Alien VS Predator - Requiem

When I first saw the advertisement of Alien VS Predator (AVP - 2004), I thought that it would be quite interesting. As in the past, there were only Aliens in Alien movies or only Predators in Predator movies. And the most interesting thing is the slogan; Whoever wins... We lose. 'We' as in the human. However, both Predator and mankind win in the end as they sort of cooperate to kill the Aliens. So, it is kind of conflicting the slogan.

As usual in most of these extra-terrestrial films, the ending will normally signify the beginning of something. AVP ends with the body of the predators along with an undetected alien inside the body being carried back to their planet. That marks the start of AVPR.

The Alien burst out from the dead Predator's body and in split seconds, it becomes a grown-up Alien. That one Alien is the Predators' worst nightmare. It kills Predators who are on its way and finally goes into an airship where it crash land to the Earth and starts breeding.

Surprisingly, only one Predator is sent to the Earth to fight the high-breeding rates Aliens. Whenever the Predator finds a clue, it will destroy it by pouring a blue liquid that works like acid. However, it will not destroy the body of humans it killed. Weird, huh?

The war between Predator and Aliens ends when the national security instructed the residents to gather at the town centre and assured them of an airlift which will be taken place. Instead of an airlift, an air strike is deployed and the city is destroyed.

Effects

Most of the time, the battles among predator, alien and human are in very dark areas. There are not much effects going around and it was like watching old Predator or Aliens films.

Boring

As the Predator searches for Aliens, there are scenes of people searching for clues and missing persons who are killed by either the Aliens or the Predator. Thus, it is like one moment, Predator is fighting Aliens and the next moment is the boring scenes of humans talking and talking. No surprises and no excitements.

Verdict

Overall, it's boring. Why would the Predator remove its automatic laser gun, which sits nicely on the shoulder, and uses it as a hand gun instead? In addition, there seems to be just a fight between Predator and Aliens. There are no purposes to achieve anything, no missions and humans are somehow an empty vase in the movie.

In my opinion, AVP was successful and it has made AVPR a highly anticipated movie. But AVPR is just another movie.

By KH Tan