# Alien vs. Predator!!! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 11, 2003, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-vs-predator/212631 "2003-11-11T17:11:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![godzillatemple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@godzillatemple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/godzillatemple)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-vs-predator/212631/1 "2003-11-11T17:11:13Z")
I saw the teaser for this film a couple of weeks ago when we went to see the director’s cut of “Alien.” Supposedly, it’s due out sometime next year. I remember reading the Dark Horse comic book years ago and getting a kick out of the Alien skull displayed in the rpedator’s trophy case in “Predator 2,” but I had given up hope of this film ever actually being made. The [Internet Movie Database](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0370263/plotsummary) has the following plot summaries, which may or may not be accurate: > [@](#): > > An expedition of archaeologists on Earth discover an Aztec temple hidden under the Antarctic circle, housing a host of Alien creatures. A group of five coming-of-age Predators have also come to the temple, as it has long been a training ground for their race. From there on, it’s Aliens vs. Predators, with the humans caught in the middle. > [@](#): > > Set in the early 21st century on Earth, Charles Weyland, an industrialist billionaire, leads an archaeological expedition in Antartica. Using thermal imaging satellites, Weyland believes to have discovered the ruins of an ancient pyramid temple that predates the Egyptian and Aztec pyramids buried under the ice. Once inside, the team finds the remains of humans with holes in the rib cage and the remains of facehuggers, meaning that the possibility of the temple being uninhabited is very unlikely. To make matters worse, five teenage Predators are coming to the temple to perform a coming-of-age ritual that involves fighting to the death with the aliens. Soon, it becomes clear that only one species is getting out alive. Assuming these are accurate, this would be a significant departure from the comic book (which was set in the far future on a planet being colonized by humans). The writer/director is Paul Anderson, who previously directed “Resident Evil”, “Soldier” and “Event Horizon.” I wasn’t terribly impressed by “Soldier” and didn’t even bother seeing “Resident Evil” after reading all the negative reviews, but I did find “Event Horizon” to be a reasonably intelligent and very scary sci-fi movie, and think that Mr. Anderson (or should that be MISter ANderson ;)) could do a good job with this one. Is anybody else excited about this film? Barry ---
**Author:** ![Zap\_Rowsdower](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3da27b/32.png) [@Zap\_Rowsdower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zap_Rowsdower)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-vs-predator/212631/2 "2003-11-11T17:31:10Z")
I must admit I find the idea interesting and hope they do it right. I think just from the summaries I prefer the idea of humans colonizing another planet and stumbling into a battle ground, but the other idea could work as well. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-vs-predator/212631/3 "2003-11-11T17:36:10Z")
Soldier wasn’t bad, Event Horizon had some promise (and I admit, it freaked me out, but then I find “Killer Clowns from Outer Space” to be too scary), and Resident Evil was so gawd-awful I’m planning to bring it to be mocked mercilessly at the next Sci-Fi club meeting. Well, Hope springs eternal. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-vs-predator/212631/4 "2003-11-11T18:59:13Z")
Personally I liked Event Horizon, Resident Evil, and yes, even Mortal Kombat. So I’m not concerned wth Anderson’s direction. And this isn’t meant to be a translation of the comic. There were many AvP comics, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![godzillatemple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@godzillatemple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/godzillatemple)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-vs-predator/212631/5 "2003-11-11T19:12:06Z")
Ooooohhhh… I just noticed that, according to the IMDB page, **Lance Henriksen** is cast in the role of Charles Weyland. I like that! Presumably, Charles Weyland was the founder of the company that eventually became “Weyland-Utani,” and maybe the Bishop androids were created in his image. [Oh wait, I just remembered that at the end of ALIEN 3, Lance played a scientist in whose image the Bishop android was created, so never mind. Except, of course, that everybody knows there was no such movie as ALIEN 3, right? ;)] Barry ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-vs-predator/212631/6 "2003-11-11T19:25:39Z")
You mean in Alien[sup]3[/sup], Lance Henriksen played someone who claimed he was the scientist who designed the Bishop-model of synthetic persons. He very well could have been another android as well. I’m looking forward to this movie. I fear in my heart it will be a repeat of Alien: Resurrection, which was an affront to God. ---
**Author:** ![godzillatemple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@godzillatemple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/godzillatemple)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-vs-predator/212631/7 "2003-11-11T19:29:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lno \* > **You mean in Alien[sup]3[/sup], Lance Henriksen played someone who claimed he was the scientist who designed the Bishop-model of synthetic persons. He very well could have been another android as well.** Good point. > [@](#): > > \*\*I’m looking forward to this movie. I fear in my heart it will be a repeat of Alien: Resurrection, which was an affront to God. \*\* Well, that’s why I mentioned who the director is and the other movies he’s done. He doesn’t seem to go for the arty stylistic route in his movies, and I’m looking forward to a straightforward action and scare fest. Barry ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-vs-predator/212631/8 "2003-11-11T19:38:04Z")
i’m not sure about this. Anderson is showing a departure from previous Aliens backstory, which i hate (continuity is life), but you could work in the Predators with this. I think the budget is too small to do a futuristic space marines vs. Aliens vs. Predators that this movie deserves. Hopefully it will rule, smash the box office, and the sequal gets the big budget it deserved in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-vs-predator/212631/9 "2003-11-11T20:21:16Z")
In this I’m very pessimistic. This guy has turned out one ok movie and a few that are total drek. From what we know of the plot it sounds truly godawful. Scientists? Aztec temples in Antarctica? Predator training grounds? Someone posted that they hope the director goes for pure action and scare fest. That’s exactly what they DON’T need to do. I’ve seen way to many fast cuts to a heavy metal beat in too many movies. Alien (and to a less extent predator) is all about atmosphere atmosphere, atmosphere! Dread as you combat the unknown. The slow retreat. Watching your resources go down to zero. Sure you have the occasional pop out of the closet moment but the reason those moments matter so much is that you know and care about these people and when they die. Who didn’t cheer as Paul riser got toasted in Aliens (for whatever reason you have)? Who didn’t’ feel bad in the moment in the airduct with the two soliders griping the grenade? The ‘action’ in the first two alien movies didn’t even really start until what? At least 1/2 an hour into it? And the cat and mouse game in predator one didn’t start until about the same time. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-vs-predator/212631/10 "2003-11-11T21:11:55Z")
I’ve never read the “Predators v. Aliens” comix, but I’ve heard rumors about them – according to which, the Predators **created** the Aliens, by genetic engineering, as suitably dangerous prey to hunt. (These dudes are more macho than Klingons!) Will this backstory element be included in the movie? ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-vs-predator/212631/11 "2003-11-11T21:23:04Z")
I never read the comic either but I heard it was the navigators (the big alien in the first ship in alien) that created the Aliens. But the predators turned around and ‘seeded’ worlds with them so they could hunt them. the backstory for the movie such as it is that Predators used earth as a training ground. Putting Aliens in aztec temples and throwing their ‘teenaged’ youth in there in a live or die final test to become warriors. Needless to say the aliens got out so the preds nuked their bases and set up another one below the ice… ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-vs-predator/212631/12 "2003-11-11T21:51:33Z")
From all of the material I’ve seen (all six applicable movies, the very detailed Aliens RPG and tabletop game by Leading Edge, various books, a pile of graphic novels) there is no serious claim that the aliens were created by either the predators or the navigator from Alien. These are explained as the predators deliberately using the alien for training purposes (as Alien vs Predator is supposedly about) by seeding a planet with eggs, and the navigator transporting a collection of eggs for unknown reasons when the aliens somehow got loose. The origin of the aliens is simply unknown. I’m a little irked that the plot of the movie is based around the Von Daniken tripe that pyramids were created by alien races, and I’m wary of whatever justification they may come up with for explaining an Aztec pyramid in Antarctica. ---
**Author:** ![godzillatemple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@godzillatemple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/godzillatemple)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-vs-predator/212631/13 "2003-11-11T22:05:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lno \* > \*\*I’m a little irked that the plot of the movie is based around the Von Daniken tripe that pyramids were created by alien races, and I’m wary of whatever justification they may come up with for explaining an Aztec pyramid in Antarctica. \*\* Maybe it was originally built to honor the Elder Gods millions of years ago before the antarctic icecap formed. The Predators simply took the place over because it was convenient… ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-vs-predator/212631/14 "2003-11-11T22:10:57Z")
Well, if they tie Cthulhu in, then I’m cool with it. ---
**Author:** ![Kaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/fbc32d/32.png) [@Kaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaf)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-vs-predator/212631/15 "2003-11-11T22:18:40Z")
Kinda makes the end anti-climactic though. Cthulhu rises and everyone goes insane. The trailer looked pretty terrible. Any suggestions on where to start with the comic books? Is there one series? Several series? ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-vs-predator/212631/16 "2003-11-11T22:19:56Z")
heh I wonder if they’ll run into the craft from **The Thing** Alien vs Predator vs The Thing in the Cthulhu mythos. Oh god I’m glad I didn’t mention that on some fanfic board. ---
**Author:** ![bughunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-vs-predator/212631/17 "2003-11-12T00:20:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by godzillatemple \* > **I did find “Event Horizon” to be a reasonably intelligent and very scary sci-fi movie** OMG, you’ve _got_ to be kidding, right? _Event Horizon_ was one of the worst, most disappointing movies I’ve ever seen, worse even than _Alien3_, and only marginally better than _Dr. Giggles_. It started out promising, with the Search and Rescue team on their ship, but just deteriorated from there. At every turn, every character makes stupid decisions. I completely lost it when at one point, a character chases a vision of her child into the maze of the engine core… I mean, come _on_, they know they’re in orbit around Uranus, they know they’re being subjected to illusionary diversions… augh… This movie insulted my intelligence. Even for a horror flick, the characters were just stupid, and deserved to be denied the chance to reproduce any further. ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-vs-predator/212631/18 "2003-11-12T00:31:58Z")
I always assumed in Event Horizon they had entered a type of ‘dream state’ that made them make some of those stupid decisions. Ever notice we never open a portal into an alternate dimension and find it filled with puppies and rainbows? ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-vs-predator/212631/19 "2003-11-12T02:03:58Z")
> [@](#): > > You mean in Alien3, Lance Henriksen played someone who claimed he was the scientist who designed the Bishop-model of synthetic persons. He very well could have been another android as well. Wasn’t this basically laid out in plain sight? When Ripley bashes his head with a pipe **[his ear is kind of hanging off the side of his face](http://www.us.imdb.com/gallery/ss/0103644/Ss/0103644/IMG0081-a.jpg?path=pgallery&path_key=Henriksen,%20Lance)** and he’s not reacting to it much. Of course he’s also bleeding red, not white. ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-vs-predator/212631/20 "2003-11-12T02:11:44Z")
You know, I never noticed that, **Hail Ants**. I’m pretty embarrassed about that. Thanks for pointing it out. (I’m willing to claim that he’s an android in #3, and the bleeding-red is explained as advances in the field of synthetics, along with his less-than-upright actions and words which are contrary to what Bishop says about his abilities in #2.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alien-vs-predator/212631.md?page=2)