Yeah, the one they put out first is probably a "better" film, but I like the second one more because it's simply crazier and more action-packed, and that's pretty much all you want from an 80s B-movie. The third one trounces them both though.
The Predator
Decided to give this a rewatch as I've been reading the novelisation of late. I don't hate it the way a lot of people do, but it really frustrates me because it feels like they nearly had a much better movie, and most of the things they screwed up were done when they started trying to rework it. The original plot - with the Upgrade basically being a superweapon sent to f*ck us up because certain Predators hate that we keep besting them, and the Fugitive (and Emissaries) trying to stop him - sounds like it would've been a lot more interesting and less incongruous with what is established in the previous movies. Also, if the novel's anything to go by, the dumb subplot about global warming leading to a wholesale Predator invasion - including that final scene - was entirely added at the last minute, and given how that shit's the biggest problem I have with it, even leaving that out would've improved the film considerably.
Oh yeah, and I dunno if it's because we know the final act was reworked, but I swear you can see the quality of the CGI drop dramatically in some of the reshot stuff near the end.
I'd really love to see the Shane Black cut one day.
