No Spoilers!
Is The Predator worth spending your hard earned money to see in the theater? I would have to say yes. The Predator is a very good action movie. Not only does it feature plenty of action, it also expands the Predator lore in interesting ways, and the characters aren't bad either. The effects are great and whoever was in charge of blending the CGI into the live action should win an award. The effects have a weight and visceral quality that is necessary for great action movies. The story is simple but effective and the Predators themselves look amazing. This movie is a hard R rating, this is not for kids, graphic violence( even more than your average Predator movie) and profuse swearing make this a mature only kind of experience. The movie also featured a child actor in a prominent role(Jacob Tremblay) who performs well and doesn't slow down the movie at all, which is a rarity with child actors let's be honest.
Based on the trailer I wasn't expecting much, just another soft sequel to Predator, but the trailer does this movie no justice. I would have to say having seen all movies involving Predators (including AVP Requiem, no tears for me please), The Predator is definitely the best entry in the franchise since the Schwarzenegger classic. This movie has everything you want from an action movie, with a good bit of comedy thrown in, which really makes it feel closer to the original.
There isn't really much more to say without going to spoiler territory so please, ignore the critics and see this movie, you will not regret it. A small caveat, this is not an intellectual masterpiece, it's an action movie. I really think people need to take off the rose-colored glasses about the original, it's a good movie, but it's hardly high art. If you are expecting a masterpiece of cinema don't waste your time( as many critics apparently did). This is an action movie with over the top humor and violence, not Citizen Kane. I'm not sure what has happened to critics in the last couple decades but not every movie needs to change your life. The Predator is fun, well made, and entertaining, can't that be enough anymore?
