Alien vs. Predator vs. Hard to please fans = a few fun monster movie that actually worth your money.

Rating: Null/10 (25 October 2004)

What should Alien Vs. Predator movie have? Alien Vs. Predator fight scenes? Got it. All the Alien mythology (little alien burst out of the body, queen, eggs, acid blood, etc.?) All there. Predator's mythology (heat-seeking guns, honorable battle, very big knives, cool armor, invisibility, ugly face, etc.)? All there. Those mythology crossing over? (Predators scan to see Alien in the eggs, Predator use Alien skin to mark their bodies, etc.) Tons. So what more can you ask for? Well, there are a couple of things.
I read all the reviews, that's why I try to put in my reviews something most people haven't yet said. First, I'm going to do something very odd by comparing it to the first Kill Bill. Sure, this movie is in the different league considering its genre and director. And you can tell that Tarentino put a lot more thought into Kill Bill than Anderson did into this movie (which is sad since the budget for this movie is obviously a lot more). BUT, the premise are the same. Simple Plot, and the movie carry on using its cleverness to please the audience and make them feel they get their money worth. Every phrase that critics used to praise Kill Bill volume 1 can be use to praise this movie. It packed a lot of cool scenes together. The story in between those cool scenes are a bit tight, but I personally don't think Ridley Scott or James Cameron could have done any better (or at least too much better).
Only two things hurt this movie (yes, only two). The dialogues that are filled with one liners and added-in attitude by actors who seem to think their characters should have; and the set that has a design quality of a cheap amusement park ride (which is the only thing Cameron or Scott could have fixed) The most important thing about any movie is the plot, and despite the fact that the secondary story is just a time wasting link between one cool scene to the next, the overall plot is actually quite impressive and original for this kind of movie. (if you think it's not, just think: there are much worse way for Aliens and Predator to get together) And the special effect is top notch. Better than any other Alien or Predator movie out there for the obvious reason (which most people will agree but will never mentioned because they want to hate the movie). There is absolutely no "that is so fake" moment. And that is something. When they got a plot and special effects down, if you are not out to hate the movie, you will at least have a good time.
Taking an overview look, I personally think this movie hurt neither series (actually it kinda helped Predator. the first one was a classic, but if it were to be release today it would be call even stupider than this movie, and the second one was just plain bad). A lot of people are mad that Predators seem weak compare to the Aliens. Well, Aliens spawned 4 movies and Predator only spawned 2 for a reason. Aliens eat, breed, and kill like animals, while Predator have a lot of characteristic that resembles human. Plus, these are young and inexperienced Predators (who still kicks major butt though).
Lastly, Paul WS Anderson. I hate Mortal Kombat and Event, but I think Resident Evil was very fun (jump-kicking the zombie dog scene aside). I think he's a good writer, but seriously need to stop directing. Watching this movie I can feel that he love both series and have a lot of fun making it. If only he had taken time to polish it. Alien Vs. Predator video game was released ages ago. This movie was in no rush to get release. If they thought about it a little more, edited some of the scenes, rewrote some of the dialogue... well, it will be ten times better, but that still won't please the fans who would just rather have Ridley Scott or James Cameron instead. And may be that's why the poor guy didn't bother.
That's a damn shame. Because as unpolished as it is, I enjoyed it and it was worth the time and money to see it in theater. And I will buy the DVD. Just imagine how good it could be if it was polished. 8/10.