Fair to poor blu-ray, but better than DVD
Added 11/16/2009
There are a plethora of reviews of the movie, but my review is mostly a comparison of the BD vs DVD version. I won't discuss its merits as movie.
Alas, while there is substantial improvement in the video via BD's high resolution, its a disappointment compared to many other BD releases. Most video images lack sharpness. Since old movies like Battle of Britain, 2001: Space Odyssey or Clockwork Orange, can compete with recent films like Troy, its clear the folks who mastered Predator did a poor job.
Audio does not make full use of imaging although its clearer and more bombastic than the DVD, and since 5.1 Dolby only came in the 1990s, that point can be excused.
However, since Predator is sold as a discount BD disk, if you don't own it on DVD, its well worth it, but if you do, think twice, the improvements are not that stark. However, the BD made if far clearer to me the pilots were still in the chopper after it was downed, the skinned corpses of the Hopper team appear more detailed and ghastly, there is more oomph in the assault on the rebel scene due to the improved sound, you can see the rounds in the mini-gun zip through the gun and its clear how its fed through the backpack ammo case, you can make out the MTV t-shirt throughout most of Jesse Ventura's scenes, you can make out where the commandos were hit by the predator, which was vague on the DVD. So overall, its an improvement, and worth 3 stars.
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Proper Blu-Ray upgrade, please ?
Added 10/31/2009
The movie itself is great. Won't bother you with all the details, because you're well aware of them, of course. I'm waiting for a proper blu-ray edition, one that takes advantage of the format. This one doesn't. The studio's blu-ray version insults my intelligence. 'Nuff said.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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This is the real king of the jungle!
Added 10/8/2009
Even though I slightly prefer the sequel, the original is still creepy and entertaining. Here we are introduced to the "Predator," an alien hunter who has crash-landed in the jungles of Central America. Little is known about this strange species; only that it'll kick your @** if you get in his way. Add in Arnold Schwarzenegger and his team of soldiers and you've got a bitter conflict between human and alien. I got to say that this is one of the few movies in which Arnold gives a very good performance. You get to see him in some well-done action sequences. The supporting cast is good as well: who would have thought that Jesse Ventura could act? The action is solid; the blood and gore aren't very excessive, but they're still tons to see. And of course, the "Predator" is the real star in this film; that, and the special effects (which still looks realistic today).
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Not exact but okay
Added 10/1/2009
Ths item was posted as 'Widescreen' version but was not. Arrived quick and in listed good condition but thought I was getting what was shown as something it wasn't.
~CC
0 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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Arnold is something else
Added 9/12/2009
Made when Arnold still had a great deal of muscle to spare. This movie, like a lot of science fiction, assumes aliens will be a hostile group. Those races that make it to space would have the intelligence and capacity to engage new races more amicably than depicted. How else would such a race even reach the level of achieving the ability to travel in space unless they had learned to live in peace. Otherwise they would not have lasted long enough to do so.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Fair to poor blu-ray, but better than DVD
Added 11/16/2009
There are a plethora of reviews of the movie, but my review is mostly a comparison of the BD vs DVD version. I won't discuss its merits as movie.
Alas, while there is substantial improvement in the video via BD's high resolution, its a disappointment compared to many other BD releases. Most video images lack sharpness. Since old movies like Battle of Britain, 2001: Space Odyssey or Clockwork Orange, can compete with recent films like Troy, its clear the folks who mastered Predator did a poor job.
Audio does not make full use of imaging although its clearer and more bombastic than the DVD, and since 5.1 Dolby only came in the 1990s, that point can be excused.
However, since Predator is sold as a discount BD disk, if you don't own it on DVD, its well worth it, but if you do, think twice, the improvements are not that stark. However, the BD made if far clearer to me the pilots were still in the chopper after it was downed, the skinned corpses of the Hopper team appear more detailed and ghastly, there is more oomph in the assault on the rebel scene due to the improved sound, you can see the rounds in the mini-gun zip through the gun and its clear how its fed through the backpack ammo case, you can make out the MTV t-shirt throughout most of Jesse Ventura's scenes, you can make out where the commandos were hit by the predator, which was vague on the DVD. So overall, its an improvement, and worth 3 stars.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Proper Blu-Ray upgrade, please ?
Added 10/31/2009
The movie itself is great. Won't bother you with all the details, because you're well aware of them, of course. I'm waiting for a proper blu-ray edition, one that takes advantage of the format. This one doesn't. The studio's blu-ray version insults my intelligence. 'Nuff said.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
This is the real king of the jungle!
Added 10/8/2009
Even though I slightly prefer the sequel, the original is still creepy and entertaining. Here we are introduced to the "Predator," an alien hunter who has crash-landed in the jungles of Central America. Little is known about this strange species; only that it'll kick your @** if you get in his way. Add in Arnold Schwarzenegger and his team of soldiers and you've got a bitter conflict between human and alien. I got to say that this is one of the few movies in which Arnold gives a very good performance. You get to see him in some well-done action sequences. The supporting cast is good as well: who would have thought that Jesse Ventura could act? The action is solid; the blood and gore aren't very excessive, but they're still tons to see. And of course, the "Predator" is the real star in this film; that, and the special effects (which still looks realistic today).
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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