Prey (Predator Franchise) Review & In-depth Discussion

Written by: Lee Fenton

Prey is a vibrant and invigorating re-entry into the franchise, determined to deliver the heart-pounding excitement that is required of a Predator film. Not only does it succeed in this but it also manages to be a fairly accurate and in-depth look at the Comanche way of life circa 1719.

Directed by Dan Trachtenberg ( nominated for a Directors Guild of America award for Outstanding Directing -First- Feature Film for 10 Cloverfield Lane), Prey was released in 2022 on streaming services (Hulu, Disney+) to positive reviews and an uproarious reaction by audiences worldwide, praised as the greatest entry since the first film and a remarkable accomplishment for casting a huge array of Indigenous actors.

Amber Midthunder plays the lead role in Prey opposite the titular Predator. For a relatively unknown actress, it's quite the undertaking, thankfully Midthunder steals the show - her performance is not just comparable to Schwarzenegger - it has the potential to go down as the greater of the two.

Midthunder gained recent notoriety with her supporting role in FX's television series Legion, with her amazing fight scenes and choreography. From wall kicks, to crescent kicks, to toting a large melee weapon every other episode, her character 'Kerry” is a ferocious force to be reckoned with whenever on screen. Her ability in acting is tested in Prey as well, and she provides emotional depth that draws the viewer into the hardships of a Comanche tribe that's faced with the reality of Colonial peoples encroaching on their villages, and forever changing their way of life.

For everything that is amazing about this film, it pains me to have to admit that there is one major flaw. The CGI is kind of bad.

Specifically the bear that's in it. Not the titular Predator, so don't worry. There I said it, the Predator looks pretty darn awesome, given that this film was not a mega-budget picture. The bear on the other hand... looks quite bad.

But equally as important; any laser blasts, explosions, gore, etc are VERY believable and quite visually stunning. So, in the end it's really only ONE 'asset' that the CGI artists mucked up. That being said it is 'pretty damn butt-ugly' people aren't lying, but thankfully the bear is a rather minor part of the movie. One that does not affect the overall plot. So you don't have to look at the dreadful thing for much of the film's run-time. Which is a blessing! Plus there's a scene with a CGI mountain lion that looks fine. Although the fight with the cougar was barely lit - cause the scene took place during the nighttime, so... Let's carry on, shall we?

The premise that's given in the original Predator (1987) film leads you to believe that you're about to watch Arnold Schwarzenegger mow down some unsuspecting bad guys in the jungle and then kick some extraterrestrial ass. The ET in question not being of the Spielberg variety (Spielberg's magnum opus was still fresh in the public consciousness having come out five years prior) but more akin to the xeno-morphs showcased in Alien by Ridley Scott released in 1979, a decade prior.

The film however goes a very different route and turns the trope of the invincible action-hero on its head when it places the leading muscle man in the role of a horror starlet for the second half of the film. It subverts your expectations and makes the inspired choice to fluidly travel from one genre to the next about midway through; the schlocky action movie turns into a nail-biting thriller, complete with a dread inducing score done by American composer Alan Silvestri.

Although it under-performed upon its release – after some time - and a lot of VHS sales, it became the cult classic we know today, and hailed as one of the greatest action movies of all time, right up there with the likes of Diehard, Terminator, and The Matrix.

There is an important dichotomy to understand between the two films (Prey & Predator) and it is this – that I have been leading up to; franchise-wise we have come full circle now; a Predator movie that has a heroine in the lead role. The new film actually embodies the rather transgressive idea that was at the core of the original.

Let's shake things up a bit and have a hugely intimidating man run for his life, scared and terrified – trying and failing to escape this alien hunter. Maybe he will win in the end, but we'll up the stakes a bunch in the process – ignoring the idea that an action hero is invincible.

But where do you go, with the plot - three decades later, when the franchise is failing from tired reboot, after tired reboot, after tired reboot? You finally let the heroine, you know the one that would stereo-typically have a rather slim chance of survival in a slasher film - use all of her cunning, agility, and prowess - to disembowel that ugly alien's face, once and for all.

That's where you go.

PS: And Amber Midthunder took us there... don't forget that.

Swinging axes on a length of rope.

Like a champ.

_______________

Rating: 9/10

Authentic Well Done BBQ’d Predator, served with a side of organic veg and fry bread.

Extra charge to substitute Pred. meat for fresh venison, or smoked salmon.

After-word by Author: Also make sure to check out the version of the film that has been re-dubbed in Comanche, it's a shame they didn't choose to shoot two different versions – but that would be about double the work. Basically, shooting two films.

We here at welldonemovies.com understand why that was probably out of the question. Still, really great that we have the option to watch the film with Comanche audio (subtitled in English). The plot is nearly the same, but there are some interesting character changes when the native tongue is preserved. Seems more like the original version to me!

PPS: I know Halloween(1978) technically did it first, but come on! We've been waiting for somebody to go-all-Jamie Lee Curtis on the Predator for decades.

12 Monkeys Review & Analysis

Written by: Lee Fenton

This article was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the hard work and dedication of the writers and actors, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist. In fact, no films or television would.

We stand in solidarity.

Directed by Terry Gilliam (better known for his role in Monty Python's Flying Circus) and released in 1995 - Twelve Monkeys' story is centered around time travel and the release of a globally devastating virus.

The cinematography is equal parts uncomfortable and claustrophobic. The use of Dutch angles to evoke paranoia; allows the viewer to experience the events through the eyes of the protagonist: James Cole. The scenes that take place in the dystopian future, are exuberantly surreal – not to mention Lynchian in their aesthetic.

In my view this film's visuals draw from one David Lynch picture in particular; Dune (1984). It is hard to ignore the parallels, and in my opinion Terry Gilliam took inspiration from some of the best visuals of Dune and utilized them in 12 Monkeys.

This is not a criticism, seeing as Gilliam's direction differs enough that is a loving homage, or tribute to Lynch's work – instead of a director - who's sole aim is to plagiarize because they have no creative voice of their own. Also I would argue that overall – Gilliam's film is the more pristine of the two, although Dune 1984 has a close place in my heart; even a fan must be subjective and admit it has many, many flaws.

Living through the Coronavirus; and the scary realization that society is always a few viral mutations away from extinction, allows for more empathy with the main character. This film quickly illustrates that animals have retaken the planet since the release of the deadly virus. This is indeed one of the side-effects of a global pandemic. During the peak of Covid-19 lock-downs, animals took to public spaces with overt abundance. This film has aged in a way, that what was once pseudo-science - is now proven to be accurate.

For that, and many other reasons this film is ripe for retreading; I must not be the only one to feel this way; since it recently inspired a television series reboot that aired in 2015 (running for 4 seasons). The relevancy of the film's central premise is exemplified in the fact that a global pandemic effectively shut down the world down a few years back. Science fiction is that genre that seems to only increase in relevancy and never decrease.

I feel that 'Contagion' (worth a watch, for sure) is a film that details the outbreak of a global pathogen, while 12 Monkeys allows a chilling glimpse into the after effects.

12 Monkeys is based upon a half hour short comprised of still images, titled 'La Jetee' (directed by French filmmaker Chris Marker) which swept film festivals and received an abundance of accolades. The melancholy of 'La Jetee' carries through in 12 Monkeys, albeit with a greater sense of suspense due to the differing medium of film vs still imagery. The short is colored with a sense of dread of the unknown that continues until the final sequence.

The time travel plot and iconic twist of the movie are all products of Chris Marker's ingenuity. Truly a brilliant work of art that Terry Gilliam adapted expertly to the silver screen. 12 Monkeys is a titanic accomplishment and contains plenty of directorial choices (visually and otherwise) by Gilliam that are ubiquitous, and are not a product of Chris Marker's work.

Bruce Willis' role as James Cole is possibly his best performance in any film. Pulp Fiction is a contender as well; yet I feel more drawn to this interpretation of the soul lost in time. His abject hopelessness is mesmerizing to watch and his characters emotional anguish propels the film forward to its poetic ending.

Without spoiling anything, it is a tearful twist - you may never forget.

(9/10) côte d'agneau pan roasted with a side of grilled asparagus

bon appetit!

"The Matrix Resurrections" - A Glorious, Guffaw-Inducing Revival (A Totally Satirical Review)

Written by: Laraib Rajpoot click here to hire this writer

Revised and edited by: Lee Fenton

Additional Writing by: Lee Fenton

This article was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the hard work and dedication of the writers and actors, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist. In fact, no films or television would.

We stand in solidarity.

Hold onto your virtual seats, folks, because Keanu Reeves is back in black leather and ready to dodge bullets like he's swatting away pesky paparazzi. "The Matrix Resurrections" has arrived (alright, a few years ago now), and it's more confusingly fun than explaining memes to your grandma.

Neo, or should we say Mr. Middle-Aged Matrix Man, is living the suburban dream – complete with office meetings that drone on longer than a sloth on Ambien. Forget bending spoons, he's now trying to bend corporate rules, and his superpower is resisting the urge to doze off in Zoom meetings. The Matrix may have resurrected him, but Keanu's enthusiasm got lost in his inbox.

Enter Trinity (Carrie Anne-Moss), who's not only resurrected but also rocking an immaculate hairstyle that defies both gravity and the laws of physics. Her first meeting with Neo is as an awkward meet-cute, reminding us that even epic love stories have their "Oops, I did it again" moments. Their chemistry is so potent that it could power a small city – or at least the servers that keep Twitter debates alive.

Blink and you miss them characters have leveled up too, with Priyanka Chopra Jonas (Sati, the girl in the train station in Matrix Revolutions) donning designer gear that makes you wonder if she raided the closets of every fashionista in cinematic history. The Analyst's evil plan isn’t as convoluted as the Architect’s, no it’s more like a Windows software update – necessary and its got more bugs than a roach motel.

Prepare for action scenes that leave you gasping like a fish out of water. The choreography is so mindbogglingly impressive that you might just consider joining a dojo after the credits roll. Or, you know, at least attempt a cartwheel in your living room, much to your pet's amusement.

Easter eggs? Oh, they're scattered like confetti at a surprise birthday party. From red and blue pills that now come in emoji form to déjà vu moments that hit harder than realizing you left your phone in a public restroom, the film's creators clearly decided to play "Spot the Nostalgia" with us. The audience better buckle up, because this ride has more twists than a pretzel convention. Just when you think you've deciphered the matrix, the movie throws a curve-ball that leaves you more perplexed than a cat trying to comprehend why the red dot keeps vanishing.

In conclusion, "The Matrix Resurrections" is a buffet of wacky action, mind-bending concepts, and nostalgia-laden delights. While it might not reach the legendary status of its predecessors, it's a joyride that slaps a grin on your face faster than your latest facebook post enjoyed at the office. So grab your popcorn, your "I'm-so-confused" expression, and enjoy a resurrection that's quirkier than a cat wearing a tuxedo. (That's what resurrection's are supposed to be, right?)

This movie might just make you question reality, or at the very least, wonder if your neighbor's dog is a secret agent.

6.5/10

It’s artificial food, good but does nothing for your hunger.

Grilled NFT sandwich, anyone?