(film review) - Predator: Badlands

I'm not going to go into the spiel of the Alien and Predator franchises because I have commented on them both enough in recent reviews, whether that be trailer reviews or film reviews, but the one thing I will say is that I think my cousin would have loved this. Ok, not loved, but he would have enjoyed it because this film, whilst different from other Predator movies, was still good and entertaining, and whilst I do personally have a couple of issues, I enjoyed the universe building. Let me explain.

So Dek, a Predator under the species called Yautja, is seen as the runt of his clan, small and incapable. Whilst fighting with his brother, his brother states he must hunt to earn the respect of his father and the clan or die. Having chosen a species to hunt, Dek is sent off to the planet where everything there is out to kill you, and he only has a Weyland-Yutani synth to guide him to claim his trophy.

Different. This movie is different to previous Predator movies, and that is fine, but what was entertaining and intriguing about this movie, most of all, is the world-building more than anything. You learn more about the culture of the Yautja, something only learnt in the comics and you get to understand, not only is hunting a trial for trophies or death, but there are levels to it to be respected by your clan and you become (I'm assuming) top tier by the time you become a hunter like the ones seen in the previous movies like Predator, Predator 2 & Predators. I have not seen The Predator as I heard it was garbage, but this film does a lot more to flesh out the world/universe, culture and the infamous Weyland Utani Corporation. With that said, the fusing of these two franchises, as seemlessly in this film, is great and reminds me of Alien: Earth, which gave us more species to be absolutely terrified of.

For example, the special effects were great in this, with the details of the different types of things that can harm you on this planet being absolutely wild. From plants to vines to aerial species, land species and species that can swing from trees. Imaginative and chaotic, but very deadly. The details, it's the details and how these things move and react to a foreign presence is unnerving. So now, within the Alien and Predator franchise, there are even more planets and terrible aliens out there, and it all looks glorious. Even the make-up looks great, and you can tell a lot of thought has gone into the design of not only the creature but also how a frozen face may look, for example.

Because the special effects are great, this is accompanied by the great cinematography and fighting scenes. The Yautja home world looked amazing, course and rough, and the planet of Genna had elements of courseness, but there were some breathtaking moments. There were a few instances where I felt we were back in the jungle, where Dutch was near the end of the first Predator film, because of the waterfall, and there were two moments like that. Because Dek is practically fighting for his life, there were many arrogant and naive moments where it showed that Dek was not as highly skilled as he thought he might have been. He had an attitude to a point where there was a comment about being an alpha wolf, which played as a bit of comedy, but he is a young boy trying to prove himself, and it shows in his actions and his face. They did an outstanding job with the expressions, and it looked real. I found myself staring at the mandibles, wondering how, just how? And you could follow the actions, and sometimes you forget how tough yet agile a Yautja is, but if it bleeds, you can kill it.

(trailer review) - The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

 

I watched the Super Mario Movie once, maybe twice, but I do remember really enjoying it. From the Teaser Trailer, it was funny, and the movie proved to be just the same. But the teaser trailer for this movie was more of an announcement, and I am guessing maybe this is the Official Trailer, but this is hilarious and gives us, the audience a bit more insight as to what is happening in this movie this time around, and maybe once again, the character of Bowser is going to be equally just as funny, like he is in the first movie.

So it starts with Bowser creating a painting, and the part that made me actually laugh out loud was the moment he grabs his hair backwards in shock and steps back, too funny. The animation of that motion was superb. Then, even funnier, we find out he is miniature in size and is talking to Mario and Luigi, and it is clear that Bowser doesn't mind Luigi, but obviously dislikes Mario with the way he greets them; it's subtle. If you notice, Mario is standing there with his back towards the castle with his arms folded. It is when Mario says his painting is trash, Bowser loses it and then apologises. What we get from the remainder of the trailer is travelling with Toad and Princess Peach, a few flashes of different worlds. There is a moment that reminded me of Mad Max and riding vehicles in a desert, in this case it is a bike, and at the end, a Princess I've never seen before with a Magic Wand taking down a mech, but more importantly, Bowser Jr. is here to rescue his dad and it looks like all hell is goinf to break loose. This looks really great and clever, so hopefully it is, I mean, they cannot fluff it up since the first one made billions!

(trailer review) - Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Season 2

Here is something interesting. I can hold my hand up and state, 'I have seen the Percy Jackson show on Disney+,' but at the same time, if you were to ask me what happens or what it was about, I will definitely struggle. It feels like I watched the show soo long ago and if there is anything I can remember, Percy, doesn't know his dad, goes to a school for children of the Gods, meets a few friends along the way, confronts Medusa, meets his dad, Lance Riddick (I am sure) is in it and there is always a bully and something something something great show. This Trailer? I have no idea what is really going on, and I may need to rewatch the first season, but this looks great, although I have no clue as to what is going on.

So it seems that Percy is having nightmares that are either trying to kill him or are about the future, but his camp is under a great threat. The one eye joke is actually pretty funny, but I know why he asks it. Seeing the flying horse is great, as that has always been one of my childhood favourite things. It seems Percy must travel to the sea of monsters to say Grover and the camp, or one, or the other. But it will be interesting to see what he may be able to do being a Demi-God and all. Maybe the moment he falls in that battle scene, he unlocks something, but to me, it definitely looks like he is about to do something on that warship at the end that has been omitted from the trailer, but we shall see.