Plot: What’s it about?
In the frozen depths of Antarctica, an ancient pyramid is buried under thousands of feet of bitter, rock hard ice. A powerful satellite picks up on some heat given off from within the structure, heat which was undetectable for many, many other passes. The man who owns the satellite is Charles Bishop Weyland (Lance Henriksen), a very wealthy man who seeks to do something important with his fortune before he dies, which thanks to an illness, isn’t a distant event. The discovery of the pyramid is a major event, so he assembles a team of soldiers, history experts, and archaeologists to venture into the cold reaches of Antarctica. Once there, the team will drill down to the buried temple and then explore inside its walls. But while Weyland and his team thinks this is just a historical find, an evil lies dormant within the pyramid, a force that is about to reawaken. Deep within the structure, an Alien Queen is held captive, but the newcomers have triggered her awakening and as such, she begins to produce new eggs. That means that within a short while, hideous aliens will be running throughout the structure, killing anything they encounter. At the same time, a spacecraft lands at the location, out of which walk a team of powerful Predators. So before long, Weyland and his squad will have to fend off aliens, Predators, and the traps and tricks of the pyramid itself. Have the explorers landed in the middle of an epic battle, or are they the prey which these two forces wish to hunt?
After extensive delays, canceled productions, and endless speculation, Alien vs. Predator was almost a lock to disappoint fans. The video game series had faded out of memory and the respective franchises weren’t hot anymore, so spark for this movie seemed minimal. And those who did want to see the flick even held guarded expectations, thanks to leaks of studio interference, poor writing, and overall, a lackluster motion picture. Even so, when opening day rolled out for Alien vs. Predator, I was there and while I knew the movie could never live up its potential, I found myself looking forward to the experience. In the end, I have to admit, I had fun with the movie and was more than satisfied. I think more could have been done, but for a simple popcorn action movie, Alien vs. Predator was a solid effort. Perhaps I was just taken in by finally seeing these two forces collide, but I was able to overlook the plot holes and other production flaws. The fight scenes are the highlight, no doubt, with cool special effects and some bone crunching action. We’ve all heard that blood and gore were trimmed, elements that are sure to have enhanced those brutal battles. I won’t claim this is a good movie, as the writing is off and a lot of potential is wasted, but this could have been much worse. I know I’ll be hammered for this opinion, but Alien vs. Predator is just a fun experience. Fox’s release is a good one, but a Special Edition seems imminent, so I’d settle for a rental until the new version arrives.
Video: How does it look?
Alien vs. Predator is presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen. This film has a dark, very dark visual scheme and while a few hiccups can be seen, this is still a top notch transfer and fans should be pleased. I saw a little more grain than expected, as well as some softness, but given the dark, complex visuals, I can forgive some small mistakes. The contrast seems to be dead on, with rich black levels that never obscure detail, although a couple of scenes do look soft, though only to a minor degree. I found the colors to be well presented, though darker hues tend to dominate, at least in most scenes. A few small flaws aside, this is a terrific looking visual effort and as per usual, Fox proves they can deliver on all fronts.
Audio: How does it sound?
In a welcome move, Fox has given us dual 5.1 surround options, so we can choose between Dolby Digital and DTS soundtracks. This is a fast paced, aggressive movie and as such, the mix has power to spare and should push your system, especially in a handful of key sequences. I do think the focus on power is a bit much at times, as the mix lacks the small touches I had hoped for, which is a let down of sorts. Even so, the basic elements come through in sharp form and I have minimal complaints to lodge there. The musical score has a broad scope and uses the front channels quite well, though it doesn’t move into the rears often, which took me a bit by surprise. The dialogue is clean and always easy to understand also, with a solid volume balance and no clarity issues to discuss. The DTS option nosed ahead at times, but in either case, Fox has supplied very impressive audio mixes here. This disc also includes Spanish and French language tracks, as well as subtitles in English and Spanish, should you need those.
Supplements: What are the extras?
A pair of audio commentaries can be perused, the first with director Paul W.S. Anderson and star Sanaa Lathan, the second with visual effects supervisor John Bruno and creature effects creators Alec Gillis & Tom Woodruff, Jr. As expected, the first track is more laid back and casual, with a focus on production stories, while the other session is more technical in scope. Both have some solid information, but if you can only choose one, listen to Anderson and Lathan, who have a more relaxed, enjoyable session. You can also check out some deleted scenes, including an alternate opening sequence, comic book artwork, and a better than expected behind the scenes featurette. The featurette runs over twenty minutes and while not in depth, it offers more than most promotional featurettes.
