Good sets & coupla good action scenes do not a film make...

Rating: Null/10 (15 August 2004)

Well, I must echo what Mr. Ulman wrote in the featured user review. Not much here. The credit for the best stuff in AVP must go to the production design and previous design work. Images and shots seem directly lifted from the original and subsequent sequels. The setup and premise is reasonable...but writer/director Paul Anderson is out of his league. Both franchises seem to be spiraling down to Junior High level action, hence the PG-13.
If only the story could rise to the same level as the sets and production design. A little bit of character development wouldn't hurt, as well as a dose of logic here and there. There's a mishmash of Art Bell level ideas that really confuse things. Okay...pyramids, ancient civilizations, early visitations, okay, we get it, Mr. Anderson. But so what?
For a film entitled Alien Vs. Predator, it sure would have been nice to see MORE Alien Vs. Predator over the mean ET's going after the typical cardboard, somewhat stupid array of "experts" (we're TOLD through poorly written expository dialogue). We're treated to at least ONE well staged AVP fight. After that, clones from Alien and mostly Alien3. There's an attempt to mix in Aliens...but again, the potential seems to overwhelm Mr. Anderson.
This film is apparently opening big, but should tank the second week. I'm no big advocate of violence in films, but the violence was what made these films unique, especially the Alien franchise. The Alien was created to mess humans up. They're very organic. The Predators, on the other hand, are very evolved with weaponry. There was a great potential of organic vs. tech to be exploited...but no...Mr. Anderon misses it. Lots of recreated shadowy hallways, a couple of predictable, non startling attempts to jolt us...and uninspired plot. The NOISE LEVEL gradually increase throughout the film, usually a bad sign.
It would have been much more interesting to have a documentary showing off the details of the outstanding set.
Wait for DVD.