Paul Anderson discusses Alien vs. Predator...and the R-rated DVD

[Kai Lord]

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htforum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=208445

Interesting recap of some comments by Paul Anderson regarding the current cut of AvP.

Some highlights include:

Paul W.S. Anderson Responds to 'Alien vs Predator'

There seems to be a lot of controversy surrounding Paul Anderson's Alien vs Predator, which hit theaters last week. Whether it's on IMDB or right here at Mr. Disgusting's review, people either hated the film or loved it. But what everyone really wants to know is what was with all the talk of the movie not being completed and why is it rated PG-13? If you read on, all of your questions will be answered by the director himself Paul W.S. Anderson...

LAgrappleguy writes in the following (also posted on IMDB):

The first subject that came up, no thanks to me, was the length and PG-13 rating.

So here it is, from the horses mouth.
About the studio's cutting of the film, which he had no control over, he said, and I quote, "All of the best scenes were cut." Anderson was obviously very annoyed at the way the film was released. However, this was not purely because of the PG-13 limitation, which incidentally, the studio enforced THREE WEEKS before the release date! It was always going to be R until then. Part of the reason for the cutting was that some of the effects were not ready by the time the release date came around. The effects team had very little time to do anything.

As far as the content that was cut, apparently we see all those who die, die on screen, but he also said that there is a sub-plot that we will have to wait for on DVD. Yes there will be an R-rated Director's cut DVD although they don't know the release date yet.

and also from an Industry Screening Q&A:

"I know that the AVP project has been surrounded by controversy since the first attempt in the early nineties. Why did you choose to not use any of the pre-existing stories, the original comic series, the Peter Briggs script, etc?"

Anderson told me that he wanted to make the film his own. He also proclaimed that he'd had the idea for this film ever since seeing Predator 2. I thought that was probably ego-driven BS, but regardless, it's what he said. He also said that the Peter Briggs script is completely off-limits, shelved indefinately by Dark Horse and they won't let anyone tough it. Sounds to me like he tried, heh heh.

Later I asked some technical nerd questions. I wasn't the only one. I started by stating that I noticed some glaring continuity errors between this film and the pre-established occurences in the previous 6 films. Anderson stopped me before I could continue and said due to the "mangling" of the film, there was a lot left out. I asked, "Does that include the acceleration of the alien life cycle or was that just convenient."

Whoops, I had hit a nerve. He shook his head. "No, no, the machine that the Predators built to house the Queen pumps her full of hormones that accelerate the birth of the creatures. If we'd seen the REAL film, we'd know that."

 

[Dark Jezter]

Awesome! Sounds like I'm definately gonna have to check out the R-Rated Alien vs Predator DVD when it comes out.

 

[Celtavian]

re

Sounds like the DVD may be worth seeing.

 

[Acid_crash]

This just blows because I know Paul intended this movie to be as close to two hours as he wanted and aimed it to be rated R. He said so in an internet special a few months ago... I can't stand when the director makes the movie as intended, then the people above come in, cut out what they don't want just to lower the rating to PG-13 when ALL previous 6 movies of both franchises were rated R...c'mon.

I bet the DVD version will be the full version and it will smack the theatrical version and show us the movie we should have gotten in the first damn place.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

Interesting. Sounds like this'll be a good DVD to pick up.

 

[Krug]

Honestly speaking, it might make it a good movie but that's about it. It won't make it great.

 

[Celtavian]

re

Honestly speaking, it might make it a good movie but that's about it. It won't make it great.

If it makes it more internally consistent, I will be alot happier. I don't expect a movie on the level of Ridley Scott or James Cameron, but hopefully better than Alien 3 and Alien 4. While maintaining internal consistency of course.

 

[Abraxas]

I agree with Celtavian.

Hopefully, the DVD version addresses most of the reasons I hated the theatrical release.

At least now there's still hope for an entertaining AVP movie

 

[barsoomcore]

There's not a LOT of hope. This is still Paul Anderson we're talking about. The man who was able to take Michelle Rodrigeuz, Milla Jovovich and thousands of zombies and still turn out a boring-as-heck movie.

 

[Numion]

Whoops, I had hit a nerve. He shook his head. "No, no, the machine that the Predators built to house the Queen pumps her full of hormones that accelerate the birth of the creatures. If we'd seen the REAL film, we'd know that."

Do aliens have hormones?