For more than a decade, filmmaker Paul W.S. Anderson felt compelled to write and direct “Alien vs. Predator.” It took 20th Century Fox and the film’s many producers almost as long to share his passion.
After several false starts, a studio management shakeup, years of negotiations between feuding producers, a near derailment by a fifth “Alien” movie and a last-minute assist from another studio’s hit slasher film, Anderson finally got his wish, and his resulting “AVP” movie debuts Friday.
“It took a long time to try to figure out how to make it work,” producer John Davis says with understatement.
Combining two of Fox’s best-known science fiction titles, the film seems a natural fit for today’s craving for recognizable franchises. The marriage is so obvious, in fact, that an Alien skull made a cameo in 1990’s “Predator 2,” and the Predator and Alien creatures started dueling years ago in popular video games and comic books.
Here’s how the titans stack up:
Series history
Predator: When the Predator admires his spaceship trophy case in the Los Angeles-based “Predator 2,” we see the skull of an Alien. While it is possible he picked this up at a souvenir shop, chances are this means at least one prior victory over his insectlike foe.
Alien: May have a win or two, but since it is rite of passage for Predators to kill Aliens and not the other way around, you have to figure they’ve lost more than they’ve won. However, thanks to an Alien Queen’s vast egg-laying capabilities, the numbers advantage is clearly on the Aliens’ side.
Advantage: Predator
Personality
Predator: Ruthless, but somewhat on the shy side, probably because humans tend to make disparaging comments about its crablike face. Likes to hunt, but has shown something of a code of honor by leaving women with children and children free of harm.
Alien: It’s all about reproduction –nothing gets in the way of the species’ survival. Highly protective of its young and has been known to resort to violence to ensure that no one messes with the wee ones. Displays a kinky sense of humor, choosing ironic moments (i.e., during mealtime) to burst through human hosts’ stomachs.
Advantage: You’re not going to want to break bread with either creature, but “AVP” special effects supervisor John Bruno goes with the Predator.
Offense
Predator: Weapons include double-tipped, 5-foot-long throwing spear, spring-released serrated blades, shoulder-mounted plasma cannon, net launcher and razor-sharp throwing discs.
Alien: Well, there’s the way those face-huggers burst out of the eggs and attack anyone within leaping distance. And, of course, the aforementioned chest-bursting, which is nobody’s idea of a good time. The mature adult has two sets of very pointy teeth , a whiplike tail and its brute strength.
Advantage: Slight edge to Predator, if only for the variety of options.
Defense
Predator: Localized camouflage shield makes it invisible –to humans, at least.
Alien: Instead of blood, it has molecular acid that will eat through anything.
Advantage: Give the nod to Alien.
Strength of schedule
Predator: Faced two future U.S. governors in “Predator,” killing one (Jesse Ventura) and ultimately losing to another (Ah-nold).
Alien: Technically, has never lost to humans. Did get distracted by the sight of Sigourney Weaver in her underwear in “Alien,” but no creature is infallible, right?
Advantage: Alien
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Edited by Cara DiPasquale (cdipasquale@tribune.com) and Chris Courtney (cdcourtney@tribune.com)
