AVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004)

Aliens Vs. Predator

A film review by Joel B. Kirk

SYNOPSIS:

Gorgeous Sanaa Lathan (Out of Time, Love and Basketball, Brown Sugar,

Blade) is Alexa (Lex) Woods, the archeological leader of a team

discovering an ancient pyramid in Antartica.

It turns out this expedition, backed by Lance Henriksen's billionaire

Charles Bishop Weyland, (the predecessor to the "Bishop" android from

the "Alien" films) is doomed, as the Predator species has been using

the pyramid for "Alien" hunts for hundreds (or is it thousands?) of

years.

MY TAKE:

I admit this film is somewhat fun. I actually enjoyed Paul W.S.

Anderson's (not to be confused with the Paul Thomas Anderson of

"Magnolia" and "Boogie Nights" fame) "Resident Evil," "Soldier," and

"Event Horizon." However, it still is a disappointment, considering

the famous subject matter, and the thought of "what could have been."

It is noted that this film is rated PG-13, but I don't think it would

have mattered if it had a strong story, suspenseful moments, and

character development.

Sanaa Lathan isn't given the same treatment as Milla Jovovich in the

director's previous "Resident Evil." Maybe in Aliens Vs. Predator II,

Anderson will put her in a different setting, decked out in a

mini-skirt and boots (hint, hint) like his previous heroine and

develop her character more. (Not too mention, make her a predecessor

to the Ellen Ripley character from the "Alien" films).

Some actors you might have seen before:

*Colin Salmon from Bond films "Die Another Day," "The World is Not

Enough," and "Tommorow Never Dies;" also, from Anderson previous

"Resident Evil."

*Ewen Bremner from "Trainspotting."

*Lance Henriksen from "Terminator," and the "Alien" films.

Yes, there is a build-up of these minor characters, but it is not a

build-up that allows us to know or care about them when someone "gets

it." Like Miss Lathan's character, we don't spend enough time with

them.

And, how about the scenes when the two legendary monsters go head on?

Well, the scenes were "cool," but cool scenes do not make a good

movie.

POSITIVE/NEGATIVE NITPICKS:

A certain alien incubation scene contradicts the previous films,

namely "Alien 3," where the entire film centered on Sigourney Weaver's

infected Ellen Ripley. Also, why did Weyland's team bring automatic

weapons if it seemed they knew what they were up against? Why did the

pyramid rearrange itself every ten minutes, then seem to "cease"? Why

did the team split up if they did not fully realize what they were up

against? Why didn't the team question the very alien-looking statues

when entering the mysterious pyramid?

Furthermore, it is not really explained how the "Alien" species were

brought to Earth in the first place.

FINAL COMMENTS:

It's one thing to have a video game, and comic book series-but when

you bring the story to the theatres, you have to assume no one knows

the story or characters. "AvP" is a melding of two famous franchises,

and I highly doubt this will be the last entry. Possibly "AvP" may

spawn a superior sequel (we hope).

Unfortunately, we have to settle with a film that just doesn't do its

job.

MY RATING:

** out of *****

DIRECTOR:

Paul W.S. Anderson

WRITER:

Paul W.S. Anderson

CAST:

Sanaa Lathan-Alexa(Lex)Woods

Raoul Bova-Sebatian de Rosa

Lance Henriksen-Charles Bishop Weyland

Ewen Bremner-Greame Miller

Colin Salmon-Maxwell Stafford

RUNNING TIME:

87 minutes

GENRE:

Action/Sci-fi/Horror

DISTRIBUTOR:

20th Century-Fox, 2004

EMAIL:

joelkirk@sbcglobal.net

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X-RT-ReviewID: 1310531
X-RT-TitleID: 1134655
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X-RT-RatingText: 2/5