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The law of diminishing almost always applies to sequels. “Alien Vs. Predator” got its start due to a visual reference in “Predator”; we actually see an Alien skull among the “trophies” that the Predator collected in the first film. After that the series saw life as a comic book, trading cards and in other formats. That doesn’t bode well for a movie trying to make an impression. Already the material has been diluted.

To give Director Paul W. S. Anderson (“Resident Evil”, “Solider”, “Event Horizon”, “Mortal Combat”) credit he knows exactly what type of film he’s making—“Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man” an earlier attempt to mix two franchise monsters appears early on in the film. He knows he’s making a crowd pleaser designed strictly for entertainment or a film counterpart to a videogame. As such, “AVP” provides the thrills that fans expect even if it does so without much imagination. Anderson goes back to Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett’s original screenplay where the Alien is first discovered in a pyramid. Then he borrows from “Cube” and mixes it all with a dash of Chariots of the Gods. This special DVD edition features the superior extended version of the film which never played in theaters as well as the original theatrical cut of the film. Don’t get me wrong as pure pulp entertainment “AVP” delivers as many thrills and chills as a rollercoaster ride but it’s about as memorable. Although it may be uninspired compared to the previous entries (even the underrated and dark “Alien 3”), “AVP” features some amazing action sequences well shot and edited making it visually involving if lacking in characterization and story.

Industrialist Charles Weyland (Lance Henriksen making his third appearance in the “Alien” franchise) discovers a pyramid buried under the ice of Antarctica using thermal imaging satellites that his company uses to hunt for oil. He mounts an archaeological expedition there in hopes of discovering something earth shattering. What he discovers goes beyond his wildest dreams; the team led by veteran mountain climber Lex Woods (Sanaa Lathan) discovers a pyramid older than anything known to man in pristine condition. What they’ve stumbled upon is a training ground for the young Predator alien race where they hunt down the creatures from the “Alien” films as part of a rite of passage. Suddenly, mankind is thrown into the middle of a battle they can’t possibly win. ***

Although it isn’t an extras per se, this edition features both the original theatrical cut and a superior, slightly longer extended version with a completely new sequence set on earth more than a hundred years ago. This sequence which shows a group of whalers caught smack dab in the middle of the conflict between a Predator and Alien immediately puts you into the action of the film. While it’s a superior opening, it’s also easy to see why Anderson cut it; the action drags a little bit after this rip roaring opening sequence. Nevertheless, the extended version is a much more involving experience than the theatrical cut. We also get a making-of featurette that gives us the nuts and bolts behind making the movie. Anderson and others discuss some of the difficulties that had this project on hold for so long. There’s also a discussion about the elements borrowed from the original unproduced script for “Alien”. We also get a number of DVDROM features including a glimpse at the covers for the comic books that inspired the film itself as well as a sneak peak at the graphic novel coming out later this year. ---