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AVPR: Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)

Director: Colin Strause, Greg Strause

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94 reviews

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From Time Out London

Fans of the ‘Alien vs Predator’ sub-franchise will be relieved to learn that Colin and Greg Strause’s ‘AVPR’ is only nominally a sequel to Paul WS Anderson’s (un)original ‘AVP – Alien vs Predator’. Although it picks up where ‘AVP’ left off, this is not a toned-down futuristic action movie, but a gory sci-fi/horror film featuring new incarnations of the extra-terrestrial monsters. Sadly, this semi-sequel is even more spasmodic, boring and incoherent.

After a hybrid Predator-cum-Alien runs amok on a Predator spaceship, it crash-lands near a small American town. As the cross-fertilised ‘Predalien’ slimes its way through the sewers, a battle-scarred Predator is sent to clean up the mess. Caught in the cross-fire between the alien antagonists are the disposable, wooden townsfolk – played by second-string actors from TV shows such as ‘24’, ‘Rescue Me’ and ‘ER’ – whose sole function is to run around like headless chickens until they are gruesomely dispatched. The sheriff is ineffectual, so hopes rest with ex-con Dallas (Steve Pasquale), his semi-delinquent brother Ricky (Johnny Lewis), and an aggressively maternal Iraq War veteran, Kelly (Reiko Aylesworth) – a poor substitute for Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley.

Scriptwriter Shane Salerno’s dialogue is unspeakable, the visceral horror all too familiar, and the ideas distinctly second-hand. Cinematographer Daniel Pearl, who shot the original ‘Texas Chain Saw Massacre’ and the recent re-make, occasionally generates scares by hiding the creatures in dark shadows. But the visual effects-trained Strause brothers know that it’s all about the last waltz. So the mayhem inevitably culminates in a dance of death featuring the mutant, dreadlocked Predalien and a leaner, smarter Predator.

Author: Nigel Floyd 2008-01-15 15:54:50

Time Out London Issue 1952 - January 14th 2008

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User reviews of this film

Rayza said...

Posted on Jan 18 2008 02:19 Im a predator fan, aliens were kinda to scary 4 me to wtach even at this age of 17 that i am but the new avpr looks really good and i hope someone agrees with me. im going to watch it on friday the 18th and i will give my feedback buh 4 now, i'l giv it a 4 because i like these kind of films but that could change after the 18th.... Bye

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had0k3n said...

Posted on Jan 17 2008 13:24 oh no not another die hard geek that going to tell us all how he's seen the originals and this hasn't got nething to do with them, get a life just because you dont like a film doesnt meen you have to spend every waking hour bloging internet web sites giving your opinion that no-one cares or even values, as for ripping the comic books, as you havn't read them (obviously) or else you would know they have better stories than most of the films. shame alien3 wasn't scripted like the follow up comic book stories that followed aliens. as for avpr watch it for fun it's loads better than the last avp. shame fox continualy screws the fans, maybe one day.........

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edgar said...

Posted on Jan 16 2008 19:03 yeah, danny you\re right ...
i dont know how old are you, but im die hard fan since 87' when i saw aliens in the theatre and of course pred since 88. this piece of shit has nothing to do with origins...nothing
yes youre true fan because you"ve read all the bullshit comic books??? come on...
you are blind or you're dumb.period

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danny said...

Posted on Jan 16 2008 18:13 to the writer of this nigel floyd
what the hell do you know about this film ? nothing why because of this, do you even know why or what this film is about why it was made what its contains or even the ACTUAL plot that it is based on ? NO me thinks not simple reason is you have'nt played the games your have'nt read the orignal comics or book's about the alines or predator or even the aliens vs predator 1's wher ei as a fan have done so on all counts the plaot is based on a comic book just like the orginal 1st film while the story isnt exactly the same due to copy rights is a very close representaion of them so when you say this film is spasmodic and boring and incoherant you actually mean you no nothing about this film and you should sit in a corner and be quiet with your little note book and just leave the actual fan's to decide not your silly little jumped up ive got a degree mouth to spout on here.
simple fact is if your a fan of the whole aliens and predator films this is a good film to watch nothe best in the world but its a good version of a good book !

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