Better than expected!

Rating: Null/10 (16 August 2004)

Being a fan of SciFi and an even bigger fan of the Alien movies I have been waiting for years for this movie. I had heard there were 3 big ideas, the aliens come to earth, we go to their home planet or it would be an alien vs predator flick. When I heard which one they decided to go with I wasn't sure if it could be pulled off without being lame. What a treat! (for the most part!) The story line was actually interesting, the creatures looked great, even Bishop came back! Of course, the characters weren't developed very much (can't do too much in an hour and half with all that action I guess??) and some things didn't vibe with the previous movies.
SPOILER ALERT... there were a few minor things I personally had a problem with... the 'face-grabber to alien out of the belly' action seemed to go very quickly! I remember in the previous movies the face- grabbers being attached for days and after it fell off the infected host would be OK for more than 2-6 minutes.
How on earth did the predators NOT scan the predator they took on board? Deff. not enough was done with the predator's cool effects and armor either.
Momma alien going after the human when she basically had killed the last predator, hmmm.. if you were held captive for hundreds/thousands of years, don't you think she would have killed her captor before going after the silly human? Also, what kept the aliens from releasing the mother before?
Just a complaint, enough with the action sequences being filmed in super-close-up and very dark frames switching back and forth between 'who can tell, I think that was the alien' and 'what was that, it was too dark'? The fighting sequences would have been much more enjoyable from a farther distance. And it needed more gore! OK, ENOUGH OF THAT...
All in all, I chanted for the aliens to kick butt, grabbed the seat of my chair and enjoyed the ride! Great movie, I can't wait to see it again!