PREDATOR: BADLANDS (2025)

Directed By: Dan Trachtenberg 

Written By: Dan Aison 

Story by: Dan Trachtenberg and Dan Aison 

Based on characters created by: Jim Thomas & John Thomas 

Cinematography: Jeff Cutter

Editor: Stefan Grube and David Trachtenberg 

Cast: Elle Fanning, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, Ravi Narayen, Chris Terhune, Stefan Grube, Cameron Brown, Alison Wright, Michael Homik 

In the future, on a distant planet, a young predator, recently exiled from his native clan, finds an unlikely ally. Together, they soon embark on an extremely dangerous and thorny journey to ultimately find their most fierce and cruel enemy.


Watching this film it feels almost like a video game. As throughout there seems to be levels as it gets tougher and the enemies bigger.

The film is supposed to be live action, but there seems to be so much CGI and green screen. It might as well be animated like the last predator movie that was straight to streaming and took place at a different time periods.

While it’s nice that the film takes place on a planet and in other worlds where we get to see new species, aliens, challenges, and atmosphere is making it truly feel like a science fiction film it does seem to play the familiar beats where the predator is now the protagonist, whereas in the past, it has usually been the villain or an ally and now it has fully it has come full circle to be the character we are supposed to be rooting for

There are some human characters thrown in, even though they’re robots as it continues to be partially crossed over from the aliens universe with the Weyland-Yutani corporation causing all the problems.

As the android who the predator reluctantly bonds with her clan is seeking to destroy him and most of the planets, Denison and will stop at nothing to also retrieve her. Well, the predator is there to hunt big game to prove his worth as a warrior and earn his right of passage.

This is a film that is perfectly entertaining and good enough while you watch it though once you’re done, you will probably forget most of it so that it is disposable not completely. As it serves as another good sequel in the franchise that seems to promise more sequels in the future.. this is one of the better sequels as under the footage of Dan Trachtenberg the franchise well not entirely fresh is allowed to continue and be creative along the way

As I will be the first to admit when I saw the trailer for this film, I thought it was gonna be horrible just based on the young predators look though luckily as the film goes along, you pay less attention in it just feels more natural.

Elle Fanning playing two roles in the film is entertaining and really becomes the heart of the film both as the villain and as her good better half who is trying to aid the predator and become its friend.

If you’re a fan of the franchise, you’ll really like this film if not, it’s a good time waster filled with action even though strangely the first 20 minutes of what it’s supposed to be a sci-fi action film has a lot of dialogue and sometimes so that we get a backstory to go with the motivations of the story.

One could complain about the PG-13 rating, but it seems like it’s been like that since it’s alien versus predator days for the most part that it has become a little more lightened up I wouldn’t say exactly family friendly, but opened up more for teenage fans of the franchise or for those looking for more action and sci-fi elements that aren’t as gruesome, but just violent enough sort of like the VENOM franchise films.

maybe because of the dreadlocks, I’ve also always thought of the predators as kind of African-American with that toughness, but being able to show a little more nuance character and compassion than originally thought not to mention it always seems to be them versus the world literally or Sometimes they’re on the human side, but other times they’re just for themselves in their own not to mention it always seems like the humans who are usually Caucasian are either trying to control them take and use their inventions or just kill them as they are afraid of them taking over.

Even though they usually go against a diverse race of characters and in predator two or battling Danny Glover, mostly. Though they seem to come to an understanding with him just as they did with Shania Lathan, an alien versus predator the first film. at least that is my minority report for this film.

Grade: C+

GET ON UP (2014)

GET-ON-UP-TRAILER-facebook

Directed By: Tate Taylor
Written By: Jez Butterworth & John-Henry Butterworth
Story By: Steven Baigelman, Jez Butterworth &  John-Henry Butterworth
Cinematography By: Stephen Goldblatt
Editor: Michael McCusker 

Cast: Chadwick Boseman, Nelsan Ellis, Lennie James, Jill Scott, Dan Ayckroyd, Viola Davis, Craig Robinson, Octavia Spencer, Fred Melamed, Tika Sumpter, Aloe Blacc, Tariq Trotter, Aunjanue Ellis, Keith Robinson

A chronicle of James Brown ‘s rise from extreme poverty to become one of the most influential musicians in history. Of course it would be hard to summarize the life and legacy of James Brown in a single film. That is a near impossible task. Though this film has a nice overview and introduces some aspects that maybe the general public didn’t know.

Continue reading “GET ON UP (2014)”

RAMY (TELEVISION REVIEW) – SEASON 1

Please tell me you guys are watching this show. If not you Are truly missing out.

Ramy Is about a twenty something year old man who seems to be floating through life trying to still figure himself out. While still living at home with his parents and graduate student sister.

His parents want him to grow up, get married and have kids. Like his friends and he is still looking for the right one. He and his family are muslim and it takes place mostly in that community in New Jersey. He also is mostly drug and alcohol free. But not celibate as mostly his partners tend to be whites women.

There isn’t really any overreaching story as each episode seems like Just that an episode or random chapter in the lives of these characters which as the series goes on we are introduced and learn more about them

It reminds one of shows like ATLANTA, MASTER OF NONE. Where the star of the show Is the central voice. But leaves room

For other characters to prosper.

I believe I compare it to ATLANTA is that the show is random and doesn’t always focus on the main character. It allows the audience to get to know supporting characters who’re sometimes the focus of episodes all on their own

It also doesn’t paint the main character as a saint as while he might mean well and to be good but can also be the most messed up character through it all and might not make any sense to us

Though it’s not as out there as ATLANTA can be. Though the contributing factor is that they both focus on characters of color as well as community and offer up three dimensional roles for some characters who could or would be easily written off as one thing on other shows. It’s also intelligent and knows the ground it’s Covering

Though the show marches to it’s own rhythms. Which is actually like jazz as it goes from the. Lies, to improv to more comedic and then drama. Making sad dramatic points while making you laugh

While Atlanta comes off as a collective as well as Donald Glover being the voice behind the show. The same goes here. Though to a lesser degree as Donald Glover is infinitely more known and popular. Where as here most viewers are hearing Ramy Youseff maybe for the first time

Yes caucasians are sometimes one dimensional here but then again we have seen a spectrum of them already which can’t necessarily be said of the culture and characters on the show.

I also probably compare the two because similarly Ramy has an episode called strawberries where we are thrust into the childhood of the characters and one particular incident that is both hilarious but also pack a certain punch

The fact that he is friends with someone disabled also shows he is compassionate but also treats the friendship as normal and not necessarily the only thing he is about and even lets the disabled character be a bit of a jerk himself but alas a true friend

This Show seems to be taken and charged by the star of the show and shows his views on life and host take on subjects that affect him and his family and community but never comes off as preachy

As with trying to show his family in particular are Egyptian Muslims but everyone lumps them in as just every muslim.

As he is a practicing muslim and doesn’t drink or really dondrugs but has plenty of sex with random women usually not of his faith

The kind of misogyny that exists in the community. For instance in the way the parents never question their son when he goes out but for their daughter she is under strict rules and how her and her friends want to find a muslim man and might even want to have sex but muslim men stay away from them unless it’s time to marry but have no problem having sex with non muslim women.

This hits home in the first episode where he goes in a date with a muslim Woman and is shocked when he is not not sexually forward but also kind of kinky. She takes it as an insult that because she is interested in certain things like that. She is expected to act in a certain way even from a so called free minded muslim.

Which kind of echoes in a later episode when his sister is interested in a guy and is about to get intimate and he treats her more as a fetish rather then just a willing female.

The strongest episode is STRAWBERRIES where the show mixes masturbation and the prejudice faced by him and his family after 9/11 including a dream about osama bin laden.

Just as in one episode it focuses on his mother’s Loneliness and her attempt to meet people and make more friends. Which includes a flirtation with a French man

No real villains as especially in the character of his uncle who is a misogynist and anti-Semitic to a degree and a blowhard but in the end reveals a decent and maybe even admirable side of himself

What is also enjoyable about the show is dealing with Situations some typical and some special situational from not just another point of view but also seen from a different culture but thankfully not making the show only about that. So you learn while you experiencing the show. All about second generation immigrants trying to make their way in the American Dream and just be seen as normal.

It’s a show that is worth checking out. It stays low level which only enhances it’s strength.