I guess I lose...my $13.50

Rating: 6/10 (13 August 2004)

**Warning: Spoilers ahead**
I should have seen this coming. When I first heard that Paul W.S. Anderson was going to be directing this movie, I was really worried. With Mortal Kombat, Event Horizon, and Soldier under his film-making belt, I wouldn't have really considered him to be the best choice to direct a movie with two of the greatest sci-fi creatures ever. But when I saw some pre-release internet featurettes with Anderson talking about his plans for Alien vs. Predator, I immediately got the sense that he really wanted to make great movie. His enthusiasm for the subject matter convinced me to give him a chance. Now that I have seen Anderson's finished product, I should have realized that wanting to make a good movie, and actually making a good movie are two completely separate things.
The plot of AvP centres on a pyramid that was discovered in Antarctica by the Weyland Corporation. The corporation's owner, Charles Bishop Weyland, heads up an expedition to the site, only to stumble into a battle between the aforementioned Aliens and Predators. The premise of the story is a little hokey, but I was willing to forgive it because the story's main purpose was simply to find a way to have these creatures be in the same room with each other, which was all I cared about.
The acting in this movie was at best stale, and the dialogue that came out of these actors' mouths was worse. Lines such as 'it's like finding Moses' DVD collection' were just some of the things in this movie that made me roll my eyes back. Also, even after a long speech detailing how not to explore anywhere alone, as soon as the explorers arrive on Antarctica what does one of them do? He explores an abandoned building alone (my eyes are facing the back of my skull at this point). Still, knowing that this is a Paul W.S. Anderson movie I expected this. I will say though that there was one bright acting spot in this entire movie, and that was Lance Henriksen. He plays the sullen Charles Weyland (as well as the android Bishop in Aliens and Alien 3), and is the only person who was able to pull of a decent acting job.
My one major complaint with this movie is the fact that it focuses too much on the human characters. If I recall this movie was named 'Alien Vs. Predator' not 'Watch the Humans Run Around Scared'. My guess is that director Anderson thought that by focusing on the humans and their plight it would create a meatier story. Now don't get me wrong. I think it's great that Anderson wanted to add more depth to AvP, but I went to see this movie with one single purposeto see Aliens and Predators kick each other's asses.
Unfortunately, it takes about 30 minutes before we get to the first fight (and I should note this is only a 90 minute movie), and when they were not fighting the movie was (frankly) kind of boring. Also, there was this scene towards the end of the movie where the Predator and a human survivor (I won't say who) were running together with things blowing up behind them in slow-mo Matrix style. They were both acting so 'buddy-buddy' like and quite simply it looked out of place and incredibly cheesy, but you would have to see it to understand my full meaning.
If you are an impatient reader, you might have already scrolled down to the bottom of my review and saw my final score of 6 out of 10, and you are probably wondering why, after all the bad things I have said, would I give a score like that? Why not a 3 or 4 out of 10? Well, despite the movie's many flaws it does have a few good points. First and most obvious, the special effects in this movie are top notch. The design of the Predators' ship is just amazing. The costume design of the Predators and the weapons that they use are spectacular. Also, what few fight scenes between there are between the Aliens and Predators are jaw-droppingly good. Seeing a Predator twirl an Alien 360 degrees through stone pillars before throwing it against the wall was just plain cool. However, these few high points are not enough to save the movie.
I'll be honest though. Despite Alien Vs. Predator being a disappointment, I hope it does make a lot of money. By doing well at the box office, hopefully Fox will greenlight Alien 5 or Predator 3, or both. However, should Fox decide to make an AvP sequel down the road, they NEED a change of directors. I know this is just wishful thinking, but it would be great if Fox could get Ridley Scott (director of Alien), James Cameron (director of Aliens), or John McTiernan (director of Predator 1), because those guys could make an excellent AvP sequel. I would hate it if Anderson's Alien Vs. Predator is the last hurrah for two of the best sci-fi creatures in movie history.
I give Alien Vs. Predator 6 out of 10.