Predator -

[dave_s13]

jayemm89 said:

Predator, like basically everything up until about 2000 was shot on film. To be specific, Super35.

It's a specific format that they used on that film which means it is in 16:9 ratio (ie. if you watch it on a TV there are no black bars top and bottom).

They did this rather than using anamorphic (the traditional shape of big budget movies) because of difficulties with the SFX.

The downside is it does look a bit grainier than films of the time, this is also partly due to the film stock they used.

Apologies to anyone who knows the tech, that is a phenomenally watered down explanation, but hopefully of some interest to those who are interested

This is also why the 20th Century Fox logo at the start is distorted - the director did it to get back at the studio.

Given that almost everyone in the world has a 16:9 telly and the majority of films are watched at home, why are films shot in the anamorphic ratio leaving us with the stupid black bars top and bottom?

When watching films at home - which we do a LOT - I really like it when the screen is filled completely, I'm getting all of my valuable 42 inches used up this way.

[viggyp]

arnie's second best film after The Terminator.

I now can't wait to get home to watch this now as not seen it for a while. I think it's one of the best sci-fi films made. I didn't know what to expect from this film when it first came out. Billy's laugh is mental with Jesse Ventura looking even more mental.

I always crack up regarding Carl Weather's "arm" bit. I must be the only one who thought P2 was any good.

[daddy cool]

dave_s13 said:

Given that almost everyone in the world has a 16:9 telly and the majority of films are watched at home, why are films shot in the anamorphic ratio leaving us with the stupid black bars top and bottom?

When watching films at home - which we do a LOT - I really like it when the screen is filled completely, I'm getting all of my valuable 42 inches used up this way.

they'll be a button on your remote that will zoom the image out so that it fills the top and bottom of the screen.

But then you'll have those niggling doubts about what is happening in the 2-3 inches of air on either side of your TV. "What am i missing? plot-critical details? extra action? Boobs?"

And eventually you'll go back to the bars top & bottom just to be safe.

[SimNugget]

AmiableChimp said:

Wasn't JCVD initially penciled in to play the Predator?

They shot some of the film with JCVD in a dubious looking rubber suit as the Predator. Only in the editing suite did they agree it looked shyate and got Stan Winston onboard and reshot the ending and few extra scenes. The CGI had not been done so it didn't cost the earth but the studio were not happy. Some say JCVD was sacked.

It is all in Arnies autobiography. He is tactful but suggests JCVD was 'a complainer' during filming.

[dave_s13]

daddy cool said:

dave_s13 said:

Given that almost everyone in the world has a 16:9 telly and the majority of films are watched at home, why are films shot in the anamorphic ratio leaving us with the stupid black bars top and bottom?

When watching films at home - which we do a LOT - I really like it when the screen is filled completely, I'm getting all of my valuable 42 inches used up this way.

they'll be a button on your remote that will zoom the image out so that it fills the top and bottom of the screen.

But then you'll have those niggling doubts about what is happening in the 2-3 inches of air on either side of your TV. "What am i missing? plot-critical details? extra action? Boobs?"

And eventually you'll go back to the bars top & bottom just to be safe.

Degrades the picture slightly doing that though, plus, boobs.

[FourWheelDrift]

When Jean-Claude Van Damme was the Predator - http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/predator/32595/whe...

[ZesPak]

Skrambles said:

Predator is an action masterpiece. Just love the scene when the whole squad, including Blain with the mini gun ('old Painless'), open fire into the jungle.
The film is up there with other 80s greats including Terminator, Commando and Rambo.
The sequels to Predator were cack tho'.

I distinctly remember a youtube vid containing a panel of geeks discussing/ranking all these 90's classics, with segal, JCVD, Stallone and Arnie each having 4(?) movies in a tournament or something .

Predator was a classic indeed, but I enjoyed P2 as well.

Oh and for all the quotes mentioned:
After pinning someone with his knife "Stick around!"
"You are one ugly motherfker!"

[vxr8mate]

dai1983 said:

When my 3 year old son is walking slow or distracted I've always said "get to the choppa! Do it now!" In a poor Austrian accent. He now shouts it himself when we are out and about which is so funny.

Obviously he's never seen the film but god knows what the childminder thinks he is on about

I've done similar with my kid since they were young, but my choice was "Let's rock" from Aliens:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49OZ0M_0fhg

Years later she still says it as well.

[dai1983]

vxr8mate said:

I've done similar with my kid since they were young, but my choice was "Let's rock" from Aliens:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49OZ0M_0fhg

Years later she still says it as well.

Ha ha! I did watch Commando the other day and I can imagine him running around shouting "let of some steam Bennet".

He likes watching old program's such as Thindercats, 80's Transformers, Trap Door, Star Wars 4-6 etc. he did ask to watch Aliens when he found the DVD but we told him only when he's bigger: "daddy I ate all my dinner didn't I? So I'm a big boy? And I can watch your Alien DVD?" Err No!

[Hugo a Gogo]

mummy says there are no monsters, but there are, aren't there

[THX]

dave_s13 said:

Given that almost everyone in the world has a 16:9 telly and the majority of films are watched at home, why are films shot in the anamorphic ratio leaving us with the stupid black bars top and bottom?

When watching films at home - which we do a LOT - I really like it when the screen is filled completely, I'm getting all of my valuable 42 inches used up this way.

Dear God.

[dave_s13]

THX said:

dave_s13 said:

Given that almost everyone in the world has a 16:9 telly and the majority of films are watched at home, why are films shot in the anamorphic ratio leaving us with the stupid black bars top and bottom?

When watching films at home - which we do a LOT - I really like it when the screen is filled completely, I'm getting all of my valuable 42 inches used up this way.

Dear God.

???

[e39darren]

vxr8mate said:

I've done similar with my kid since they were young, but my choice was "Let's rock" from Aliens:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49OZ0M_0fhg

Years later she still says it as well.

I do the same with my kids too but I use a quote from Aliens " let's move like we got a purpose"

[Negative Creep]

I would have loved to have been able to watch this on release with no prior knowledge of what it was. Imagine seeing about 30 minutes of what is basically Commando 2 before taking a complete turn into sci-fi/horror

[viggyp]

Negative Creep said:

I would have loved to have been able to watch this on release with no prior knowledge of what it was. Imagine seeing about 30 minutes of what is basically Commando 2 before taking a complete turn into sci-fi/horror

I rented it on video when it first came out and I knew nothing about it and when it went into sci-fi mode, it blew my mind. Still love watching it.

[FourWheelDrift]

Negative Creep said:

I would have loved to have been able to watch this on release with no prior knowledge of what it was. Imagine seeing about 30 minutes of what is basically Commando 2 before taking a complete turn into sci-fi/horror

I did, forget actually when it was but one lunchtime I came home from school for lunch and my dad who had a day off had rented it, I had a free period (study period ) straight after lunch so had time to watch it

[hornetrider]

Negative Creep said:

I would have loved to have been able to watch this on release with no prior knowledge of what it was. Imagine seeing about 30 minutes of what is basically Commando 2 before taking a complete turn into sci-fi/horror

I feel quite lucky to have seen Dusk till Dawn and Sixth Sense completely at random with no advance knowledge of either.

[Negative Creep]

hornetrider said:

Negative Creep said:

I would have loved to have been able to watch this on release with no prior knowledge of what it was. Imagine seeing about 30 minutes of what is basically Commando 2 before taking a complete turn into sci-fi/horror

I feel quite lucky to have seen Dusk till Dawn and Sixth Sense completely at random with no advance knowledge of either.

I got my little sister to watch From Dusk Till Dawn on the promise it was a crime thriller starring that hunky one from ER

[omgus]

Negative Creep said:

hornetrider said:

Negative Creep said:

I would have loved to have been able to watch this on release with no prior knowledge of what it was. Imagine seeing about 30 minutes of what is basically Commando 2 before taking a complete turn into sci-fi/horror

I feel quite lucky to have seen Dusk till Dawn and Sixth Sense completely at random with no advance knowledge of either.

I got my little sister to watch From Dusk Till Dawn on the promise it was a crime thriller starring that hunky one from ER

I watched Dusk Till Dawn thinking it would be like Pulp Fiction, it was quite a shock when it went a bit bitey.


When i went to see Hancock one of the girls with us was sure it was a film about a Journalist. We all knew and didn't tell her so obviously she got a bit of a shock when Will Smith started flying.

[THX]

dave_s13 said:

???

i wouldn't even know where to start.

Widescreen (16:9) TV's came about circa 15 years ago. The cinema screen, in its 'wide' format, since... Christ. The 1950s?

As for why 'wide' TVs didn't just come in the anamorphic ratio to begin with, I did wonder at the time but I suppose the majority of TV shows were shot in 16:9 - if not 4:3?!

Think of it this way; as 'big' TV's took off (only a few years prior to 'wide' TV's) you'd been watching anamorphic movies in a pan and scan format... That is, the original 21:9 image chopped down not only to 16:9, but again to 4:3.

(Although I sometimes used to really enjoy that not-so-subtle 'scan' the editors would have to implement so that the image featured everything happening on screen, especially during an action sequence; it would lend an extra sense of rhythm to the action. Little did I know the Director or DP probably intended for that sequence to be shot from a fixed camera)

With regards to 21:9 vs 16:9, our eyes see the world far wider than any 21:9 screen - so why contemplate restricting that further? The opportunity for composition on a wider screen is far greater than on a narrower. I'll happily watch with the black bars, if it means I'm seeing all the work that's gone into making the movie. I don't suppose Predator suffers from this much, but take any David Fincher, Ridley Scott, or Sam Mendes movie and blow it up to eliminate the black lines?!

Blade Runner zoomed in?!?!

I'd rather not bother.