# Predator (1987): a masterpiece of testosterone **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 9, 2009, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predator-1987-a-masterpiece-of-testosterone/513253 "2009-10-09T23:19:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predator-1987-a-masterpiece-of-testosterone/513253/121 "2018-05-22T00:37:22Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > Sorry, I left out a part: The director of the upcoming Predator is the “Geez you got a big pussy” guy with the glasses in the original. I think you meant: “Sorry, I left out a part: The director of the upcoming Predator is the “Geez, you got a big pussy, Geez, you got a big pussy” guy with the glasses in the original.” ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predator-1987-a-masterpiece-of-testosterone/513253/122 "2018-05-22T16:02:36Z")
Why’d you say it twice? ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2018, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predator-1987-a-masterpiece-of-testosterone/513253/123 "2018-05-22T16:42:07Z")
I didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2018, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predator-1987-a-masterpiece-of-testosterone/513253/124 "2018-05-23T21:46:16Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > As for McTiernan, after a sorry saga, the world might have largely lost his talent but in the last few years he made a nice trailer for a video game which combines suspense, action and humor: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wK07wbqQcys](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wK07wbqQcys) [A feline as helpful as Jonesy.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37697sWp2rQ) ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2018, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predator-1987-a-masterpiece-of-testosterone/513253/125 "2018-05-23T22:49:31Z")
> [@Pushkin](#): > > [A feline as helpful as Jonesy.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37697sWp2rQ) and all of the other cats shunned Jonesy as a human-loving over-achiever. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predator-1987-a-masterpiece-of-testosterone/513253/126 "2018-05-24T19:50:05Z")
So I’ve been watching this, again, in about 30 minute segments the last few days after not having watched in at least several years, and now I have notes: [ul] [li]The Predator kills Blain by shooting him with the plasma gun through the back, blowing out his chest. Blain was wearing his minigun getup, with ammo backpack. How did the ammo backpack survive the plasma gun shots? I realize it’s shooting down at an angle, but I don’t see how he could get that exit wound without the backpack being destroyed, or at least damaged. Mac picks up the minigun and it works just fine.[/li] [li]After that big shootout, the squad splits up to look around and set up a perimeter. They’re all elite soldiers, at least one of them, Billy, an expert, near-supernatural tracker. Only Anna notices the glowing yellow blood sprayed all over that leaf?[/li] [li]When the squad is setting up their traps, which surely takes at least all morning, where was the Predator? Wouldn’t it have been just watching them do it?[/li] [li]When Dutch covers himself in mud, wouldn’t his eyes still be visible?[/li][/ul] Not that any of this reduces my endless, profound enjoyment of the film, and I know, I know, it’s an 80s Ahnold action movie, continuity and absolute realism not required, but still… ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2018, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predator-1987-a-masterpiece-of-testosterone/513253/127 "2018-05-24T22:09:43Z")
Yes, there are plenty of plotholes but I don’t think this is the type of movie where having exposition or extra scenes to plug them would have been wise. They arguably shouldn’t have included that opening scene where we see a spaceship approaching earth; It would have been more spooky/scary not to know at first and it would have made for a good twist for a seemingly magical/demonic monster to be an alien. I did wonder about the motivations of the antagonist. It’s been pointed out that a species which has serial killer-like sociopathy would be unlikely to develop high technology. But maybe this specific antagonist is the equivalent of that dentist who paid 50 000$ to go on a safari to kill a lion; The vast majority of his species are fine, peaceful people and they consider someone like the antagonist to be either a horrible person or at least a jackass. “Why do you gotta kill humans? They’re so majestic in their natural habitat.” ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predator-1987-a-masterpiece-of-testosterone/513253/128 "2018-05-25T14:58:03Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > So I’ve been watching this, again, in about 30 minute segments the last few days after not having watched in at least several years, and now I have notes: > > [ul] > [li]The Predator kills Blain by shooting him with the plasma gun through the back, blowing out his chest. Blain was wearing his minigun getup, with ammo backpack. How did the ammo backpack survive the plasma gun shots? I realize it’s shooting down at an angle, but I don’t see how he could get that exit wound without the backpack being destroyed, or at least damaged. Mac picks up the minigun and it works just fine.[/li] > [li]After that big shootout, the squad splits up to look around and set up a perimeter. They’re all elite soldiers, at least one of them, Billy, an expert, near-supernatural tracker. Only Anna notices the glowing yellow blood sprayed all over that leaf?[/li] > [li]When the squad is setting up their traps, which surely takes at least all morning, where was the Predator? Wouldn’t it have been just watching them do it?[/li] > [li]When Dutch covers himself in mud, wouldn’t his eyes still be visible?[/li][/ul] 1. The backpack actually rides pretty low on his back - the top of it is about the level of his armpit. So that + downward angle of the strike + explosive effect blowing out the chest explains that it’s at least possible that the backpack survived. 2. At that point they still didn’t know what they were facing. Ramirez & Dillon still thought it was sappers. True, they didn’t know what kind of weapon killed Blaine, but it’s an awful huge jump from that to “aliens with fluorescent green blood”. Anna was the only one primed to believe it wasn’t something human, thanks to the stories she’d heard about the “demon who makes trophies of men”. 3. He could have been, but wasn’t. We saw that he did return to his camp from time to time. They just got lucky. 4. The surface of the human eyeball is actually a few degrees C cooler than the rest of the body. Arnie’s may have been at ambient for the area considering it was midday in a Central American rainforest. > [@](#): > > Not that any of this reduces my endless, profound enjoyment of the film, and I know, I know, it’s an 80s Ahnold action movie, continuity and absolute realism not required, but still… Exactly! Only a buncha slack-jawed faggots would question plot holes & continuity in the most perfect action movie of all time. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predator-1987-a-masterpiece-of-testosterone/513253/129 "2018-05-25T15:04:54Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > 1. The surface of the human eyeball is actually a few degrees C cooler than the rest of the body. Arnie’s may have been at ambient for the area considering it was midday in a Central American rainforest. Good point. Here’s mud in your eye! ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predator-1987-a-masterpiece-of-testosterone/513253/130 "2018-05-25T15:11:45Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Arnie’s may have been at ambient for the area considering it was midday in a Central American rainforest. Ironically, from what I’ve read about the production it was actually freezing cold where they shot in Mexico, and it was overall a pretty miserable shoot for everyone. I suppose it just meant nobody had to _act_ uncomfortable, they just were. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predator-1987-a-masterpiece-of-testosterone/513253/131 "2018-05-25T16:28:04Z")
What I appreciated was the realistic nod to real manly super-soldiers where Mac was shown snapping his portable razor against his cheek. All of those hairless glistening arms and chests require a significant amount of time and depilatory gear to keep in glistening combat condition. Glistening. Lesser movies like Rambo fail to show the gritty realism of actual manly super-soldier SpecOpsSealoperations. Fun fact, the typical SpecOpsSeal carries 15 lbs of disposable razors and cream in their backpack for a 1 week glistening jungle mission. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predator-1987-a-masterpiece-of-testosterone/513253/132 "2018-05-25T17:02:36Z")
> [@GargoyleWB](#): > > What I appreciated was the realistic nod to real manly super-soldiers where Mac was shown snapping his portable razor against his cheek. All of those hairless glistening arms and chests require a significant amount of time and depilatory gear to keep in glistening combat condition. Glistening. Lesser movies like Rambo fail to show the gritty realism of actual manly super-soldier SpecOpsSealoperations. Fun fact, the typical SpecOpsSeal carries 15 lbs of disposable razors and cream in their backpack for a 1 week glistening jungle mission. Indeed. It’s a little known fact that in the original script, when Billy stayed behind on the bridge to face the Predator, was supposed to shave his chest with his fighting knife to demonstrate his manliness. Sonny Landham, who played Billy, misunderstood the stage directions, and being Sonny Landham, sliced his chest with the knife instead. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_lining](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aca169/32.png) [@Silver\_lining](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_lining)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2018, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predator-1987-a-masterpiece-of-testosterone/513253/133 "2018-05-26T19:28:13Z")
A great movie. One thing that is underrated was the diversity of the cast. I applaud this originality, this re-casting charters in different genders or ethnicities just because they want to doesn’t enhance movies. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2018, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predator-1987-a-masterpiece-of-testosterone/513253/134 "2018-05-26T20:11:40Z")
> [@GargoyleWB](#): > > What I appreciated was the realistic nod to real manly super-soldiers where Mac was shown snapping his portable razor against his cheek. All of those hairless glistening arms and chests require a significant amount of time and depilatory gear to keep in glistening combat condition. Glistening. Lesser movies like Rambo fail to show the gritty realism of actual manly super-soldier SpecOpsSealoperations. Fun fact, the typical SpecOpsSeal carries 15 lbs of disposable razors and cream in their backpack for a 1 week glistening jungle mission. In _Pitch Black,_ Mark Sinclair shaves his head using a shiv and some used motor oil, but real super-soldiers know you can never count on being able to scrounge up motor oil when you need it, and even if you could, improperly disposed oil can contaminate soil and groundwater. ---
**Author:** ![Magniankh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@Magniankh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magniankh)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predator-1987-a-masterpiece-of-testosterone/513253/135 "2020-04-29T23:09:01Z")
OP is the best review on the Internet. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predator-1987-a-masterpiece-of-testosterone/513253/136 "2020-04-29T23:22:37Z")
Once again, for anyone who missed it, Predator, the Musical: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/qlicWUDf5MM/hqdefault.jpg "Predator: The Musical (Arnold Schwarzenegger)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlicWUDf5MM) ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predator-1987-a-masterpiece-of-testosterone/513253/137 "2020-04-30T00:47:09Z")
When the Predator, in the sequel, crashes into an apartment building, one can hear the occupants listening to Jeopardy. I heard Final Jeopardy and wanted to yell out “Berengaia of Navarre!” The question was “Who was the only queen of England who never was in England?” BTW, she was married to Richard the First, the lionhearted. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/predator-1987-a-masterpiece-of-testosterone/513253.md?page=6)