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Aliens Vs. Predator: Requiem: Inside The Monster Shop by Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff, Jr with Chris Ayers
02/02/2008 . Source: Geoff Willmetts 
pub: Titan Books/Amalgamated Dynamics. 127 page illustrated softcover. Price: £14.99 (UK). ISBN: 1-84576-909-0). Buy Aliens Vs. Predator: Requiem: Inside The Monster Shop in the USA - or Buy Aliens Vs. Predator: Requiem: Inside The Monster Shop in the UK  check out website: www.titanbooks.com
The one thing I like about books about the special effects in films is that even if it doesn't always work out as a major success, then you can see how these crews did their end of the work, get some great pictures and a lot of knowledge.
When it comes to the most iconic aliens of...er...Alien and Predator, anyone with an interest in this franchise is going to want to look here. Not only do you see the three principle characters from design to sculpture to moulded rubber and the actors who wear it all in colour even if sometimes it looks like they've been down a sewer. Hmmm...come to think of it, that's where they spent some of their time. I'm hoping by the next film they work out how to waterproof the costumes if for no other reason but to cut down on repairs and giving the actors hypothermia. There's enough additives around to experiment and warrant getting the right combination that can be cured with the rubber.
If you're looking for plot details from the film: Aleins Vs. Predator: Requiem' then this book isn't for you. Come to that, if you want details of all the tricks of the trade, the same applies as well. I think in that respect Gillis and Woodruff as effects managers are either not trying to confuse the lay-fans or bog down with too much detail. What they do do is give a lot of information about the long hours and hard work that goes into doing their job combined with some black humour that no doubt keeps their spirits up when things are pushed to the deadline. Oddly though, they didn't comment on the cover which is based on the poster which has the Predator and Alien in a pose like something from the posters of 'Gone With The Wind' or 'Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back' although I wouldn't want to be the one receiving the kiss from either of them.
With all SF films, the effects crews are in the centre of all the major action and things would clearly not work if they weren't on the ball. Although both the Alien and Predator designs are clearly recognised, work is done to accommodate what the directors, two of them in this case, want as well as tweaks to make them individual. Considering that one of them this time is an Alien/Predator hybrid changes the stakes a little. Considering it is also a female of sorts brings a different perspective as to the sex of the Predator that spawned it. No doubt better explanations will be clear when the film gets out on DVD. Based on the information in this book, it'll be interesting to see what they do with all this incredible work.
GF Willmetts
Photos: Aliens Vs. Predator: Requiem (tm) & (c) 2008 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved and used with permission.
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