Why, oh why did they let Anderson loose on this?

Rating: 1/10 (11 July 2007)

Its a shame that my first comment is going to be a negative one, but this film utterly deserves it..
Even though I (near enough) come from the same Newcastle as Anderson - his actions cannot be defended in this travesty of cinematic events, I don't particularly like or dislike Andersons work, admittedly he has done one corker (Event Horizon) which is a good film!, and I didn't mind Resident Evil either..
Anyway back to the film.. Ever since 1990 when the first ideas of AVP were spawned, fans of the two films eagerly waited with baited breath for 14 years to see this dire, abortion of a film.. I cannot understand why FOX chose Anderson with his track record of being a poor 3rd rate director, to unite two of their most successful films ever.. They should have held out for either John McTiernan (of the original Predator), Ridley Scott (Alien) or James Cameron (Aliens), nevertheless - I thought I would give it a chance - I mean how can you get it wrong? Aliens, Predator together - a sure-fire winner!, but Anderson makes it backfire horribly, the acting is mediocre, the quality of the sets are not too bad as in they don't look like a "and here's one I made earlier" Blue Peter job, and the direction is the worst of the worst.. After watching this film I felt that the originals that I had revered for so many years had just been violated and disrespected, - the painstaking effort and image for the films that McTirnan, Scott and Cameron had created lay in tatters, needless to say I was disappointed that I had just wasted 1.5 hours of my life (I could have been scraping barnacles' from the bottom of a boat - it would be more entertaining) I severely doubt that Anderson has even watched the originals - let alone spent time to understand and remember key elements, personally this should never have been made as it has now ruined the series, maybe some credibility could be clawed back by dismissing this effort and appointing one of the above mentioned directors to do the job right..
I don't think that Anderson is all to blame here - directing is just something he's not talented at, and this (the concept of AVP) is just above his level - he prob gave it his best, but he should have politely declined and left it to someone who could have put Aliens and Predator back on the top 100, I believe a fair portion of the blame also lays with FOX for appointing him as director
I don't condone downloading films and piracy (I have nearly 400 DVD films all original - If I like it I buy it and show my support) - but if you really want to see AVP - don't waste your money, borrow it, download it - but don't pay for it..
I really, really hope that the execs at FOX and Anderson read all these comments (all 113 pages of 98% negative comments) and both learn from their mistakes.