Comments on: Weekend Material: Watch Predator (1987)

By: seriouslypleasedropit

seriouslypleasedropit — Sun, 08 Mar 2015 05:04:36 +0000

Slightly embarrassed about the source, but this might resonate: http://kmansadventures.proboards.com/thread/8870/thoughts-on-fighters?page=1&scrollTo=88377

By: Prognosticator

Prognosticator — Tue, 03 Mar 2015 10:29:10 +0000

Technology is a doubled bladed weapon, one can turn that weapon against a Predator if you understand it’s strengths and weaknesses. This gives the civilised man the edge of precognition, seeing the Predators next step before it takes such step, being able to feint, forcing the predator into self inflicted error. An intelligent civilised man will use his position of weakness as bait, then mould his environment of choice into strength and out right advantage.

This is what it means to be a Predator of a Predator.

When “Dutch” realised by mere luck of the mud saving his life, that there was the beginning of the end of Scorpion face, he experienced it’s strength, competence it ability in acquisition of his comrades, now he knew it’s weakness.

By: PolarWashington

PolarWashington — Mon, 02 Mar 2015 20:15:21 +0000

Right, Dutch represents the “civilized white man”, the tamer of the wilds.

By: David Grant

David Grant — Mon, 02 Mar 2015 17:12:15 +0000

Arnold is about as Germanic a character as you can get: an Austrian actor playing an American named Alan “Dutch” Schaefer.

By: PolarWashington

PolarWashington — Mon, 02 Mar 2015 16:55:33 +0000

I wonder what the significance of the Indian scout’s “sixth sense” is?

The scout can sense the Predator, IMO, because they are similar. The Indian is a primal savage, as close to a human version of a Predator that there is. And what does he do?The scout deliberately strips himself of his gear -accouterments of the modern, civilized soldier- and walks out into the jungle to confront the alien with only a primitive, traditional weapon. Fire vs fire, primal vs primal. The Predator of course makes quick work of the Indian.

Arnold on the other hand, works and plans an ambush for the creature and slays it. Is it significant that Arnold’s character’s name is “Dutch”? I think there is symbolism in the film; fighting fire with fire, like the Indian did, fails. Barbaric man cannot master the fury of nature. Dutch can, because he holds civilization.

By: Man for all seasons

Man for all seasons — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 14:16:39 +0000

Oops, the link was wrong. Take a look at this: Vietnam War booby traps

By: Man for all seasons

Man for all seasons — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 14:09:47 +0000

Arnold displayed creativity. That's what David tries to tell us. Besides, the alien Predator was too self-confident. He was also too prone to take delight in the critical moments, just like a cat hunting mice. The Predator spoiled its best chance. (That's the scriptwriter coming to the rescue of the main character.) I've noticed a certain similarity with the asymmetrical war in Vietnam. Low-tech creativity vs. the high-tech US military.

By: ReactionaryFerret

ReactionaryFerret — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 01:44:14 +0000

“Master of nature” is the nature of technology. The problem is that his companions (and the predator) used the technologies they came with without thinking and simply acted. Arnold thought; he planned; he overcame; he INVENTED.

By: Reed Perry

Reed Perry — Sat, 28 Feb 2015 01:17:08 +0000

The mud-smeared image of Arnold defeating the technological alien by turning the jungle upon it seems emblematic of the opposite of what you’re arguing. Arnold is only capable of defeating it when he abandons the technology he came with. Reliance on that tech killed all the other commandos.

I’m a big Arnold fan and I love finding symbolism in his films even if it wasn’t intentionally written in. Perhaps “master of nature” is the best way to describe Arnold’s role. Reliance on complex technology is what got the Predator killed. Arnold used mud.