January 15, 2006

Movie Mythology: Predator, a Shaman's View from indiayogi.com.
posted by Scary Corn Imp 18 years ago
  • They are the best at what they do, but what they do isn't very nice. Love that the author dropped a Wolverine quote in there. Who, incidentally, could kick Predator's ass
  • This was easy because the director John McTiernan is well versed in the tradition of dramatic structure in classical narrative as witnessed by his other great film, Die Hard. Y'know, he wouldn't have been given any kind of budget, had he not been well versed in the tradition of dramatic structure in classical narrative.
  • I think this is probably a college essay.
  • The views expressed in this Article are that of the Author I reckon they probably are. This guys insane.
  • ...except for the bit in the end where he says something about the appeal of the film being Schwarzenegger defeating the Predator using primitive technology. Instead of the shaman stuff, could this actually be the reason why it's popular in India, a country where the majority have no access and possibly a fear of high-technology? If so, then we would expect Predator to be not so popular in tech-fetish countries like Japan.
  • I'd like to see more movies reviewed by shaman.
  • It's blowing my mind, man.
  • Weezel: It is a proven scientific fact that even an average Predator, equipped as they are with state of the art Predatory technology, not to mention coming from a culture that places significant emphasis on martial expertise, would hand Wolverine his pitiful shaggy ass.
  • I could take one. Bunch of crab-faced pussies.
  • We are all vicarious participants and at some deep level we feel the archetypal resonances too deeply not to be moved. This explains why the Predator does not seem dated either nor is there any real likelihood of it ever becoming irrelevant, unlike its sequel which was pretty bad. Wait, so none of that applies to the sequel? Danny Glover not good enough for the shaman treatment? What a ripoff. As an aside, Ruthless Reviews covered Predator pretty well in their guide to 80s action.
  • ..the Predator does not seem dated either nor is there any real likelihood of it ever becoming irrelevant, unlike its sequel which was pretty bad. I didn't see the sequel, how did they kill the Predator in that one?
  • Danny Glover sawed him up a bit with one of the Predator's own flying-scyth-frisbees.
  • Aha! Flying-scyth-frisbee too high tech! It would have been a more shamanistic film if he had offed the Predator with a well-placed arrow (wooden, handmade) or with a boulder from a catapult (roughly hewn tree branches, vines). Or in the tradition of the great bison hunts of the past, if Glover had chased the monster off a cliff. The Shaman school of Film Theory, it works!
  • What about the political context? I mean, we got TWO state governors from the first one, and what... ZERO from the second? I smell another term paper!
  • URBAN PREDATOR FOR GOVERNOR 2006!!! But which state? My money's on Texas.
  • I could take one. Bunch of crab-faced pussies. posted by kitfisto at 08:55AM UTC on January 16, 2006 Aren't you that guy who recently got cut in half by an old man who had obviously never held a lightsaber before? My money is on the Predator.
  • Not that I could take one. I'd just get squished.
  • I always get Predator mixed up with Predater, the monster who puts next week's date on his checks to keep them from being cashed before his pay is deposited.
  • ..who's different from Pretater, the potato sprout monster.
  • Aren't you that guy who recently got cut in half by an old man who had obviously never held a lightsaber before? My money is on the Predator. Hey, leave the lieutenant alone! *salutes*
  • That's more like it! Good work, soldier. How'd ya like to be my orderly?
  • This is brilliant. For more, see not only the obvious Joseph Campbell works but also a chapter of Myths to Live By called Schiophrenia: The Inward Journey. Thanks, Scary Corn Imp.
  • pssst, kit, i think he's talking to you.
  • I don't understand. I'm just goung to drive around in my WWII issue jeep for a while. *beep* *beep*
  • I've never been orderly in my life!
  • Perfik! A disorderly Orderly. You've got the job. Now go and untidy my tent!