AVP: Alien vs. Predator

I can honestly say, that this is one of the most under-rated films of 2004. Not because it was good, just because it was panned so fucking hard by critics! I think this is mostly due to the fact that it was being compared to both the Alien and Predator series, which is fair enough, but it was never going to be what either of those films was. Ultimately it's downfall came from some poor dialogue, and trying to reach a larger audience. Where Predators was a film that you didn't need to have watched all the others in order to follow, it was still fundamentally a Predator film, aimed at the Predator-loving market. AVP on the other hand used references to the older films, but then completely threw the canon out the window and went for a larger fanbase. And whilst it worked to some degree (my grandma liked it) it wasn't enough of a step in either direction. AVP was complicated as a stand alone, and disastrous when compared to anything else in the franchise except perhaps its sequel Requiem (and maybe Predator 2 or Alien3). Honestly I think the film works as an archetypal film in the realm of both Alien and Predator, just not a sequel or prequel to either. The lead protagonist is a woman by the name of Alexa Woods, portayed by Sanaa Lathan (Blade, Contagion) who was clearly meant to be a modern day Ripley, and catastrophically failed at doing so. The Predators were as cool as ever, and people complained that in the latter half of the film they weren't as ghostly as in Predator/Predator 2, but we've already had two whole films of that, and these were juvenile Predators, so it sort of made sense that they were a tad more restless. Bringing Lance Henriksen (Damien: Omen II, Piranha II: The Spawning, The Terminator, Aliens, Alien 3, Pumpkinhead, The Quick and the Dead, Mind Ripper, Scream 3, The Lost Tribe) back was an awesome decision, one that was probably lost on the audience who had not seen the Alien series. Tommy Flanagan (Smokin' Aces 1 and 2, Sin City, When a Stranger Calls [2006], Gladiator, Braveheart) is another an actor I love, it was a shame his character (Mark Verheiden) was so underused. Ultimately, the film is a good one to pick up and put down, don't think about it too much, don't compare it to the others, go in with your only expectation being that it's a monster-movie, then you won't come out too disappointed. 59% -Gimly

If Paul WS Anderson had just taken a moment longer to look at the casting here, he might have had a decent property. A solid conflict between the ultimate ninja "Predator" and the ultimate killing machine from "Alien". Why didn't he? Instead, we find a truly C-list bunch of acting fodder exploring a temple wherein, aeons ago, these two titans of terror battled it out. On arrival in the sacrifice room, they inadvertently release some eggs, and some "Predator" creatures, and soon some of them are on the menu for both as a battle royal looms. The special effects are good, and the action elements work fine too. I even found myself taking sides - just not with the humans, who deserved every tortuous chewing, stabbing and nasty involuntary caesarians that they got. It's paced well, it looks eerie and sinister, and the ending is quite exciting - it's just a real shame the writing and the acting are really mediocre. Teed up for a sequel too - I can only hope it ups it's game for that!

Did they actually make this!? Wait, did I actually buy this!?

Finally got around to watching this crossover between the two titular characters. It's pretty good! I'm not someone who has a keen interest in either franchise, though. I'm kinda surprised both have as many flicks made as they do and as many still on the way. I admittedly I do like all of the <em>'Alien'</em> films, whereas I found <em>'Predator'</em> to be rather uninteresting - until <em>'Prey'</em> anyway, that's the only one from that series that I'd say I like. With all that, I wasn't too sure what to expect from <em>'AVP: Alien vs. Predator'</em> - a movie that I've actually heard of since I was a kid, I remember people at my school referring to it quite often; I probably knew of this before I knew that they were a crossover from separate releases. Pleasingly, i did find the required enjoyment from this 2004 movie. None of the cast are particularly outstanding, though all work really nicely as a whole. Sanaa Lathan gives a good showing as the main human character, in what is my first real experience of seeing her onscreen. Same can be said for most of the acting talent, with only Ewen Bremner being someone I could say I recognised; and Lance Henriksen, only after thoroughly racking my brain from the original <em>'Alien'</em> films though. That final scene leaves good intrigue ahead of the sequel. After viewing that, I can finally say I've seen all of this most abundant franchise. No mean feat, eh? At least there aren't any more coming any time soo... <em>*Alien: Romulus releases in two days*</em> <b>ffs.</b>