10 Critically Reviled Sci-Fi Movies (That Weren't Actually That Bad)
1. Predator 2
Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer Score: 29%
Critics Consensus: "The thrill of the hunt is gone in this hackneyed sequel."
Yeah, well, this writer begs to differ.
What Predator 2 got right that so many modern franchises get wrong is that it tried to channel the successful formula of the original without attempting to recreate it for cheap nostalgic pops and it also wasn't too concerned with setting up a franchise that it overlooked its own purpose. No, Predator 2 was exactly what it said on the tin: A direct standalone no-strings-attached follow-up to one of the greatest sci-fi horrors of all time.
Sure, the idea of the Predator's hunt was always going to work better in a jungle, but the fact that they were innovative enough to try and follow that with a concrete jungle (instead of going to the well a second time) deserves some appreciation. Furthermore, it used that setting as a jump-off to help us get to know the Predator itself a little better.
No, Predator 2 might not be as perfect as the original, but it's a thrilling sci-fi flick that tries to do something different with the same format. The hunter itself thrives as a more nuanced character than his predecessor and Danny Glover is excellent as the hot-headed Lieutenant Mike Harrigan. And the film benefits from a slightly more exaggerated tone as its full of surprisingly funny moments - like the now-iconic "Want some candy?"
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Which sci-fi/fantasy films do you feel were never given their due? Tell us in the comment section below.