En l'an 79, la ville de Pompéi vit sa période la plus faste à l'abri du mont Vésuve. Milo, esclave celte en provenance d'Angleterre et devenu gladiateur, rêve du jour où il pourra venger son peuple exterminé par l'empire Romain. Au même moment, le Vésuve se réveille lentement dans l'indifférence générale... Dans quelques heures la ville va être le théâtre d'une des plus grandes catastrophes naturelles de tous les temps.
In delivering PG-13-rated excitement, Alien vs. Predator is an acceptably average science-fiction action thriller with some noteworthy highlights, even if it squanders its opportunity to intelligently combine two popular and R-rated franchises. Rabid fans can justifiably ask Is that all there is? after a decade of development hell and eager anticipation, but we're compensated by reasonably logical connections to the Alien legacy and the still-kicking Predator franchise (which hinted at AVP rivalry at the end of Predator 2); some cleverly claustrophobic sets, tense atmosphere and impressive digital effects; and a climactic AVP smackdown that's not half bad. This disposable junk should've been better, but nobody who's seen Mortal Kombat or Resident Evil should be surprised by writer-director Paul W.S. Anderson's lack of imagination. As a brisk, 90-minute exercise in generic thrills, however, Anderson's work is occasionally impressive... right up to his shameless opening for yet another sequel.