Quote from: SiL on Jul 05, 2017, 09:52:17 AM
QuoteBut the fingerprints are there.
Sure, but how does that stop the pacing being bad? People say the pacing is bad because the pacing for the film is bad -- it really doesn't matter than other films in the series had slow builds, it wasn't appropriate for the runtime Anderson had.
As I say, it's better in the director's cut, but I think the point was he was trying to get it right. Didn't wholly succeed as you say.
Quote from: SM on Jul 05, 2017, 10:46:35 AM
The build-up in Alien and Aliens is you find interesting stuff out along with the characters. There's tension in hiking across the planet or investigating the colony, there's revelations in terms of the Jockey or facehuggers, etc. etc. You know something is going to happen - you're just not sure when and how.
In AvP the location is somewhat engaging, but the characters aren't. And the cutting away to the Aliens and Predators, drains the tension out of it.
I dunno, I liked all the Chariots of the Gods stuff - but the execution was a bit cack-handed. The Italian bloke sussed out the language pretty quickly, didn't he. But that was great stuff, akin to finding out about facehuggers etc as you say above. Note akin - not "the same" or "as good as."
I think with cutting away to Aliens and Predators... well, it's AvP. I'm pretty sure that whatever script the producer's got, the first thing they would have said is "It needs more Aliens and Predators."
As I say above - this isn't a great movie, it has some flaws. But I have to give it A+ for effort. Pacing is out - sure, but WS was trying and (certainly in the theatrical cut) failing to mimic that style (he even has the nodding duck).
Funny enough, I was reading the Briggs script on the way up to London today, I'm 33 pages in. It's pretty good - from what I remember, it's really similar to one of the comics.