The fundamental -- and unsolvable -- problem any AvP film faces is to conciliate the horror atmosphere of the Alien films with the flamboyant action-horror of the Predator films; and the very idea of a story whose entire foundation is
to pit two popular horror characters against each other severely demeans both, i.e. it is far too pulp to take them seriously anymore.
With that in mind, any AvP has to be seen as separate to either Alien/Predator series. So when you see the first AvP as that -- on its own -- it gains a lot, it's an entertaining homage that echoes both film series and pulpifies the characters, making them into exaggerated comic book versions of them: bigger talons, bigger f**kin queen, bigger weapons and blades, you name it. And while not flawless it's solid, imho, only needed some refinements script-wise. Photography, score, effects are all excellent and the casting is alright, with a Henriksen shining tip.
AvPR on the other hand fails as a sequel to its predecessor
and fails as a film. It's a pastiche of "what cool things could the Predator do?" and generic horror clichés. SiL put it best actually:
Quote from: SiL on Jun 23, 2017, 11:05:17 AM
every single thing about AvPR screams 14 year old COD players dreaming up the coolest, most "hardcore" horror film they can, rather than something that makes any sense or actually has any impact. People are introduced just so something awful can happen to them two minutes later. It's not scary, it's not tense, and it's shit even by slasher movie standards. AvP's not scary or tense either, but at least it's not trying to lie to you about being an adult movie.