Predator 2 (1990)

Genres

Action, Horror, Sci-Fi

Director

Stephen Hopkins

Country

USA

Cast

Danny Glover, Kevin Peter Hall, Gary Busey, Ruben Blades, Maria Conchita Alonso, Bill Paxton, Lilyan Chauvin, Robert David, Adam Baldwin, Kent McCord, Morton Downey Jr., Calvin Lockhart, Elpidia Carrillo

Storyline

Amidst a territorial gang-war in 1997, a sophisticated alien hunter (Kevin Peter Hall) stalks the citizens of Los Angeles and the only man between him and his prey is veteran L.A.P.D. officer, Lieutenant Mike Harrigan (Danny Glover).

Opinion

After watching and enjoying Predator, I thought that watching a sequel without Arnold Schwarzenegger in it would be a waste of time. That said, and despite the fact that I was expecting a bad sequel, I still watched Predator 2 because, let's be honest, I love when sequels suck so I can have fun saying shit about them. Well, Predator 2 didn't allow me to do that because it's actually a pretty good sequel. If not even better than the first instalment.

The plot is basically the same of the first film, still having an invisible predator attacking armed forces in the (urban) jungle, so there's no mystery, no guessing who or what is going around killing people, still it manages to be interesting and engaging.

As for the characters, this time around the writers went for a different path. The characters are decently developed and they are definitely more likeable - not all of them though - and you actually care for them. The major difference here is the Predator. The alien has more screen time and a bigger role in the story; also, we get to know these creatures, their weapons and their behaviours a little bit better. With the latter, however, I did have a problem. The whole spearing the policewoman's life because she is pregnant thing just didn't seem like something a Predator would do. Unless she was pregnant with the alien. Which did cross my mind to be honest.

And then there's the action. It isn't as exciting or thrilling as it was in Predator, but it isn't bad either. Actually some scenes are pretty awesome. And it still is the thing that keeps the film going and that entertains from start to finish.