Alien vs Predator

Release Year : 2004

AKA : AVP

Directed By : Paul Anderson

Written By : Dan O'Bannon

Starring : Lance Henriksen, Sanaa Lathan, Ewen Bremner

Related Links : IMDB, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com

 

After detecting an irregular heat signature on Bouvetøya Island, the Weyland Corporation decides to mount an expedition to the Antarctic region to establish the cause of the anomaly. Once there they find themselves embroiled in a feud between the Predator and Alien species as they fight for dominance over each other. The only real question is: how will the humans survive?

This is a fairly predictable movie which I suppose has to be taken with a substantial pinch of salt. I actually turned out a better movie than I thought it would but it still has it's problems. It is very contrived, from how the main character Alexa Woods is portrayed in a very Ripley-esque mould, down to the one liners (you one ugly...). Lance Henriksen is back again this time portraying the father of the Weyland Corporation, Charles Weyland, this character being the one whom decides to undertake the expedition in the name of glory and discovery. I imagine his presence was included to bring continuity from the old movies to the new. The creatures themselves seem to have changed since the older movies, the Alien seems more animal like (except Alien3), it moves and looks more like a leopard than a bio-mechanical construction. The Predator has had a technology upgrade, which was predictable and I suppose sensible; his infra-red vision and weaponry being the example of this. The facial details have changed also, which probably won't mean much to the average viewer but real fans will notice these things.

The special effects are pretty much impeccable, but that was kind of expected. Since this is a Paul WS Anderson movie you will have to make up your own mind if that is a good thing or a bad thing. I personally don't like his style of direction, I didn't like what he did with the Resident Evil movies, although I know some do. I will give him SOME credit for the screen play but that is as far as it goes.

All in all I would say that AVP is decent enough if you like these kind of 'monster-survival' movies but if you don't, probably best avoid.