
Danny Glover puts in a great performance and he really carries the film, although there can't be enough praise for his co-stars. Stephen Hopkins has done a great job on this film, and it's nice to have another Aussie connection in the Predator movies (Don McAlpine being the cinematographer of the first fim).
This Region 1 version is marginally better than the Region 4 release simply because of the Featurettes. However, I must say that I prefer the PAL image.
Predator 2 is a great film, a good sequel, presented on a good DVD that has a couple of extras, but sorely lacks a Commentary.
The Film: 
The Disk:
"Dark Lord" Paul Lenkic
"Accept the Lord of Darkness as your saviour!" - The Undertaker
© 2002