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Synopsis:
After the discovery of unusual activity in Antarctica, prompting investigation
by the Weyland-Yutani corporation, a team of archaeologists, led by
Alexa Woods (Sanaa Lathan) soon find themselves caught up in a battle
between two distinctly hostile species, with little hope of survival
themselves, they soon realise that only one side can win.
Review:
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| Oli
Crook |
Every
time a commercially successful film takes place, a worldwide cinematic
phenomenon happens; film studios and cinemas across the country are
suddenly flooded by films of the same genre, desperately trying to
re-create the
聭magic聮 which made the film successful in the first place.
As a result of this, a trend of films occur until the next 聭event
film聮 is released and the trend changes again; for example with
the release of 聭Scream聮 followed a slew of big budget slasher
films, with 聭The Blair Witch Project聮 low-budget,
student-style horror films cropped up all over, and with 聭The
Matrix聮 the 聭Intelligent聮 action film-genre was born.
So, following the rather dubious success of this years 聭Freddy
Vs Jason聮, it would appear we have a new trend on our hands;
the 聭Vs聮 film.
A film-makers wet dream, the 聭Vs聮 film gives studios the
opportunity to pit two iconic figures (For example Freddy and Jason
of 聭Nightmare on聟聮 and 聭Friday the 13th聮
fame) against each other, thereby securing an instant hit with fan-boys
flocking by the dozen to see their favourite heroes (or villains)
face off against each other.
Battle of the baddies
Thankfully then the makers of 聭Alien Vs Predator聮 (or AVP
as it likes to be known in America) actually makes a decent job of
it (especially when compared to its aforementioned and rather laughable
counterpart, 聭Freddy Vs Jason聮).
Having been on the cards ever since the release of 聭Predator
2聮 (look closely in the Predator聮s trophy room and you can
spot the Alien聮s skull on
the wall) and having spawned several comic book adaptations and games,
the film has finally arrived.
And, remarkably the film does not disappoint; whereas 聭Freddy
Vs Jason聮 was just an easy was for the film-makers to make money
for the studio, regardless of opinions of fans of both series聮
of films, it聮s clear that director Paul W.S. Anderson (who stepped
down from directing both the New 聭Resident Evil聮 film and
聭Mortal Kombat: Domination聮 to film 聭AVP聮) is
genuinely interested in fans of the series聮 opinions.
In fact the sheer attention to detail to both the 聭Alien聮
and 聭Predator聮 series聮 is quite remarkable, and the
volume of references made to the original films are too numerous to
list here, suffice to say that the explanation of the 聭Bishop'
robots origins is one of the particular highlights in the references.
The cast are reasonable but forgettable (don聮t expect any breakout
stars to rise from this film), and even feature a couple of familiar
British faces.
Their characters on the other hand lean towards being a bit two dimensional
(in particular Raoul Bova聮s character 聭Sebastian聮 whose
sole purpose it to act as love interest and (after discovering he
can read alien Hieroglyphics) a narrator whose function appears to
be interpreting why these two creatures are fighting in the first
place.
But, let聮s face it; you聮re not going to see
聭AVP聮 for the cast, are you?
But don聮t worry, the action sequences will not
fail to please, and when the two titular heroes (or villains, depending
on which way you view them) do finally meet, it is every bit as satisfying
as you would expect.
Great effects
The CGI too is superb; the Alien聮s snarling has never looked
more menacing, or the Predator聮s weaponry so cool.
Despite being reference heavy and deepening the mythology of both
the Alien and Predator films, the script still suffers from being
a little light and
the film does come off as appearing to be just a blatant set-up for
a possible sequel.
However in spite of this 聭AVP聮 is still a contender for
the latter half of the year聮s big, blockbuster, 聭event movie聮,
and well worth watching if
you聮ve ever been a fan of either Alien or Predator.
And as for who wins聟 well聟 If I told you there聮d be
no point in watching it, would there?
Marks
out of 10: 7.5.
Best
Bit (Spoiler Alert): As an Alien bursts through the chest of one
of the characters, it is caught by a predator who, after admiring
it for a few seconds, promptly snaps it聮s neck.
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