It’s interesting to look back on the first film after the release of the sequel. The original is a better movie. The fights are better choreographed, the story stronger, and the audience is at the least given some idea as to what is going on. Time has made AvP a better movie, but hardly the great one it should have been. 
This is one of those lovely HD format discs you need to continually check to make sure what you’re watching isn’t a standard DVD. While close-up detail is typically incredible (look at the alien eggs), distant shots are tough. Compression rears its ugly head during multiple scenes, and light black levels lend the film a murky, soft tone. Once the movie moves underground, it loses any advantage of being in HD. 
DTS Master audio is the option here, loaded with heavy bass and decent surround use. However, the sound field doesn’t have the immersiveness it should. There are times when this sounds entirely front-loaded during the action. Fans of room-shaking effects from the LFE channel will be pleased as the creatures slam themselves around the room with spectacular effect.
Extras are brief here, and Fox has chosen not to include much of what the DVD editions offered. Fans of the unrated version will enjoy two options to see the footage, one which includes a menu option to view each scene without the PG-13 marker on it, and another which will deliver a logo during the specific shots as you watch the unrated edition. A trivia track can also play during the film, delivering facts about the warring races.
A commentary by Anderson (along with stars Lance Henrikesen and Sanaa Lathan) is a needed piece. Anderson points out many aspects he feels didn’t turn out the way they should have, and is actually quite critical of his work. The next commentary, making this the final extra aside from some trailers, is handled by the special effects team. Note the commentaries are only available on the theatrical cut.
Any complaints with direction or style might have to do with Fox. The actual shoot took a measly two and half months. Post-production doubled that, but on a special effects-heavy flick, that’s barely any time at all.
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