By Chris Kavan - 08/22/18 at 09:09 AM CT
It's another low-key ratings update this week with the board gracing us with a couple of films worthy to discuss. One looks to be a decent reboot of a classic horror/action film - one I am interested in, anyway. The other is a small-town mystery that is aimed at women, but looks like the guys might be okay going along as well. It's not the biggest of updates, for sure, but quality-wise, I'm happier than I was last week. Baby steps, my MPAA rating friends, baby steps.
Let's use our way-back machine to travel to that magical year of 1987. That's right, yuppies, Tab Cola and hair metal - and Arnold Schwarzenegger, not governor of California, but rather the biggest action star of his day, and he has graced the big screen yet again with a film about man vs. dangerous alien in the jungle - Predator. Several sequels and spin-offs later (some involving Aliens), we arrive at the present, where things are very serious, because now we have The Predator. That's right, the most dangerous hunter in the universe is back - and he's ready to kill us all. It turns out these 30 years have allowed the Predators to evolve - splicing more DNA into their system from species they have wiped out, upgrading their technology and honing their skills. Will Earth survive the next wave? It's lucky we have a disgraced scientist and a rag-tag group of soldiers to protect us. That's right, humanity is going to live or die by Yvonne Strahovski, Olivia Munn, Thomas Jane, Boyd Holbrook, Lochlyn Munro, Sterling K. Brown, Jake Busey, Keegan-Michael Key, Edward James Olmos, Alfie Allen and Jacob Tremblay - God help us all! Joking aside, out of all the mis-guided reboots and remakes that have come out over the years, I have to say The Predator looks like an admirable effort - paying homage to the original while updating accordingly. Not saying I'll be in theaters, but will very well stream it if I get the chance. Rated R for strong bloody violence, language throughout, and crude sexual references.
If The Predator is a bit too bloody and violent for your taste, try something a bit more refined with A Simple Favor. Anna Kendrick plays Stephanie, a mommy blogger who is concerned when her best friend Emily (Blake Lively) suddenly disappears from her small town. Enlisting the help of Emily's husband, Sean (Henry Golding), Stephanie uncovers a delectable tale of betrayal, secrets, trysts, revenge and murder. That's a lot to unpack but I'm happy that director Paul Feig is tackling something with a big more meat than a Ghostbusters remake. The cast is rounded out by Linda Cardellini, Rupert Friend, Jean Smart, Eric Johnson and Kelly McCormack. I mean, this is obviously going to appeal more to the female crowd, but I think Feig has crafted a story that the guys won't be too embarrassed to watch with them. It actually looks like a lot of fun and I'm a fan of Kendrick and Lively - so I think it will work. I don't see it as breaking records, but I think it has the potential to do just fine. Rated R for sexual content and language throughout, some graphic nude images, drug use and violence.
Those are the two big films receiving their ratings this week, but you can check out the rest of the MPAA Ratings Bulletin below:
BIG KILL
Rated R for violence, some sexuality and brief language.
DRAGGED ACROSS CONCRETE
Rated R for strong violence, grisly images, language, and some sexuality/nudity.
EL PACTO
Rated R for some language.
LOW TIDE
Rated R for language, some violence and teen drug use.
THE MARINE 6: CLOSE QUARTERS
Rated R for violence throughout, and some language.
THE POWER OF ZERO
Rated PG for mild thematic elements.
THE PREDATOR
Rated R for strong bloody violence, language throughout, and crude sexual references.
THE RIOT ACT
Rated PG-13 for violence and brief drug material.
A SIMPLE FAVOR
Rated R for sexual content and language throughout, some graphic nude images, drug use and violence.
