[The following review contains spoilers for The Predator. Please watch the film first before reading.]
First of all, we have to say, we like the three previous Predator films. Even the underrated Predators captures the essence of the culture of this alien hunter race. So we love to see the blood and gory in The Predator. However, the plot feels like patchwork after the reshoot editing. We do not know why the first Predator is coming to earth to save human race. It does not sound right even if he has different political view from other predators. If he is coming to save us, why does he kills all the people in the top-secret lab while leaving a naked Casey Bracket (Olivia Munn)? How does every human being seem to know the manuals to Predator weapons and accessories? There are just so much unanswered questions in it, and dropping in the references to the first two films and even the AvP films cannot help saving it.
It could mean the studio is turning it a no-brainer popcorn actioner, which is alright. Just look at the film franchises in the 80s, the seqeuls may not be related at all. However, this may not work for a sci-fi franchise in the 21st century, where audience is looking for a rational explanation to things. The "gift" from first Predator looks like a throw-in to pave way for sequel. Just hope the Predator franchise will not fall on the same path of Transformers...