Predator

Details

Major Alan 'Dutch' Schaefer leads an elite team of commandos into the South American jungle on what appears to be a straightforward hostage rescue mission. It soon becomes clear, however, that the CIA has manipulated the operation to eliminate a heavily armed guerrilla force. Having completed the mission with military precision, the team begins its journey to the extraction point believing the worst is behind them.

Instead, they find themselves hunted by an unseen enemy unlike anything they have encountered before. One by one the commandos are picked off by a powerful, invisible predator whose advanced weaponry and stealth render even their impressive arsenal almost useless. As the body count rises, Dutch realises that the only chance of survival is to stop running and confront the deadly hunter on its own terms.

Picture & Sound

The picture can actually be rather disappointing. Although the bit-rate remains comfortably above average, the opening scenes suffer from some hideously grainy footage and a number of picture imperfections. Fortunately, this appears to be confined to the early part of the film, almost as if two different film elements have been used. Once these problems disappear, the jungle scenes display impressive colour depth and fine detail. For a film approaching fifteen years old, it has otherwise stood the ravages of time remarkably well.

The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack fares much better, making effective use of the surround channels for both Alan Silvestri's excellent score and the explosive action sequences. The assault on the rebel camp is particularly impressive, with gunfire and explosions filling the soundstage. Dialogue, however, can occasionally sound a little subdued, resulting in frequent volume adjustments before the next burst of action arrives.

Menu & Extras

The menu is a dull, static and silent affair. The extras are equally disappointing, consisting solely of the Theatrical Trailer. Considering Fox's more recent releases are packed with documentaries and featurettes, one can only assume they have very little interest in giving their back catalogue titles the treatment they deserve.

Overall

Despite the inconsistent picture quality and the almost complete lack of extras, Predator remains an essential addition to any action fan's collection. This was Arnold Schwarzenegger at the height of his powers, when seemingly everything he touched turned to box-office gold. Perhaps he should take a look back at films like this before making any more career decisions. It certainly puts Jingle All the Way into perspective!

Special features

• Theatrical Trailer