![]() ![]() Its rainforests are dense, dark and rough, and according to the film crew “very difficult to work in”, which consequently brought a sense of realism to the actors’ performances. Ultimately, Hilo proved to be one of the ideal candidates. However, the filmmakers wanted an environment that would compliment both the story and the design of the “Predator” creatures themselves a place that embodied a true “otherworldly” and “alien” look. Jungles throughout Puerto Rico, Mexico and China were among initial scouts. It won’t surprise you to learn that Hawaii wasn’t the first choice for Predators, though. But in the jungles of Hilo many trees are indeed as big as they appear onscreen, while their thick, twisting roots do grow above ground. After all, the seemingly-exaggerated trees along with their massive, bare roots appear somewhat artificial. If you’ve seen the film you’d be forgiven for thinking that many of these locations were purpose-built sets. A huge part of their journey was filmed in the incredibly-lush but challenging jungles of Hilo on the east coast of the Big Island of Hawaii. Here they must put aside their differences and unite in order to survive a formidable enemy. The film begins with a team of criminals and mercenaries falling from the sky and landing on what transpires to be the alien world. And while just over half the film was shot in Austin, Texas (which involved mostly practical sets), it’s actually Hawaii that’s predominantly visible throughout, serving most of the film’s exterior shots. Naturally, the mysterious and deadly jungle planet called for dense rainforests, epic waterfalls, rugged mountains and majestic valleys. So you could say that it brought the franchise back, quite literally, to its jungle roots. And while its 1990 sequel opted for an “urban jungle” in the form of Los Angeles, the third film is set entirely on an alien world. The 1987 original – now a true sci-fi classic – pits Arnold Schwarzenegger against a marauding alien warrior that hunts for sport in a Central American jungle. That said, you probably do know that Hawaii is no alien to blockbuster franchises. But what you might not know is that the third film, Predators (2010), starring Adrien Brody and Laurence Fishburne, was filmed in Hawaii. If they had to employ a posh English bloke to do the commentary, I think I would have preferred Benedict Cumberbatch.If you’re a fan of the Predator franchise, you’ll have recently seen the trailer for The Predator, the fourth film in the hugely-popular, ever-enduring sci-fi series. It's really irritating, and I had to watch with the sound down after a few episodes. ![]() He comes over really plummy and traditional upper class, and you would have thought that an actor of his experience could have adapted his voice to something more 21st century and cosmopolitan. Is that his natural voice? Is he trying to sound like David Attenborough? If so, he fails. Not only is the content of his commentary fairly tedious and a bit anthropomorphic at times, but he sounds like some TV presenter from the 1950s or 1960s speaking in the RP of those times. I would have given the series an 8, but the thing that really spoiled it for me was the choice of Tom Hardy to do the commentary. However, we don't learn much that we haven't already learnt from previous wildlife shows, and the approach is one which will appeal to the general public rather than the more scientifically-minded viewer. The editing and overall production are pretty good too. This series shows some excellent filming of wild predators in their natural environments, with great use of all the latest technology to get close-up shots and to follow animals running at fast speeds.
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