Agreed. I'm convinced the problem with both AVP and AVPR was the execution, not the concept.
I would have liked a longer fight with the alien queen than in the comic, so I can see why that particular scene was longer in the movie, but overall, the comic was much better than the movie we got, in every other regard. The desert can be a damn spooky place at night too, and such a setting would fit both alien and predator. The sad part is it would have even been less expensive as far as making sets and locations.
The distant world of Ryushi was more interesting than having it on Earth, and it doesn't mess with the alien movie timeline, either.
The AVP lead's acting didn't do it for me either, and I couldn't believe her in the role. The script had to spoon feed to us that she was tough. To be fair to the actress, it could simply have been bad direction and script, too.
The predator costumes were the bulkiest things ever, and their oversized equipment just looked awkward.
Overall, the movie's execution had many problems, but I won't say the concept was the problem unless I were to see a movie that follows the original comic, has interesting characters that feel believable and relatable, a believable leed playing Machiko, costumes that actually look good, and the desert planet setting of Ryushi. If such a movie were made that did everything right, and it still failed, then I would drop my case.
And AVP-R was, well, a movie.
