ALIEN
VS. PREDATOR ($30) is a concept that could have been a contender on
the motion picture screen, but instead the movie seems more like the Cliff
Notes version of a comic book, than a sequel to two of the most thrilling
action/science fiction movies of all time. Instead of building a story, ALIEN
VS. PREDATOR depends upon the established fan base’s knowledge of
the creatures that it brings together; thus forgoing a lot of exposition,
as well as compressing the Alien life cycle we all know and love, into
something more convenient for the movie’s time frame. Also keeping with
the Cliff
Notes approach, are the two dimensional human characters, which
are given little or no character development, and are used primarily as
cannon fodder in the film’s ensuing battle between the Alien and the
Predators.
OK,
now despite the criticisms, ALIEN VS. PREDATOR is actually a pretty
serviceable action/science fiction offering for anyone for anyone with
popcorn movie expectations. Set in present day, the plot of ALIEN VS.
PREDATOR follows the discovery of an ancient pyramid buried under tons
of ice in Antarctica, which comes to the attention of billionaire
industrialist Charles Bishop Weyland (Lance Henriksen), when a previously
undetected heat signature emanating from the pyramid is picked up by one
of his company’s satellites. Quicker than you can say Tomb Raider,
Weyland has assembled a specialized a team (from different disciplines),
for the sole purpose of uncovering the pyramid- and ensuring the
billionaire a little bit scientific immortality. However, lurking beneath
the Antarctic ice, imprisoned inside the ancient pyramid, is an alien
queen, who is kept there to breed more of her kind to satisfy the race of
Predators in their ritualized ultimate hunt. As you might expect, our
group of human explorers soon find themselves caught between the Aliens
and the Predators, with little hope of surviving either species. The cast
of ALIEN VS. PREDATOR also features Sanaa Lathan, Raoul Bova, Ewen
Bremner, Colin Salmon, Tommy Flanagan, Joseph Rye and Agathe De La Boulaye.
20th
Century Fox Home Entertainment has made ALIEN VS. PREDATOR
available on DVD in a 2.35:1 widescreen presentation that has been
enhanced for playback on 16:9 displays. Despite being a somewhat dark
movie, ALIEN VS. PREDATOR makes for a great looking DVD. The image
is generally quite crisp and very nicely defined, although an occasional
slightly softer looking shot crops up here and there. Colors are strongly
rendered and the flesh tones appear quite natural. Blacks are right on the
money, whites are clean and contrast is excellent. Additionally, the image
boasts fine shadow detail, and a nice dimensional quality. The film
elements used for the transfer appear pristine, although a noticeable
grain structure does make its presence known in the darker sequences.
Digital compression artifacts are held in check.
ALIEN
VS. PREDATOR features 5.1 channel soundtracks in the flavors of Dolby
Digital and DTS. The soundtrack provides just what you’d expect from a
major studio action science fiction movie; it’s big, loud and
aggressively mixed. Sound effects are very well implemented in all
the outlying channels during the big action sequences, plus there are some
nice ambient effects during the quieter moments. Dialogue is crisply
rendered and is always completely intelligible. Fidelity is top
flight, the music sounds great- with a real sense of presence and the
sound effects are mighty convincing. The bass channel is full, deep
and packs quite a wallop. As for the differences between Dolby Digital and
DTS, the latter produces a warmer, more cohesive sound, with the standard
bearer doing almost as well. French and Spanish surround tracks are also
encoded onto the DVD, as are English and Spanish subtitles.
Full
motion video, animation and sound serve to enhance the DVD's interactive
menus. Through the menus, one has access to standard scene selection and
set up features, as well as some nice extras. Starting things off is the
ability to watch an extended version of the film, with an alternate
opening. Next up, are two audio commentaries for the theatrical version of
the film. The first commentary features director Paul W.S. Anderson and
actors Lance Henriksen and Sanaa Lathan, while the second includes visual
effects supervisor John Bruno and creature effects creators Alec Gillis
& Tom Woodruff. A twenty-three minute making of program is also
included on the DVD, as are three deleted scenes, and Darkhorse comic book
covers for their Alien Vs. Predatorseries.
ALIEN
VS. PREDATOR may not be a classic like the original films that
inspired this movie monster teaming, but it is a fun popcorn movie. The
widescreen DVD looks great and boasts the kind of soundtrack the genre
fans will love. Additionally, there are a few nice supplements on the
disc, which definitely makes the DVD worth checking out.
ALIEN
VS. PREDATOR ($30) is a concept that could have been a contender on
the motion picture screen, but instead the movie seems more like the Cliff
Notes version of a comic book, than a sequel to two of the most thrilling
action/science fiction movies of all time. Instead of building a story, ALIEN
VS. PREDATOR depends upon the established fan base’s knowledge of
the creatures that it brings together; thus forgoing a lot of exposition,
as well as compressing the Alien life cycle we all know and love, into
something more convenient for the movie’s time frame. Also keeping with
the Cliff
Notes approach, are the two dimensional human characters, which
are given little or no character development, and are used primarily as
cannon fodder in the film’s ensuing battle between the Alien and the
Predators.
OK,
now despite the criticisms, ALIEN VS. PREDATOR is actually a pretty
serviceable action/science fiction offering for anyone for anyone with
popcorn movie expectations. Set in present day, the plot of ALIEN VS.
PREDATOR follows the discovery of an ancient pyramid buried under tons
of ice in Antarctica, which comes to the attention of billionaire
industrialist Charles Bishop Weyland (Lance Henriksen), when a previously
undetected heat signature emanating from the pyramid is picked up by one
of his company’s satellites. Quicker than you can say Tomb Raider,
Weyland has assembled a specialized a team (from different disciplines),
for the sole purpose of uncovering the pyramid- and ensuring the
billionaire a little bit scientific immortality. However, lurking beneath
the Antarctic ice, imprisoned inside the ancient pyramid, is an alien
queen, who is kept there to breed more of her kind to satisfy the race of
Predators in their ritualized ultimate hunt. As you might expect, our
group of human explorers soon find themselves caught between the Aliens
and the Predators, with little hope of surviving either species. The cast
of ALIEN VS. PREDATOR also features Sanaa Lathan, Raoul Bova, Ewen
Bremner, Colin Salmon, Tommy Flanagan, Joseph Rye and Agathe De La Boulaye.
20th
Century Fox Home Entertainment has made ALIEN VS. PREDATOR
available on DVD in a 2.35:1 widescreen presentation that has been
enhanced for playback on 16:9 displays. Despite being a somewhat dark
movie, ALIEN VS. PREDATOR makes for a great looking DVD. The image
is generally quite crisp and very nicely defined, although an occasional
slightly softer looking shot crops up here and there. Colors are strongly
rendered and the flesh tones appear quite natural. Blacks are right on the
money, whites are clean and contrast is excellent. Additionally, the image
boasts fine shadow detail, and a nice dimensional quality. The film
elements used for the transfer appear pristine, although a noticeable
grain structure does make its presence known in the darker sequences.
Digital compression artifacts are held in check.
ALIEN
VS. PREDATOR features 5.1 channel soundtracks in the flavors of Dolby
Digital and DTS. The soundtrack provides just what you’d expect from a
major studio action science fiction movie; it’s big, loud and
aggressively mixed. Sound effects are very well implemented in all
the outlying channels during the big action sequences, plus there are some
nice ambient effects during the quieter moments. Dialogue is crisply
rendered and is always completely intelligible. Fidelity is top
flight, the music sounds great- with a real sense of presence and the
sound effects are mighty convincing. The bass channel is full, deep
and packs quite a wallop. As for the differences between Dolby Digital and
DTS, the latter produces a warmer, more cohesive sound, with the standard
bearer doing almost as well. French and Spanish surround tracks are also
encoded onto the DVD, as are English and Spanish subtitles.
Full
motion video, animation and sound serve to enhance the DVD's interactive
menus. Through the menus, one has access to standard scene selection and
set up features, as well as some nice extras. Starting things off is the
ability to watch an extended version of the film, with an alternate
opening. Next up, are two audio commentaries for the theatrical version of
the film. The first commentary features director Paul W.S. Anderson and
actors Lance Henriksen and Sanaa Lathan, while the second includes visual
effects supervisor John Bruno and creature effects creators Alec Gillis
& Tom Woodruff. A twenty-three minute making of program is also
included on the DVD, as are three deleted scenes, and Darkhorse comic book
covers for their Alien Vs. Predator series.
ALIEN
VS. PREDATOR may not be a classic like the original films that
inspired this movie monster teaming, but it is a fun popcorn movie. The
widescreen DVD looks great and boasts the kind of soundtrack the genre
fans will love. Additionally, there are a few nice supplements on the
disc, which definitely makes the DVD worth checking out.
