Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong
Nearly 32 years after the Predator landed on Earth, Co-Writer/Director Shane Black has returned to his roots and brought TIFF along for the World Premiere. A group of soldiers haunted by their PTSD must fight off the Predator after he crash lands on Earth, avoiding the massive government cover up along the way.
The Predator is the very definition of a mixed bag. I went in with a fair amount of hype and trepidation, but was ultimately left cold. The Film has the trademark Shane Black-written wit and laughs, and is also rather viciously violent with its gore. The beast delightfully murders anyone he crosses paths with in increasingly more inventive ways. And while there are plenty of arguments to be made about the right balance between CGI and practical make-up effects, The Predator’s biggest issue is its editing. It distracts in some instances with how choppy it is (and how some scenes feel completely tacked on), and in others, does away with some characters entirely. But the Film’s MVP is without a doubt, Sterling K. Brown. He has a blast hamming it up for the camera, leaving smouldering ash in his wake.
The Predator screens on Thursday, September 6 at 11:59 PM at Ryerson Theatre [World Premiere], Friday, September 7 at 9:30PM at Scotiabank Theatre and Tuesday, September 11 at 9:45 PM at Scotiabank Theatre.
Toronto truly got a treat tonight as Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada hosted a special Advance Screening of Iron Man 3! Held at Cineplex Odeon – Yonge & Dundas, the most Die-Hard of Fans were gifted with Limited Edition Iron Man 3-D Glasses and Cardboard Do-It-Yourself-Iron Men. Memorabilia also was fully on-display at the Event and an Actor even came dressed as Iron Man ringing-in the festivities. More importantly however, tonight’s Audience had the pleasure of seeing Academy Award Nominee Don Cheadle in-person. The Actor plays the important role of War Machine/Colonel James Rhodes, also known as Iron Man/Tony Stark‘s (Robert Downey Jr.) Right-Hand Man in the Franchise.
After a busy day of Press, a Dressy-Casual Cheadle in jeans, a vest and tie, punctually walked the Red Carpet tonight, meeting a crowded mix of TV, Online and Radio Media. Two lucky Fans even got to pose with their Idol on the Red Carpet after winning a Contest, securing a rare Photo Op!
I had the pleasure of chatting with Cheadle quickly about his experience working closely with Downey and he had nothing but the highest praise of praise for the Franchise Star. “I think we just both got along working with each other”, he says. “There’s a mutual respect there and we appreciate the job we’re doing and obviously Robert is carrying the Lion’s Share of the Franchise for everybody, so it’s really daunting and you want to support him in the best way. So it’s nice that you feel that you have a lane and he provides that. “.
After previewing this third Installment, Fans certainly will not be disappointed with Writer/Director Shane Black‘s witty comedic sense and the Ladies will swoon even more for Downey as his love for Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) gets tested like never before with the surfacing of destructive and villainous Dr. Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce) and The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley).
Watch a Clip of my Chat with Cheadle below:
I happened to nab an extra pair of those Limited Edition Iron Man 3-D Glasses and a Do-It-Yourself Paper Iron Man! Click here for details on how to win ’em!
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada releases Iron Man 3 this Friday, May 3, 2013.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Adnan Mohamedbhai/Steven Fernandez)
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