Josh,

To answer a question you posited:

I think my reservations come from Anderson directing it. He seemed more capable when he put out Event Horizon, but after that he's been pretty lackluster.

Overall, I think that Sci-Fi is losing some of its soul. Today it's all about style and glitzy special effects, not story (i.e.; Star Wars Prequels, Matrix Sequels, etc.). Science Fiction began as a commentary on society, but now it has become spectacle. As a result, today's filmmakers seem bent on out-CGIng each other rather than telling a good story that relates to the world's current condition.

If you look at the classicists of Sci-fi like Wells, Asimov, Clarke, you'll see how much their books echoed the world they lived in. Right now, I can't find a way to relate to much of what is being put on screen.

From what I've seen, Anderson's putting together more of the same with AVP. I pray I'm selling the guy short, so I'll be pleasantly surprised. However, my hopes far exceed my expectations.

From my understanding, Star Trek is not so much dead as the Next Generation crew is out of the picture. I would expect to see this cash cow come back in the not-too-distant future.

Sean ('course at my age, the not-too-distant could be longer than I'll see!...) ;)

I have the opposite opinion. I think sci-fi is flourishing. Star Wars to me is not the same as it once was but enjoyable nontheless. Star Trek is probably on it's way out soon, but I still love most of them. Then ther's The Matrix, which everyone seems to hate the trilogy except me. Recent sci-fi has been incredible (Minority Report was one of the best sci-fi films I've ever seen), and films like I, Robot are still successful.

As far as the ALien and Predator series go, Predator and the first 2 Alien flicks are classic, yet Predator 2 and ALien 3 and 4 are much maligned. Predator 2, in my opinion, is pretty good. I LOVE Alien 3, but I'm a minority there. I think Alien 3 is just as good as the first two. ALien Resurrection was kind of bumpy, but ended up being worthwhile in the end. Maybe I'm a geek, but I still love sci-fi and I don't see it fading out anytime soon.

It's funny that so many people are putting so much emphasis on this movie. Tim you don't seem to be very excited about this flick. Maybe you felt let down by Alien Resurection, Alien 3, or Predator 2, or all of the above. I don't know. I'm a big fan, and I too have high hopes and expectations for this film. But it seems to me that the expectation may be so high for "AVP" that it's doomed to fail no matter what.

"Alien Resurection" was more on track with the "feel" of the Alien movies (to me), than "Alien 3" was, whilst also breaking new ground with the whole Human/Alien "genetics" dabbling experiment. I really thought it was a good addition to the series. Short of one or two other people (besides myself) the majority opinion doesn't seem too "enthused" about "Alien Versus Predator". Maybe "space" sci-fi flicks ARE becomeing/have become passe? Or is it that Paul Anderson is directing this time? Or a little of both? If space movies are on their way out, then zealots like myself are not going to have anything to look forward to anymore. There's "talk" of a fifth Alien movie, but no information that leads you to believe that something might materialize. To my understanding the "Star Trek" movies have been laid to rest. "Star Wars" is on it's deathbed. There's nothing left!!

It's a sad sad day for Sci-fi.

- J:(sh

I've seen the full trailer to this film in the theatre . . . yeah, you still need to convince me! I liked the first two Alien films, and I enjoyed the first Predator film. However, can this new film create the same admiration I felt with the franchise?

There is still a lot to see. From the previews, the humans look like food for the masses, and they stand no chance. The Aliens look stronger beyond comparison to the rest of what cast they have. Whatever the case may be, I'm going to give a future prediction and rate this about a 6/10. I maybe wrong, but, from what I've seen in the past, I'm not that far off.

Sean,

I hope Anderson has something HUGE he'll be pulling out of his... well, his hat.


TGP,

I hear you. I'm not a huge fan of blood, guts and gore either. But in these movies, it's just sort of a given. In Aliens we had the "chest burster" to signify that the spit had hit the fan, and it was time for the Aliens to come out and start the carnage. In Predator 1, we had the scene with the Army personell skinned alive in the trees. Then the first casualty of Arnolds squad having his guts laying on the jungle floor, and who can forget the scene where the Predator pulls "Billy's" spine and skull from his body by ripping it out from behind with that Predator scream! That creaped the heck out of me when I was younger... but it was part of the movie. It sickens me to think that Paul Anderson actually might have an ending where "we" win in the end. If we win by default... meaning that the Predators set of their nukes, and it wipes out everything within a few miles, then I'm ok with that. It still leaves the Predator integrity in tact, as well as the Alien's.

Personally, I was thinking that the Aliens would win at the end of the movie. Not because I like them better than Predators or anything, but purely from a logical perspecitve. 1 Alien against 1 Predator... the Predator will win hands down. But that's the thing. Aliens don't fight fair. They come at you like an "Army Ant" colony! They just come at you and come at you until they wear you down, then finally kill you. That's probably why (in the comic series) Predators use Aliens as a right of ascension. Because it's that hard to beat them.

Sean is right however. PG-13 movies have come a LONG way in the last few years! Look at "Solaris", "Bourne Supremacy", "The Others", "The Ring"... etc. It might actually be good that this is happening, being that it makes the directors "think" how they could make the story more "scary" versus "bloody".

Who knows... well... it's only 15 days and 19 hours before we'll know. ;)

- Josh

I'm not saying that every movie needs gore and bad language but when you combine two franchises that were defined by them then they should be included! This probably means that the humans will win! If Aliens bleed acid and Predators bleed green, and there's not enough human blood for an R-rating then we win. I'll still go, and an R-rated Director's Cut DVD would be super, but I know this is a marketing stunt so that they can rope in a younger audience. Paul Andersom is known for violent flicks (Soldier, Resident Evil) and he puts out a PG-13 AVP movie. *Sigh* I pray that this means that the flick will go for more scares than gore. I still have hope for this movie, but less now.

-TGP (Whoever wins... The audience loses.)

Josh,

No, I got it. Just didn't want you to think I was answering the de-posit-ed question! :D

Here's how you get a PG-13 AVP movie: no story + no character development = no dialogue = no bad words!

Hopefully Anderson can pull something out here, and let's all remember that PG-13 now pushes the envelope a lot more than when the Alien and Predator movies first came out. To agree with ya, Josh, I don't want to be pessimistic, so I'm still hoping for the best!

Sean (now what the best from Anderson is...well...that's another story...) ;)

Tim,

It's good to see you aren't a cynical critic. However, after reading TGP's last post, not only did I almost vomit after reading "PG-13", but I lost a bit of my optimism after verifying on - EXTERNAL LINK - I think TGP couldn't have said it better. I'm EXTREMELY disappointed in Anderson for this. I will still go see the movie. I haven't lost all hope for it yet, but I'm in full agreeance that it probably WON'T be all that it could have been with an "R" rating. I quote "Frost" from "Aliens"... "what the hell are we supposed to use man? Harsh language?" Ohhh, that's right, they can't even use harsh language against the Aliens & Predators... it's PG-13!! This PG-13 rating could easily explain why Anderson changed the "running joke" (talked about earlier in this thread) from "you're one ugly motherf*&$%er" to "you ugly son of a..." However, I'm thinking this "could" also be a strategic move for DVD sales. It could be that they're planning on a "directors cut" to DVD that's "R". That's happened in the past with some movies. I don't know... maybe it's just wishful thinking.

Sean,

My "re-posit" comment was a joke. Repository? Any way my Star Trek comments were because I had heard that no more movies would be made. And as far as the TV series goes, all that's left is "Enterprise". I only get to catch that show once in a blue moon. Even then, it's not that great to me. Not to mention the fact that it's on the "sci-fi" channel which is notorious for canceling GOOD tv shows! (need I mention "Farscape") I agree, since the days of Wells, and Asimov, things have gone steadily down hill. However, the afore mentioned movies were/are still good movies in my book. The directors that made those movies however are now "over the hill" and probably only have a few films left in them! Then where do we go? Soon, all we'll see from start to finish is a movie full of explosions with CGI overlays throughout! The script will be 3 pages long, and plot's will consist of (our hero goes to the drug store for some milk when all of a sudden!!! BOOM! It blows up, and he's chasing the culprets throuough the film) I hate to be "pessimistic" here. Like I said... I'm hoping for the best. I'm going to go see AVP anyway in hopes that Paul Anderson will prove us all wrong. Maybe there WILL be an "R" dvd release.

- J8)sh

Josh,

The reply I referred to was actually the Anderson question. As far as "space" Sci-Fi, I think that it's in the same boat with all Sci-Fi. When I brought up Wells, Clark, and Asimov, these are authors who not only started Sci-Fi, but what you would also term "space" Sci-Fi. Their works had a soul that today's space films do not (i.e.; again, Star Wars). Overall, I think sub-genres like this often stay fairly close in line with the bigger genre. As you and I both mentioned, "space" Sci-Fi has gone the route of bigger and better effects, smaller and worse writing.

I think the only current "space" Sci-Fi franchise that will continue for a while is Star Trek. I think this because these stories have long focused on the characters with the plot relating to what they are going through or what is occurring in our present world. Do they miss a step here and there? Of course, but with its huge fanbase and if they keep that focus, I think we can expect more from this franchise in the future.

Sean (of course, I'm waiting for that film adaptation of Space: 1999!...)

Josh,

No dude, I love the Alien series. The only one I truly hate is "Alien 3", other than that, they're all fun films to me. I even enjoyed "Preditor II", if you can believe it. The thing is, I'm just seeing a franchise that seems to be diminishing and it's hard to imagine that some new film will reserect in place of such classic sci-fi's.

I don't show you a lot of hope because I'm used to disapointment as a critic. However, I'm hoping for the best with "AVP" and I would like to see this franchise get a new face-lift. Believe me dude, my fingers are crossed that this film will do well. My past comments are just based on the reality of the real world and the diminishing audience for this genre. No offense to anyone intended. Believe me, "Aliens" and "Preditor" are some of my favorite Sci-fi films.