ALIENS VS PREDATOR–REQUIEM: A REVIEW

ALIEN VS PREDATOR REQUIEM (2007)

This film was directed by The Brothers Strause (Colin & Greg). It isn’t a very good movie, but the moviegoer’s attention seems to become more focused toward the end, where the action picks up. As contemporary films go, this movie is relatively tame. There is a “pretty young thing” (Jesse, played by Kristen Hager) who strips to a bikiniesque attire at one point. That is IT in regard to playing the sex card. There are a few scenes of a gorey sort, which won’t shock anyone who has seen an ALIEN flick or a PREDATOR flick before.

The movie is a “B” grade type. It seems to be a throwback to the ’50s science fiction movies (some of which had characteristics which immortalized them, such as INVASION OF THE THE BODY SNATCHERS). Since some Japanese filmmakers were inspired, apparently, by those American Bs, the moviegoer, not surprisingly, also notes a kinship in AVPR with such curious Japanese films as GODZILLA VS MOTHRA and KING KONG VS GODZILLA( English titles). As a matter of fact, the film credits at the end of this film are a resounding homage to those ’50s sci-fi flicks.

Hence, although the film wasn’t too impressive, per se, there were enjoyable aspects, which for older moviegoers and “old film nuts” provided a pleasant recognition and remembrance.

The film stars: Steven Pasquale (“Dallas”), Reiko Aylesworth (“Kelly”), John Ortiz (“Morales”), John Lewis (“Ricky”), Ariel Gade (“Molly”), Robert Joy (“Col. Stevens”), and a cast of many. I’m not familiar with any of them, but I don’t get around like I used to. Maybe they are famous.

The storyline: Two varieties of creatures from outer space are lurking in the vicinity of Earth, and clearly, one of them has the upper hand over the other. As a matter of fact the dominant creature(s) seems to be treating the other as both prisoners and “guinea pigs,” and the victims don’t like it one bit. You could say these two sets of creatures hate one another. As fate decreed, the oppressed were able to break free momentarily, and a battle on board the orbiting spacecraft results in a crash landing on Earth. It appears the oppressor creatures(Predators) all died, leaving the remnant of the other (Aliens) free to “lick their wounds.” However, the Predator civilization in outer space is aware that something went “bad wrong.” A Predator puts on his mask, loads up on Predator firepower & ammo, gets into a small space vehicle and heads to Earth. This appears to be a mission of revenge, and the moviegoer infers that there will be no prisoners. Meanwhile, an adult Earthling and son are in the woods of Colorado, hunting deer. Guess who the first dispensable actors in the film will be? Yet, hardly had the Aliens (who seem to be both nasty and fecund) done their thing, then here comes the Predator (traveling solo) to “rain on their parade.”  Incidentally, it rains a lot in this locale. The primary issue to speculate about is whether this Predator has brought along enough ammo to kill the rapidly increasing Alien population. He does stop by the wreakage to check on the now deceased Predator, noted at the outset, finding also the deceased Predator’s weapons & ammo to add to his own. After this, it is a run-and-gun tussle between Predator pursuer and multiplying Aliens in and about “Gunnison County, CO.” Meanwhile, the wife of the deer hunter & son is concerned and goes to the law in these parts, Morales. He organizes a search party. About this time “local hood,” Dallas shows up. He is an old pal of Morales, prior to Morales’ going “tin horn.” Morales offers to help him get a job. By means of a camera cut, the moviegoer is introduced to Dallas’ bro, Ricky, who is a deliverer for “Pizza One.” By means of him Jesse and her clique are introduced. It’s beginning to look a lot like a “teen flick” at this point, and the viewer half expects “Jason” or “Michael” to jump out. Or perhaps a cut to the highschool. No, this serves up the film’s initial brewing romance, as it is clear that Jesse has eyes for Ricky. Verbal potshots between Ricky and the clique’s males leads to a “stomping of Ricky” whose car keys are tossed in a sewer grate. Another camera cut introduces U.S. Army soldier Kelly who is coming home either because duty is done or R&R. At any rate she has a husband (good Dad, bad fate) and daughter waiting in a nice home. As the realization of external troubles due to horrendous creatures from who-knows-where attacking any human they encounter, the people are drawn together, dropping their minor issues. Calls by Morales to the military results in a Col. Stevens reassuring them. He advises them to head for the center of town and await rescue. This piece of advice is questioned by Kelly, and there is an admirably cordial separation of the remnant into two groups. The Morales-led group go to the appointed rendezvous spot, while Kelly, driving an armored personnel vehicle, leads her group, including Dallas & Ricky, to the hospital where they hope to find escape via a helicopter. At this point in time there is a battle royal going on between the Predator and the Aliens, and many humans still about are also falling prey. Meanwhile, it is apparent the gloomy Col. Stevens has sent a jet fighter-bomber toward Gunnison County’s main town, Crested Butte. As luck would have it, the Predator finally has used all his ammo and hightech weapons but must face a formidable Alien still. Folks, it’s ugly mouth time. Those who were led by Kelly, indeed, found a helicopter. Those who were led by Morales “waited for Godot” and never felt a thing. Col. Stevens has sent the Morales group to “ground zero.” The jet is carrying at least two nuclear weapons, and the bomb bay-doors open. That’s correct. At last in film the military gets to nuke the enemy (the “contaminated” part of Colorado). There’s the mushroom cloud! There is the shock wave! And there’s Kelly! She is “riding the wave” just ahead of disaster. Well, this is the sort of thing that might just bond an Army-tough, single mom and the reformed town hood. But in outer space, nuking kinfolk might not sit well.

I didn’t think that Reiko Aylesworth (Kelly) showed much acting ability but is definitely better as an action actor. John Ortiz was not impressive either. Steven Pasquale was adequate as an “intense” character. Kristen Hager was cute but, since everyone she interacted with was pedestrian, she tended to “reduce to the mean.” Perhaps the best actor in the film was the father who was killed off near the film opening.

Parenthetically, I thought that the Predator was presented as a smarter creature than the Aliens. However, although the Aliens bear a resemblance to Earth reptiles, blended with wet-looking armadillas, neither of which are notably inteligent, these creatures must come from a civilization that is at least crafty hitchhikers. Still, they are treated as little better than dangerous vermin by the Predator, who definitely comes from a hightech civilization. So, why does he skin humans? I don’t know. Why do some humans skin a chicken  before cooking and eating it? It’s a matter of taste, I suppose. One way or another, both Aliens and Predators seem to have humans on the menu.

The end of the film’s ugly-mouth, to-the-death tussle between Predator and Alien somewhat reminded of the dragon tussle at the end of DREAMCATCHER. The associations one connects to in viewing this film are more interesting than the film itself.

All rights reserved. Gobigfoot, 2007.