AVP: Another Vile Prequel...

Rating: 3/10 (29 November 2005)

Yet another prequel that shouldn't have been...
I recently bought this title (mainly since it was on sale for $14.98 at Wal-Mart). I am a really big Aliens fan (Aliens being by far, the best of the Alien movies), but I hadn't heard reviews of AVP from anyone I trust. It was a gamble to buy it.
Well, I've only watched it once, and I'd have to say it had the same intrigue as say... Predator 2. Marginally interesting on the merit of it's major characters (of course by major characters I mean the aliens and predators) and pretty decent CG/special effects, I wouldn't call it mandatory viewing (even for Alien or Predator movie, or Darkhorse Comic fans). Just as with the comics, some of the ideas in the film explain issues that come out of the other Alien and Predator movies (which is nice), but unlike the comic, the movie just lacked the substance that intrigues me as a fan of the series.
I was surprised to see Lance Henriksen in yet ANOTHER Aliens movie (although I like the actor, I believe it was kind of a bad decision to include him in the cast of this film). Yes, I do understand the connection his character has to all of the Aliens movies, I just think it was kind of sukc. I am something of a fan of Paul W. S. Anderson's work as well (Resident Evil, Event Horizon), but this was pretty bland. I would have to say that Resident Evil: Apocalypse had the same level of appeal. Just an example of a great idea with a pretty good storyline that was put together terribly, giving the film experience that Mortal Kombat sort-of cheesiness. I'm not sure I am happy to have bought the title. I would rather have spend the same money to put Alien Quadrillogy on layaway or something, heh.
As Hank Rollins said recently in his IFC show Henry's Film Corner: "What happens when you take two R-rated, very successful franchises, and hybridize them together? You get a PG-13-rated piece-of-crap film called Aliens vs. Predator..." ... I'd have to agree.