Predator: Badlands - Disney Consumes Another Franchise

Overview

This episode critiques Predator: Badlands, a Disney-produced addition to the Predator franchise. The host dissects the film's departure from the franchise's original tone, its reliance on Disney-esque tropes, and its failure to meet the expectations of a Predator movie.

Notable Quotes

- You don't walk into a Predator movie looking for a quirky buddy adventure with cutesy animals and family drama any more than you'd walk into a Saw movie looking for a romantic comedy.

- The realization that just like Alien, this is what the Predator franchise has devolved into—a financial commodity instead of a sharp and violent artistic endeavor.

- How the [__] does a movie from 1987 look better than a hundred million dollar Disney project with cutting-edge special effects?

🎥 The Disneyfication of Predator

- The film is criticized for transforming the Predator franchise into a safe, inoffensive, focus-tested corporate product, complete with Disney-style tropes like quirky sidekicks, family drama, and sequel bait endings.

- The protagonist, nicknamed Lumpy, is described as an emotionally vulnerable hero on a predictable redemption arc, which feels out of place in the Predator universe.

- The inclusion of a cute alien sidekick and a comedic android character is seen as a blatant attempt to appeal to younger audiences and sell merchandise.

🛠️ Poor Execution and Design Choices

- The CGI-heavy visuals and the redesign of the Predator creature are heavily criticized, with the host lamenting how a 1987 film had better effects than this high-budget production.

- The environmental design is described as unimaginative, with the two alien planets looking nearly identical.

- The host questions the film's internal logic, pointing out numerous plot holes and contrivances, such as the android's inexplicable ability to speak the Predator language.

😂 Forced Humor and Annoying Characters

- The comedic tone of the film is deemed inappropriate for a Predator movie, with the humor described as forced and unfunny.

- The quirky android lady character is singled out as particularly irritating, with her constant, meaningless chatter likened to an unfunny party guest who won't stop talking.

🎬 Betrayal of the Franchise's Roots

- The host argues that the film's attempt to redefine the Predator franchise undermines what made the original so compelling—its dark tone, mystique, and serious approach.

- The movie's focus on humanizing the Predator and adding family drama is seen as a betrayal of the franchise's core identity.

- The host compares Predator: Badlands unfavorably to earlier entries like the original Predator and even Prey, which, despite its flaws, at least respected the franchise's tone.

💸 The Commercialization of Iconic Franchises

- The host laments the trend of turning iconic franchises like Alien and Predator into financial commodities rather than preserving their artistic integrity.

- The film's poor opening weekend performance is seen as a sign that audiences are rejecting this approach, with the host suggesting that the franchise's decline might be inevitable—and deserved.