Blantant Is Better

Predator (the original) was on the television last night. In the movie, there is a scene at the beginning where Dutch (A. Swarzenegger) meets up with Dillon (C. Weathers)--they are long time friends and fellow commandos. Instead of hugging, as I would have done, they saunter towards each other and right at that moment of hug or cheek kiss, they, instead, instantly transition into a standing arm wrestle.

What I love about this movie is the camera work. As this scene begins the two walk towards one another, then the film instantly cuts to the arm clasp, as seen above. There is about ten seconds until the next scene. The beauty of this camera work and film direction is that there is no room for interpretation. The audience instantly knows they are both very, very tough men, and that there is no mistaking it. I truly recommend watching this movie one more time.

If you don't want to watch the entire movie just to see that scene, that is ok, just stare at the above picture for ten seconds straight. And here is the true test to see if John McTiernan truly was an Oscar worthy director: focus on those arms and see if anything at all can enter your mind other than the impossible strength of Arnold Swarzenegger.


Also, little known fact, Puerto Vallarta houses a restaurant built onto/around the helicopter used in Predator. Come this October 11-18 I will be dining there with my sweetheart.