"Aliens vs Predator: Requiem" was released on DVD, and since i missed reviewing it in theaters, here it is now.

(SPOILERS!)

More action: Check

More bloody deaths: Check

More true to the classic creatures: Check

Interesting characters: Nope.

The second attempt to merge these 2 franchises finds the xemoporphs and space hunter in a small Colorado suburb. Much more to the point this time, we follow a lone Predator Veteran as he travels to earth to clean up all evidence of their little accident. The Preditor/Alien hybrid from the first movie, dubbed the Predalien, sets up a new hive, as the Aliens begin overrunning the town. While not overly in depth, the plot is a fanboy dream of what would happen if Aliens got loose on earth, and how the populace becomes xenomorph food.

So the moments when the Preditor is killing stuff, or the Alien is killing stuff, the movie works pretty well. The major flaw in AvP:R is the humans. Mainly, the teenage love story stuff. The only pay off with is one dies in a pretty cool way. The police scenes aren't bad, but the only standout character is the Army Mother trying to reconnect with her daughter. But even this is hampered by the fact that the daughter is a Newt wanna be. (Even sharing some of the same lines.)

The Predalien is pretty cool, but kinda underused. It's interesting in the fact it only attacks females, and you see the Predator influences in it. (it stands more upright and tears spines out of victims.) The final showdown is fairly underwhemling though.

Like I said before the movie is nearly all fanservice. The Predator is appropriately oldschool and badass, with a wide range of cool weapons and tools. The Alien and Predalien are ruthless as we watch them systematically take over. When they clash it's exciting to watch. And when humans get in the way, expect some blood and exploding heads.

Oddly enough one of the movie's best moments is in it's final 2 minutes, where the AvP series begins to catch up with the classic "Alien." If the same directors are on board for that film, i have faith they'll do it justice.... in their own way anyway.

It's hard not to recommend this for fans of the series. Like it's predecessor it's not a great movie, and arguably not even a very good movie, but you can tell great care went into making it true to the AvP lore. Just ignore the homosapians, look past the silly bits, and enjoy yourself.