Review: Alien vs Predator (AVP)
Published August 21, 2004
|
|
I finally had the chance to watch Aliens vs Predator (or as it's affectionately known: AVP) tonight at a drive-in if you can believe it. It was that or Princess Diaries 2 (which my wife and daughter selected) so I was quite happy with my viewing choice. Here's a tip: Show up about 30 minutes late and you'll really enjoy this movie. Seriously.
Of the two images to the right, the top one is what makes this movie work. The bottom image is what makes it painful. I don't think I'll spoil much by letting you know that most everyone in the photo will be dead by the end of the movie... and let me tell you, that can't happen fast enough. They drag the movie like a boat anchor, and once it's free of them and concentrates on the Aliens and the Predators it takes off pretty well.
The basic story is a corporate satellite picks up a "heat bloom" in Antarctica. The satellite belongs to Weyland corporation (a nod to the awesome Aliens) and it is run by Charles Bishop Weyland as played by Lance Henriksen. If you recall, Henriksen played the android (named Bishop) in the aforementioned Aliens, which was created by the still existent Weyland corp. This is just one of a number of nods to the source films upon which this was based.
Anyway, Weyland determines that there is a huge pyramid at that location, 2000 feet under the ice. He has some sort of terminal disease that causes a lot of coughing and is helped by his breathing into something that looks like my cylindrical toothbrush travel container. He of course assembles a crack team of archaelogists and some other non-specific folks, along with experienced ice-trekker Alexa (played by Sanaa Lathan).
At this point the groan factor increases as we have some major over-acting and cliched lines. I wasn't sure if this was kind of a tribute to the original Predator (where for some reason, it worked) or if it was just bad writing/acting/directing. I'm pretty sure it was the latter.
Weyland wants to leave immediately, Alexa says they need weeks just to get ready and refuses to go (riiiiiiiiight). So we have the handsome archaelogist with a foreign accent, the father of two who's geeky but doesn't seem to realize it, and a blonde with a butch haircut who's bringing a gun because "it's like a condom: I'd rather have it and not need it, than not have it and need it". And no, I did not just make that up.
- Review: Alien vs Predator (AVP)
- Published: August 21, 2004
- Type:
- Section: Video
- Filed Under: Video: SF
- Writer: Screen Rant
- Screen Rant's BC Writer page
- Screen Rant's personal site
- Spread the Word
- Like this article?
- Email this
Save to del.icio.us
Comments on this articleComments
One of the few things that "Alien vs. Predator" made absolutely clear was which of the two species strikes the darker and more sinister image. The xenomorphs may have menacing double jaws and eerie movements, but they are mindlessly predictable and obvious. The yautjas raise the chill the factor a couple of notches higher with their phantom presence, rattling snarls, expressionless masks, and shifting perspective. Besides, for sheer intimidation, the Alien screech pales in comparison to the Predator roar.
Add your comment, speak your mind
(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/18900)
just wonted to add:
there is almost no suspence(because none of the characters are likeable), vary little real gore and the imageination around the predators and aliens (the predators especaily) is insulting, ex. the ONLY real differance between the predators and us is their skin coulor and the wierd things around their mouths, they even have the same kind of emotions as humans(fear, pain, anger, hate, you get the idea) there is no wonder in the predators, none at all and that is bad for a science-fiction movie. the aliens are better but they still react like some animal under most cercomestances, and when one gets his head cut off you see that it even has a spine. it comes down to this: these creatures, if ever really exist, will more likely come from earth than from space.
also all the action is shot in the dark mostly in close ups, so it's usually imposibil to see what's going on.
if you most see it, it would probably be better in theaters just don't expect to much of ANYTHING.
question: once the humans "pick a side" is there really any question of which side will win? was there one in the beggining?GGGGOD that's bad directing