Predator 2 (1990) - Why I Enjoy It So Much (A Movie Review)

Predator 2: An In-Depth Review

The reviewer opens by thanking Graham Burns for requesting an in-depth look at Predator 2—a film he says he could discuss every week without getting tired of it. Although he grew up watching the original Predator constantly, he now considers the sequel his favorite. It still feels fresh to him and delivers a bigger, more consistent adrenaline rush.

Setting and Cast

Rather than repeat the jungle setting, Predator 2 turns Los Angeles into an “urban jungle,” giving the story its own identity. The reviewer praises Danny Glover as Mike Harrigan, arguing that Glover brings the character a distinctive intensity. Complaints that Glover is not Arnold Schwarzenegger miss the point, he says: Dutch already had his showdown with the Predator in the first film.

He also admires the supporting cast, which includes Gary Busey, Bill Paxton, Rubén Blades, María Conchita Alonso, Robert Davi, and Adam Baldwin. Paxton gets particular credit for adding likable comic relief, including a memorable bit of awkward flirting that ends with his colleague grabbing him.

The Predator and Its World

The Predator is another highlight. The reviewer appreciates Kevin Peter Hall’s physical performance and the creature’s more aggressive, personally focused behavior. It doesn’t merely hunt Harrigan: it watches him, targets his friends, and leaves a trophy as a taunt.

The Predator’s expanded arsenal, the glimpse inside its ship, and the brief xenomorph skull cameo all add to the world without overexplaining it. The reviewer feels that this restraint helps preserve the creature’s mystery.

Alan Silvestri’s score took time to grow on the reviewer, but he now values how it builds on the original music while developing its own style.

Action and Visual Details

The reviewer especially celebrates the film’s action set pieces, each of which has its own character—from the subway and the gang confrontation to the Predator’s cat-and-mouse games with armed men.

His favorite part is the final stretch, when Harrigan and the Predator trade blows in a fast-moving, escalating fight that carries them through several locations. He does note one small visual inconsistency: some of the Predator’s point-of-view shots look like infrared vision even after it has removed its mask.

Reputation and Later Films

The reviewer believes the film’s poor reputation is undeserved, citing its 36% Rotten Tomatoes score. He suspects some viewers rejected it because Arnold isn’t in it or because the story moves from the jungle to the city. He dismisses both objections and argues that aggregate review scores can give a misleading impression of a film’s worth.

He also pushes back against calling older films “dated” or “cheesy,” joking that the same logic would condemn classics like Die Hard and The Terminator for their old technology and effects.

His criticism of later Predator films is blunt, particularly when he compares their creature designs and use of CGI with the practical work in Predator 2.

The reviewer also jokes about a friendly disagreement with “Uncle Bill”: Bill likes Predator: Badlands, while the reviewer likes Congo, so they tease each other over their respective favorites.

Conclusion

The reviewer calls Predator 2 one of the most underrated sequels ever and Stephen Hopkins’s best film.

Personalities Mentioned

• Matt / the reviewer: The host, speaking throughout the video.
• Graham Burns: The requester who commissioned the review; he is mentioned but does not appear.
• “Uncle Bill”: A friend mentioned in a joking exchange about Predator: Badlands and Congo; he does not appear.