AVP: Alien v. Predator

AVP: Alien v Predator, 2004

Snap reviewed the original Alien films and heaped them with praise so I thought I'd pick up from where he left off. AVP brings together two of the most ruthless killers the big screen has ever seen.

The Predator first bobbed up with Arnie and Carl Weathers in 1987 - stalking, killing and skinning its prey until its heart was content. It's a calculating, dangerous mother fucker who combines state of the art technology with old fashioned rat cunning. Think Lote Tuqiri on Proton Pills.

Eight years earlier, where no one could hear you scream, we laid eyes on The Alien. Not a Marvin the Martian type extra terrestrial but a toxic, vicious, heartless slut of a thing. Not even as an infant is The Alien to be trusted. Let's face hug it out bitch.

These two cinematic serial killers first met up in comic books and video games in the mid nineties but it took a few false starts before they combined on film.

AVP is directed by Paul Anderson - not P T Anderson of There Will Be Blood fame but P W S Anderson who was in charge of Mortal Kombat and the very watchable Event Horizon.

After a giant pyramid is discovered under Antarctica the race is on to get there first. But when the hand picked team turns up - a trail has already been blazed for them and alarm bells start going off. Turns out The Predators have had a vested interest in the place for a long time and would prefer the maintenance of the building was left to them. The Aliens lurk deep in the pyramid's bowels - ready to be hunted like rabid clay pigeons.

This is good - and if you avoid the Alien's blood - clean fun. Both the Aliens and Predators look great and a convenient mid-movie explanation paints a fairly clear picture of what's going on.

It can't be compared to the first two Alien films of the first Predator but there's many worse ways to spend 90 minutes.

5/10 Nutbuckle

Saw

Spawning the most successful horror franchise of its generation, this film is not for the squirmish. The brainchild of two Aussie blokes (Leigh Whannel & James Wan, the former playing the character of Adam) who went on to make millions from this film and its five sequels (with more in the pipeline).

The film begins with the aforementioned Adam and Lawrence (Cary Elwes) dazed, confused and chained in an abandoned warehouse. Through sharply executed flashbacks and the perspective of investigating officers (one of whom is played by Danny Glover of Predator 2 fame) the audience is dragged through the deviant plots developed by the man known only as the Jigsaw Killer until the brilliant climax which will have you gagging for more...luckily there is more. Heaps more.

This film attracted a stellar cast and the flashback scenes are crisp while the pace of the movie doesn't slow for a moment.

An impressively fresh take on this genre which breathed new life into it.

9/10

Willo

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, 2004

This reviewer is not often attracted to a movie that features in the 'arthouse' rows at the local video store. Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet is not the combination usually rented unless Carrey is burrowing his head out of an electronic rhinoceros' back-door. Michel Gondry and Charlie Kaufman don't set this reviewer's entertainment-buds alight.

This said, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is perhaps the most electrifying film of its decade which leaves the audience fragile and forces them to ponder life's big questions.

Carrey gives his most polished performance as the troubled Joel Barish, while Winslet (Clementine) complements the comedic veteran in a way that should shame the Academy for years to come for its lack of recognition.

An excellent support cast that features Mark Ruffalo, Elijah Wood, Tom Wilkinson and an uncharacteristically inspired Kirsten Dunst provide the bulk of the creatively woven 'plot' that nestles around the apparent destiny which Joel and Clementine share.

There is no need to delve into story here, this is a journey which any film buff or casual observer should take. You will not be disappointed, however, be careful if you're watching it alone, moral support is often required.

11/10

ok - 10

Midbus