Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem

I didn't expect anything extraordinary from this, yet the result negatively surprised me. Even in the context of the genre, it's a desperately clichéd spectacle that resigns to nothing more than a run-of-the-mill shooter that steals from the sci-fi genre. It is definitely not a horror or sci-fi, just a cheap action movie. I don't know the budget they had, but the majority of the film is drowned in darkness, and such poor lighting is quite rare - only a total blackout at the production site could excuse this. The editing is chaotic, at times the viewer has no idea who is shooting at whom, who is screaming, and whose blood is splattering everywhere. I haven't seen the first film, and after watching this, I have no desire to. I get the feeling that after this discrediting of the subject matter, no one will ever make Alien 5... Overall impression: 10%. (20/01/2009)

The beginning is so fast that you can't even properly take a look, turn off the lights, and grab popcorn, and we already have alien embryos attacking the faces of poor people. This sequel strictly follows its predecessors in terms of classic trademarks and other specifics – from the sounds of fights to typical gimmicks on both sides. As a bonus, we get to see from time to time the planet of Predators (amazing) and some new cool gadget and weapons we didn’t see in the previous movies. All of this in sharper camera shots because we're no longer in the 80s, technology is advancing. Unfortunately, the plot is nonexistent and the characters, with a few exceptions, behave like morons. There are classic clichés (group division, heroic acts), but fortunately, the people don't play the main role here. The monster fights are nothing special, lacking clarity in action and a proper drive, but the emphasis on the physical abilities of each monster is intriguing (breaking through walls, destroying everything around them). As a detailed showcase of legends, it's very entertaining and technically quite decent. As a tribute to classics, it is acceptable because many scenes are basically replicas in a modern attire, but as a pure slasher, it's rather weak. Therefore, better focus on the hunter and the slimeball, and then you’ll feel better. (19/07/2008)

Another lobotomy of the alien race, accompanied this time by exquisitely bad performances from the people of Earth. The creative duo of Greg and Colin Strause deserves respect for not restarting anything and dutifully picking up where Paul W.S. Anderson so haltingly left off, but apart from the impressive Predalien, nothing of what they do is entertaining. The respectable gaming and comic book series remains cursed in terms of film. (20/01/2013)

The potential is there, both space monsters are still an irresistible attraction for viewers, but the resulting dud is something that even those for whom the names Alien and Predator never meant much do not deserve. The level of B-ness was truly unbearable, whether it was the routine and impotent direction or the utterly insane and chaotic editing, where probably even the crew couldn't find their way around. Thank God that Rodriguez fixed everything with his Predators. (03/02/2013)

My mom summed it up with a pretty accurate statement: “They messed up the whole thing with those people." And I agree with her (it reminded me of those two episodes of General Hospital I saw), and I just want to add that they messed up a lot more things. To start off I would add a little more light. Just remember the first or the second Predator, which played out during the day for the most part. Well it is what it is. The main Predator is a nice guy as always and the aliens are revoltingly revolting as usual. The problem is in the Strause brothers’ directing, because they didn’t manage to create the right atmosphere. The plus is, that they fulfill some fans’ fantasies. The Predator planet and children used as incubators are probably the most interesting ones. And for that its three stars. (08/02/2008)