Why the AVP films are set on Earth

Started by Scorpio, Jan 23, 2018, 07:46:33 AM

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Why the AVP films are set on Earth (Read 5,284 times)

Wweyland

Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Jan 24, 2018, 11:12:54 AM
Indeed. I believe he wrote out a few set pieces in the second draft to reduce the cost of that attempt.

Didn't he add a new opening in space with a zero-g fight between Predators and Aliens? Doesn't sound like cost reduction.

SiL

SiL

#16
The stuff towards the end with dozens of aliens and a sinking colony were probably tightened.

Corporal Hicks

QuoteAccording to Briggs "some of the characters disappeared from it, a lot of the dialogue was re-worked, the beginning's different, some of the extra sequences are different... There's about 70% of my first draft remaining in the second."

QuoteWhilst discussing the practicality of filming Alien vs. Predator in an interview with Andy Diggle in 1996, Peter Briggs also said of his second draft: "I cut some big scenes from the first draft of Alien vs. Predator because I thought, "Well, these are throwaway, this set is superfluous." If somebody gave me the money, I think I could go out and shoot that for about 35, 40 million."

http://www.avpgalaxy.net/avp-movies/avp-movie/hunt-begins-early-days-peter-briggs-alien-vs-predator/

SiL

SiL

#18
Hopefully most of the "grease monkeys" got cut then.

Man I wish he'd kept that second draft :(

Corporal Hicks

Me too.  :( It's in Fox's vaults somewhere waiting for some lucky person to get in there...

OpenMaw

OpenMaw

#20
Quote from: Wweyland on Jan 24, 2018, 12:37:23 PM

Didn't he add a new opening in space with a zero-g fight between Predators and Aliens? Doesn't sound like cost reduction.

It's hard to say because the opening sequence featured a dozen Predators going into a cliff-side cave and hunting dozens of aliens in an orgy of death. Neither opening would be cheap.

And honestly i'm not big on having the film opening big like that anyway. That's like, your money shot, hold onto it!

The Cruentus

I think the problem with setting it on earth is that it undermines the threat posed by the Xenomorph and of course, Ripley's actions in later films. I mean we got two AVP films set on earth and both had infestations out of the Predator's control, yet earth was not overrun because the infestations were easily contained. It kind of makes Ripley come off as paranoid and overzealous. Though to be fair, paranoia would be a realistic state of mind after encountering such creatures, mental trauma can be far worse than what caused it in the first place.

Still, I would prefer the avp films to be set on another planet. I mean the first film for instance wasn't that bad, it was not a great film but it had the chance to be one if properly executed. If that film was set on an ice planet (or even a desert one since it would be more in line of how predators hunt ) and had better character development, R-rating and less artistic license on Mayans etc. then it could have been a fairly good movie.

To answer the question, I think budget was a factor, I think I remember it being said that "space was too expensive".. :P

SM

SM

#22
They were contained - mostly - by nuclear explosions; one launched by a government on it's own populace (based on some grainy video footage).  Not sure if I call that easy.

The Cruentus

It is if one believes in the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, the whole "greater good" thing is at play. Nuclear (and sometimes non nuclear) explosions have been fairly effective at ending Xenomorph infestations, the only cost is the potential collateral damage and even then its x population vs potentially the world's population.

Might be hard choice morally but easy choice logically which is probably what any high ranking military officer would think about.

SM

SM

#24
It's not just a hard choice morally...

The main problem in AvP:R is that it's almost a first resort rather than a last resort. 

OpenMaw

OpenMaw

#25
Things are a bit muddled with the way "Colonel" Stevens fits into things if he's attached to OWLF. Where does his authority come from, etc.

I always interpreted, even though it's not really ever stated in the film, that Stevens was basically operating on his own without anyone above him knowing what was going on. Especially since things went to shit so fast there was no time to get presidential authority or anything of that sort. That's strictly speaking, my B.S.

The Cruentus

Things escalated fast that's for sure, also as SM pointed out, the nuke response should be last and not first or second if you count the Natguard as the first response. The only way the instanuke response would make sense, is if Col. Stevens knew what they were dealing with or had some idea of it anyway but he says to the screen "What the hell are you?" or something like that, meaning he has no clue.

OpenMaw

OpenMaw

#27
Well, not knowing what the ALIEN is makes sense, of course. OWLF is fully aware of the Predators.

The Cruentus

It should make sense but certain characters is already thinking it is an infestation (which it is but they shouldn't know that). They should be thinking invasion or an attack, neither which requires the use of a clean up nuke on domestic ground, at least not until there is no friendlies or civvies left. At least that is my opinion anyway. Nukes are mostly deterrents against another nuke armed country, they are rarely used as far as I know, the only one I can think of at the top of my head is the Hiroshima bomb. I'm sure there is more but can't think right now.

I just know its not something to use lightly and not without proper intel on the enemy and the situation.

SM

SM

#29
Nagasaki.

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