This was never made hoping to dethrone Godfather II or Citizen Kane. This wasn’t even trying to meet the mark set by any of the films this flick is derivative of. This was made to squeeze a few bucks out of older and superior product for the sake of the video game market.
Yeah, criticizing this movie is like whining about the nutritional content of Ding-Dongs. But there’s something to pay attention to here.
Content-free filmmaking. There really isn’t any reason this couldn’t have been done better. Again, I know this is AVP. It doesn’t matter. A little effort in story and character would have given this film what it needed - a little story and character. What we have here is an elaborate commercial for your X-Box.
There is a cynicism by Hollywood making these video game movies. Movies like Van Helsing, Tomb Raider, Starship Troopers and Resident Evil are a dangerous trend. While they are obviously marketing pieces to support the more important video gaming industry, they bring something to movies that are killing the form. They are wholly without content. Nothing happens. They are like porn for the brain. They flash and scream but give you nothing but a feeling that you’ve had something you haven’t.
There isn’t any characterization. In AVP we know next to nothing about any of the characters. They are barely even one-dimensional. They are there simply as props. The furniture has as much importance as the characters do. The only character with anything make him stand out (with the exception of physical traits) is a man who continually speaks of his children in a loving manner. For his effort, he is treated to two separate death scenes – one at the hands of a full-grown alien and a second by the smaller, implanting aliens. You go to films to interact on an emotional level with the characters. If you don’t do this even in the slightest, what is it you’re doing? You can expect this type of thing from a common slasher movie – and everyone acknowledges the inherent damage done by those films. When we accept this kind of thing in large release films the hope for a better film industry is dead. We have to expect more from film – even bad film.
Article comments
1 - Matt Paprocki
AVP isn't a video game movie. It started as a comic (from Predator 2 of course).
2 - gonzo marx
actually i believe the first game came out, then the comic then the SECOND version of the game...THEN the movie..
there was an Alien versus Predator game after the second Predator movie
hope that helps...
Excelsior!
3 - Matt Paprocki
Nope, Dark Horse produced the first AvP series in 1989.
http://avp.ugo.com/comics/
The first game didn't hit until 1993 when it was created, rather poorly, for the SNES and Game Boy by Acclaim. The best version remains the arcade game by Capcom which was absolutlely astounding The Jaguar version which is quite well known came out in the same year after countless delays
Rule #1: Never challenge Matt Paprocki in video game trivia... ever. I'm too big of a dork not to know to know this stuff. =:)
4 - gonzo marx
heh...fai rwenough ...i did not see the Dark Horse comics..but saw another publisher do one in the mid nineties i think it was...after my comic buying time..
and since i owned an loved the first version of the PC AvP shooter...i had a timeline in mind
i stand corrected...and thanx for the factual update..
see? i always fess up when corrected..
Excelsior!
5 - Victor Plenty
Ding-Dongs aren't expected to have nutrition, but they also aren't expected to comprise the full menu of any respectable (or even disrespectable) eating establishment.
So why do we let Hollywood keep dishing up so many equally empty calories to the minds and consciences of our nation's youth?
Excellent points made here, Nehring. You've settled my mind. None of my dollars will go to support this film, not even in rental form.
6 - Scott
This movie was absurd. It's a shame too. Limitless potential here. They have two great franchises coming together in what should be one of the greatest scifi flicks that any geek would be proud to own and instead they wind up with this turd. And all in hopes of squeezing a few more dollars out of the American public. Stay away from this one...
7 - jadester
ar you sure it was another publisher? as far as i'm aware, Dark Horse still own the Predator/Alien(s)/Alien Vs Predator comic book rights. I believe they still make new series of them.
There's also the novels of course. Most of the comic mini-series are available as novels, though i'm not sure whether it's usually the novel that comes before the comic or vice-versa.
However, i do know that some of the Aliens Vs Predator stories are more than just simple gore-fests. Like with the Aliens series.