In addition to sneak footage premiering at SXSW this week, the official website for Robert Rodriguez’s “Predators” is online. Better still, said site features a nice sizzle reel for the upcoming sequel!

And I have to tell you, it looks damn good – much, much better than one might be expecting. Looks like Adrien Brody mightn’t have been such a bad choice after all in the role of lead alien-slayer, and Laurence Fishburne is an apt substitute for Bill Duke, by the looks, too. No sign of Schwarzenegger in the footage here – whose character from the original flick, Dutch, appears in the final few minutes of the “Predators” script – but that might just be because Fox and Rodriguez want his appearance (if he makes an appearance) it to be a surprise.

I saw John McTiernan’s “Predator” in a packed session on a wintery Saturday afternoon at the Village cinema in Albury in 1987. I remember it as clear as day. I remember the pounding music, the iconic music cues, the Schwarzenegger quips. I also remember checking my watch every few seconds to make sure this thing still had plenty of time to go – I was enjoying it that much. And til this day, still love the shit out of this film.

“Predator 2″, though fun, isn’t half the movie “Predator” is. Having said that, it’s gold compared to the two “AvP” films – and I do like Danny Glover in it. Bill Paxton, too. Pity Schwarzenegger knocked back the chance to cameo and instead was replaced with Gary Busey, but thems the breaks. I think the main problem this film suffered from was that it didn’t encompass any tension – it had great action, nifty visuals, a superb ensemble cast (can you go wrong with Ruben Blades and Maria Conchita Alonso!?) but nothing even close to sweat-enducing tension.

Anyway, to see what “Predators” will be like head to the official site, and in turn view the sneak footage. Click the picture below :