Alien Versus Predator

I enjoyed the movie. It was not a fright flick, or a gore flick, really. In the simple view, it considered the lives of a small group of individuals who had to think fast or die. And the reality of it is, even a good choice could be the last. There was somewhat of a Hollywood ending, though it was not as free as most of their fairy tales. My guess, it still was not over. The kid brother is going to be a daddy, if they decide to go farther. Lots of spin from that, either they missed it in the evacuation physical because it was dormant, the military found it but wanted to play with it, you know, the usual suspects. They might even be original, somehow.

The closer view has nothing to do with the actors on the stage, the monsters are irrelevant and only look and act as they do in order to simplify the differentiation between aspects. The whole movie was about us, and I do not believe it was just about some of us. Of course, the way it was presented only appeals to some. The real story is about what is under our skin, namely the animal, the intellect, and the soul. In my take, the humans are the soul. Our soul here is weak here, battered by our mind and our instincts, or more what those lead us to do, be. The beast is the Alien, ravaging, raping, killing, and using, it does what it does without thought, though not unintelligently. It is beautiful in it’s nature and terrible in it’s truth. It is even innocent in it’s own way. The Predator is the master of it's flesh and surroundings using the mind along with a separation from soul. It thinks, plans, creates, and overcomes seemingly overwhelming situations with technology and confidence. It sees well what it does and does not care. It has not completely left it’s animal aspect behind, saving it as a last resource. It’s soul, however, is in some galactic disposal unit.

I see it so plainly for a simple reason. Those aspects within me have now become independently potent. On a day when I can get even two of those to function in conjunction, things can sort of get going. Those are rare days indeed but two out of three is not complete, nor am I on those days. I wear down as the battles rage. I consciously have decided which I will, it is the soul. Yet it is not in my hands. I lost my will when I died, one of the times, or when I walked away from the Navy against my will, or perhaps it was suicide which was the final blow to my control. As well, some things weakened me before the fall from grace, sort of like being weakened by a cold so then you cannot fight off influenza. I will never be sure what severed the link that binds the three, or even what activated them so... fully. I am working on re-integration. To get all three on board enough to become mobile would mean… In any case… The help I have received was spot on, except that it ignored the whole spiritual aspect. Science has failed in this way. It exemplifies the predator, and perhaps more, psychology is only a… weak science. A flawed weak science even in it’s own domain. But that it is devoid of religion and that certainty makes it impotent to any but the most domesticated socialized of those among us. A priestly psychologist who specializes in my, urhm, affliction might be able to help. However, I doubt if they are even allowed into the field, at least without being stripped of God. Hmm, I had not considered such a thing until now…

Oh, the other thing about the movie… It is based where I am planning to move, that city and state. Yes, it is a real place. I hate when that happens. Or, I guess I do not. It was just, odd.

Update:

I rented two movies I had meant to see, on my way home. I just could not function to get to the theaters. One is 'Skin Walkers' the other is 'The Reaping'. There was another one I had actually intended to rent, but my mind completely blanked. Something about an Indian raised Viking. I plan to see Beowulf (a childhood favorite) and 'No Country for Old Men'. The last of those I will hold off seeing until a friend decides whether he will go. He, as a personal rule, does not attend R movies unless they have some significance. He is an English grad student, and is aware of the author, so... maybe. I am trying to gear up and get going a bit. I love the movies, and have missed many I wanted to see. So, I suppose I will combine the two and get the threefer, somehow.

Update:

I awoke very late today, rolling out of the rack at 14:00, and moving slow. I stayed up and watched the movies until nearly 6:00. Well, that and I was running some checks on my computer.

Skin Walker was a movie I am grateful I did not spend money watching in the theater (though I had some suspicions even then, and planned to catch the dvd). If you want to see a good werewolf and vampire flick, watch Underworld (I is good, II is very good). I made a mistake with Underworld I, and did not see it in the theaters... my bad. Back to Skin Walker... The acting, directing, story, plot... just did not exist. I really wonder if that was a $10k college, high school, or biker gang developed movie. The transformations from human to beast will set back my notions of that myth for a long time, sadly. Some things just cannot be unseen. Even the werewolf forms, after the transformations, were poor. And I have read better stories, much better stories, written by elementary students. There was no subtlety, no intrigue, poor detail... I really could keep going, but why? Watch it if you have absolutely nothing to do but kill time and do not care how.

The Reaping was at least interesting. It was not a great movie, or even a good movie. Far better than Skin Walkers, however. And, not something I regret watching. My real complaint is that it could have been done a great deal better. There is a plot, the story is not bad at all (though devoid of the detail it could have had, and really for which it was primed), acting and directing were decent, though the camera takes were a bit weak. Filming and detail where areas the movie fell down hard, though aspects of the ending were also rather lame. The characters are fairly real and likable, well done, and not too badly acted. They could have really pushed the envelope on this, but it looks like they started out with a great thing and then... just did it fast, on a budget, then dumped it into the theater. It has it's moments, it is interesting, it is worth watching on a slow day which you wish to keep slow. Oh, and a definite plus for the movie was that, though it's take on Christianity and faith are not quite my ideal, if you bear with it for a bit, it is rewarding. I was very surprised, and pleased, with the portrayal of this aspect of the movie, for the most part. It is as good as you get, in theaters anyway.