AVP: Alien vs. Predator

“Earth vs. the Flying Saucers” (1956)
“Kramer vs. Kramer” (1979)
“Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever” (2002)
“Freddy vs. Jason” (2003)

We now have “Alien vs. Predator” (2004). One can only imagine what two characters Hollywood will put into the ring next. I absolutely agree with the theme of the film, “whoever wins, we lose.” Yes, that about sums it up. The studios can now take two R-rated film series and disguise them as a PG-13 release.

I expect that many fans of the original will be very disappointed with this watered down version that looks more like a SciFi channel direct-to-DVD release. I feel bad for director Paul W.S. Anderson who begged for almost 10 years to bring AVP to the big screen. 20th Century Fox will now try to combine two of their studio franchises into one picture. What makes matters worse is that Fox decided not to show or screen the finished 70 million dollar project.

The bottom line is that the studio is hoping for a hit based on name recognition alone. They are also hoping for lots of toy sales, video games, and other product spin-offs. I’m sure they are also hoping for Christmas to come early too! I’m sure that it would not hurt their bank account if another generation went out and purchased the earlier DVDs. That fact is just part of the parental dilemma we are faced with in AVP. The PG-13 video-crazed crowd will watch the film and want to see the earlier R-rated releases.

I should warn you, before we look at the content, that Anderson has made some other SciFi flops. Do you remember “Mortal Kombat,” “Event Horizon” and “Resident Evil”? The other problem is that none of the sequels of either film was as successful as the original. They all had different directors and producers. Well, as they say, on with the show.

AVP is about a “hot spot” that is discovered under the ice of Antarctica (sorry “Stargate SG-1” fans.it is not Atlantis). This is a prequel adventure and an ultra-wealthy industrialist (sound familiar) gathers a team of archaeologists, scientists, environmentalist, and, of course, a cold weather expert to investigate. Quicker than you can say “Tomb Raider,” this team discover an underground pyramid. The pyramid is full of symbols that are from the Aztecs, Egyptians and Cambodians (where is Daniel Jackson when you need him). Let’s not forget a series of highly technological chambers that must be extraterrestrial.

No SciFi film would be complete without accidentally waking up the evil alien queen. There is absolutely NO original “Alien” movie suspense. The video game generation quickly gets to see gross aliens that get in your face and pop out of chests. The film also rips off the cult-classic film “Cube” with mysterious, changing chambers.

The fights between the aliens and the predators are fairly exciting to watch, and there is very little red blood. However, although I am a huge fan of this genre, believe me when I say you can skip this one. Much of the film editing is choppy and disjointed. I can almost guarantee that the DVD release will fill in all the blanks with deleted scenes. You know the ones that would have earned this movie an R-rating.

Parents should know that Fox traded in any sex scenes for violence that is over the top. Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy may be partially responsible for this new standard that the MPA now condones.

My strong recommendation is to skip this one. Even if AVP wins the Box Office race, at least you won’t lose your money.

Violence: Extreme / Profanity: Heavy / Sex/Nudity: Minor

Editor’s comment

Followers of Christ should alert about this film’s promotion of ANCIENT ALIENS or ANCIENT ASTRONAUTS theory, because this is an issue that is truly deceiving a very great number of people, partly because it is presented as scientific and archaeological (both false claims). At its base, it is a lie being used by godless people to “scientifically” explain away Biblical miracles and events—and God Himself.

This tactic started with atheist author H.P. Lovecraft. Years later, this pseudo-scientific idea was famously promoted by Erich von Däniken (Chariots of the Gods) and others. The Director of this film was inspired by von Däniken, and says so. This idea has particularly been used by some whose worldviews are New Age or Evolutionism/Atheism (or both).

The claim is that extraterrestrials with advanced technology came to Earth in ancient times and were mistaken for gods, angels and supernatural activity—and that out of these encounters with naive and unsophisticated humans (who misunderstood what they witnessed), humans began to worship these aliens—and the world’s religions (including Christianity) are the end result.

I have researched these claims in considerable depth, including attending von Däniken lectures. I am in agreement with many other researchers, the so-called evidence for this fantasy is filled with foolish errors and serious outright lies and deceptions.

Nonetheless, many sci-fi books, movies and TV shows have eagerly used and promoted what is essentially a dangerous Atheist-inspired worldview.

What difference does it make? When accepted, this pseudo-science leads people directly away from Biblical truth about Earth’s Creation, mankind’s place in God’s plan, Earth’s history of wicked rebellion against the Creator, and the record of His judgments. Inherent in this worldview is rejection of belief in God and the Bible. People are less likely to perceive their spiritually bankrupt state before God and are more unlikely to want—or listen to—the Gospel.

Entertainment dramas that use the ancient extraterrestrial encounters fantasy and thus promote it some extent…

• “Stargate”
• “Prometheus”
• “Knowing”
• “Thor”
• “The X-Files: Fight the Future” etc.
• “Alien vs. Predator”
• Transformers: The Last Knight and most of the “Transformers” series
• “Outlander”
• “The Fifth Element”
• “Mission To Mars”
• “Star Trek” various episodes, including “Star Trek: The Next Generation—The Chase,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation—Who Watches the Watchers” —Gene Roddenberry, creator of “Star Trek” was an opponent of all beliefs in God
• “2001: A Space Odyssey”—the monolith
• “Earth: Final Conflict”
• “Space: 1999”
• “Quatermass and the Pit”
• 65 (2023)

If nothing else, the mere CONSTANT REPETITION of this view of history in entertainment media is causing it to become embedded in the minds of billions of people, making it somehow seem to them less ludicrous than it really is. Discerning Christians know that we and God have an Enemy who is the father of lies who seeks to deceive the whole world.

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.