Predator was released 25 years ago, on July 12th, 1987. The movie was written by Jim and John Thomas (with possible on-set contributions from Lethal Weapon’s Shane Black, who also played the Sgt. Rock comic-loving Hawkins) and it was directed by John McTiernan (whose very next film was Die Hard) . It’s one of my favorite movies, so I watched it last night to mark the occasion.
The following is what happens when you deprive me of sleep for a couple weeks and then mix me and an internet connection with a movie I’ve been known to say I love like a brother.
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It’s the 25th anniversary of the original release of Predator. If you doubt this is a thing I’d actually celebrate, get to know me better!
Here’s to 25 more years of love and friendship! #PREDATOR
“Goodbye” by Alan Silvestri, off the score from Predator. #gonnahavemesomefun
Old Painless. #namestocallmyprivates
The #PREDATOR platoon includes three future lawmakers, the director of Iron Man 3, the director of Sister Act 2, and Carl Weathers. #victory
No one ever remembers poor Poncho. #PREDATOR
“If these guys are Central Americans, I’m a goddamn Chinaman.” (Mac does not appear to possess Asian lineage.) #PREDATOR
Arnold actually never sounds more awkward than when he’s saying swear words. #PREDATOR
It’s so silly that Arnold is the star of this movie. Or any movie, really. It gets weirder the more you think about it. #PREDATOR
“Hey Billy, get me a way out of this hole.” #thingsArnoldmightalsosayatanorgy
Fun fact: Carl Weathers and Elpidia Carrillo later reteamed for Dangerous Passion, the insane movie I watched the other night. #PREDATOR
Fun fact: The guy in the Predator suit also played Harry in Harry & The Hendersons, which also was released in 1987! #silveranniversary
#PREDATOR has moments of magic that none of the sequels or remakes have been able to approximate. I’m serious!
A partial list would include:
Sonny Landham’s laugh. #PREDATOR
Mac and Blaine’s friendship. #PREDATOR
“We’re all gonna die.”
Billy admitting he’s scared. #PREDATOR
Mac’s moonlight soliloquy. And then the surprise pig attack. #PREDATOR
The razor snapping off against Mac’s cheek. (Mac is kind of the most watchable character for me on this go-round.) #PREDATOR
Carl Weathers’ disembodied arm refusing to lay down and die. #PREDATOR
That splash in the lake the very moment after Arnold collapses in the mud. #PREDATOR
Food for thought: #PREDATOR shows a friendship in irrevocable decline (Dutch & Dillon) against one that will never die (Mac & Blaine).
Or maybe the fact that Dutch tosses Dillon the gun when they split up means there’s [briefly] hope for their friendship after all. #PREDATOR
Dutch tells Anna “he didn’t kill you because you weren’t armed”, yet when Dillon is disarmed (literally) the Predator axes him anyway. #notfair #badpun
The Predator is a total dick, for the record. The won’t-shoot-if-you-don’t-have-a-weapon thing does not at all level the playing field WHEN YOU CAN TURN INVISIBLE.
They love because they are so alike.
It’s worth noting that #PREDATOR is structured a whole lot like a slasher film, with Arnold in the Jamie Lee Curtis role. #genderstudies
I’d love to get Dick Cheney’s take, considering that the Predator is a recreational hunter who royally screws over the American military.
Now realizing that I ranked #PREDATOR too low on my all-time top-50. Gonna be time soon for an update.
But that’s it for now. Good night, #PREDATOR. Good night, @Twitter-platoon. Cuidado a “el cazador trofeo de los hombres.” It’s the hot season.
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See also: Predators (2010)
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Now go ahead. Mess with me on Twitter: @jonnyabomb
Dammit, I can’t believe I missed this live