“The action is out of this world in this terrifying trilogy featuring one of the most fearsome creatures in sci-fi history! In Predator, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER wages an all-out war against a force more powerful and deadly than any on Earth. Then in Predator 2, a hardheaded cop (DANNY GLOVER) battles the Predator in the urban jungle of Los Angeles. Finally, in Predators, ADRIEN BRODY leads a group of elite warriors who find themselves on an alien planet targeted by a vicious new breed of Predators. It’s the ultimate showdown between hunter and prey!”

Predator

The film opens as Dutch (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and his team fly into a U.S. base of operations in the Central American jungle. Meeting one of his old friends, Dillon (Carl Weathers), a CIA Agent that tells him his team is tasked with rescuing a diplomat that was shot down over enemy territory.

While in the jungle, the team tracks the location of the downed chopper, with each new discovery they learn things may not be what they seem. Told they were shot down by guerillas, they find evidence of heavy ordinance and heat seeking missiles. Also told they were the only team given this mission, they find tracks of men with U.S. Army issued equipment. Finally the most gruesome discovery of them all is the entire U.S. team hanging upside down from the trees and are skinned alive. Believing this to be the work of the rebels, they charge into the camp, taking down a large force with precision and ease. Finally realizing the truth, that the diplomat was in fact a CIA agent and Dutch and his team were being used as assassins. He confronts Dillon and orders his team out to a safe location for the chopper to retrieve them, but not before discovering a survivor, Anna (Elpidia Carrillo), whom Dillon wants to bring along to interrogate. Leaving the camp, the team becomes uneasy as they can tell something isn’t quite right. Then, one by one, each is picked off before realizing they are being hunted by something not of this world.

In my eyes, Predator bridged sci-fi and action-hero better than any film before it with an excitingly new type of premise that established one of the coolest aliens in film history. What’s great about the film is how well it still holds up today, largely in part of the amazing practical effects and suit created by Stan Winston. A lot of things could have gone wrong with this production, the initial casting of prima donna Jean-Claude Van Damme as the Predator who wanted his face shown and was comically short in comparison to the other action stars, as well as the original suit created by a cheaper effects company which has been described as having a long neck with one eye and the head of a dog. Somehow, everything came together to bring us one of Arnold’s most entertaining films besides Terminator.

Video

Predator is presented in 4k 2160p Ultra High Definition Widescreen 1.85:1 with HDR. This 4k transfer is markedly improved over the previously released Blu-Ray, featuring some very vivid detail throughout the film. One thing you’ll notice straight away, however, is the amount of grain. Grain is very heavy throughout the majority of the film, sometimes becoming very excessive and other times stabilizing at a manageable level. This is understandable I suppose given the vastly different lighting locations which provides some very inconsistent looking shots. One example is when the jungle is cut down by the mini gun, one of the long shots looks very bad, but is quickly cut to a close up looking much better. Although there are times I can really see the difference with the HDR, I was hoping that the colors would be much more vibrant given the fact they are in a jungle. The fact is, most of the film is very dark and this doesn’t allow those bright colors as I’d hoped. Despite these downfalls, the majority of the transfer looks great and will satisfy those wanting an upgrade.

Audio

The audio is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Although I would’ve liked to see an upgrade Dolby Atmos or DTS:X track included, there is no doubt that this track still sounds phenomenal. There isn’t much dialogue in the film honestly, and a lot of what you’re going to get is some great atmospheric effects from the surrounds, including that infamous Predator clicking sound, lots of gunfire and explosions. Topping it off is one of my favorite scores of all time, the iconic Predator theme that is instantly recognizable.

Special Features

On the 4k disc you’ll have old commentaries that have been added.

• Commentary by Director John McTiernan
• Text Commentary by Eric Lichtenfeld

On the Blu-Ray disc you’ll find:

• Predators: Sneak Peek
• Predator: Evolution of a Species: Hunters of Extreme Perfection
• Commentary by Director John McTiernan
• Text Commentary by Film Historian Eric Lichtenfeld
• If It Bleeds, We Can Kill It: The Making of Predator
• Inside the Predator
• Special Effects
• Short Takes
• Deleted Scenes & Outtakes
• Theatrical Trailers
• Photo Gallery
• Predator Profile

Predator 2

Predator 2 opens in L.A. as gangs overtake the streets with the police forced to respond that has turned the city into a warzone. Lt. Mike Harrigan (Danny Glover) leads an investigative team that is on the front lines of all the violence and death. While chasing a group of drug dealers into a desolate warehouse, Harrigan discovers that someone has made quick work of them without firing a shot and has vanished into thin air. Down at the precinct, Harrigan is introduced to Peter Keyes (Gary Busey) a government agent claiming to be from the DEA and warns Harrigan about interfering with their investigation. Drug dealers keep dying and their bodies strung up and skinned, all the while Harrigan ignores Keyes’ warning trying to make sense of all the bloodshed. As members of his unit are killed one by one, Harrigan discovers he may be dealing with something much more dangerous than he previously thought.

I don’t like Predator 2. I never have. I thoroughly enjoy the Predator, the new gadgets that were introduced and of course the ending where we see the trophy room and small connection to the Alien universe that would go on to eventually become the extremely disappointing AvP franchise. My biggest problem with the film has to be Danny Glover. He’s not a leading man, in my opinion, and doesn’t have the capability of carrying an entire film squarely on his shoulders. I love him in the Lethal Weapon films, but his style of acting is perfect for Murtaugh. For a leading man who kills a Predator? No. Thanks to Predator 2 I feel like anyone can kill a Predator. Instead of a take-charge situation kind of guy, Lt. Harrigan whines in every crime scene he’s in shouting “What the hell happened here?”. There’s a point you come to when you realize that you’re a police detective and it’s your job to find out. I also feel like the dystopian future setting doesn’t fit. Why couldn’t it just be a normal city? There’s way too much going on and everything is so over the top.

I know I’m in the minority of people who dislike the sequel as much as I do, but I still try and take it for what it is. Rarely are sequels better than the original, and to take the film is such a different direction may be refreshing to some, but I just can’t get on board with the protagonist. Despite this, the film does have some memorable moments that will always draw me back to it every time I revisit these films.

Video

Predator 2 is presented in 4k 2160p Ultra High Definition Widescreen 1.85:1 with HDR. For the sequel the 4k transfer looks good. You will notice some grain of course, but this levels out once the film begins and becomes quite manageable. The HDR has really brightened some things up from the previous Blu-Ray release, but things are still quite dark in this film which doesn’t give it quite the effect that it could have. Still, it has great detail in the majority of the scenes that brings new appreciation for old films being remastered in 4k.

Audio

The audio is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. This track sounds good, with a good balance between all the surrounds and center channel. No defects noticed in the track, and you’ll get quite the range between all the effects going on. The soundtrack does feature some of the exact same music, including the odd choice of the fallen comrade piece. Although it is used for one of Harrigan’s fallen comrades, having the exact same music is a bit redundant in my mind.

Special Features

On the 4k disc, you’ll get a couple things:

• Commentary by Director Stephen Hopkins
• Commentary by Writers Jim Thomas and John Thomas

The Blu-Ray disc will feature the rest of the extras that were all brought over from previous releases which include:

• Commentary by Director Stephen Hopkins
• Commentary by Writers Jim Thomas and John Thomas
• The Hunters and the Hunted
• Evolutions
• Weapons of Choice
• Hard Core Segments
• Promotional Gallery

Predators

Predators opens abruptly as a mercenary for hire named Royce (Adrien Brody) unconsciously free falls through the sky. Coming to, he panics, not knowing where he’s at and scrambling to figure out what’s going on. A parachute opens just in time for him to fall to the ground hard, but surviving. On the ground he finds several other people who are have suffered the same fate as him, all retaining their weapons with the last thing they remember being a bright light. The group reluctantly travels together to find out who has done this to them, all the while finding out strange things about their surroundings. After discovering the body of another soldier who has set up traps all around him, Royce theorizes that they are being hunted. Wandering a bit further into a clearing the group discovers something they never thought possible: they are on another planet.

One by one, the Predators pick off the group as they are chased across this game preserve planet. As the Predators study their prey, Royce is studying them as well. This group of unlikely violent people and murderers must find a way to work together before they’re picked off, and find a way back home.

First and foremost, one of the best things about this film is the eclectic cast. Although Adrien Brody sounds like Batman sometimes, he proves to be a strong leader who definitely changes the most throughout the film. Seeing these people work together toward a common goal is really cool, giving us some intense action sequences complete with guns, knives and swords.

Predators gives us more information about the Predators and their species, which I absolutely love. Seeing humans thrown into a situation like this is completely different from everything we’ve seen, and in the Predator world that is very satisfying. The only thing that has consistently bothered me after seeing it originally in the theatres was the existence of the toxic plant that Topher Grace’s character instantly recognizes. I understand that perhaps a seed was inadvertently brought by some other poor soul, or the Predators designed the planet to be more Earth-like, but a simple line in the film acknowledging that would solve all the problems and potential views of it being a plot hole. The film does follow a very similar formula from the others, but to me is one of the more entertaining films of the series.

Video

Predators is presented in 4k 2160p Ultra High Definition Widescreen 2.35:1 with HDR. This 4k transfer looks absolutely stunning, bringing some very clear detail and color to the already great Blu-Ray transfer. The HDR looks best here in all three of the films, really highlighting a lot of the different color palates that change throughout, whether it be the yellowish hue inside one of the ships, the lush green leaves of the jungle, or the blue hue at night. These all showcase just how impressive HDR is and what it can achieve.

Audio

The audio is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. This track sounds great as well, which is basically the same as the Blu-Ray. Although this or any of the others were re-mixed into a new format they all sound great already and are consistently powerful, providing that great balance between the surrounds and center channel. The score sounds amazing as well, an homage to the original that I loved so much, dropping hints of that old sound in a new way.

Special Features

On the 4k disc, the commentary is also included.

• Commentary by Robert Rodriguez and Nimrod Antal

On the Blu-Ray disc, you’ll see these extras that are from the previous release:

• Commentary by Robert Rodriguez and Nimrod Antal
• Motion Comics
• Evolution of the Species: Predators Reborn
• The Chosen
• Fox Movie Channel Presents Making A Scene
• Deleted and Extended Scenes
• Theatrical Trailer
• Sneak Peeks

The Predator 3-Movie Collection in 4k is an absolute great way to kick off the hype to Fox’s newest film in the franchise: The Predator. Fans of the films will want to grab this if the price is right, as owning these films on 4k is a must!