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
========== X-RAMR-ID: 38471 X-Language: en X-RT-ReviewID: 1310531 X-RT-TitleID: 1134655 X-RT-AuthorID: 9404 X-RT-RatingText: 2/5
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