a lot of movies have great potential yet some where the directors or producers either lack in enthusiasm or lack w/ love of the job of doing or creating an overwellming world. In many of these types of films lately i have been seeing some lack of reaching a films potential, this has much potential as you have stated, it is a great type of story of two somewhat dominate creatures some how finding them selves at eachothers throats, and for the past few years, the film in horror, or sci-fi area has been lacking much, a feel that the films of past, like Alien, and Predator, the feel those types of movies had you can tell that they enjoyed doin that, but lately in horror and sci fi films it lacks that, that is why i believe this will fall victim to that as well, and if it doesnt than that director and film team has something that no team has had in a couple of years.
Man it's annoying! remember deep rising that was a result of a technical crew obsessed with special effects. the damn movie was horrible. Good special effects don't make a good movie.
However with Alien VS Preds i'm expecting to layback and watch some kick-ass action! The same way I enjoy Kung-fu movies. lame plots but hey the fight scenes are worth your time. Like you said let the story suck. Aliens killing Preds n vice-versa in all sorts cool screen shots, poses and all that will be jigggazonious!
Anderson doesnt want to incoperate to much special effects, so that gives me faith in him right away. Of course the movie would be terribly easy and cheap to rely on CGI, but he wants to go the path and create an atmosphere of these two creatures that we love so much and that is realism. When watching aliens or predator, there was always a remniscent fear. After making alien 3 and 4 of all CGI all of the threat flew out the window, well im sure the writing and casting had a great deal to that as well