Plot: What’s it about?
A small mountain town in Colorado faces a fierce infestation problem, but not from any routine insect or other creature. A spacecraft crash landed near the town and on board was a hideous Predalien creation, a hybrid between the ferocious Aliens and the brutal Predators. The creature begins to prey on the locals, leaving behind a trail of horrific bloodshed and Alien offspring. If the situation isn’t controlled soon, the offspring will be so numerous, the entire planet will be threatened. The lone hope arrives in the form of a lone Predator, sent to contain the problem and end the Predalien’s reign of terror. But can even a master Predator handle this kind of Alien infestation?
While passable as popcorn action cinema, Alien vs. Predator failed to deliver on the massive potential of clashing two franchises in mortal combat. When a sequel was announced, I hoped for a more streamlined experience, one with more action and more violent throw downs. Alien vs. Predator: Requiem might not a good movie, but it does throw caution to the wind and deliver a violent, quite mean spirited experience. The film pulls no punches when it comes to gruesome deaths, with rampant bloodshed and no remorse, so this is one stone cold picture. At the same time, the storyline is thin at best, but in this case, I just wanted some basic mythology and little else. I do think Alien vs. Predator: Requiem is better than the first movie in the series, but this is all about blood and brutality, so don’t expect much more than that.
Video: How does it look?
Alien vs. Predator: Requiem is presented in 2.40:1 HD AVC transfer. This transfer might not perfect, but it comes very close at times. The visuals are quite dark, often bathed in deep shadows, but this transfer delivers an impressive treatment. The image shows off some remarkable depth, even in those nearly pitch black scenes. This is thanks to accurate contrast, which helps preserve detail, but also keep black levels in the correct ranges. I found detail to be terrific and some scenes even have that wonderful three dimensional texture, which is just awesome. I loved this presentation and aside from some minor issues here and there, this is one impressive, dynamic looking transfer.
Audio: How does it sound?
When this lossless DTS 5.1 HD option is on, its on, but when things mellow out, it switches off. In scenes where dialogue is the main element, this track offers little depth. The vocals are clear and never harsh, but the atmosphere drops off whenever the pace slows down a little. But when the action kicks in, so does this soundtrack and it has power to burn. The bass thumps with deep, heavy pulses, while the surrounds come to life and deliver intense, memorable moments. The music also sounds great, with excellent presence in the surround channels. This disc also includes Spanish and French language tracks, as well as subtitles in English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, and Korean.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The first audio commentary features the two directors and a producer, while the second is with members of the special effects team. The effects track has some good content, with discussion on how practical effects were employed when possible, but it doesn’t have consistent information flow. In the end, neither session proves to stand out, so unless you’re a diehard devotee, you can skip these. You can also check out about an hour’s worth of featurettes, some general behind the scenes pieces and others with a focus on the film’s special effects. While the duration of the combined featurettes sounds impressive, these are mostly fluff pieces and are promotional in nature. None offer much depth or insight, but if you loved the movie, you might want to check these out. This release also includes some still photos, added footage notification option, and two of the film’s theatrical trailers. A special digital copy (in standard definition) is available on the second disc.
