The Predator film series is a science fiction horror film franchise. Produced by 20th Century Fox, the series started in 1987 with the film Predator, which led to two sequels and novel, comic book and video game spin-offs. Related to the franchise are the Alien vs. Predator films, based on the related franchise which combine the titular Predator with the creatures from the Alien film series.

 

[edit] Development

 

Predator was John McTiernan's second studio film as director. The studio hired screenplay writer Shane Black to not only play a supporting role in the film, but to keep an eye on McTiernan due to the director's inexperience. Jean-Claude Van Damme was originally cast as the film's creature,[1] the idea being that the physical action star would use his martial arts skills to make the creature an agile, ninja-esque hunter. When compared to Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers and Jesse Ventura, actors known for their bodybuilding regimes, it became apparent a more physically imposing man was needed to make the creature appear threatening. Eventually, Van Damme was removed from the film and replaced by the actor and mime artist Kevin Peter Hall.

 

The predator creature's design is credited to special effects artist Stan Winston. While flying to Japan with Aliens director James Cameron, Winston, who had been hired to design the Predator, was doing concept art on the flight. Cameron saw what he was drawing and said, "I always wanted to see something with mandibles". Winston then included them in his designs. Schwarzenegger recommended Winston after his experience working on The Terminator.

 

The film's creature was originally designed with a long neck, a dog-like head and a single eye. This design was abandoned when it became apparent that the jungle locations would make shooting the complex design too difficult. Originally, the studio contracted the makeup effects for the alien from Richard Edlund's Boss Film Creature Shop. However, with problems filming the creature in Mexico and attempts to create a convincing monster of Van Damme, wearing a much different body suit, failing, makeup effects responsibilities were given to Winston and his studio, R/Greenberg Associates. According to former Boss Film Creature Shop makeup supervisor Steve Johnson, the makeup failed because of an impractical design by McTiernan that included 12-inch (300 mm) length extensions that gave the creature a backward bent satyr-leg. The design did not work in the jungle locations. After six weeks of shooting in the jungles of Palenque, Mexico, the production had to shut down so that Winston could make the new creature. This took eight months and then filming resumed for five weeks.

 

The sound of the creature was provided by Peter Cullen. Despite his resolution not to voice any more monsters following injuries to his throat sustained during the ADR of King Kong, his agent convinced him to audition. The bubbling sound was inspired by a mixture of the visual of the creature and his recollection of a dying horseshoe crab.[2]

 

R/Greenberg Associates created the film's optical effects, including the creature's ability to become invisible, its thermal vision point-of-view, its glowing blood, and the electric spark effects. The invisibility effect was achieved by having someone in a bright red suit (because it was the farthest opposite of the green of the jungle and the blue of the sky) the size of the creature. The take was then repeated without the actors using a 30% wider lens on the camera. When the two takes were combined optically, a vague outline of the alien could be seen with the background scenery bending around its shape. For the thermal vision, infrared film could not be used because it did not register in the range of body temperature wavelengths. The filmmakers used an Inframetrics thermal video scanner as it gave good heat images of objects and people.[citation needed] The glowing blood was achieved by green liquid from chem-lite sticks used by campers. The electrical sparks were rotoscoped animation using white paper pin registered on portable light tables to black-and-white prints of the film frames. The drawings were composited by the optical crew for the finished effects.

 

Also, in an interview on Predator Special Edition, actor Carl Weathers said many of the actors would secretly wake up as early as 3 a.m. to work out before the day's shooting, in order to look "pumped" during the scene. Weathers also stated that he would act as if his physique was naturally given to him, and would work out only after all the other actors were nowhere to be seen. It was reported that actor Sonny Landham was so unstable on the set that a bodyguard was hired; not to protect Landham, but to protect the other cast members from him.

 

According to Schwarzenegger, filming was physically demanding as he had to swim in very cold water and spent three weeks covered in mud for the climactic battle with the alien. In addition, cast and crew endured very cold temperatures in the Mexican jungle that required heat lamps to be on all of the time. Schwarzenegger also faced the challenge of working with Kevin Peter Hall who could not see in the creature's suit. Hall could not see out of the mask and had to rehearse his scenes with it off and then memorize where everything was. The outfit was difficult to wear because it was heavy and off-balance.

 

The film was particularly successful and subsequently inspired a number of comic books, video games and popular anecdotes within the media. Schwarzenegger was asked to reprise his role in a Predator sequel, but was already attached to Terminator 2: Judgment Day and could not accept the role. The character was rewritten from the developing sequel's script, and the sequel to Predator, directed by Stephen Hopkins, was scheduled for 1990.

 

Due to excessive violence, Predator 2 was the first film to be given the newly instituted NC-17 rating in the United States. It was eventually rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America after being re-cut to its final theatrical length. The film cast Danny Glover in the lead role, and reprised Kevin Peter Hall as the Predator. Also, returning to the role of Anna in the sequel, Elpidia Carrillo was slated to be in two scenes but was cut back to a brief appearance on a video screen in the government agents' surveillance trailer. Her character is showing damage to the Central American jungle caused by the explosion at the conclusion of the first film.

 

 

 

The Predator

  

 

 

 

Created by

 

Jim Thomas

 John Thomas

 

 

 

Portrayed by

 

Kevin Peter Hall

 Ian Whyte

 Brian Steele

 Derek Mears

 Carey Jones

 

 

The Predator (or Yautja) is a fictional extraterrestrial species featured in the Predator science-fiction franchise, characterised by its trophy hunting of other dangerous species for sport. First introduced in 1987 as the main antagonist of the film Predator, the Predator creatures returned in the sequels Predator 2 (1990), and Predators (2010), as well as an appearance in the cross-over series, "Aliens vs. Predator" in the films Alien vs. Predator (2004), and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007).

The Predators have also been the subject of numerous novels, video games, and comic books, both on their own and as part of the Alien vs. Predator crossover imprint. While a definitive name for the species is not given in the films, the names yautja[1] and Hish[2] have been alternatively used in the expanded universe. Created by brothers Jim and John Thomas, the Predators are depicted as large, sapient and sentient humanoid creatures who possess advanced technology, such as active camouflage and energy weapons, and are capable of interstellar travel.

 

The Predator design is credited to special effects artist Stan Winston. While flying to Japan with Aliens director James Cameron, Winston, who had been hired to design the Predator, was doing concept art on the flight. Cameron saw what he was drawing and said, "I always wanted to see something with mandibles". Winston then included them in his designs.[3] Stan Winston's studio created all of the physical effects for Predator and Predator 2, creating the body suit for actor Kevin Peter Hall and the mechanical facial effects. They were hired after attempts to create a convincing monster (including Jean-Claude Van Damme wearing a much different body suit) had failed. Arnold Schwarzenegger recommended Winston after his experience working on The Terminator.[3]

 

The Predator was originally designed with a long neck, a dog-like head and a single eye. This design was abandoned when it became apparent that the jungle locations would make shooting the complex design too difficult.[3] Originally, the studio contracted the makeup effects for the alien from Richard Edlund's Boss Film Creature Shop. However, problems filming the alien in Mexico resulted in the makeup effects responsibilities being given to Stan Winston. According to former Boss Films make-up supervisor Steve Johnson, the makeup failed because of an impractical design by McTiernan that included 12-inch length extensions that gave the Predator a backward bent satyr-leg. The design did not work in the jungle locations. After six weeks of shooting in the jungles of Palenque, Mexico, the production had to shut down so that Winston could make a new Predator. This took eight months and then filming resumed for five weeks, ending in February 1987.[4]

 

[edit] Film portrayals

 

Jean-Claude Van Damme was originally cast as the Predator, the idea being that star's abilities in martial arts would make the Predator an agile, ninja-esque hunter. When compared to Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, and Jesse Ventura, actors known for their bodybuilding regimens, it became apparent a more physically imposing man was needed to make the creature appear threatening.[3] Eventually, Van Damme was removed from the film and replaced by actor and mime artist Kevin Peter Hall.[3] Hall, standing at an imposing height of 7 feet 2 inches, had just finished work as a sasquatch in Harry and the Hendersons.[3] Peter Cullen did the creature vocals in the original film, and said the inspiration for the Predator sounds were horseshoe crabs.[5] Hal Rayle did the Predator vocals in the second movie.[6]

 

Hall played the Predator in the first and second movies. He was trained in the art of mime and used many tribal dance moves in his performance, such as during the fight between Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Predator at the end of the first movie. In Predator 2, according to a "making of" featurette, Danny Glover suggested the Los Angeles Lakers to be the other Predators because Glover himself was a big fan. Hall persuaded some of the Lakers to play background Predators because they couldn't find anyone on short notice.[7] Hall died not long after Predator 2 was released in theaters.

 

In Alien vs. Predator, Welsh actor Ian Whyte, standing at 7 feet 1 inch and a fan of the Predator comics and movies, took over as the man in the Predator suit, portraying the "Celtic" Predator during Celtic's fight with an Alien warrior.[8] Whyte returned to portray the "Wolf" Predator in Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem.[9]

 

In Predators, actors Brian Steele and Carey Jones both portrayed a new breed of Predator known as the "Black Super Predators",[10][11] who have been dropping humans on their planet for many years to play a survival game against them.[10] In a nod to the first film, Derek Mears played the Predator as the creature appeared in the original, dubbed the "Classic Predator".[12]

 

[edit] Special and make-up effects

 

The Predator's blood was made from a combination of the liquid from glow sticks mixed with K-Y Jelly. The mixture loses its glow quickly, so new batches had to be quickly made between takes. The technique was used in all five films featuring the Predator.

 

The camouflage effect was designed by R/Greenberg Associates, under the direction of Joel Hynek. The idea for the effect came in a dream one of the Thomas brothers (who wrote the film) had, in which there was a chrome man who was inside a reflective sphere. The man blended in, perfectly camouflaged, reflecting from all directions and only visible when in motion. It took quite a while before they figured out how to do it, which was basically an image repeated in a pattern of ripples in the shape of the Predator's body. It proved very effective and was a new way of presenting an "invisible man." Before there was digital rendering technology all of the camouflage was done optically using photo-chemical means, so that one would never get the same result twice from combining the same pieces of film.

 

After the original movies, Amalgamated Dynamics took over from Stan Winston Studio in creating the props for the Predators in the Alien vs. Predator movie and a number of effects houses worked on the various other effects.

 

[edit] Film appearances

 

[edit] Predator

 First appearing in the 1987 film, Predator, the titular character lands in Val Verde via starship. It has come to this location due to the wars between rebel and government forces, already having made several kills among the locals before beginning to hunt down a United States Army Special Forces group, sent there to rescue presidential cabinet ministers kidnapped by guerrilla forces. The Predator dispatches the soldiers one by one with a vast array of weaponry until Major Dutch Schaeffer (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is the last one alive. Dutch eventually confronts the creature, covering himself in mud to hide his heat signature from the Predator's thermal imaging, and setting up numerous booby traps. Though he manages to disable the Predator's cloaking ability, it manages to capture him, and then, in a display of chivalry, discards its mask and electronic weaponry before challenging Dutch to a final duel. Physically outmatched, Dutch eventually sets off one of his traps, which crushes and mortally wounds the creature. After being asked what it is by Dutch, the Predator simply mimics his question and sets off its self-destruct device before laughing maniacally, though Dutch manages to escape the explosion.[13]

 

[edit] Predator 2

Set in 1997, 10 years after the events of the first film, the 1990 sequel follows a new Predator who sets its sights on Los Angeles due to its summer heat and drug wars between Jamaican and Colombian gangs, as well as the L.A.P.D. attempting to fight both gangs. After eliminating the leaders of both gangs, the Predator begins actively targeting the L.A.P.D. officers attempting to investigate its handiwork, specifically Lieutenant Michael Harrigan (Danny Glover) and his three partners (Rubén Blades, María Conchita Alonso and Bill Paxton). The Predator is ultimately confronted by Harrigan in its own ship and killed when Harrigan uses one of its own weapons against it. The Predator's clan-mates carry away the dead Predator's body and give Harrigan a flintlock dating from 1715 as a sign of respect. The film also makes a reference to the Alien films, as shown in the Predators' trophy room, which has an Alien skull.[7]

 

[edit] Alien vs. Predator

In 2004, a Predator ship arrives in Earth orbit to draw humans to an ancient Predator training ground on Bouvetøya, an island about one thousand miles north of Antarctica. A buried pyramid which gives off a "heat bloom" attracts humans led by Charles Bishop Weyland (Lance Henriksen), who unknowingly activates an Alien egg production line. Three Predator novitiates enter the structure, killing all humans in their way with the intention of hunting the newly formed alien warriors. Two Predators die in the ensuing battle, while the third (credited as Scar in the credits) allies itself with the lone surviving human, Alexa Woods (Sanaa Lathan) in order to battle the escaped Queen Alien. The Queen is defeated, but not before she fatally wounds the last Predator. The Predator ship hovering above the battleground uncloaks and the crew retrieve the fallen Predator. A Predator elder gives Alexa a spear as a sign of respect, and then departs. Once the Predator ship is in orbit, it is revealed that a chestburster was in the Scar Predator's corpse, though this specimen has Predator mandibles.[8]

 

[edit] Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem

Set immediately after the previous film, the Predalien hybrid on board the Predator scout ship, which just separated from the mothership from the previous film, has grown to full adult size and sets about killing the Predators on board the ship, causing it to crash in Gunnison, Colorado. The last survivor activates a distress beacon with a video of the Predalien, which is received by a veteran Predator, who sets off towards Earth to "clean up" the infestation. When it arrives, the Predator tracks the Aliens into a section of the sewer below town. He removes evidence of their presence as he goes by using a corrosive blue liquid. It uses a laser net to try to contain the creatures, but the Aliens still manage to escape into the town above. The Predator fashions a plasma pistol from its remaining plasma caster, the other being damaged while it hunted Aliens all across town (accidentally cutting the power to the town in the process) during a confrontation with human survivors. Later on, the Predator encounters the same human survivors again in the Alien Hive and loses his plasma pistol. The Predator then fights the Predalien singlehandedly, and the two mortally wound one another just as the United States military drops a tactical nuclear bomb on the town, incinerating both combatants as well as the few remaining humans in the city. The salvaged plasma pistol is then taken by the United States Army to Ms. Yutani.[9]

 

 [edit] Predators

In Predators (which deliberately distances itself from the prior Aliens vs Predator movies),[14][dead link] it is revealed that there are two warring Predator tribes, with one group using quadrupedal hunting beasts and elaborate traps to hunt. A group of convicted felons from different locations from Earth are dropped onto a forested planet used as a Predator game preserve. After numerous skirmishes resulting in the deaths of two Predators and all but two of the captured humans, the last Predator manages to kill another member of its kind from a rival tribe, but is defeated in combat by the human survivors. The survivors then head to shore to seek a way back to their homeland, just in time to witness more criminals being dropped.

 

[edit] Description

 

[edit] Characteristics

"Broad concept's the same. The difference is, this is a different individual.

  A different individual of the same species. As is a snake is a snake, but

  different snakes are different. Their colorings are different, different parts

  of their characteristics, their facial structures, subtle differences."

  

 — Stan Winston describing the Predator in Predator 2 and explaining the reason

for the varying designs and looks of the Predators.[15]

 

 

Predators are physically distinguished from humans by their greater height, arthropod-like mandibles and long, hair-like appendages on their heads that are set into their skulls. Their bodies are resilient to damage, capable of recovering from multiple gunshot wounds[7][13] and radiation doses which would be fatal to humans.[7] They are much stronger than humans, having been portrayed as being easily capable of outmatching a conditioned adult human male[13] and shattering solid concrete with their bare hands. They are also skilled climbers, and will readily move through trees[13] or across rooftops[7] in pursuit of prey. Though capable of surviving exposure in Antarctic temperatures for an extended period of time,[8] it is implied that Predators have a preference for hot equatorial climates.[7][13] Their blood is luminescent phosphor green in color. Their vision operates mainly in the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum; they can easily detect heat differentials in their surroundings but are unable to easily distinguish among objects of the same relative temperature.[13] A Predator's hunting helmet increases its ability to see in a variety of spectrums, ranging from the low infrared to the high ultraviolet, and also filters the ambient heat from the area, allowing them to see things with greater clarity and detail.[7] While they are capable of breathing Earth's atmosphere,[13] the creature in Predator 2 is seen using a breathing mask after losing his helmet. Their dietary habits are also mentioned in Predator 2, where it is revealed that the creature regularly visits a slaughterhouse every two days to feed on the stored meat there.[7]

 

Throughout their film appearances, Predators have undergone numerous design variations. In Predator 2, the main Predator was designed to look more urban and hip than its predecessor. Design changes included tribal ornamentation on the forehead, which was made steeper and shallower, brighter skin coloration and a greater number of fangs.[16] In Alien vs. Predator, the appearance of the Predators was redesigned to make them seem more heroic. Redesigns included a reduction in head and waist size, broader shoulders, a more muscular physique, piranha-like teeth on the upper jaw, and dryer and less clammy skin to further differentiate them from the Aliens.[17] In Aliens vs Predator: Requiem, the Predator was returned to the sleeker design concept prior to Alien vs. Predator.[18] For the so-called "Black Super Predators" in Predators, the designers used the differences between a cassette tape and an iPod as an analogy in differentiating the new Predators from the classic. The Super Predators were designed as leaner and taller than the "classic" Predator design, with longer faces, tighter armor and with more swept back dreadlocks.[19]

 

[edit] Culture and history

 

  "The Predator society builds sophisticated spaceships, yet they should not

  look as sleek and hi-tech as a Star Wars stormtrooper. They are a tribal

  culture, yet their look should not be as primitive as the orcs from Lord of

  the Rings. They are also a warrior culture, so the ornate cannot conflict with

  the practical."

    — Alec Gillis on Predator designs.[17]

 

 

Predator culture revolves around the hunting and stalking of dangerous lifeforms. After making a kill, Predators typically skin or decapitate the carcass, converting it into a trophy. Failure in a hunt results in the Predator involved committing an honorable suicide.[13] It is often alluded to that the reason Predators hunt is not for sustenance or elimination of threats, but as entertainment or rite of passage, as they will only attack life forms that have the ability to provide them with a challenge. In Predators, it is revealed that there are at least two different Predator tribes, which are engaged in a long lasting blood feud. The film also introduced a pack of spined, quadrupedal beasts used as flushing dogs by the "Super Predators". Creature designer Gregory Nicotero used hyenas as a basis for the creature's physique, while the spines were added later by Chris Olivia.[19]

 

Predators made contact with early human civilizations such as the Ancient Egyptians, the Khmer Empire, and Aztecs, as well as a fictitious culture inhabiting what is now modern day Bouvetøya.[8] Upon arriving on Earth, the Predators were worshipped as gods by humans, and they taught many of the civilizations how to build pyramids (an explanation as to why many of these different ancient societies had distinctly similar cultures and architecture), but in return expected sacrifices of humans for use as hosts for huntable Aliens. The Predators returned to Bouvetøya every century to consummate the bargain, until at one point in the ritual, the Aliens spread out of control, resulting in the Predators detonating a bomb that obliterated the entire civilization.[8] Relations between humans and Predators deteriorated from that time on; the Predators then viewed humans as little more than another quarry to hunt.

 

Predators feature prominently in the folklore of certain cultures; some Latin American people refer to the species as, "El Demonio que hace trofeos de los hombres" (Spanish for "The Demon who makes trophies of men"),[13] while Jamaican superstition identifies Predators as demons from the spirit world.[7] When hunting humans, Predators normally avoid certain individuals such as children and some adults if they are unarmed, though they will spare armed ones if they happen to be pregnant[7] or sickly unless they are attacked by them.[8] A human who has managed to kill a Predator in single combat[7] or has fought alongside one[8] is usually spared by the deceased hunter's comrades and given a gift (often a rare or exotic weapon) as a sign of respect.[8]

 

A learner's first successful Alien hunt is completed with the marking of his helmet and forehead with the blood of his kill.[8] Predators apparently keep Alien Queens in captivity in order to maintain a supply of eggs.[8] It is shown in a brief scene in Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem that Predators have had prior contact with a race of creatures resembling the "Space Jockey" in the film Alien. This is confirmed in the film's DVD commentary.[20]

 

[edit] Language

 

The script of the Predators is expressed in the films and other media through written patterns of dashes. These written symbols appear on the creatures' gauntlet displays, their helmets, architecture, and many other surfaces. The most common vocalizations of the Predators consists of a series of clicks, roars, snarls, and growls. Predators will mimic human language on occasion, and have been stated or shown to be able to understand and speak human languages.[7][13] Author Steve Perry designed a constructed language set for the Aliens vs. Predator novel series.[1]

 

[edit] Technology

Predator technology is distinctive in many respects, not the least of which is its ornate, tribal appearance masking deadly, sophisticated weaponry. It is shown in Predator 2 that at least one Predator weapon uses a metal that does not correspond to any element on the periodic table, and some weapons have been shown to be completely resistant to the effects of acidic blood belonging to Aliens. In addition, several of these tools make use of thermal imaging to track prey. The Predator's mask also houses a viewing system that fine tunes the creature's infrared vision by filtering out ambient heat, and also allows it to view in different spectra completely. The Predator's technology is advanced enough that the mask enables it to see in specific levels of X-ray and identify diseases and cancers, as well as picking up on pulse and heartbeat signals to track targets, as seen in Alien vs. Predator and Predators, respectively. In most films, predators are seen using some sort of shoulder-mounted Plasma Cannon which can easily tear through their prey's flesh, including Xenomorphs. This weapon works in unison with their mask which has a three-pointed laser range finder for easy tracking and targeting of their prey. The Predators also make use of a light-bending cloaking device that makes them almost completely invisible. A flashback sequence in Alien vs. Predator indicates that some aspects of their technology have been in use for millennia.

 

[edit] Expanded universe

 

In the Aliens vs. Predator novel series (based on the Dark Horse Comics) by David Bischoff, Steve and Stephani Perry, the Predators, known in the series as "yautja", are depicted as living in a matriarchal clan-based society bearing similarities to a pack mentality, with the strongest and most skilled of the group being leader. The Predators are portrayed as sexually dimorphic mammals, with females being larger and stronger than males[21] and sporting more prominent mammary glands (like human females).[1] Both genders give off a strong musk to signify aggression, while females can also emit it when in estrus. This musk can be detected by other Predators and canids, though it is imperceptible to humans.[1] Predators in the Perry novels are not monogamous, and it is common for veteran warriors to sire hundreds of offspring (known as sucklings) with multiple mates.[1] It is also revealed that their blood has the capacity of partially neutralizing the acidity of Alien blood.[1] Their religion is partially explored in the series, showing that they are polytheistic, and that their equivalent of the Grim Reaper is the so-called "Black Warrior", who is seen as an eternal adversary who eventually wins all battles.[1]

Though female Predators are occasionally referred to in Steve and Stephani Perry's novel series, one does not make an actual appearance until the comic book limited series Aliens vs Predator: Deadliest of Species. The female's design however contradicts the descriptions given in the Perry novel series, as it superficially shows little distinction from males.[22]

The Darkhorse / TopCow cross-over: MindHunter; which pits the Witchblade, Darkness, Aliens, and Predator franchises against each other depicts a female Predator in a manner closer to the Perry description; being very tall, with a distinct female appearance with hips and mammary glands; although with a very muscular build and sporting different armor than the males.

In Randy Stradley's limited series Aliens vs. Predator: War, it is revealed through the narration of the character Machiko Noguchi that Predators were responsible for the spread of Aliens throughout the galaxy, though the Predators themselves deny this, stating that their large interplanetary distribution is due to simultaneous convergent evolution.[23]

The comic series Predator and Aliens vs Predator: Three World War introduce a clan of Predators referred to as "Killers", who are enemies of mainstream Predators (here referred to as "Hunters") because of their tradition of training Aliens as attack animals rather than hunting them, as well as their desire for killing as opposed to honorable hunting. The character Machiko Noguchi notes in issue #1 of Three World War that "You have to understand the mindset of the Hunters, and the honor they place on facing a worthy opponent on an equal footing... a kill is the end result, but it's not the point of a hunt.... For the 'Killers,' that wasn't the case. They were all about the killing." They are first seen in the 2009 Predator series, where a number interfere in an East African civil war, coming into conflict with both humans and their Hunter counterparts. By the time of Three World War the Killers are assumed to have been wiped out by the Hunters, but some survive and begin attacking human colonies, forcing Noguchi to forge an alliance between humans and the Hunters in order to deal with them.[24][25]

In John Shirley's stand alone novel Predator: Forever Midnight, Predators, now referred to as "Hish", are shown to possess a gland located between their neck and collarbone which secretes powerful hormones into their bloodstream and which drives them to hyper-aggression. When this gland is over-stimulated, it sends the creatures into a frenzied rage, causing them to attempt killing any living thing in sight, including members of their own species. This "kill rage" can be contagious and spread from one Predator to another, driving them all to attack each other. The Predators as a species barely survived the wars provoked by their kill glands, and they have learned to control the gland's secretions with artificial hormone regulators.[2]

In Ian Edginton and Alex Maleev's graphic novel Aliens vs. Predator: Eternal and the videogame Predator: Concrete Jungle, Predator flesh and blood, if consumed, is shown to have the capacity of greatly lengthening a human's lifespan.

 

 

 

 

[edit] Films

 

[edit] Predator (1987)

 

A Covert-Ops U.S. Special Forces Unit, led by Major Alan "Dutch" Schaefer is on

a mission in Central America when they encounter an alien who hunts them for

sport.

 

Directed by

 

John McTiernan

 

 

 

Produced by

 

Lawrence Gordon

 John Davis

 

 

 

Written by

 

Jim Thomas

 John Thomas

 Shane Black(Uncredited)

 

 

 

Starring

 

Arnold Schwarzenegger

 Carl Weathers

 Bill Duke

 Jesse Ventura

 Kevin Peter Hall

 

 

 

Music by

 

Alan Silvestri

 

 

 

Cinematography

 

Donald McAlpine

 

 

 

Editing by

 

Mark Helfrich

 John F. Link

 

 

 

Studio

 

Gordon Company

 Silver Pictures

 Davis Entertainment

 

 

 

Distributed by

 

20th Century Fox

 

 

 

Release date(s)

 

June 12, 1987 (1987-06-12)

 

 

 

Running time

 

107 minutes

 

 

 

Country

 

United States

 

 

 

Language

 

English

 

 

 

Budget

 

$15,000,000

 

 

 

Box office

 

$98,267,558

 

 

Predator is a 1987 American science fiction horror/action film directed by John

McTiernan, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Jesse Ventura, and

Kevin Peter Hall. It was distributed by 20th Century Fox. The story follows an

elite special forces team, led by 'Dutch' (Arnold Schwarzenegger), on a mission

to rescue hostages from guerrilla territory in Central America. Unbeknownst to

the group, they are being hunted by a technologically advanced form of

extraterrestrial life, the Predator. Predator was scripted by Jim and John

Thomas in 1985, under the working title of Hunter. Filming began in April 1986

and creature effects were devised by Stan Winston.

 

The film's budget was around $15 million. Released in the United States on June

12, 1987, it grossed $98,267,558. Initial critical reaction to Predator was

negative, with criticism focusing on the thin plot. However, in subsequent years

critics' attitudes toward the film warmed, and it has appeared on a number of

"best of" lists. Two sequels, Predator 2 (1990) and Predators (2010), as well as

two crossover films with the Alien franchise, Alien vs. Predator (2004) and

Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007), have been produced.

 

 

 

 

 

  Contents

    [hide]  1 Plot

     2 Cast

     3 Production 3.1 Development

       3.2 Casting

       3.3 Filming

       3.4 Special effects

       3.5 Music

       

    4 Reception 4.1 Box office

       4.2 Critical response

      

    5 See also

     6 References

     7 External links

    

 

[edit] Plot

 

An alien spacecraft enters the Earth's atmosphere and jettisons a pod, which

descends into a Central American jungle. Later, Major Alan "Dutch" Schaefer

(Arnold Schwarzenegger) arrives in the same area with his elite team for an

operation to rescue a presidential cabinet minister who had been abducted by

guerrilla forces. The team consists of Mac Eliot (Bill Duke), Blain Cooper

(Jesse Ventura), Billy Sole (Sonny Landham), Jorge "Poncho" Ramirez (Richard

Chaves), and Rick Hawkins (Shane Black). Dutch's old military friend George

Dillon (Carl Weathers), now working for the CIA, accompanies them as a liaison.

The team is inserted into the jungle by helicopter and begins its hunt.

 

They soon find the wreckage of a downed helicopter and later, the remains of

Army Special Forces, whose presence in the country puzzles Dutch. The group is

horrified to find the bodies have been hung and have had their skin removed.

They track the guerrillas to a heavily defended rebel encampment which they

destroy, except for a woman named Anna (Elpidia Carrillo) whom they take

prisoner. Dutch is enraged when Dillon confesses the rescue mission was just a

ploy to get his group to attack the rebel camp, and that the men they had found

in the downed helicopter had disappeared in a failed rescue of two CIA agents.

As the team make their way to the extraction point, they are observed from afar

by an unknown creature using thermal imaging.

 

Anna briefly escapes, but when Hawkins catches her, he is stabbed and dragged

off. The nearly invisible creature spares the unarmed Anna. Moments later, while

the team is looking for Hawkins' killer, Blain is killed. Mac physically sees

the creature and opens fire on it, but it disappears into the jungle. Anna

offers the team insight on the creature which is something of a local legend.

The team sets a trap, but it avoids capture, severely wounding Poncho in the

process. Mac and Dillon are killed in the ensuing chase, and Billy is slain

making a stand. The Predator catches up to Dutch and engages in a short shootout

during which Poncho is killed. Realizing the creature only attacks those

possessing weapons, a wounded Dutch sends Anna unarmed to the extraction point.

Jumping off a waterfall, he narrowly escapes the creature by inadvertently

masking his body's heat signature with mud and witnesses the Predator's true

form when its active camouflage fails in the water. Dutch applies more mud,

improvises various weaponry and traps, then baits the Predator into coming out

by starting a large fire.

 

Hearing Dutch's war-cry, the Predator arrives to investigate and eventually

traps him. Discarding its electronic weaponry, the alien challenges Dutch to

hand-to-hand combat. Battered and barely able to move, Dutch manages to drop the

counterweight from one of his traps, which falls and crushes the creature. As

Dutch asks the mortally wounded alien what it is, the creature mimics his

question in garbled English and then activates a self-destruct mechanism on its

wrist. Dutch barely escapes the nuclear explosion and is rescued by helicopter,

along with Anna.

 

[edit] Cast

 

 

 

 

 

The main cast of Predator. Left to right: Ventura, Black, Schwarzenegger, Duke,

Weathers, Landham, and Chaves. Arnold Schwarzenegger as Major Alan "Dutch"

  Schaefer, a former Green Beret.

   Carl Weathers as George Dillon, a former teammate of Dutch and current CIA

  agent, sent along with Dutch's team.

   Elpidia Carrillo as Anna, a guerrilla, captured by Dutch's troops following a

  battle with the rebels.

   Richard Chaves as Jorge "Poncho" Ramirez, a Chicano fluent in Spanish who

  translates initially for Anna.

   Bill Duke as Mac Eliot, a close friend of Blain's who served with him in

  Vietnam.

   Jesse Ventura as Blain Cooper, who fought alongside Mac in the Vietnam War.

   Sonny Landham as Billy Sole, a Native American tracker.

   Shane Black as Rick Hawkins, the team's radio operator and technical expert.

   R. G. Armstrong as Major General Homer Phillips, the coordinator of the

  mission, who assigns the team based upon their reputation.

   Kevin Peter Hall as The Predator, a member of a warrior race which hunts

  aggressive members of other species for sport. It uses active camouflage, a

  plasma weapon and can see the infrared spectrum. He reprised the role in

  Predator 2. Hall also plays the end scene helicopter pilot. Peter Cullen did

  the vocal effects.[1]

   Sven-Ole Thorsen has an uncredited cameo as a Russian military advisor.

  

[edit] Production

 

[edit] Development

 

For a few months, following the release of Rocky IV, a joke was making rounds in

Hollywood. Since Rocky Balboa had run out of earthly opponents, he would have to

fight an alien if a fifth installment of his boxing series were to be made.

Screenwriters Jim and John Thomas took the joke seriously and wrote a screenplay

based on the joke. The Thomas script for Predator was originally titled

Hunter.[2] It was picked up by 20th Century Fox in 1985, and turned over to

producer Joel Silver who, based on his experience with Commando, seemed the

right choice to turn the vintage science fiction pulp storyline into a

big-budget film. Silver enlisted his former boss Lawrence Gordon as co-producer

and John McTiernan was hired as director for his first studio film. New Zealand

director Geoff Murphy was also considered to direct.[3]

 

According to the documentaries included on the Region 1 release of the special

edition, the original monster suit was vastly different from the final product,

designed by Stan Winston. Jean-Claude Van Damme was originally slated to play

the creature, but allegedly made claims that the suit was "too clumsy and too

hot". The original monster was a disproportionate, ungainly creature with large

yellow eyes and a dog-like head. It was nowhere near as agile as the creature

portrayed by Kevin Peter Hall. After Van Damme was removed from the film and

subsequent financial troubles with the studio nearly caused the project to shut

down, McTiernan consulted Stan Winston. While on a plane ride to Fox studios

alongside Aliens director James Cameron, Winston sketched monster ideas. Cameron

suggested he had always wanted to see a creature with mandibles, which became

part of the Predator's iconic look.

 

[edit] Casting

 

 

 

 

 

Kevin Peter Hall as the Predator

Silver and Gordon first approached Arnold Schwarzenegger with the lead role.

 

Schwarzenegger said, "The first thing I look for in a script is a good idea, a

majority of scripts are rip-offs of other movies. People think they can become

successful overnight. They sat down one weekend and wrote a script because they

read that Stallone did that with Rocky. Predator was one of the scripts I read,

and it bothered me in one way. It was just me and the alien. So we re-did the

whole thing so that it was a team of commandos and then I liked the idea. I

thought it would make a much more effective movie and be much more believable. I

liked the idea of starting out with an action-adventure, but then coming in with

some horror and science fiction."[citation needed]

 

To play the elite band of soldiers, both Silver and Gordon, with co-producer

John Davis, searched for other larger-than-life men of action. Carl Weathers,

who had been memorable as boxer Apollo Creed in the Rocky films was their first

choice to play Dillon, while professional wrestler and former Navy UDT Jesse

Ventura was hired for his formidable physique as Blain. Native Americans Sonny

Landham and Richard Chaves, and African-American Bill Duke, who co-starred

alongside Schwarzenegger in Commando, provided the ethnic balance. As a favor to

the writer of Joel Silver's blockbuster Lethal Weapon, the studio hired

screenplay writer Shane Black not only to play a supporting role in the film,

but also to keep an eye on McTiernan due to the director's inexperience.[2]

 

Jean-Claude Van Damme was originally cast as the Predator creature, the idea

being that the physical action star would use his martial arts skills to make

the Predator an agile, ninja-esque hunter.[2] When compared to Schwarzenegger,

Weathers, and Ventura, actors known for their bodybuilding regimens, it became

apparent a more physically imposing man was needed to make the creature appear

threatening. Additionally, it was reported that Van Damme constantly complained

about the monster suit being too hot, causing him to pass out. He also had

allegedly voiced his reservations on numerous occasions regarding the fact he

would not be appearing on camera without the suit. Van Damme was removed from

the film and replaced by Kevin Peter Hall.[2] Hall, standing at an imposing 7

foot 2 (218 cm), had just finished work as a sasquatch in Harry and the

Hendersons.[4] Peter Cullen was invited by Fox to do creature vocals, and was

initially reluctant since his throat was injured when he voiced King Kong for

the 1976 film, but accepted the job after seeing the unmasked Predator. Cullen

said his main inspiration were horseshoe crabs, which the Predator face reminded

him of.[1]

 

[edit] Filming

 

Commitments by Schwarzenegger delayed the start of filming by several months.

The delay gave Silver enough time to secure a minor rewrite from screenwriter

David Peoples. Principal photography eventually began in the jungles of

Palenque, Mexico, near Villahermosa, Tabasco, during the second week of April

1986, but the film overall was filmed in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Much of the

material dealing with the unit's deployment in the jungle was completed in a few

short weeks and both Silver and Gordon were pleased by the dailies provided by

McTiernan. On Friday, April 25, production halted so that Schwarzenegger could

fly to Hyannis Port in a Lear jet chartered by Silver in order to get to his

wedding on time. He was married on April 26, 1986, to Maria Shriver, and

honeymooned for two weeks in Antigua, while the second unit completed additional

lensing. The production resumed filming on May 12.

 

Both director McTiernan and Schwarzenegger lost 25 pounds during the film.[2]

Schwarzenegger's weight loss was a professional choice. McTiernan lost the

weight because he avoided the food in Mexico due to health concerns.[2] Unlike

McTiernan, most of the cast and crew suffered of traveler's diarrhea since the

Mexican hotel in which they were living was having problems with the water

purification.[5] In an interview, Carl Weathers said the actors would secretly

wake up as early as 3:00 a.m. to work out before the day's shooting. Weathers

also stated that he would act as if his physique was naturally given to him, and

would work out only after the other actors were nowhere to be seen.[2]

 

According to Schwarzenegger, filming was physically demanding as he had to swim

in very cold water and spent three weeks covered in mud for the climactic battle

with the alien.[6] In addition, cast and crew endured very cold temperatures in

the Mexican jungle that required heat lamps to be on all of the time. Cast and

crew filmed on rough terrain that, according to the actor, was never flat,

"always on a hill. We stood all day long on a hill, one leg down, one leg up. It

was terrible."[6] Schwarzenegger also faced the challenge of working with Kevin

Peter Hall, who could not see in the Predator suit. The actor remembers, "so

when he's supposed to slap me around and stay far from my face, all of a sudden,

whap! There is this hand with claws on it!"[6] Hall stated in an interview that

his experience on the film, "wasn't a movie, it was a survival story for all of

us."[7] For example, in the scene where the Predator chases Dutch, the water was

foul, stagnant and full of leeches.[7] Hall could not see out of the mask and

had to rehearse his scenes with it off and then memorize where everything was.

The outfit was difficult to wear because it was heavy and off-balance.[7]

 

[edit] Special effects

 

R/Greenberg Associates created the film's optical effects, including the alien's

ability to become invisible, its thermal vision point-of-view, its glowing

blood, and the electrical spark effects.[8] The invisibility effect was achieved

by having someone in a bright red suit (because it was the farthest opposite of

the green of the jungle and the blue of the sky) the size of the Predator. The

red was removed with chroma key techniques, leaving an empty area. The take was

then repeated without the actors using a 30% wider lens on the camera. When the

two takes were combined optically, the jungle from the second take filled in the

empty area. Because the second take was filmed with a wider lens, a vague

outline of the alien could be seen with the background scenery bending around

its shape.[8] For the thermal vision, infrared film could not be used because it

did not register in the range of body temperature wavelengths. The filmmakers

used an inframetrics thermal video scanner as it gave good heat images of

objects and people.[8] The glowing blood was achieved by green liquid from glow

sticks used by campers and mixed with personal lubricant for texture.[8] The

electrical sparks were rotoscoped animation using white paper pin registered on

portable light tables to black-and-white prints of the film frames. The drawings

were composited by the optical crew for the finished effects.[8] Additional

visual effects, mainly for the opening title sequence of the Predator arriving

on Earth, were supplied by Dream Quest Images (later Oscar-winners for their

work on The Abyss and Total Recall). The film was nominated for an Academy Award

for Visual Effects.[9]

 

 

[edit] Predator 2 (1990)

 

Main article: Predator 2

 

In 1997, a different Predator arrives in Los Angeles and begins hunting violent

gang members, drawing the attention of the local police force.

 

 

Directed by

 

Stephen Hopkins

 

 

 

Produced by

 

Joel Silver

 Lawrence Gordon

 John Davis

 

 

 

Written by

 

Jim Thomas

 John Thomas

 

 

 

Starring

 

Danny Glover

 Gary Busey

 Ruben Blades

 María Conchita Alonso

 Bill Paxton

 Robert Davi

 

 

 

Music by

 

Alan Silvestri

 

 

 

Cinematography

 

Peter Levy

 

 

 

Editing by

 

Mark Goldblatt

 Bert Lovitt

 

 

 

Studio

 

Silver Pictures

 Gordon Company

 Davis Entertainment

 

 

 

Distributed by

 

20th Century Fox

 

 

 

Release date(s)

 

November 21, 1990

 

 

 

Running time

 

108 minutes

 

 

 

Country

 

United States

 

 

 

Language

 

 

English

 Rating =15

 

 

Budget

 

$35,000,000

 

 

 

Box office

 

$57,120,318[1]

 

 

Predator 2 is a 1990 science fiction action film starring Danny Glover. Written

by Jim and John Thomas and directed by Stephen Hopkins, the film is a sequel to

1987's Predator, with Kevin Peter Hall again playing the role of the Predator.

The film received negative reviews and gained a moderate return at the box

office. This film as recently been rerated (10th of April 2013) as a 15 in the

UK compare to its old rating of 18

 

 

 

 

 

  Contents

    [hide]  1 Plot

     2 Cast

     3 Production

     4 Reception 4.1 Box office

      

    5 Novelization

     6 Video game

     7 See also

     8 References

     9 External links

    

 

[edit] Plot

 

In 1997, Los Angeles is suffering from both a heat wave and a turf war between

heavily-armed Colombian and Jamaican drug cartels. A Predator (Kevin Peter Hall)

watches a shootout between the police and Colombians, observing as Lieutenant

Michael Harrigan (Danny Glover) charges into the firefight to rescue two wounded

officers and drive the Colombians back into their hideout. Before the police can

follow them in, the Predator crashes through a skylight and kills the

Colombians. Harrigan and his detectives Leona Cantrell (María Conchita Alonso)

and Danny Archuleta (Rubén Blades) find the Colombians have been slaughtered.

Harrigan pursues the gang leader onto the roof and shoots him, catching a

glimpse of the camouflaged Predator's silhouette, but dismissing it as an effect

of the heat. Harrigan is rebuked by his superiors for disobeying orders. He is

also introduced to Special Agent Peter Keyes (Gary Busey), leader of a federal

task force purportedly investigating the cartels, and Detective Jerry Lambert

(Bill Paxton), the newest member of Harrigan's team.

 

The Predator then kills several Jamaican cartel members who are murdering the

Colombian drug lord. Despite being ordered to wait for Keyes, Harrigan and his

team enter the penthouse where they find the Jamaicans' skinned corpses

suspended from the rafters. Keyes kicks Harrigan's team out, but Danny later

returns to continue investigating. He finds one of the Predator's speartip

weapons in an air conditioning vent, but is then killed by the Predator.

Harrigan vows to bring down Danny's killer, believing they are dealing with an

assassin. A forensic scientist finds the speartip does not correspond to any

known element in the periodic table. Harrigan meets with Jamaican drug lord King

Willie (Calvin Lockhart), a voodoo practitioner. King Willie tells Harrigan that

the killer is supernatural, and that he should prepare himself for battle

against it. After Harrigan is escorted away by gang members, the Predator kills

King Willie, the latter's head made into a trophy.

 

Cantrell and Lambert are intervening in a mugging on the subway when the

Predator attacks them. Cantrell herds the passengers to safety while Lambert

faces off against the Predator and is killed. The Predator is about to kill

Cantrell as well, but releases her when its thermal vision reveals that she is

pregnant. Harrigan chases the Predator but is stopped by Keyes, who reveals that

the killer is an extraterrestrial hunter with infrared vision that uses active

camouflage and has been hunting humans for sport. Keyes and his team have set a

trap in a nearby slaughterhouse, using thermally insulated suits and cryogenic

weapons in an attempt to capture it for study. However, the Predator sees

through the trap by using its mask to scan through various electromagnetic

wavelengths and kills the team. Harrigan intervenes, shooting the Predator

several times and removing its mask.

 

Still alive, the Predator kills Keyes using a throwing disc and escapes to the

roof. Harrigan knocks it over the side and finds himself on a narrow ledge with

the Predator hanging below. The Predator attempts to activate the self-destruct

device on its forearm, but Harrigan uses the throwing disc to sever its forearm

and destroy the device. The Predator falls through an apartment window and uses

a medical kit to treat its wounds, then flees through the building. Harrigan

follows it down an elevator shaft and finds its spacecraft in an underground

chamber. Inside the ship, the two face off in a final duel, with Harrigan

finally killing the Predator by impaling its stomach with the throwing disc. A

number of other Predators appear, collecting their dead comrade and presenting

Harrigan with an antique flintlock pistol labeled "Raphael Adolini 1715".

Harrigan escapes the ship as it takes off and reaches the surface just as the

remainder of Keyes' team arrives, furious that they were unable to capture the

alien. Harrigan speculates that not only were the creatures on Earth before, but

will soon return.

 

[edit] Cast

 

For more details on individual characters, see List of Predator characters.

 Danny Glover as Lieutenant Mike Harrigan, an LAPD officer, who is

  investigating rival Jamaican and Colombian drug cartels. He is very stubborn

  and often is criticized by superior officers for not obeying orders.

   Gary Busey as Special Agent Peter Keyes, posed as a DEA agent leading a

  special task force investigating a drug conspiracy as a cover for his attempts

  to capture the Predator.

   Kevin Peter Hall as The Predator, a member of a warrior race which hunts

  aggressive members of other species for sport, uses active camouflage, a

  plasma weapon and can see in the infrared spectrum. His vocal effects are

  provided by Hal Rayle and Frank Welker reprises his role as the roars of the

  predator.

   Ruben Blades as Detective Danny Archuleta, a member of Harrigan's team and a

  long time friend of his.

   María Conchita Alonso as Detective Leona Cantrell, an LAPD cop involved in

  the Jamaican-Colombian Gang wars.

   Bill Paxton as Detective Jerry Lambert, an LAPD cop, transferred from another

  precinct into Metro Command. His role is often that of comic relief.

   Robert Davi as Deputy Chief Phil Heinemann.

   Adam Baldwin as Garber, a member of Keyes' task force.

   Kent McCord as Captain B. Pilgrim, an LAPD cop and Harrigan's immediate boss.

   Morton Downey, Jr. as Tony Pope, a journalist who reports the gruesome and

  murderous homicides left by the Predator. He is constantly criticized by the

  police for interfering with investigations.

   Calvin Lockhart as King Willie, the boss of the Jamaica Voodoo Posse. He

  appears to be psychotic because of his voodoo beliefs.

  

[edit] Production

 

 

 

  "Broad concept's the same. The difference is, this is a different individual.

  A different individual of the same species. As in a snake is a snake, but

  different snakes are different. Their colorings are different, different parts

  of their characteristics, their facial structures, subtle differences."

  

 

 

— Stan Winston describing the Predator in Predator 2 and explaining the reason

for the varying designs and looks of the Predators.[2]

 

 

Principal photography began in April 1990. Due to excessive violence, Predator 2

was originally given an NC-17 rating in the U.S. The film was eventually rated R

by the Motion Picture Association of America after being re-cut to its final

theatrical length. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who starred as "Dutch" in the 1987

film, was asked to reprise his role in the sequel. Schwarzenegger was outspoken

against the sequel's concept, feeling that taking it into the city was a bad

idea. Schwarzenegger declined and decided instead to sign on for a different

sequel, Terminator 2: Judgment Day. The character was rewritten as the role of

Peter Keyes.

 

Returning to the role of Anna in the sequel, Elpidia Carrillo was slated to be

in two scenes but was cut back to a brief appearance on a video screen in the

government agents' surveillance trailer. Her character is showing damage to the

Central American jungle caused by the explosion at the conclusion of the first

film.

 

In Predator 2, the main Predator was designed to look more urban and hip than

its predecessor. Design changes included tribal ornamentation on the forehead,

which was made steeper and shallower, brighter skin coloration and a greater

number of fangs.[3]

 

[edit] Reception

 

Further information: List of accolades received by the Alien, Predator, and

Alien vs. Predator franchises#Predator 2

 

The film received mostly negative reviews, though reviewers were generally

impressed by the casting of Danny Glover as an action hero. The reviewers for

the Washington Post were split: Rita Kempley enjoyed the movie, noting she felt

that it had "dismal irony of RoboCop and the brooding fatalism of Blade Runner",

and felt Glover "brings an unusual depth to the action adventure and proves

fiercely effective as the Predator's new nemesis."[4] Desson Howe felt the film

was "blithely unoriginal" and numbingly violent, but also praised Glover's

ability to bring warmth to the center of a cold movie.[5] In her review for The

New York Times, Janet Maslin called the film "an unbeatable contender" for the

"most mindless, mean-spirited action film of the holiday season."[6] Chicago

Sun-Times critic Roger Ebert, in giving the film two out of four stars,

suggested that it represents an "angry and ugly" dream; he also felt that the

creatures' design had racist undertones where "subliminal clues [...] encourage

us to subconsciously connect the menace with black males."[7]

 

[edit] Box office

 

Released on November 21, 1990, Predator 2 was #4 at the US box office in its

opening weekend, with a gross of over $8 million behind the films Dances with

Wolves, Three Men and a Little Lady, and Home Alone. The film grossed a total of

$57 million, $30 million of which was from the USA.[1] The worldwide box office

revenue totaled $57,120,318 in ticket sales. Although this surpassed the cost of

the film's budget, it was considered an overall disappointment in comparison to

its predecessor's performance.

 

[edit] Novelization

 

A novelization of the film written by Simon Hawke was released on December 1,

1990 by the publishing company Jove.[8] The novelization provided a small amount

of information regarding the fate of "Dutch" from the first film. Keyes recalls

memories of speaking with the battered Major while infirmed in a hospital,

suffering from radiation sickness. "Dutch" is said to have escaped from the

hospital, never to be seen again. Furthermore, the novel tells a great deal of

the story from the Predator's point of view, such as its humiliation of having

its mask removed by Harrigan, and its reasoning for not killing Cantrell due to

its discovery of her pregnancy.

 

[edit] Video game

 

 

 

  [hide] Reception

  

 

 

Review scores

 

 

 

Publication

 

Score

 

 

 

Mega

 

28%[9]

 

 

A video game adaptation of the film was released for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis

console in 1992. The game was published by Acclaim through its Arena

Entertainment label and developed by Teeny Weeny Games, Ltd. In the game players

guide Lt. Mike Harrigan as he tracks the Predator through seven levels based on

the film, while facing several drug gangs and rescuing civilian hostages before

they fall prey to the alien hunter. The game is played in a top-down perspective

simulating a third person isometric view, with swarms of enemies who appear

through one-way doors scattered throughout the levels. Lt. Harrigan also has to

contend with the Predator, both as a boss at the end of each level, and as a

time limit. If the player takes too long to rescue a hostage, the Predator will

blast the hostage with his tri-laser. If too many hostages are killed — the

number depending on the difficulty setting — the game ends and the screen fades

to red with the words "You lost too many hostages". Weapons include pistols,

machine guns, shotguns and also a few highly-advanced Predator weapons like the

net, the disc and the spear that the player can pick up and use. Each defeated

gang member drops drugs that can be picked up and automatically sent off to the

drug squad for points. No sounds or music from the film were used, but still

scenes from the film do introduce the levels, which include the streets of L.A.,

the rooftops, the main city subway, the slaughterhouse district and the predator

ship.[10]

 

 

[edit] Alien vs. Predator (2004)

 

In 2004, a group of Predators arrive in Antarctica to hunt humans and

xenomorphs.

 

Directed by

 

Paul W. S. Anderson

 

 

 

Produced by

 

John Davis

 Gordon Carroll

 David Giler

 Walter Hill

 

 

 

Screenplay by

 

Paul W. S. Anderson

 

 

 

Story by

 

Paul W. S. Anderson

 Dan O'Bannon

 Ronald Shusett

 

 

 

Based on

 

Alien

 by Dan O'Bannon

 Ronald Shusett

 Predator

 by Jim Thomas

 John Thomas

 

 

 

Starring

 

Sanaa Lathan

 Lance Henriksen

 Raoul Bova

 Ewen Bremner

 Colin Salmon

 

 

 

Music by

 

Harald Kloser

 

 

 

Cinematography

 

David Johnson

 

 

 

Editing by

 

Alexander Berner

 

 

 

Studio

 

Davis Entertainment Company

 Brandywine

 

 

 

Distributed by

 

Twentieth Century Fox

 

 

 

Release date(s)

 

 

August 12, 2004 (2004-08-12) (international)

   August 13, 2004 (2004-08-13) (United States)

  

 

 

Running time

 

101 minutes

 

 

 

Country

 

United States

 United Kingdom

 Czech Republic

 Canada

 Germany[1]

 

 

 

Language

 

English

 

 

 

Budget

 

$60 million[2]

 

 

 

Box office

 

$172,544,654[2]

 

 

Alien vs. Predator (also known as AVP) is a 2004 science fiction film directed

by Paul W. S. Anderson for 20th Century Fox and starring Sanaa Lathan and Lance

Henriksen. The film adapts the Alien vs. Predator crossover imprint bringing

together the eponymous creatures of the Alien and Predator series, a concept

which originated in a 1989 comic book. Anderson, Dan O'Bannon, and Ronald

Shusett wrote the story, and Anderson and Shane Salerno adapted the story into a

screenplay. Their writing was influenced by Aztec mythology, the comic book

series, and the writings of Erich von Däniken.

 

Set in 2004, the film follows a team of archaeologists assembled by billionaire

Charles Bishop Weyland (Henriksen) for an expedition near the Antarctic to

investigate a mysterious heat signal. Weyland hopes to claim the find for

himself, and his group discovers a pyramid below the surface of a whaling

station. Hieroglyphs and sculptures reveal that the pyramid is a hunting ground

for Predators who kill Aliens as a rite of passage. The humans are caught in the

middle of a battle between the two species and attempt to prevent the Aliens

from reaching the surface.

 

The film was released on August 13, 2004, in North America and received mostly

negative reviews from film critics. Some praised the special effects and set

designs, while others dismissed the film for its "wooden dialogue" and

"cardboard characters". Nevertheless, Alien vs. Predator grossed over $172

million at the worldwide box office and spawned a sequel in 2007 titled Aliens

vs. Predator: Requiem.

 

 

 

 

 

  Contents

    [hide]  1 Plot

     2 Cast

     3 Production 3.1 Origins

       3.2 Story and setting

       3.3 Casting

       3.4 Filming and set designs

       3.5 Effects and creatures

       3.6 Music

      

    4 Reception 4.1 Box office

       4.2 Reviews

       4.3 Alien 5 and sequel

      

    5 Home media releases

     6 See also

     7 References

     8 External links

    

 

[edit] Plot

 

A man runs out of the snow to save himself from an unknown predator. He gets

trapped and eventually attacked. In 2004, a satellite detects a mysterious heat

bloom beneath Bouvetøya, an island about one thousand miles north of Antarctica.

Wealthy industrialist Charles Bishop Weyland (Lance Henriksen) assembles a team

of scientists to investigate the heat source and claim it for his multinational

communications company, Weyland Industries. The team includes archaeologists,

linguistic experts, drillers, mercenaries, and a guide named Alexa Woods (Sanaa

Lathan).

 

As a Predator ship reaches Earth's orbit, it blasts a shaft through the ice

towards the source of the heat bloom. When the humans arrive at the site above

the heat source, an abandoned whaling station, they find the shaft and descend

beneath the ice. They discover a mysterious pyramid and begin to explore it,

finding evidence of a civilization predating written history and what appears to

be a sacrificial chamber filled with human skeletons with ruptured rib cages.

 

Meanwhile, three Predators land and kill the humans on the surface, making their

way down to the pyramid and arriving just as the team unwittingly powers up the

structure. An Alien queen awakes from cryogenic stasis and begins to produce

eggs, from which facehuggers hatch and attach to several humans trapped in the

sacrificial chamber. Chestbursters emerge from the humans and quickly grow into

adult Aliens. Conflicts erupt between the Predators, Aliens, and humans,

resulting in several deaths. Unbeknownst to the others, a Predator is implanted

with an Alien embryo.

 

Through translation of the pyramid's hieroglyphs the explorers learn that the

Predators have been visiting Earth for thousands of years. It was they who

taught early human civilizations how to build pyramids, and were worshipped as

gods. Every 100 years they would visit Earth to take part in a rite of passage

in which several humans would sacrifice themselves as hosts for the Aliens,

creating the "ultimate prey" for the Predators to hunt. If overwhelmed, the

Predators would activate their self-destruct weapons to eliminate the Aliens and

themselves. The explorers deduce that this is why the current Predators are at

the pyramid, and that the heat bloom was to attract humans for the purpose of

making new Aliens to hunt.

 

The remaining humans decide that the Predators must be allowed to succeed in

their hunt so that the Aliens do not reach the surface. As the battle continues

most of the characters are killed, leaving only Alexa and a single Predator to

fight against the Aliens. The two form an alliance and use the Predator's

self-destruct device to destroy the pyramid and the remaining Aliens. Alexa and

the Predator reach the surface, where they battle the escaped Alien queen. They

defeat the queen by attaching its chain to a water tower and pushing it over a

cliff into the water, dragging the queen to the ocean floor. The Predator,

however, dies from its wounds.

 

A Predator ship uncloaks and several Predators appear. They collect their fallen

comrade and present Alexa with one of their spear weapons in recognition of her

skill as a warrior. As they retreat into space, a chestburster erupts from the

dead Predator, beginning the events of Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem.

 

[edit] Cast

 

See also: List of Alien vs. Predator characters

 Sanaa Lathan as Alexa Woods, an experienced guide who spent several seasons

  exploring the Arctic and Antarctic environments.

   Lance Henriksen as Charles Bishop Weyland, the billionaire head of Weyland

  Industries.

   Raoul Bova as Sebastian De Rosa, an archaeologist who is able to translate

  the pyramid's hieroglyphs.

   Ewen Bremner as Graeme Miller, a member of the exploration team.

   Colin Salmon as Maxwell "Max" Stafford, assistant to Mr. Weyland.

   Tommy Flanagan as Mark Verheiden, a mercenary member of the exploration team.

   Joseph Rye as Joe Connors, a member of the exploration team.

   Agathe de La Boulaye as Adele Rousseau, a mercenary member of the exploration

  team.

   Carsten Norgaard as Rustin Quinn, a mercenary member of the exploration team.

   Liz May Brice as Selene, the team's supervisor.

   Sam Troughton as Thomas "Tom" Parkes, a member of the exploration team.

   Ian Whyte as the Predator, one of three Predators who come to Earth in order

  to create and hunt Aliens within the pyramid as a rite of passage. Whyte

  played the lead Predator, called "Scar" in the film's credits.

   Tom Woodruff, Jr. as the Alien. The Alien played by Woodruff is listed in the

  film's credits as "Grid," after a grid-like wound received during the film.

  

Additional members of the exploration team were played by Petr Jákl (Stone),

Pavel Bezdek (Bass), Kieran Bew (Klaus), Carsten Voigt (Mikkel), Jan Filipensky

(Boris), and Adrian Bouchet (Sven).

 

[edit] Production

 

[edit] Origins

 

The concept of Alien vs. Predator originated from the Aliens versus Predator

comic book in 1989, and was hinted at when an Alien skull appeared in a trophy

case aboard the Predator ship in Predator 2.[3] Screenwriter Peter Briggs

created the original spec screenplay in 1990–1991, which was based on the first

comic series.[3] In 1991, he successfully pitched the concept to 20th Century

Fox, who owned the film franchises, although the company did not move forward

with the project until 2002. A draft penned by James DeMonaco and Kevin Fox was

rejected by producer John Davis, who hoped to give the film an original approach

by setting it on Earth.[4]

 

As there were six producers between the film franchises, Davis had difficulty

securing the rights as the producers were worried about a film featuring the two

creatures. Paul W. S. Anderson pitched Davis a story he worked on for eight

years, and showed him concept art created by Randy Bowen.[5] Impressed with

Anderson's idea, Davis thought the story was like Jaws in that it "just drew you

in, it drew you in".[6] Anderson started to work on the film after completing

the script for Resident Evil: Apocalypse, with Shane Salerno co-writing. Salerno

spent six months writing the shooting script, finished its development, and

stayed on for revisions throughout the film's production.[7]

 

[edit] Story and setting

 

 

 

 

 

Influenced by the work of Erich von Däniken and Aztec mythology, Anderson had

the Predators come to Earth in spaceships and teach humans how to build

pyramids. As a result they were treated as gods.

Early reports claimed the story was about humans who tried to lure Predators

with Alien eggs, although the idea was scrapped.[8] Influenced by the work of

Erich von Däniken, Anderson researched von Däniken's theories on how he believed

early civilizations were able to construct massive pyramids with the help of

aliens, an idea drawn from Aztec mythology.[9] Anderson wove these ideas into

Alien vs. Predator, describing a scenario in which Predators taught ancient

humans to build pyramids and used Earth for rite of passage rituals every 100

years in which they would hunt Aliens. To explain how these ancient

civilizations "disappeared without a trace", Anderson came up with the idea that

the Predators, if overwhelmed by the Aliens, would use their self-destruct

weapons to kill everything in the area.[9] H. P. Lovecraft's 1931 novella At the

Mountains of Madness served as an inspiration for the film, and several elements

of the Aliens vs. Predator comic series were included.[5][10] Anderson's initial

script called for five Predators to appear in the film, although the number was

later reduced to three.[9]

 

As Alien vs. Predator is a sequel to the Predator films and prequel to the Alien

series, Anderson was cautious of contradicting continuity in the franchises. He

chose to set the film on the remote Norwegian Antarctic island of Bouvet

commenting, "It's definitely the most hostile environment on Earth and probably

the closest to an Alien surface you can get."[11] Anderson thought that setting

the film in an urban environment like New York City would break continuity with

the Alien series as the protagonist, Ellen Ripley, had no knowledge the

creatures existed. "You can't have an Alien running around the city now, because

it would've been written up and everyone will know about it. So there's nothing

in this movie that contradicts anything that already exists."[11]

 

[edit] Casting

 

 

 

 

 

Lance Henriksen was the first to be cast in Alien vs. Predator, as Anderson

wanted to keep continuity with the Alien series.

The first actor to be cast for Alien vs. Predator was Lance Henriksen, who

played the character Bishop in Aliens and Alien 3. Although the Alien movies are

set 150 years in the future, Anderson wanted to keep continuity with the series

by including a familiar actor. Henriksen plays billionaire Charles Bishop

Weyland, a character that ties in with the Weyland-Yutani Corporation. According

to Anderson, Weyland becomes known for the discovery of the pyramid, and as a

result the Weyland-Yutani Corporation models the Bishop android in the Alien

films after him; "when the Bishop android is created in 150 years time, it's

created with the face of the creator. It's kind of like Microsoft building an

android in 100 years time that has the face of Bill Gates."[12]

 

Anderson opted for a European cast including Italian actor Raoul Bova, Ewen

Bremner from Scotland, and English actor Colin Salmon. Producer Davis said,

"There's a truly international flavor to the cast, and gives the film a lot of

character."[13] Several hundred actresses attended the auditions to be cast as

the film's heroine Alexa Woods. Sanaa Lathan was selected, and one week later

she flew to Prague to begin filming. The filmmakers knew there would be

comparisons to Alien heroine Ellen Ripley and did not want a clone of the

character, but wanted to make her similar while adding something different.[13]

 

Anderson reported in an interview that California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

was willing to reprise his role as Major Alan "Dutch" Schaeffer from Predator in

a short cameo appearance if he lost the recall election on condition that the

filming should take place at his residence.[14] Schwarzenegger, however, won the

election with 48.58% of the votes and was unavailable to participate in Alien

vs. Predator. Actress Sigourney Weaver, who starred as Ellen Ripley in the Alien

series, said she was happy not to be in the film, as a possible crossover was

"the reason I wanted my character to die in the first place", and thought the

concept "sounded awful".[15][16]

 

[edit] Filming and set designs

 

Production began in late 2003 at Barrandov Studios in Prague, Czech Republic,

where most of the filming took place. Production designer Richard Bridgland was

in charge of sets, props and vehicles, based on early concept art Anderson had

created to give a broad direction of how things would look. 25 to 30 life-sized

sets were constructed at Barrandov Studios, many of which were interiors of the

pyramid. The pyramid's carvings, sculptures, and hieroglyphs were influenced by

Egyptian, Cambodian, and Aztec civilizations, while the regular shifting of the

pyramid's rooms was meant to evoke a sense of claustrophobia similar to the

original Alien film.[17] According to Anderson, if he was to build the sets in

Los Angeles they would have cost $20 million. However, in Prague they cost $2

million, an important factor when the film's budget was less than $50

million.[5]

 

Third scale miniatures several meters in height were created to give the film

the effect of realism, rather than relying on computer generated imagery (CGI).

For the whaling station miniatures and life-sized sets, over 700 bags of

artificial snow were used (roughly 15–20 tons).[6] A 4.5-meter miniature of an

icebreaker with working lights and a mechanical moving radar was created,

costing almost $37,000 and taking 10 weeks to create. Visual effects producer

Arthur Windus, claimed miniatures were beneficial in the filming process: "With

computer graphics, you need to spend a lot of time making it real. With a

miniature, you shoot it and its there."[18] A scale 25-meter miniature of the

whaling station was created in several months. It was designed so the model

could be collapsed and then reconstructed, which proved beneficial for a

six-second shot which required a re-shoot.[18]

 

[edit] Effects and creatures

 

 

 

 

 

A hydraulic Alien was used to film six scenes as it was faster than a man in a

suit. The puppet required six people to operate it.

Special effects company Amalgamated Dynamics Incorporated (ADI) was hired for

the movie, having previously worked on Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection. Visual

special effects producers Arthur Windus and John Bruno were in charge of the

project, which contained 400 effects shots.[18] ADI founders Alec Gillis, Tom

Woodruff Jr., and members of their company, began designing costumes, miniatures

and effects in June 2003. For five months the creatures were redesigned, the

Predators wrist blades being extended roughly four times longer than those in

the Predator films, and a larger mechanical plasma caster was created for the

Scar Predator.[6]

 

The basic shape of the Predator mask was kept, although technical details were

added and each Predator was given a unique mask to distinguish them from each

other. These masks were created using clay, which was used to form molds to

create fiberglass copies. These copies were painted to give a weathered look,

which Woodruff claims "is what the Predator is all about".[6] A hydraulic Alien

puppet was created so ADI would be able to make movements faster and give the

Alien a "slimline and skeletal" appearance, rather than using an actor in a

suit. The puppet required six people to run it; three for the head and body, two

for the arms, and a sixth to make sure the signals were reaching the computer.

Movements were recorded in the computer so that puppeteers would be able to

repeat moves that Anderson liked. The puppet was used in six shots, including

the fight scene with the Predator which took one month to film.[6]

 

The crew tried to keep CGI use to a minimum, as Anderson said people in suits

and puppets are scarier than CGI monsters as they are "there in the frame".[6]

Roughly 70% of scenes were created using suits, puppets, and miniatures. The

Alien queen was filmed using three variations: a 4.8-meter practical version, a

1.2-meter puppet, and a computer-generated version. The practical version

required 12 puppeteers to operate,[5] and CGI tails were added to the Aliens and

the queen as they were difficult to animate using puppetry.[13][19] Anderson

praised Alien director Ridley Scott's and Predator director John McTiernan's

abilities at building suspense by not showing the creatures until late in the

film, something Anderson wanted to accomplish with Alien vs. Predator. "Yes, we

make you wait 45 minutes, but once it goes off, from there until the end of the

movie, it's fucking relentless".[20]

 

 

 

[edit] Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)

 

Set immediately after the previous film, the Predator spacecraft crashes in

Colorado, releasing a Predator-Xenomorph hybrid. Another predator comes to Earth

to erase evidence of the accident and kill any witnesses.

 

Directed by

 

The Brothers Strause

 

 

 

Produced by

 

John Davis

 David Giler

 Walter Hill

 

 

 

Written by

 

Shane Salerno

 

 

 

Based on

 

Alien

 by Dan O'Bannon

 Ron Shusett

 Predator

 by Jim Thomas

 John Thomas

 

 

 

Starring

 

Steven Pasquale

 Reiko Aylesworth

 John Ortiz

 Johnny Lewis

 Ariel Gade

 

 

 

Music by

 

Brian Tyler

 

 

 

Cinematography

 

Daniel C. Pearl

 

 

 

Editing by

 

Dan Zimmerman

 

 

 

Studio

 

John Davis

 Brandywine

 Dune Entertainment LLC

 

 

 

Distributed by

 

Twentieth Century Fox

 

 

 

Release date(s)

 

December 25, 2007

 

 

 

Running time

 

94 minutes (Standard Version) 101 minutes (Unrated Version)

 

 

 

Country

 

United States

 

 

 

Language

 

English

 

 

 

Budget

 

$40 million[1]

 

 

 

Box office

 

$128,884,494[2]

 

 

Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (also known as AVP:R) is a 2007 American science

fiction film directed by the Brothers Strause (Colin and Greg) and written by

Shane Salerno. A sequel to 2004's Alien vs. Predator and the second prequel to

the Alien film series, it continues the film crossover of the Alien and Predator

media franchises. The film's lead roles are played by actors Steven Pasquale and

Reiko Aylesworth.[3]

 

Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem was released on December 25, 2007 and received a

largely negative response from film critics. The film grossed $9.5 million on

its opening day and took in a worldwide gross of $128.9 million in theaters.

According to Home Media Magazine, the film debuted at #1 in sales and rentals on

Blu-ray and #2 on DVD when it was released on home video on April 15, 2008.

Since then it has made $27,403,705 in DVD sales.[4]

 

 

 

 

 

  Contents

    [hide]  1 Plot

     2 Cast

     3 Production 3.1 Music

      

    4 Release 4.1 Box office

       4.2 Critical response

       4.3 Unrated Cut

       4.4 Awards

       4.5 Home media

      

    5 Video game

     6 See also

     7 References

     8 External links

    

 

[edit] Plot

 

Following the events of Alien vs. Predator, a Predator spaceship is leaving

Earth carrying dead Aliens, living facehuggers, and the body of the Predator

that defeated the Alien queen. A chestburster erupts from the dead Predator's

body; it is a new creature that is a hybrid of Alien and Predator

characteristics. It quickly matures into an adult and begins killing Predators

throughout the ship. A Predator's weapons fire punctures the hull and the ship

crashes in the forest outside of Gunnison, Colorado.

 

With the Predators dead, the hybrid and several facehuggers escape, implanting

embryos into a nearby father and son and into several homeless people living in

the sewers. A distress signal from the wrecked ship reaches the Predator home

world and a lone Predator responds, traveling to Earth to observe the cause of

the crash and track the facehuggers. It begins to erase the evidence of the

Aliens' presence by destroying the crashed ship and using a blue liquid to

dissolve the bodies of the facehuggers and their victims.

 

Meanwhile, ex-convict Dallas Howard (Steven Pasquale) has just returned to

Gunnison after serving time in prison. He is greeted by Sheriff Eddie Morales

(John Ortiz) and reunites with his younger brother Ricky (Johnny Lewis). Ricky

has a romantic interest in his more affluent classmate Jesse (Kristen Hager) and

is being harassed by her boyfriend Dale (David Paetkau) and two of his friends.

Kelly O'Brien (Reiko Aylesworth) has also just returned to Gunnison after

service in the military, and reunites with her husband Tim (Sam Trammell) and

daughter Molly (Ariel Gade).

 

The Predator fights a number of Aliens in the sewers, and as the battle reaches

the surface several of them disperse into the town. The Predator pursues some to

the power plant, where collateral damage from its weaponry causes a city-wide

power outage. Ricky and Jesse meet at the high school swimming pool but are

interrupted by Dale and his cohorts just as the power fails and an Alien enters

the building, killing Dale's friends. Another Alien invades the O'Brien home,

killing Tim while Kelly escapes with Molly.

 

Kelly, Molly, Ricky, Jesse, Dale, Dallas, and Sheriff Morales meet at a sporting

goods store to gather weapons. Troops from the Colorado Army National Guard

arrive but are quickly killed by the Aliens. When the battle between the

Predator and the Aliens enters the store, Dale is killed and the Predator's

shoulder cannons are damaged; it is able to modify one into a hand-held blaster.

 

As the survivors attempt to escape Gunnison, they make radio contact with

Colonel Stevens (Robert Joy) and learn that an air evacuation is being staged at

the center of town. Kelly is suspicious of the military's intentions, convincing

a small group to go to the hospital where they hope to escape by helicopter,

while Sheriff Morales heads to the evacuation area with the rest of the

surviving citizens. The hospital, however, has been invaded by Aliens and the

hybrid. The Predator soon arrives and in the ensuing battle. Jesse is killed,

Ricky is injured, and Dallas takes possession of the Predator's blaster cannon.

 

As the battle reaches the rooftop, Dallas, Ricky, Kelly, and Molly escape in the

helicopter while the Predator battles the hybrid hand-to-hand. The two creatures

mortally wound each other just as a military jet arrives; rather than a rescue

airlift it is a bomber, executing a tactical nuclear strike that destroys the

entire city and kills all of the extraterrestrials along with the remaining

citizens. The shock wave causes the fleeing helicopter to crash in a clearing,

where the survivors are rescued by the military. The Predator's blaster cannon

is confiscated, and Colonel Stevens presents it to Ms. Yutani.

 

[edit] Cast

 Steven Pasquale as Dallas Howard, a recently-released convict who returns to

  Gunnison and reunites with his brother, Ricky.

   Reiko Aylesworth as Kelly O'Brien, a soldier who returns to her family in

  Gunnison from military service.

   John Ortiz as Edward "Eddie" "Ed" "Eddy" Morales, the sheriff of Gunnison.

   Johnny Lewis as Richard "Ricky" "Rick" Howard, a high school student and

  younger brother of Dallas.

   Ariel Gade as Molly O'Brien, daughter of Kelly and Tim O'Brien.

   Kristen Hager as Jesse, a classmate of Ricky Howard who begins to show

  interest in him, angering her boyfriend Dale.

   Gina Holden as Carrie, a waitress.

   Chelah Horsdal as Darcy Benson, wife of the father and son hunting pair who

  go missing in the woods.

   Robert Joy as Colonel Stevens, commander of the military forces attempting to

  contain the Alien infestation.

   David Paetkau as Dale Collins, Jesse's boyfriend who bullies Ricky.

   Sam Trammell as Timothy "Tim" "Timmy" O'Brien, husband to Kelly and father of

  Molly.

   David Hornsby as Drew, a pizza parlor supervisor.

   Ian Whyte as the Predator / Wolf, one of the film's titular alien species.

  The main Predator of the film comes to Earth in order to eliminate the Aliens

  and all traces of their presence. This Predator was nicknamed "Wolf" by the

  production team, after Harvey Keitel's character in Pulp Fiction whose role is

  also that of a "cleaner".[5] Whyte had previously portrayed the Predator in

  Alien vs. Predator. Additional Predators in the film's opening scene were

  played by Ian Feuer and Bobby "Slim" Jones.

   Tom Woodruff, Jr. as the Aliens / Predalien, the other titular species of the

  film. Having previously portrayed the Aliens in Alien 3, Alien Resurrection

  and Alien vs. Predator, Woodruff reprised the role for Aliens vs. Predator:

  Requiem. He also portrayed the Alien/Predator hybrid creature, dubbed the

  Predalien by the production team.

  

[edit] Production

 

Inspired by Terminator 2: Judgment Day, brothers Colin and Greg Strause moved to

Los Angeles to break into the film business. After an unsuccessful attempt to

find employment at ILM, the brothers worked on the X-Files film and founded

their own special effects company, Hydraulx. The company produced special

effects for films such as Volcano, Titanic, The Day After Tomorrow, Poseidon and

300 and the brothers began a career directing commercials and music videos.

Colin believes Hydraulx secured a strong relationship with 20th Century Fox,

which owns the Alien and Predator franchises.[6]

 

The brothers unsuccessfully pitched an idea for the first Alien vs. Predator

film and Fox almost bought a film titled Wolfenstein suggested by the brothers,

"When the script came up for this movie, they thought we'd be perfect for it

because it's an ambitious movie for the budget that they had and they knew that

having our visual effects background was going to be a huge thing."[6] The

brothers were hired to direct the sequel to Alien vs. Predator in late spring

2006 and had limited time to start filming in the fall.[6]

 

Filming on Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem began September 25, 2006 in Vancouver[7]

on a 52-day schedule.[8] During filming breaks, the brothers supervised visual

effects work on 300, Shooter and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer by

using in-house supervisors and a system called Mavis and Lucy, which let the

brothers track, view and approve dailies. Colin estimates Hydraulx produced 460

of the 500 visual effects shots including the nuclear explosion which was

created using Maya fluids and BA Volume Shader. The interior of the Predator

ship was created using CGI, as the brothers felt it would be more cost effective

than building a set.[8] The visual effects team peaked at 110 people for several

months and averaged 70, almost all of the entire Hydraulx staff.[9]

 

Using their knowledge in visual effects and making use of principal photography,

the brothers tried to film as much as they could on camera without resorting to

CGI, Colin said "Other than the exterior spaceship shots, there are no pure CG

shots". CGI was used for the Alien tails and inner jaws, whereas they required

puppeteers and wire removal on previous films. The main visual effects of the

film included set design, a nuclear explosion, the Predator's ship crashing and

the Predator cloak, about which Colin stated "We wanted to make sure it didn't

look too digital".[8]

 

As a side-note, the DVD commentary reveals that the brothers had hoped to get

Adam Baldwin to reprise his role as Garber from Predator 2, but were unable to

do so, instead using Robert Joy as a new character.

 

 

[edit] Predators (2010)

 

In 2009, it was announced that Robert Rodriguez would relaunch the franchise.[3]

Rodriguez had written a script titled Predators before he had filmed Desperado.

In 2009, 20th Century Fox studio executive Alex Young called Rodriguez to

consider using his treatment as the basis of reviving the individual Predator

franchise.[4] Writer Alex Litvak was hired to write the screenplay.[5] Nimród

Antal was signed on to direct the film. The film is set on the Predator game

reserve planet, where a group of soldiers battles for their lives against the

creatures.[6] The film stars Adrien Brody,[7] Alice Braga, Danny Trejo, Walt

Goggins, Oleg Taktarov, Topher Grace,[8] Mahershalalhashbaz Ali, Louis Ozawa

Changchien[9] and Laurence Fishburne.

 

Directed by

 

Nimród Antal

 

 

 

Produced by

 

Robert Rodriguez

 John Davis

 Elizabeth Avellan

 

 

 

Written by

 

Alex Litvak

 Michael Finch

 

 

 

Starring

 

Adrien Brody

 Topher Grace

 Alice Braga

 Walton Goggins

 Danny Trejo

 Oleg Taktarov

 Mahershalalhashbaz Ali

 Louis Ozawa Changchien

 Laurence Fishburne

 

 

 

Music by

 

John Debney

 

 

 

Cinematography

 

Gyula Pados

 

 

 

Editing by

 

Dan Zimmerman

 

 

 

Studio

 

Davis Entertainment

 Troublemaker Studios

 Dune Entertainment

 

 

 

Distributed by

 

20th Century Fox

 

 

 

Release date(s)

 

 

July 7, 2010 (2010-07-07) (international)

   July 9, 2010 (2010-07-09) (United States)

  

 

 

Running time

 

107 minutes[1]

 

 

 

Country

 

United States

 

 

 

Language

 

English

 

 

 

Budget

 

$40 million[2]

 

 

 

Box office

 

$127,234,389[3][4]

 

 

Predators is a 2010 American science fiction action film directed by Nimród

Antal and starring Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, Alice Braga, Walton Goggins,

Laurence Fishburne, Danny Trejo, Mahershalalhashbaz Ali, Oleg Taktarov and Louis

Ozawa Changchien. It was distributed by 20th Century Fox. It is the fifth film

in the Predator franchise, following Predator (1987), Predator 2 (1990), and the

crossover films Alien vs. Predator (2004) and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem

(2007).

 

The film follows Royce (Adrien Brody), a mercenary, who wakes up finding himself

falling from the sky into a jungle. Once on the ground, he meets other people

who have arrived there in the same manner, all of whom have questionable

backgrounds, except for a doctor (Topher Grace). As the film progresses, the

group discovers that they are on an alien planet that acts as a game preserve

where they are being hunted by a merciless race of aliens known as Predators.

 

Producer Robert Rodriguez had developed a script as early as 1994, although it

was not until 2009 that 20th Century Fox greenlit the project. According to

Rodriguez, the title Predators is an allusion to the second film in the Alien

franchise, Aliens (1986).[5] The title also has a double meaning, referring both

to the extraterrestrial Predator creatures and to the group of human characters

who are pitted against them.[6] Principal photography for Predators began on

September 28, 2009 and concluded after 53 days; filming took place in Hawaii and

then in Austin, Texas.

 

Predators was released in the United States on July 9, 2010, and was met with

mixed reception from film critics. The film grossed over $24 million on its

opening weekend, and has since grossed over $52 million in the United States,

with an estimated total of $127 million worldwide.

 

 

 

 

 

  Contents

    [hide]  1 Plot

     2 Development

     3 Casting

     4 Production 4.1 Filming

       4.2 Special effects

       4.3 Music

      

    5 Release 5.1 Box office

       5.2 Critical reception

       5.3 Accolades

      

    6 Merchandise

     7 Home media

     8 Sequel

     9 References

     10 External links

    

 

[edit] Plot

 

Royce (Adrien Brody) awakens to find himself parachuting into an unfamiliar

jungle. He meets several others who arrived in the same manner: Mexican drug

cartel enforcer Cuchillo (Danny Trejo), Spetsnaz soldier Nikolai (Oleg

Taktarov), Israel Defense Forces sniper Isabelle (Alice Braga), Revolutionary

United Front officer Mombasa (Mahershalalhashbaz Ali), death row inmate Stans

(Walton Goggins), Yakuza enforcer Hanzo (Louis Ozawa Changchien), and doctor

Edwin (Topher Grace). All are armed and lethal killers, with the apparent

exception of Edwin, though none know where they are or how they got there. The

group follows Royce, whom Isabelle suspects is a former black operations soldier

turned mercenary. In the jungle they find empty cages, plants with a neurotoxic

poison that Edwin collects on a scalpel, and a deceased US Special Forces

soldier. Arriving at higher ground they find themselves staring at an alien sky

and realize that they are not on Earth.

 

The party is attacked by a pack of dog-like alien beasts, during which Cuchillo

is killed. The survivors avoid a trap, as something mimicking Cuchillo's voice

tries to lure them close to his slumped body. Royce guesses they are on a planet

used as a game preserve, where humans are hunted as game. The group follows the

quadrupeds' tracks to a hunting encampment and find a captive Predator. Three

larger Predators attack, revealed to be their hunters, killing Mombasa as the

rest of the group escapes. Isabelle reveals that she has heard of the Predators

before, from a report by the only survivor of a Special Forces team who

encountered one in Guatemala in 1987.

 

The group next meets Noland (Laurence Fishburne), a lone soldier who has

survived on the planet for years by hiding and scavenging. He explains that the

Predators sharpen their killing skills by collecting warriors and dangerous

beasts from other worlds and bringing them to the planet to hunt. Noland also

reveals that the Predators hunt in threes, and that there is a blood feud

between the larger Predators and the smaller ones. Royce hopes that if the group

can free the smaller Predator being held prisoner in the encampment, it may take

them home using the other Predators' spaceship. Noland attempts to murder the

group during the night, but Royce uses an explosive to attract the Predators,

who kill Noland. In the ensuing chase, Nikolai sacrifices himself to kill one of

the Predators using an explosive. Stans savagely attacks a second Predator with

his shiv to allow the others to escape, and is killed. Hanzo duels the third

Predator with a katana, killing it at the cost of his own life.

 

Edwin is injured by a trap as he, Royce, and Isabelle head for the encampment.

When Isabelle refuses to abandon him, Royce leaves them both behind and they are

caught by the remaining large Predator. Royce frees the smaller Predator and

heads for the ship as the two Predators confront each other. The larger Predator

kills its foe and then destroys the ship as it takes off. Meanwhile, Edwin

paralyzes Isabelle with the neurotoxic poison on his scalpel and reveals that on

Earth he was a psychopathic murderer, and feels that he fits in on this planet

among the monsters. Royce appears, never having boarded the ship, and saves

Isabelle by stabbing Edwin through the throat.

 

Royce booby-traps Edwin's body with grenades, using him as bait to disorient the

Predator. A fight ensues in which Royce successfully decapitates the Predator

after being saved by a sniper shot from the recovering Isabelle. As Royce and

Isabelle recover from their ordeal, they observe more prey parachuting into the

jungle. Royce tells Isabelle that they must find another way to get off the

planet.

 

[edit] Development

 

The film was produced by Robert Rodriguez, and written by Alex Litvak and

Michael Finch.[7] In 1994, Rodriguez wrote an early script for the film for 20th

Century Fox while he was working on Desperado.[8] Rodriguez presented the script

to the studio, but was denied when they realized that the budget would be too

large.[5] 15 years later, the studio decided to go with his script.

 

 

It's the story from that script I had written way back then. They had hired me

to write a Predator story while I was waiting to do Desperado back in 1995. It

was crazy, this thing I came up with. So then fast-forward to now and, like, six

months ago, they found the script and called me up. 'Hey, we want to redo this

franchise and we found your old script. This is where we should have gone with

the series! We want to move forward.' And that's what we're doing.[9]

 

In 2009, 20th Century Fox studio executive, Alex Young, called Rodriguez to

consider using his treatment to revive the individual Predator franchise.[10]

The film was produced at Rodriguez's Troublemaker Studios as opposed to 20th

Century Fox so that Rodriguez had more creative control over the film.[5] It was

originally thought that Robert Rodriguez would direct, but on July 1, 2009,

Nimród Antal was officially signed on to direct.[11]

 

Rodriguez and Antal have expressed that they wanted this film to be a sequel

only to the original Predator[6][12] (while not necessarily discounting Predator

2),[13] as the film is trying to distance itself from the two Alien vs. Predator

films.[5][12] Antal stated the reasoning behind the decision to dismiss the

Alien vs Predator films was that he wanted the film to be closer in tone to the

original Predator film, as the AVP films had taken the Predator series in a too

outlandish direction.[13]

 

[edit] Casting

 

For more details on individual characters, see List of Predator characters.

 

At the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con International Rodriguez stated that Predators

would feature an ensemble cast, and that the most important element of the film

would be "great characters so that the audience feels they're going on this

journey with them".[6] He also noted that the title had a double meaning,

referring not only to the extraterrestrial hunters but also to the human

characters, all of whom are dangerous killers.[6] He and Antal wanted each of

the characters to be well-developed enough to be able to stand alone.[12]

Rodriguez hoped to have Arnold Schwarzenegger play a cameo role as Dutch, his

character from the original Predator film, but this ultimately did not

happen.[14]

 

The principal cast members of Predators are:

 Adrien Brody as Royce, an ex-military soldier turned mercenary who

  reluctantly assumes leadership of the group of humans.[15][16] Brody claimed

  he had been "blown away" by Predator and viewed his role as a challenge,

  wanting to bring a complexity to the character that would contrast with

  Schwarzenegger's role in the original film.[17] He did put on twenty-five

  pounds of muscle for the role, stating that "I want it to be entertaining and

  part of the ride that people see when they see a movie like that. But that's

  not really why I'm in it and that's not really what I brought to it. I brought

  the same kind of discipline that I would to a film like The Pianist."[17]

  Antal and Rodriguez specifically wanted to avoid casting an actor physically

  similar to Schwarzenegger, wanting to "go in a very different direction" and

  reasoning that real-life soldiers are wiry and tough rather than burly.[18]

  "We thought casting a physically 'Schwarzenegger-esque' character would have

  done the original film a disservice", said Antal, "and would have done this

  film a disservice because we are not trying to remake or copy the original

  film. I told everybody early on that I can make anybody look tough. What I

  can't do is teach them how to act".[19] Brody has expressed interest in

  reprising his role in future sequels.[17]

   Alice Braga as Isabelle, a sniper from the Israel Defense Force.[20] She

  failed to save her spotter during a mission, and feels that she has been

  brought to the alien planet as punishment and to seek redemption.[20] As the

  only female character, Isabelle plays the role of peacemaker: "My character,

  funny enough," said Braga, "is the one that is always trying to grab everyone

  together and like reuniting everyone and stop[ping] the fights and saying that

  we have strength in numbers."[21] Braga described the character as "a tough

  cookie ... sweet inside but tough outside".[21] She read a sniper manual to

  prepare for the role, and carried a fourteen-pound sniper rifle during

  shooting.[21]

   Topher Grace as Edwin, a doctor who does not seem to belong amongst the group

  of hardened killers until he reveals that he is a psychopathic murderer.[16]

  Grace was dubious about taking the role when he read the script, "because I

  really liked the first Predator, but all the sequels haven't been as good.

  Then when I read this, I thought, 'What Aliens was to Alien, this is to

  Predator'. Because Predator never really got its due; it never really got that

  sequel."[19] He compared Antal's approach to that of James Cameron, director

  of Aliens; remaining faithful to the original work but taking the concepts in

  slightly different directions.[19] Grace performed some of his own stunts,

  including jumping off of a waterfall.[19]

   Walton Goggins as Stans, a death row inmate from San Quentin State Prison who

  was scheduled to be executed in two days before suddenly finding himself on

  the alien planet. Responsible for 38 murders and also strongly implied to be a

  rapist.

   Oleg Taktarov as Nikolai, a Russian commando from the Spetsnaz Alpha Group

  who was fighting in Chechnya before finding himself on the alien planet.

  Taktarov, a retired mixed martial artist and former Ultimate Fighting

  Champion, described his role as combining elements of Arnold Schwarzenegger,

  Jesse Ventura, and Bill Duke's characters from the original Predator film, and

  praised it as "the first time you get a really, really, positive, good Russian

  character in an American [film]".[22] Taktarov used his martial arts training

  during some of the film's action sequences.[22] While filming a scene he hit

  his face on a steadicam and was bleeding, but continued filming because the

  blood added to the effect of the scene.[22]

   Louis Ozawa Changchien as Hanzo, a Yakuza enforcer who rarely speaks and

  reveals late in the film that he is missing his leftmost two fingers, having

  performed yubitsume. "I guess he used to be a guy who can murder someone

  without a qualm," said Changchien of the character, "but by the time he

  arrives [on the alien planet], he'll no longer be that kind of person. Those

  things aren't explained in the script, but you'll get it when you see the

  movie."[23] Changchien used his kendo training for a scene in which his

  character uses a katana in a duel against a Predator.[22] Antal, a kendo fan,

  insisted that the swordfight look authentic.[22]

   Mahershalalhashbaz Ali as Mombasa, a Sierra Leone Revolutionary United Front

  death squad soldier.

   Danny Trejo as Cuchillo, a ruthless enforcer for the Los Zetas Mexican drug

  cartel who carries twin submachine guns.[24]

   Laurence Fishburne as Noland, a United States Army Air Cavalry soldier who

  has survived on the alien planet for multiple hunting cycles. "It's a really

  interesting role," said Fishburne, "quite different from Morpheus [from The

  Matrix]. He's a bit shady, crazy, surviving on his own, kind of a ratty

  character."[23]

  

The four Predators in the film are portrayed by Derek Mears, Carey Jones, and

Brian Steele.[25] The Predators are identified in the film's credits as the

"Classic Predator", "Tracker Predator", "Falconer Predator", and "Berserker

Predator". Mears plays the Classic Predator, designed to resemble the creature

in the original Predator film.[26] Steele plays the Berserker and Falconer

Predators, two of the larger Predators hunting the humans.[27] The Berserker

Predator is identified by an alien mandible attached to its helmet and faces off

against Royce in the film's climax, while the Falconer Predator controls a

flying reconnaissance drone and is killed by Hanzo. Jones plays the Tracker

Predator, identified by a pair of tusks attached to its helmet, which controls

the quadrupedal hunting animals and is killed by Nikolai.[27] Jones also doubled

for Steele in some scenes as the Berserker and Falconer Predators.[27]

 

[edit] Production

 

[edit] Filming

 

The film was shot on a 53-day schedule. Exterior filming location was mostly set

in Kolekole, Hawaii.[28] Filming started on September 28, 2009.[29] The film

wrapped up its 22-day shoot on the Hawaii location on November 1, 2009. The film

shot its interior set scenes at Robert Rodriguez's studio in Austin, Texas.[30]

60% of the film was shot in Texas in order to be eligible for a tax benefit.[5]

The film shot more exterior footage at Canyon Lake Gorge in Comal County.

 

 

It was a blast. It was an amazing experience. We were in the tropical

rainforests of Hawaii stomping through the mud and getting rained on all day and

then we ended up finishing in Austin, Texas. I really think this movie is going

to be good. They had cut together a trailer while we were still working and it

looked amazing. It's a great cast and along with the action elements and the

sci-fi elements, and with Robert Rodriguez being involved, I think it's going to

push it to another level

 

—Actor Mahershalalhashbaz Ali, 411mania interview[31]

 

[edit] Special effects

 

Tom Woodruff Jr. and Alec Gillis, head of special effects studio Amalgamated

Dynamics, Inc (ADI), who previously worked on 2004's Alien vs. Predator and

2007's Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem did not return for the creature design of

Predators, nor did Stan Winston Studios. Instead, KNB EFX's Howard Berger and

Greg Nicotero took over building the creature suits.[32] Berger, who worked with

Winston on the original Predator, stated that the studio is reprising the

original Stan Winston design of the Predator in the film, saying "We wanted to

have the Predator look as it did in the original film. We went back and looked

at the original...everyone's going to be very happy that we've been very

faithful to the Stan Winston designs."[33] In addition to the original Predator

designs, the film features many new creatures never before seen in a Predator

film, such as a new breed of Predators that belong to a different tribe, alien

creatures that have been domesticated by the Predators for use in hunting, and

other alien creatures that have been brought to the planet by the Predators to

be used as prey.[12]

 

 

[edit] Future

 

Nimród Antal has talked about a sequel and said he would love to do one.

Rodriguez has said that he has interest in a sequel because of the large number

of potential ideas the Predator planet setting provides:

 

 

There are so many great ideas... Just following Laurence Fishburne's character

(Noland) around in a prequel would be a great movie. Just the tales he tells in

this movie alone, I want to see those experiences... That's why I wasn't

precious even about the original script I had, because once you come up with the

idea of a Predator Planet, that Predators use as their hunting grounds and

humans are involved somehow, the story ideas that you can come up with are so

numerous that you can come up with any approach. So we already have several

ideas that we can go with for a sequel. They would all be good ideas but we

would probably put them together to see which one rises to the top, if we made

another one.[10]

 

Rodriguez confirms that there will be a Predators sequel:

 

 

"[The studio] said, 'Let's do some other ones. What other story ideas do you

have?'" says the filmmaker. "Because it was like, let's test out the market with

this one. They really wanted it to be pretty contained, pretty scaled-back. They

didn't want to put too many of the ideas into it that we could save for a second

one. So we could see what the appetite was, because the bigger movie would

actually be what comes following that. That kind of sets up a new storyline, new

location and world, and then you can really go crazy from there."[11]

 

Adrien Brody also spoke about reprising his role in a possible sequel:

 

 

"I think a lot of that is determined by the success of the film. And I don't

think that far ahead. The idea of reprising the role and going farther into that

character is interesting to me… It would be exciting to watch a character

progress or deteriorate. That's exciting for an actor. I thoroughly enjoyed

playing Royce. Again, part of the attraction is I'm oddly drawn to material that

affects me on an emotional level, and characters that are dealing with things

that are challenging that I would question, that I'm not so familiar with. Royce

has his emotional arc in this that most of the characters I've played don't come

close to possessing. That's an interesting thing to cultivate."[12]