The Predator is the third sequel to
1987’s Predator, which pitted Arnold
Schwarzenegger and his fellow commandos against the now-iconic marauding alien in a Central
American jungle. With incredible practical special effects, claw-biting
tension, superb acting and some of the best one-liners in film, Predator remains one of the best and
most original sci-fi thrillers to this day. Along with Terminator 2: Judgement Day, it’s also one of Arnie’s two greatest
films. Its own 1990 LA-based sequel, Predator 2,
however, fell somewhat short, but at least managed to make for some great
expansion of the mythology in its final ten or so minutes. Fortunately, the far
superior and criminally-underrated Predators
in 2010 went back to basics with its jungle planet setting.