Exactly what any true fan could have hoped for

Rating: 7/10 (31 October 2004)

My expectations for AvP weren't high at all, especially because AvP has gotten a lot of bad press. After having seen it however, AvP is another example of how established reviewers completely misses the point of a movie. The idea of AvP obviously is to pit the cruelest race in the universe (Aliens), against the coolest race in the universe (Predator) and then place some humans in the middle to show how feeble we are. That's exactly what the movie does, and does it very well.
The story has all the stereotypical elements: A strange pyramid is discovered below the ice of the South Pole. The main characters are quickly presented. Naive humans venture inside the pyramid and discovers the truth about themselves and the Predators. The underlying plot is epic in proportions and a bit far out, but true fans are gonna love it and it has no infuriatingly loose ends. Tension builds up as the arena is being set for the final showdown. The humans know something is very wrong, the Predators enter the pyramid and the Alien queen lays her eggs. Next follows an hour of intense and very well made action. The humans do what they are supposed to do. They get separated, runs around screaming and ends up either in the Alien nest, or hanging on the wall impaled on a Predator spear. The Predators fight the Aliens and toy around with the humans, while they use all their cool gadgets. The Aliens kills or captures every living being they come by, and generally show their usual disregard for all other lifeforms.
Everything is aimed at the great action sequences while all the introductory elements are told sufficiently to make the movie work, but without any unnecessary details. The characters are quickly presented, which is great. Who on earth wants to dwell on personal development and intergroup tension, when the humans are just walking hosts/trophies (depending on racial perspective). The plot is quickly outlined and the humans discover the truth unnaturally fast by reading the inscriptions in the pyramid, which is great too. Who wants to watch humans run around playing detectives when it's the fighting we're looking forward to! The director - Anderson - knows this and dispenses with it during the initial 30 minutes. The remaining hour is great great action. It's an action movie and is neither scary nor violent, and even though violence and horror is an inseparable part of both universes, I didn't really miss it. Instead the movie relies on fast-paced action combined with hints to the previous movies + AvP universe, to keep its crowd entertained and it worked for me.
The acting is sufficient. The music works with the fast pace. The effects are great and the scenery is ambient and well made.