Alien and Aliens are classic films. Alien³ and Alien: Resurrection are average films that don't measure up as solid as the first two were. On the other side there have only been two Predator films. The first Predator film was a successful action film, but the sequel was not much more than a mediocre failure. When it comes right down to it the Alien is easily far better than the Predator as far as the films go.
Hollywood cannot resist making a film that has the Alien and the Predator pitting up against each other. Just like last years Freddy Vs. Jason, two horror icons, Alien Vs. Predator has two horror icons against one another as well. Its the fact that characters or creatures for that matter, that have a well deserved history of being alike or at least similar are finally facing off to see which is indeed better.
Something that Hollywood has noticed from general audiences or the mainstream is that they love the action genre. A films that involves matching up, winning and defeated is a winner in the box office. That's as long as it is superbly marketed of course. And it was, Alien Vs. Predator delivered teasers and tense trailers to generate all kinds of horror fanatics.
With the anticipation arriving and everyone waiting to see who was going to be victorious between the creatures, it made you wonder, well, besides that what will the storyline be. A quick and mindless story was invented and some quick dialogue without much though is what seemed to have made into this films final shooting draft script. The actors in this film had hardly anything to work with and they didn't help themselves either.
The actors chosen for this film are average at best. With an average screenplay and average actors, Alien Vs. Predator was practically destined to draw its full attention on the creatures. Unlike Freddy Vs. Jason, Alien Vs. Predator lacked the history on both characters. However, this film sure did feature some instances where it paid tribute to their particular series. That by one merit is one of this film strongest sections, but then again how can you pay tribute to either side with neither gore or major violence.
Its very disappointing to see that Alien Vs. Predator was cut down to a PG-13 rating. This film was originally rated R because of its graphic violence and gore. Now, in the film the gore and graphic violence is hardly present and the scenes are cut down. More than half of the scenes of this film feature the Alien and the Predator fighting each other, but then being cut to a slow scene, simply to avoid any of the R rating instances.
I say, if you are going to tone down what has made both series so fun, then why have made the film at all. I'll tell you why, because it will make more money with a PG-13 rating. A film as such attracts teenagers and with an R rating behind it, the money it could have made, wouldn't be made. For once, filmmakers should be glad of the quality of a film and not of whats going to appeal most to mainstream audiences, that's what we needed.
At the end of it, the audience that endures Alien Vs. Predator simply really want to see the two creatures face each other. The actors and storyline may not matter to some audiences, but it should always play a major part in any film. Instead this film is geared towards simply the two creatures, but even with that in tact, it doesn't offer a actual battle between the two just small sections. Alien Vs. Predator is a film that lacks the terror and suspense that has made the Alien films so good and it lacks the story that have made both series what they are.
