OK fare

Rating: 5/10 (6 September 2008)

First off, despite what you've heard, Alien Vs. Predator is not a terrible film. Is it a good film? No. It's just mediocre- about on par with 2003's Freddy Vs. Jason, another monster meets monster flick. In short, it's a B film with A film pedigree, and written at a comic book level- which is where the two species first met. Overall, it's better than the last two Alien film installments, almost as good as the first Predator (but that gets the edge because of Schwarzenegger), and the second Predator film I've not seen- mainly because of the fight scenes between the two titular combatants. It also serves as a prequel to the Alien series, and sequel to the Predator films, and thus bridge between both. The film's B filmness comes through right away, as there is no suspense to buildup to the unveiling of these thoroughly familiar monsters. Having seen the prior films there is no suspense nor terror in the hundredth time an Alien face hugger leaps out at a character, nor the first time one of the toothed vagina faces of the Predators is revealed. The audience is always far ahead of the characters, although this does allow a perverse pleasure of sorts, in knowing they'll die, and just guessing who will be done in by which species. The narrative and characterizations are throwaways, as well, and this film owes as much homage to B films as diverse as 1951'a The Thing From Another World, and 1997's Cube. Like the former the action takes place in frozen wastes (the Antarctic vs. the Arctic) and forces the characters into early unnatural camaraderie, and like the latter there is a maze like structure that traps the protagonists and ensures all but one of the characters' deaths. Director Paul W.S. Anderson (not Paul Thomas Anderson of Boogie Nights and Magnolia fame) made his name in films, like Mortal Kombat and Resident Evil, based on computer games and Event Horizon, and it shows, but, again, the action is good enough so that few will care. And, as I said, the film is better than all but the two original franchise films, and James Cameron's Aliens- perhaps the best pure action film ever made. Compared to other films in its genre, where Universal's Frankenstein or Dracula, or Toho's Godzilla meet rival monsters, it holds up, and will hold up. Once the 'purist' fans' ridiculous moaning (reminiscent of those of the Star Trek, Star Wars, and James Bond film series) starts withering away the film will be an easy treat for most younger sci fi fans. The fact is it does not even try to have the depth that the original Alien did, and a lack of pretension can go a long way, especially in genre films- even when much of what is done violates ground rules the earlier films set....Why else would the film's tagline, 'Whoever wins, we lose', be meaningless since the Predators are clearly shown as the good guys- unless, as some bitter critics claimed, that line was actually truth in advertising aimed at its audience? Why else would a ninety minute film have eleven minutes of credits? Why else would the human experts be able to instantly decipher ancient mixed texts, yet not know to haul ass the minute the first non-terrestrial imagery or weapon appears? Why else would the only woman in the expedition be the only survivor? Oh, wait- Political Correctness explains that thin, petite women (especially if babes) like Sigourney Weaver, Jennifer Garner, and others can routinely kick the asses of men and aliens much larger and more dangerous and armed than they are. Then, again, it's Sanaa Lathan, so I can live with that result. Or why else would I, despite the titular combatants, find myself wanting to be her sweater?