PREDATOR: BADLANDS (2025)

 JBG

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.

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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+

MOVIES WATCHED IN FEBRUARY (2026)

MOVIES WATCHED IN FEBRUARY (2026)

THE REWRITE (DRAMA)(COMEDY) 6/10 

EDEN (DRAMA)(TRUE STORY) 7/10 

TOMORROWLAND (SCIENCE FICTION)(FANTASY)(FAMILY) 6/10

WAKE UP (HORROR) 5/10 

ELLA MCCAY (COMEDY) 

I’M CHEVY CHASE AND YOU’RE NOT (DOCUMENTARY) 6/10 

BIRDEATER (THRILLER) 7/10 

THE INSTIGATORS (ACTION)(COMEDY) 6/10 

PREDATOR: BADLANDS (SCIENCE FICTION)(ACTION) 6/10 

SCARED SHITLESS (CULT)(COMEDY)(HORROR) 6/10 

THE LAST DUEL (HISTORY)(DRAMA) 7/10 

SPLITSVILLE (COMEDY)(ROMANCE) 7/10 

SEND HELP (THRILLER) 8/10 

DETOUR (THRILLER) 8/10 

HONEYBUNCH (SCIENCE FICTION) 7/10 

MIKE AND DAVE NEED WEDDING DATES (COMEDY) 7/10 

GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON’T DIE (SCIENCE FICTION)(COMEDY) 7/10 

THE LUCKIEST MAN IN AMERICA  (DRAMA) 6/10 

ROCK N ROLL HIGH SCHOOL FOREVER (COMEDY)(TEEN)(MUSIC) 4/10 

*BUT I’M A CHEERLEADER (LGBTQ+)(COMEDY)(ROMANCE) 7/10 

MAYDAY (DRAMA)(THRILLER) 6/10 

CRUST (HORROR) 

THE BLUFF (ACTION)(ADVENTURE) 6/10

DO NOT REPLY (THRILLER) 3/10 

YOU’RE KILLING ME (THRILLER) 4/10 

SECRET MALL APARTMENT (DOCUMENTARY) 7/10 

TELEVISION SERIES, TELEVISION MOVIES, STAND-UP & SPECIALS

HIS & HERS (LIMITED SERIES) 8/10 

SOMMORE: CHANDELIER FLY (STAND-UP) 6/10 

REALITY CHECK: INSIDE AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL (LIMITED SERIES) 6/10 

TAYLOR TOMLINSON: PRODIGAL DAUGHTER (STAND-UP) 8/10 

THE INSTIGATORS (2024)

Directed By: Doug Liman 

Written By: Casey Affleck and Chuck Maclean

Cinematography: Henry Braham 

Editor: William Goldenberg, Saar Klein, Brett M. Reed and Tatiana S. Riegel 

Cast: Matt Damon, Casey Affleck, Hong Chau, Ron Perlman, Michael Stuhlbarg, Alfred Molina, Ving Rhames, Jack Harlow, Paul Walter Hauser, Toby Jones 

Rory and Cobby, who team up to rob a corrupt politician but end up in a chaotic escape after the heist goes wrong. Pursued by police and crime bosses, they enlist Rory’s therapist to help them survive.

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Considering the cast involved and the director, this film should’ve been much better.

While he plays like a perfectly good crime caper with a good helping of comedy. It also feels like it’s all over the place, especially totally as when it does try to be more action oriented or gritty crime incomes the more comedic elements out of nowhere and then when it’s resting on its more comedic elements, it’ll have the odd intense action sequence.

Also, with its full cast, it feels like most of them are guest starring in the main plot like this is an ongoing series as very few remain throughout the film and only seemed to be there for a senior or two before disappearing and are quickly forgot not that they’re bad in their roles but again there just doesn’t seem to be that much significance for them even though they are just a piece of the puzzle

So that our main stars Casey act like who also who wrote the film and Matt Damon just seemed to be too strangers thrown into this caver together that ends up being more of a buddy comedy as they are different types of thrown in together just trying to survive all of this. Representing their hometown 

Now this should’ve worked, especially as of course, representing its location of Boston and the characters in the neighborhoods of that town but the film just feels a little too quick paste. It never seems to quite slow down for you to get a grip on what is happening or what has happened. So it’s hard for you to get your bearings, even though it shouldn’t be that confusing.

It just seems to flash here in there in the editing, intense not to focus on anything so it even feels faster than the classic 2000s MTV flash editing which only reminds you that this feels more like content more than an actual film. Which might be the result of having four editors on this film, who each might have been aiming at something different. Asbeverything feels so disposable and familiar even when trying to put a new spin or at least anspin on certain conventions.

Again the leads and cast are likable enough. You just wish that this was a film that wasn’t afraid to take its time had more consequences and was quite a bit tougher as the film is more comedic and not darkly comedic more just comedic.

It has spectacle when the film should’ve been more detailed, smaller and tighter. Noah tries to be gritty. It comes across more as a Hollywood production. Then it should which throws all credibility out the window and turns it more into a romp.

there is a certain irony that lays throughout the film whereas Casey Affleck is a best actor Oscar winner here playing more the co-lead and being more comedic or as Matt Damon, who is more thought of as a serious actor is playing the more serious role here and while he has more prestige, he does not have an Oscar for best actor, even though he does have an Oscar for writing. Yet Casey Affleck who has the acting prestige is the Co-Writer here. 

This obviously isn’t there first pairing on screen they have paired up in various projects, but this is the first time where they’ve been costars as a lead in a more comedic, an original production of their own as they were in the film GERRY as costars, and also really, the only leads in that film, as well as one of the only actors in that film

The film has come across as the type of body crime caper comedy that felt more at home in the 70s and 80s try some modernize it, but it has way too much going on for it to truly ever be centered or quite understandable

Grade: C

ARGYLLE (2024)

Directed By: Matthew Vaughn 

Written By: Jason Fuchs 

Cinematography: George Richmond 

Editor: Lee Smith, Tom Harrison-Read and Col Goudie 

Cast: Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, John Cena, Henry Cavill, Catherine O’Hara, Bryan Cranston, Samuel L. Jackson, Sophia Boutella, Rob Delaney, Ariana Debose, Richard E. Grant, Dua Lipa 

A reclusive author who writes espionage novels about a secret agent and a global spy syndicate realizes that the plot of the new book she’s writing starts to mirror real-world events in real time.

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Watching this movie, one constantly is wondering is this supposed to be a parody, spoof or do they honestly expect us to think of it as an action-comedy. Unfortunately, by the end that question is never answered. It is obviously supposed to be based on spy novels and espionage stories. More the fanciful ones that take place in movies and fantasy. Rather than the Tom Clancy para-military and political type stories.

As The scary part is that if this film came out in the early 2000’s. it might have to be considered  of as stylish and be thought of as smart. This plays like more like THE AVENGERS (the classic British show) as there is a lot of spectacle. But not much sense to follow. Which is why one wonders what exactly is it trying to be or aiming for. Maybe as it comes across more comic book like and goofy than anything else. 

I would say this is a perfect Netflix movie, but it looks way better and doesn’t rely on so much green screen or a muted look. It’s actually colorful and you can see the budget onscreen. 

With all the dancing involved I believe this role was specifically written for Sam Rockwell. As that is something that he is known to with his characters on screen. Though the role he plays here feels familiar. As he played a similar role in the movie MR. RIGHT. As he can do action and seem like a more deranged comedic character.

The joke here is that he doesn’t seem like an action hero type. Just as lead Bryce Dallas Howard doesn’t usually come across that way. Not quite as the sexy seductress. Though by the end you beleive or at least are forced to. Though the film doesn’t embarrass them. 

as that seems to be one of the films aim, whereas in the fantasy, we see more of the type of actors we would expect to play these types of roles effortlessly, but in the reality we get more stunt, casting or miss casted actors who are the real life counterparts and the leads of this film so it seems a little bit more often comedic watching them do action sequences, and thriller situations

The film unfortunately gets more ridiculous as it goes along and more confusing. As it keeps building where the film doesn’t even necessarily know if it all makes sense. As the film is trying to keep topping itself with surprise, after surprise after surprise and then many twits, double and triple crosses. Although it seems to want to have a. ROMANCING THE STONE vibe. Done better in films such as THE LOST CITY 

it seems practically to be a reunion for director Matthew Vaughn and some cast members, like Samuel L. Jackson and Sophia Boutiella, but it still didn’t need to be this long. 

It’s also hard to take the film too seriously. When there are comedic actresses like Catherine O’Hara playing someone dangerous.

By the end Dua Lipa’s cameo is the only thing interesting, entertaining or dazzling in this film overall. Other than some nicely choreographed and lit action sequences. That deserve to be in a better movie. 

Even The ending makes no sense. As it is shocking this was not only supposed to be the first in a trilogy, but also supposed to be interconnected with the Kingsman franchise also directed by Matthew Vaughn. 

So while throughout the film looks gorgeous. It just feels kind of misdirected like someone who doesn’t know how to do comedy trying to make one but knows how to do. The action sequence is really well and it’s a shame I was really rooting for this film.

Grade: D+