CaptainWacky
I want to smell dark matter
Predator: Badlands (2025) - Saw this today. I am no "Predator purist" at all, sorry, so I don't have a fixed idea on what a Predator movie "should" be like. I know some people aren't happy it's PG13 or whatever (thought it does seem to be have been generally very well recieved.) I thought Prey was very good and all I was hoping is this would be as good. And I think it was! It is a fun sci-fi action adventure buddy movie - a little bit Star Trek and quite a bit Star Wars, but doesn't feel like a copy of either. With the Yautja being the main character, it can't really just be him hunting and killing people (or aliens): you need some kind of character arc and Dek definitely goes through a full evolution here. Elle Fanning is adorable as a very cheery synth and (and her not so cheery twin) and she and Dek make for a strong double act. There's a second sidekick character that I thought was going to be too cute at first but it does have story reason to be there and is eating heads by the end, so that works out fine! Most of the comedy is funny.
The action is good and never stops for long. There's a lot of violence against synths who looks just like humans but bleed milk blood so you can get away with it.
Sound design was excellent.
I liked that Dek still killed his dad in the end and wans't all "no, I am good now!" Dad had it coming anyway. I was pleased there was no fan service "look, an egg from Alien!" type moments and they just used Weyland-Yutani as the standard evil corporation for this universe.
I did think they could have explained a bit more what made Thea so different from Tessa, as I think the movie said they both have "increased emotional sensitivity" or something but Thea is lovely and Tessa is pretty evil?
So yeah, FUN FOR ALL AGES, really, I will recommend it and it seems to be doing really well at the box office so that's good FOR THE FRANCHISE.
The action is good and never stops for long. There's a lot of violence against synths who looks just like humans but bleed milk blood so you can get away with it.
Sound design was excellent.
I liked that Dek still killed his dad in the end and wans't all "no, I am good now!" Dad had it coming anyway. I was pleased there was no fan service "look, an egg from Alien!" type moments and they just used Weyland-Yutani as the standard evil corporation for this universe.
I did think they could have explained a bit more what made Thea so different from Tessa, as I think the movie said they both have "increased emotional sensitivity" or something but Thea is lovely and Tessa is pretty evil?
So yeah, FUN FOR ALL AGES, really, I will recommend it and it seems to be doing really well at the box office so that's good FOR THE FRANCHISE.
