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2002 News
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Sunday, November 3, 2002
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New Nav System for IE Users
I've created a second navigation system for Internet Explorer users (it won't work for Netscape, but I made it so you won't even see it). This new option employs a dropdown category setup where you click on one menu and a submenu opens. Then if you click on another menu, that submenu opens and the other submenu closes. For those of you who just like the old list system, it's still set as default, and you can easily switch between the two.
Popup Windows
No, not the annoying ad ones that we all dream of pulverizing. You may have noticed that on some pages if you click on a thumbnail, a new window will open that is sized to the larger image. You can either click on the image to close it or click on the close text at the bottom of the window. Well, I'm nearly done updating all of the site's pages with that feature (only Aliens: Deleted Scenes, Aliens: Behind the Terror, Alien3: Deleted Scenes, Memorabilia: Comics, and Memorabilia: Games remain). Please feel free to email me your comments about this change.
Hudson's Last Stand Video
If you ever wanted the video clip of Hudson's last stand, you can finally get it! I took the liberty of capturing it so you can download it here. It's a high quality video at 352x288 with stereo sound, and it weighs in at 4.87 MB with a 41 second running time.
Working Atari Jaguar Emulator
As the fine individuals over at AvPNews.com reported, the first working Atari Jaguar emulator, Project Tempest, has been created, and the latest release supports AvP! You can download the awesome emulator here.
Fox News Crossover Films Article
Over at Fox News, Michael Park composed an article about crossover films such as the legendary Aliens vs. Predator, Batman vs. Superman, and Freddy vs. Jason, which you can check out here. Along with the talented people at Alien Experience and AvPNews.com, I was interviewed although all of my thoughts were excluded. Since some of you may find my input interesting, a copy of my interview is below.
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1) Why have the two epics gathered such a huge following?
The Alien and Predator epics have spawned such a massive and devoted following since they contain believable characters that people really care about (Ripley, Hicks, Hudson, Dillon, Dutch, Harrigan) who were brilliantly brought to life by amazing actors (Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Bill Paxton, Charles Dutton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Danny Glover),
beautifully dark monsters for whom we should all thank H.R. Giger and Stan Winston, and fantastic stories of courage, leadership, and sacrifice. Furthermore, the films were created by some of the most talented individuals in the industry such as Ridley Scott, James Cameron, David Fincher, and John McTiernan. Thus, thanks to these people and countless others who slaved away behind the scenes, the cinematography, special effects, costumes, music, etc. are all top notch.
2) Why are fans so excited about seeing them together?
Fans have always been bursting with joy at the idea of watching the two legends battle it out ever since Dark Horse Comics published the first AvP story. It's guaranteed to be a spectacular fight if done right, because both are strong cunning hunters that rely on stealth and instinct. With its secondary jaws and acidic blood, the Alien is the perfect killing machine. The Predator is just as lethal with its extremely advanced technology that lets it become invisible, switch vision modes, track movement, patch up its wounds, and use a variety of weapons, particularly its devastating shoulder cannon. Although an experienced Predator could easily destroy a single Alien, he would probably face an entire hive led by a Queen Alien so the victor isn't clear and the ensuing war would be exhilarating to behold, especially when humans are thrown in the mix.
3) What are the criticisms about the idea of merging the two storylines?
The main criticism is whether Paul W.S. Anderson who has been hired by Fox to write and direct the epic film is worthy of the job. His other films, which include Mortal Kombat, Event Horizon, Soldier, and Resident Evil, are thought to be average work at best. Someone else like James Cameron or David Twohy would help ensure the project is a success. The other criticism revolves around whether or not the movie will actually be made. Back in 1991, Peter Briggs wrote a script for AvP, and the movie looked like it was a sure deal, but it quickly fell apart when Joe Roth, the main supporter of the project, left Fox to work for Disney. Mr. Anderson is busy working on Resident Evil: Nemesis so the AvP movie is still pretty far from going into production.
4) How do fans feel the merger would compare to separate sequels?
The merger can combine the best elements of the films and also explore new ground such as showing a new kind of Alien that bursts from a Predator or just imagine a Queen PredAlien. The AvP movie has the potential to rejuvenate both franchises. A lot of fans were disappointed by the last Alien film though so if Fox decides to make any more separate sequels, it's essential that they be of the best quality. I know every fan would love to see Cameron come back to direct a sequel or better yet, this merger.
5) What other dream matchups can you imagine between fictional characters, and what makes them appealing?
The following matchups come to mind: Freddy vs. Jason, The Thing vs. Aliens vs. Predator, Aliens vs. Terminator vs. Predator, Predator vs. X-Men, Supermanvs. Aliens, Predator vs. Batman, Batman vs. Superman, Body Snatchers vs. Predator, Spawn vs. Predator, Robocop vs. Terminator, Venom vs. Predator, and Barney vs. Aliens. They're appealing since they pit different famous characters, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, against one another so the outcome, in most cases, is uncertain, and the battles would naturally be very interesting to watch. It would also be intriguing to see how the filmmakers get the characters to meet and why they fight.
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Upload Catastrophe
Sadly, my ethernet connection is horrible when it comes to uploading (it's really quite dead) so I won't be able to update as often as I'd like, but I'm working on some major updates that'll add new content (photo gallery, an original fan edit) so when I do update, it'll be worth the wait.
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Monday, September 30, 2002
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RoboDan's AvP Trailer
The now infamous RoboDan has created a stunning concept trailer for the soon-to-be-Paul-Anderson-tarnished Aliens vs. Predator movie. Please keep in mind Fox that this is just a fan's way of expressing himself so relax and put your lawyers away. If anyone deserves to be sued, it's you for your crimes against humanity, which include ruining David Fincher's dark masterpiece, making the disgustingly awful Alien Resurrection, leaving H.R. Giger out of the credits for that abomination, and hiring Paul Anderson for AvP. Oh, let's not forget screwing the fans out of deleted scenes and extras for their favorite films. Thanks Fox! Anyway, I was very impressed by not only RoboDan's AvP trailer but his Matrix trailer too. Thus, I suggest you check both of them out at Fan Made Trailers. Also, it appears a fan-made Predator trailer was just added to that site so I'm not going to pass that up, and I don't think you want to either. Well, enjoy, and email me if you make an Alien or Predator fan-edited trailer, because I'd love to host it.
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Friday, September 20, 2002
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More Spectacular Fan Artwork
I've updated the Artwork subsection of Fanfare with three pieces of fan artwork by USCM Stormdog. You can check them out here. As I said in my last post, email me if you have any Aliens or Predator artwork that you want displayed on this site, and I'll gladly put it up.
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Sunday, September 15, 2002
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New Fan Artwork
The Artwork subsection of Fanfare has been updated with a piece of fan artwork by Chris Sawyer. If you would like your Aliens or Predator artwork to be shown on this site, email me.
Fan Edited Videos
Fan Made Trailers has an awesome collection of fan edited previews for movies like The Matrix, Aliens, Terminator 3, and The Crow. You can check out all that the site has to offer here.
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Tuesday, August 6, 2002
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Cool Flyby Animation
D. Proctor made an awesome flyby animation, which you can download from his site here. If you haven't seen it yet, it's 9 seconds long and shows a Dropship flying around the Sulaco. A photo of it is shown below. At 961 KB, it's definitely worth the download, and be sure to check out his site too since it rocks. I wish I had the talent to design such spectacular 3D models!
New Alien3 Remix Fan Edit
The Video subsection of Multimedia has been updated with a new Alien3 Remix fan edit that was created by Mike Currie. It's approximately 2 minutes in length and weighs in at 4.22 MB. You can download it here.
Video Releases Added
I've added a new Video Releases subsection to Memorabilia and removed the Alien Legacy section since the information in its Hidden Features subsection was moved.
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Monday, August 5, 2002
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Shopping Updated
The Shopping subsection of Memorabilia has been updated so there are now links to purchase AvP2: Primal Hunt, Aliens vs Predator vs Terminator, and a plethora of other Alien merchandise through Amazon.com.
 
Quake III Powerloader
The Add-ons subsection has been updated with a Powerloader model for Quake III. You can download it here. It was created by Denis who updated a model by D. Proctor. It was released at Polycount where you can find a review of the model here. Photos of the model are shown below.
 
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Sunday, August 4, 2002
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Aliens vs Predator Movie
Incase you haven't heard yet, Paul Anderson, director of Mortal Kombat, Event Horizon, Soldier, and Resident Evil, has been hired to write and direct the infamous Aliens vs Predator movie. Sadly, this isn't a rumor. Naturally, almost every Alien Predator fan is outraged since Paul is definitely not the best person to helm this film. I wish James Cameron would stop celebrating Titanic and make a movie such as this.
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Thursday, July 11, 2002
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New Poll
I started a new poll that is about what you would like to see added to this website. You can choose one of the following choices: New Aliens Fan Edit, Combat Training v2.0, Trivia Questions, No Frames Version, New Photos of Aliens Memorabilia, Completion of Games Subsection and Inclusion of Roms and Emulators, Popup Windows for Full Images, HTML Help, More Screenshots from the Movies, or Original Fan Fiction. Please cast your vote here.
Minor Repairs
The Behind the Terror subsection of Aliens has been updated so there are no longer any broken images. I also fixed a link to download the script for Alien3 in its Deleted Scenes subsection.
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Saturday, July 6, 2002
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Fixed Themes Links
I finally fixed all of the broken links in the Themes subsection of Multimedia. I'm sorry about that. I didn't even realize there was a problem until today (man, that makes me sound like a great webmaster). If you find any more broken links, please email me.
5th Anniversary
This website has now been open for over five years although I must admit my passion for this project has declined during the past year. Aliens is still my favorite movie, and I still love Alien and Alien3. While I'm not any fonder of Alien Resurrection, that hasn't ruined my enjoyment of the series (you can bet it didn't help though). My life is just not the same as it was in 1997 (big surprise, right?), but hopefully, the flame will be relit sometime in the future.
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Sunday, June 2, 2002
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Cleaning Modifications
I removed the Webrings subsection of Site Information, because the whole Webring program has fallen apart; it switched hands too many times, and nearly every Alien webring has been destroyed in the process. I've also removed some broken links in other areas and updated the Awards subsection of Site Information.
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Thursday, May 30, 2002
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McFarlane's Painted AvP Toys
Below are photos of McFarlane's painted AvP toys, which are due out in October.
  
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Tuesday, March 26, 2002
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Sunday, March 10, 2002
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Alien3 Special Edition DVD Petition
Would you like to see an uncut digitally-remastered Alien3? Well, it's time to make Fox realize that Alien fans won't be satisfied until David Fincher's dark classic receives the royal treatment it deserves. One theatrical trailer is pathetic since first of all, the movie had more than one trailer, and it also had more deleted scenes than any other film in the series. Fox did release the Aliens Special Edition DVD but even that is lacking. Where is the theatrical version? Why is there no mention of the Burke cocoon scene? Why were no commentaries included? Aliens should've had the same deluxe treatment as The Abyss. A petition has been started to persuade Fox to change its ways. You can add your signature here.
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Tuesday, February 19, 2002
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Ridley Scott's Interest in Alien 5
When asked about Alien 5 at a press conference in Sydney, Ridley Scott said, "You know I thought it'd be nice. I'd do it. It really is entirely dependent on the take on the material. It's all about material. I've been asked about Alien 5, and I said of course. We've started a script meeting. I mean, I've started it off so I may as well close the door - if in fact this is meant to be the last one." In late January, he stated, "I'm seriously mulling it over. I think it would be a lot of fun, but the most important thing is to get the story right. Would Sigourney Weaver and her aliens infest Earth this time? Earth would be interesting, and there is talk about it. I say we should go back to where the alien creatures were first found and explain how they were created. No one has ever explained why. I always figured that a battleship carrying bio-mechanical organisms that could be weapons was sent into space with some space jockey who didn't last long." Judging from his intentions and past experience, I think Ridley Scott would be perfect for the job. I wish him luck in cleaning up the mess that Resurrection left.
McFarlane's AvP Toys
Here's the official scoop from McFarlane's site: "The dream has finally come true. After years of pursuing these licenses, McFarlane Toys was able to land both of them in one fell swoop. That's right: Alien AND Predator, two of the most highly requested figures in the history of our company. To celebrate, we're packaging the two incredibly detailed figures together in a deluxe Movie Maniacs 5 boxed set along with a custom display base. Alien is based on reference from the original Alien film and Predator is based on the initial Predator movie." You can find pictures of the unpainted figures below. I never thought this day would come. This is fantastic! I hope they make toys of Cpl. Hicks and the other Colonial Marines. Kenner's reign of terror is over.
 
 
Alien/Predator: EPOCH
Thrahn, webmaster of the now-departed Aspiring Champions of the Yautja, has reopened his site as Alien/Predator: EPOCH, and you can check it out here. There is now a place for you to submit your rants and raves so don't be afraid to speak out.
Multimedia Links Fixed
The multimedia files that were deleted to satisfy GameSpy have been reuploaded to FilePlanet so their links should work again. If you're going to download anything on FilePlanet, you have to scroll down to the FilePlanet public servers, and I suggest you get the Pop-Up Stopper so you won't have to deal with the annoying ads.
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Wednesday, January 16, 2002
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Technical Difficulties
Word has been received from David Shipley and GameSpy that this site is taking up too much space so I've been forced to delete some themes and other multimedia files. Eventually, these files will be reuploaded to FilePlanet, but I'm not sure when I'll have time to do that, and we all know how well FilePlanet works. More of this site may be deleted since my hosts are still complaining that my site is too large.
Alien Experience Moves
Hicks's fantastic Alien Experience website has just claimed its own domain name! You can check it out at www.alienexperience.com.
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Thursday, January 3, 2002
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Memorabilia Update
The information in the Toys, Models, Comics, and Miscellaneous subsections was rewritten, and most of the old images were redone so they show more Alien merchandise. The rest of the Memorabilia section will be revised shortly.
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Wednesday, January 2, 2002
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Hunting Down Alien Merchandise
I've added a new Shopping subsection to help people locate rare Alien merchandise. Right now it only has a small collection of links, but it will grow over time and eventually feature specific details about what is sold at each site. You can always visit Alienscollection.com for an enormous list of sites that sell Alien memorabilia.
AMR's Latest Incarnation
For those of you who didn't know, Nathan's infamous Alien Movies Resource has found a new home, and it has also been redesigned so it's easier to use. You can check it out here.
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Tuesday, January 1, 2002
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Review of Last Year's Alien Mayhem
So what happened in 2001? New Alien5 rumors emerged from the shadows, and many long-awaited Alien Predator games came and went. AvP2 finally infested video game shelves around the globe, and a few patches, a map pack, and the official editing tools have already been released for it. If you have yet to pick it up, you can grab it from Amazon.com for around $19.99. All of the add-on files can be downloaded from AvPNews.com or PlanetAvP.com. Aliens: Thanatos Encounter also reared its nasty jaws to temporarily silence the appetites of Alien fans, and Sadogoat spreads word that more exciting AvP games await us this year.
As you've no doubt noticed, this website hasn't been updated in quite a while. I hope to change that and finish all of the long-overdue projects. Well, take care and thanks for visiting.
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