This film is NOT based on the Aliens or Predator Franchise!

Rating: Null/10 (18 August 2004)

What really gets me annoyed about the majority of whining that goes on about this film is that most of the reviews have the same two complaints.
1. Its not like the Alien or Predator franchises.
Well there is a reason for that that most of you "so called" fans seem to be missing! It isn't based on either of those franchises. It is based on a comic book that was spawned by those two franchises. Anderson does a masterful job of adapting the comic to the screen. I really don't understand why so many people don't like Paul Anderson, with directors like Sam Raimi ruining the Spiderman franchise it is refreshing to see a director who actually cares about the film he is making and tries to make it as faithful to the comics as possible.
2. It's PG-13 so there will be no violence (Insert whining and Crying here)
Using this as an excuse to dislike the film is proof positive that you are not judging the film on it's merits. A good film is lost on the gore crowd that are simply obsessed with watching the Predator rip out countless spinal columns or the Alien punching holes in skulls with its "Second mouth". They are never happy unless there is limitless gore and this takes precedence over any amount of quality film making. "Chronicles of Riddick" was a PG-13 and it was excellent. Obviously Fox made the decision to make the film PG-13 to make money. That is what Fox and every other studio does. It was not Anderson's fault as Resident Evil was fairly gory and still excellent. I don't find that the lack of gore detracts from the entertainment value of this film at all.
At the end of the day I think a lot of people went into this film looking for something to dislike about it and if you view films using this criteria, inevitably you will find something not to like. If you enjoyed the "Aliens" and "Predator" franchises then there is definitely something here for you but be warned, this film is not meant to be an "add-on" or a sequel to either of those franchises. It does use the creatures from both films but that is where it starts and ends. AvP is an adaptation of a Comic/Video game. In that respect it succeeds and if you watch it with that knowledge I am sure you will thoroughly enjoy it.
8/10