Credits Director : The Strause Brothers Starring : Steven Pasquale Reiko Aylesworth, John Ortiz, Tom Woodruf Jr Our Score :

By Clint Morris

‘’Aliens Vs. Predator : Requiem’’, with its steeper classification (in the states, for example, the first film was rated PG-13 and this new film, a direct sequel, R) and effective teaser trailer (it looked great!), had most of us pumped – and that’s saying something considering the first ‘’Alien Vs Predator’’ didn’t do anything for anyone but remind us that Paul W.S Anderson (“Mortal Kombat”, “Event Horizon”) couldn’t shoot a movie if it was a circular target - right up until, well, the film kicked in. You see, like a boxing day sale, which we’re all excited about from the outset, the idea of it – and its long-lead promises – is a lot more exciting than the execution. You might find a couple of specials, but mostly, it’s just a headache-inducing nightmare that thankfully only lasts a couple of hours.

As average as the Strauss brother’s follow-up to the Paul W.S Anderson film is, it’s much better than it’s predecessor – there’s a much more interesting backdrop this time around; a far more interesting set of characters (if a little thinly-written) and more of the hardcore in-your-face disgusting’ antics you expect from both a “Predator” or “Alien” movie. Quite simply, the director’s seem to be bigger fans of both the Ridley Scott-created franchise and John McTiernan-created franchise than Anderson ever was.

In the new pic, a small Colorado town find themselves caught in the middle of an ongoing war between the space freaks. Naturally, there’s a few (“Rescue Me” star Steven Pasquale as Dallas (hmm, wasn’t Tom Skerrit’s character’s name in the original 1979 “Alien”, Dallas?), a take-charge big brother with a bit up top and Reiko Aylesworth, of “24” as this film’s ‘Ripley’ – a singlet-wearing gun-toting mama, Kelly) who have the wits and the weapons to stand up to both parties, but just as many who haven’t a clue how to escape a face-hugger or pred-blade.

If “AvP 2” fails for any reason it’s possibly because the original concept – “Alien Vs Predator” - is so Vanilla. Lets admit it, a film series (it started as a comic) that saw the monster from a Schwarzenegger movie taking on an extra terrestrial who terrorized Sigourney Weaver over four movies is a rather ridiculous idea. There’s only so much you can do there. And, quite frankly, once you’ve seen one boxing match between these two ugly mo fo’s, you’ve seen them all. Shane Salerno’s script tries hard to draw us into proceedings here, hoping to no doubt give us a more exciting time than the first celebrity deathmatch, and for about 35 minutes there he succeeds in doing that, but then, somewhere around the second or third reel change you stop caring about what’s going on on screen and once again yearn for a solid solo “Alien” or “Predator” sequel (so surprised they haven’t resurrected either franchise) – is it because of the thinly-written characters? Is it because the film’s lacking a big star to keep us enthralled? Is it because the film’s colour palette is way too dark? Or is it simply because the film’s been edited so heavily (and apparently it has – whole characters, seen in early cuts, are missing from the finished film) that it now more so resembles an effects reel for its newbie directors, the Strause brothers, than it does a film?

Probably a mixed platter featuring all those selections. But more so, the fact that the directors don’t restrain themselves or make the most of their characters might be its greatest downfall. There’s an alien busting out of someone’s gut or hugging someone’s mug every three minutes it seems. The scene with the chest burster in Ridley Scott’s “Alien” worked so well because it was just that one singular scene, and it was surprising. This movie throws scenes like that away for free – and in droves. Daddy, I’m full – and I think I’m gonna be sick.

We’ve seen both the Alien and Predator on screen several times now, so it’s not like we’re going to be seeing anything significantly new, but like someone that goes to the same circus year after year, it doesn’t mean you can’t keep hoping to see a couple of new tricks. Pretty much the same routine this year though, folks... still, it's bound to still put a couple of smiles on dials.

Extras include a bunch of featurettes and an informative but hardly-enthralling commentary by the Strause Bros and producer John Davis.

Rating :
Reviewer : Clint Morris