Alien Versus Predator: Requiem

In sharp contrast to the amazing I Am Legend, Alien Versus Predator: Requiem hits the cinema screen without pretending to be anything other than scary popcorn fodder.

But it's not bad. It really isn't.

Following on from 2004's disappointing Alien Versus Predator, the plot continues the vendetta between the universe's greatest hunter (Predator, star of the '87 Schwarzenegger hit Predator) and the xenomorph known only as 'Alien.'

This time, the action takes place in Gunnison, Colorado, a quiet town in the woods and mountains. A crashed Predator ship releases dozens of alien-producing 'face huggers' and a dominant alien/predator hybrid who then prey on the unsuspecting townfolk.

It's more disaster movie than horror movie. In the same set-up we saw in Airport and The Towering Inferno, we're introduced to a bevvy of characters and then watch them get picked off one-by-one by the terrifying aliens.

But this film is a huge improvement on the first Alien vs. Predator movie. From the moment the movie opens - with a father/son hunting party falling prey to face huggers - it's pretty clear that nothing is sacred and none of the characters you've come to love [Love? Are you sure? Even like would be a push - Editorial Bear] will be safe.

Another improvement is the Predator. Considering Aliens and Predators are two of the movie industry's most famous baddies, it's tough to pick which one to 'root for.' In the original movie, the Predator was presented as an honorable hunter, who teamed up with humans against the aliens. In this movie, directors Colin and Greg Strause go back to the source material and give us back the amoral, human-skinning predator we loved when he faced off against Arnie in the original.

Nothing here will rock you - but you won't be disappointed, either. Unlike the previous chapter, Alien Versus Predator: Requiem sticks tightly to the established 'canon' and delivers a movie that satisfies sci-fi fans and pop-corn munchers in equal measure.

When you bought the tickets, you knew what you were getting. If your expectations go no higher than that, you'll find Alien Versus Predator: Requiem to be an entirely satisfying movie experience.

The Predator, the Savior and the Apathetic Onlooker

Currently, I'm keeping my ambitions modest and achievable. For Saturday, my project was simply to remain in bed past 7am. Unfortunately, I was thwarted in this ambition by plaintiff cries emerging from underneath the bed.

The cries were coming from a little wounded Robin, lodged firmly in Ava's jaws.

We deposited the crippled bird outside and Ava retired to her bed, licking her chops. Right now she's lying there, dreaming of more wildlife she can massacre.

Tina always does her best to help Ava's wounded prey. Unfortunately, catch-and-release doesn't really work once Ava's fangs have done their work. Tina wanted to help the little Robin, but I could tell the poor thing was a goner.

With squirrels, birds and groundhogs roaming happily in our yard, we'll have to get used to Ava's little gifts. We prefer mice to the birds, however. The birds are normally alive - albeit mangled. The mice arrive on our kitchen floor neatly missing their front halves and that eliminates the problem of catching them. And it makes clean up a lot easier.

Right now, whenever Ava prowls through the long grass, the birds have started screeching and the squirrels peer down angrily from the power lines. They've set up an early warning system that our little Bengal finds very frustrating.

This has led to Ava developing an observation platform in the spare room, where she can maintain a look out through the glass without alerting any of her potential victims. Then, as they frolic in the yard, she can stalk out and pounce on them.

A quick word with Mommy has led to Ava's bed being shifted into the spare room, so she can take a little cat nap between look-out shifts. Considering her bed is now the only item of furniture there, it looks like our spare room/office has now become Ava's room.

A cat with her own bedroom?

She's ridiculously spoilt.