Reviewed by Andrew Wooding

AVP Alien v Predator
Director: Paul W. S. Anderson (2004)
Distributor: 20th Century Fox Film Co. Ltd. 
Certificate: 15

Spoiler notice: If you read on will become aware of how the film ends.

OK. Here’s the plot. Lots of Aliens and Predators fighting each other in an ancient pyramid under the ice in Antarctica, with a group of unfortunate human explorers getting caught up in the middle. That’s it. So, with that detailed plot summary out of the way, let me tell you what I feel about the film…

I love the Alien films. Okay, well maybe not Alien3, but the others are great. I wasn’t so keen on Predator, and I never got around to seeing Predator 2 (by all accounts, I haven’t missed much). Also, I was one of the visitors to the Alien War experience in London, which involved being chased by a man in an Alien costume round a dimly-lit fake space laboratory under the streets of Piccadilly Circus. Scary stuff!

In a questionable piece of scripting, we also discover quite a bit of detailed background to both the Alien and Predator races. While I enjoyed this when watching the film, I realise I have come away with less of a sense of mystery about the characters, and I don’t think I’ll ever be able to appreciate the previous films in quite the same way, knowing what I know now.

Having said all that, I still loved the movie – it’s a fun rollercoaster ride - although I spent a lot of the time adjusting to the different, toned-down style. Now that I know this is nothing more than a comic book on the screen, I might enjoy it more the second time round. I have read rumours that British director, Paul W. S. Anderson, was ordered to trim some of the scarier bits, so they might be reinstated in the DVD release. This also might explain the film’s relatively short running time.

There is no Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) in this film, but there is a Ripley substitute in action hero Alexa Woods (played by Sanaa Lathan), who also reminded me of Lara Croft. This is fitting, since most of the action takes place in Tomb Raider-style locations – lots of mysterious caverns, underground chambers and claustrophobic ancient corridors. It is also nice to have Lance Henriksen in this film. He featured in Aliens and Alien3, but here he plays a different character entirely – big businessman, Charles Bishop Weyland, who finances the expedition to the underground pyramid. Interesting that his middle name is the same as the android character he played in those two previous Alien films. Is this a plot point that will be picked up in another film, I wonder?

Overall then, a fun film. Not as scary as it could have been, and surprisingly short, but still a great romp in the style of a comic book fight scene, and lots of running around in mysterious locations, in the style of a PC action game. If you go with this in mind you won’t be disappointed, but if you want a worthy sequel to Alien and Aliens, this is not for you.

THROUGH THE LENS OF CHRISTIAN FAITH 

Some key themes: How should I treat my enemies?; Who is my enemy?

The eternal theme - reflected in so many films, books and more - is good vs. evil. As indicated in the title of this film, we have another “something” vs. “something” story. At first glance, Alien vs. Predator appears to be an evil vs. evil story, with good people getting in the way. However, we soon find out that things are not so simple.

A major plot revelation is that the Predators were once worshipped as gods by early human civilisations. The Predators gave humans knowledge and taught them how to construct pyramids. The Predators also used to breed and hunt Aliens for sport. According to the film, ancient civilisations weren’t into human sacrifice as is commonly thought; rather, humans would be willing hosts for Aliens to breed inside them, lying down in “sacrificial chambers” so that the Aliens could burst out of their stomachs. Also, Aliens were represented as serpents in sculptures and drawings of the time. So, in one fell swoop, this movie explains away why humans are into god worship, why they fear images of serpents, and why they believe that sacrifice is an important aspect of worship!

The fact is, however, that in this film the Predators are portrayed as technologically advanced, bringing civilisation to mankind, while the Aliens are senseless, primitive killing machines. In the end, our main character, Alexa Woods, has a choice. Does she try to kill both of her enemies, the Predators and the Aliens, and fail in doing both? Or does she team up with one her enemies, the Predators, so that together they can defeat the Aliens? What helps her choose is the fact that if the Aliens win, they will flee this underground base in Antarctica in their droves and devastate the whole of the earth.

In the end, her reluctant decision to team up with the Predators – based purely on logic – leads to her discovering that while they are still a mysterious, fearsome race, they have their own moral codes (of a sort) and a warriors’ sense of honour. The Predators even display their respect for this human who has joined them in their fight against a common enemy.

So, what to call this film then? Alien vs. Predator? Or perhaps Alien vs. Predator in Co-operation With the Humans? Was it truly a case of evil vs. evil? As one of the characters says: “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

As I mentioned in my review above, I will never be able to watch the Alien or Predator movies in the same way again. Now that I know more about their background and motivations I will have to reassess how I feel about them. Surely this is the same in real life. We can paint whole people groups, countries, races, anyone who is either different from or the same as us, as “good” or “evil”. But is it as simple as that? There have been groups of people I have been fearful of, people I may even have seen as “bad” or “my enemies”, but on the occasions when I have got to know these people better and spent time with them – trying to understand where they are coming from and what makes them tick - I have had to change my opinion. Knowledge is a good thing.

Jesus had something to say along these lines. He encouraged people to love their enemies, and he also said that those who are peacemakers are to be blessed. Jesus believed in evil – he cast out quite a lot of it - and there is still evil in this world in one form or another. Therefore, shouldn’t people, races, nations stop bickering and fighting and unite in fighting against a common enemy – true evil?

Are there any people you fear or maybe see as your enemy? They might have a different skin colour, talk a different way from you or wear unusual clothes. They might even worship God in a different way to you. Follow the commands of Jesus and get to know these people. Understand their background, their culture, their motivations, their loves and hates. Would the world be a better place if we all did this? I think so.

Have your say on the discussion forum....

· Here’s an easy question to start with. Who is scarier – Aliens or Predators? Back it up with instances from the films!

· Are there any instances in the past when you have judged someone, or a group of people, but once you met a few of them you had to change your opinion?

· What, to you, is true evil in the world? Is it the devil? Is it the way people treat each other? And what can be done to defeat this evil?

To discuss this further why not leave a message of the discussion forum.