Predator 2 Special Edition DVD Review

Predator 2 is presented in 1:85:1 anamorphic widescreen and the picture is nothing short of excellent. There is great detail on the city landscapes and skin tones are clear and blemish free. The point of view shots of the Predator are colourful and show no bleeding or smudging. Predator 2 has a large amount of dark scenes and the blacks on display were deep and I could see no artefacts present on the picture, considering the disc is pretty packed with various soundtracks and commentary this is great. I couldn't compare the picture (or sound) with it's original release but it does seem that Fox have pulled out the stops to give us a great special edition release.

The film was reviewed with the DTS soundtrack and this is one seriously loud soundtrack. The bass on the explosions and gunfire ripped through the surround set-up. For the first time in a while, my LFE channel came to life and literally shook the room. Alan Silvestri's music is presented in all the channels and comes to life brilliantly in the action sequences. The Predator POV shots fill the sound stage and really raise the tense atmosphere as the Predator hunts his prey. The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack is good but the DTS pips it to the post with the impressive LFE channel. Well done Fox!!!

Oh my god, this is one packed special edition. Like many of their previous 'Special Editions', Fox have really done something special with Predator 2. First out of the starting block is the comprehensive documentary, The Hunters and the Hunted. Especially made for the DVD, this interviews all the main players in the Predator franchise. The interviews are a mixture of new and old (original release) and they are interspersed with behind the scenes footage. “Weapons of Choice” are a series of brief featurettes explaining the Predator's favourite weapons. This I enjoyed and although it is short, it is original and well put together. “Evolutions” are three short featurettes showing the development of visual effects in scenes from conception to the final end product. “The Promotional gallery” are three extremely cheesy early 90's 'fillers' i.e. the sort of thing you used to get between films on Sky. All three are about 2-3 minutes and frankly a waste of time. The 'Hard Core' segments are two uncut news segments featuring Morton Downey Jr. These are cut into the film as news items and are really worth watching once. “The Stills Gallery” is good with 57 behind the scenes pictures. These are of a good quality and definitely worth browsing through. On disc one with the main feature are two commentary tracks, one with director, Stephen Hopkins and the other with Predator creators Jim and John Thomas. Hopkins' track is a pretty standard run of the mill director's track with behind the scenes information and technical know-how. The Thomas' brothers track covers their creation of the Predator character and similar themes as Hopkins' track. Is it me or all commentary tracks becoming a bit stale?
A great action film with a likeable lead hero, plenty of gunfire, explosions and lots of good old fashioned gratuitous violence, but it may not be worth buying if you already own it. Fox however, have put together some fine extras and for good measure they have gave us a thumping DTS soundtrack as well.