To celebrate this week's release of Batman v Superman, Chris Newbould looks at some of cinema's most monstrous and memorable stand-offs.
Alien vs Predator (2004)
In its heyday, the Alien franchise was surely one of the greatest sci-fi series of all time, with the first two instalments, 1979's Ridley Scott-directed Alien and James Cameron's 1986 sequel Aliens, marking genuine benchmarks in cinema history. Sadly, by 2004, Alien's heyday was long behind it. By the time 1997's Alien: Resurrection came around, the series hadn't become truly terrible, but it seemed to be recycling the same ideas, and even the same shots.
Predator was never in the same league, but it was passable sci-fi/horror fare in its first, 1987, incarnation. So what better way to jump start the two franchises than squaring their baddies off against each other? Possibly several, judging by the end result. The script is silly (featuring the formerly bloodthirsty Predators forming an unlikely alliance with humans to save the earth from the aliens), the dialogue wooden and half of the film seems to take place in pitch blackness, leaving audiences befuddled and disappointed. It still spawned the 2007 sequel AVP: Requiem.
Freddy vs Jason (2003)
By the time of this ill-advised ensemble effort, Friday the 13th had spawned 10 films since Jason Voorhees first put on his hockey mask in 1980, while Freddy Krueger had been giving nightmares to the kids of Elm Street in seven movies since 1984.
As is so often the case, what began as interesting films, albeit of niche appeal, had become pastiches of themselves – maybe that's why the two psychopathic teen slashers were pitted against each other. The premise in Freddy vs Jason is that Freddy is trapped in hell, powerless to haunt teenagers' dreams because they've all forgotten about him, so he resurrects Jason and sends him on a killing spree in the hope their fear will reignite his powers. It does, but now Jason and Freddy are fighting for the same teen prey, resulting in a predictably violent stand-off. The San Francisco Chronicle captured the essence of the movie perfectly in its 2003 review: "Take a wretched premise. Imagine the worst picture that could be made from it. Then imagine something even worse." Yes, it is that bad.
Mothra vs Godzilla (1964)
This is the fourth movie in Toho Productions classic Godzilla franchise – and the first to bring in monsters from other Toho movies in the form of Mothra. A quick internet scan of Japanese Kaiju-monster-movie fans reveals that I'm in the minority in selecting this one as my favourite – Godzilla vs Megalon seems to have that honour – but I'm going with Mothra, not just because it is the first of its kind, but also because [spoiler alert] radioactive dino-sea monster Godzilla fights and defeats a giant moth before being pursued by two of his victim's giant larvae, aggressively wrapped in silk and thrown into the sea.
It’s gloriously silly fun, while at the same time being steeped in the understandable nuclear paranoia of post-war Japan. And did I mention that three of the main protagonists are a giant moth and its two larvae? What’s not to like?
Billy the Kid vs Dracula (1966)
Yes, this really happened. Not only that, but it was released in some cinemas as a double bill with Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter. The fact that both films were shot in eight days could give some indication of the quality. John Carradine, the patriarch of the Carradine acting dynasty, takes the role of the vampire Count Dracula, in keeping with his bizarre legacy of appearing mostly in B-movie horror/Westerns or Shakespearean theatre, while his foe Billy the Kid is played by the since-largely-forgotten Chuck Courtney (a small role in Stephen King's Pet Sematary is among his limited later work).
Amorous as ever, Dracula takes a shine to Billy's fiancée and determines to make her his vampire bride; a vampire vs gunslinger combat ensues. This was the final film by prolific director William Beaudine, who made almost 200 movies between 1922's Watch Your Step and this one. Beaudine remained healthy until his unexpected death in 1970, and it is unconfirmed whether watching the final cut of this film was the horror that forced him out of the director's chair for the final four years of his life.
Kramer vs Kramer (1979)
Finally, a film on this list that features no monsters and, perhaps as a result, is the only one to ever get near an Oscar (it won five in 1980, including Best Picture, Director, Actor and Screenplay). Meryl Streep’s Joanna Kramer abandons her husband Ted (Dustin Hoffman) and their young son Billy. After 15 months, during which we see some tear-jerking father/son resentment, reconciliation and bonding, Joanna returns to fight a savage custody battle. There may be no monsters, vampires or aliens, but it’s the sort of film you can watch with your mum if you need to make amends for forgetting Mother’s Day. Just make sure you have a box of tissues handy.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
The years Ramadan fell in May
More on Quran memorisation:
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Company profile
Name: Infinite8
Based: Dubai
Launch year: 2017
Number of employees: 90
Sector: Online gaming industry
Funding: $1.2m from a UAE angel investor
1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List
James Mustich, Workman
Profile
Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan
Sector: Technology and home services
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai
Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month
Funding: The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups.
My Country: A Syrian Memoir
Kassem Eid, Bloomsbury
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
'Peninsula'
Stars: Gang Dong-won, Lee Jung-hyun, Lee Ra
Director: Yeon Sang-ho
Rating: 2/5
THE BIO
Favourite place to go to in the UAE: The desert sand dunes, just after some rain
Who inspires you: Anybody with new and smart ideas, challenging questions, an open mind and a positive attitude
Where would you like to retire: Most probably in my home country, Hungary, but with frequent returns to the UAE
Favorite book: A book by Transilvanian author, Albert Wass, entitled ‘Sword and Reap’ (Kard es Kasza) - not really known internationally
Favourite subjects in school: Mathematics and science
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The specs
Engine: 0.8-litre four cylinder
Power: 70bhp
Torque: 66Nm
Transmission: four-speed manual
Price: $1,075 new in 1967, now valued at $40,000
On sale: Models from 1966 to 1970
Company profile
Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space
Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)
Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)
Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution)
Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space
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The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Power: 575bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh554,000
On sale: now
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
Fanney Khan
Producer: T-Series, Anil Kapoor Productions, ROMP, Prerna Arora
Director: Atul Manjrekar
Cast: Anil Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai, Rajkummar Rao, Pihu Sand
Rating: 2/5
The specs: 2018 Audi R8 V10 RWS
Price: base / as tested: From Dh632,225
Engine: 5.2-litre V10
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 540hp @ 8,250rpm
Torque: 540Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.4L / 100km
Six things you need to know about UAE Women’s Special Olympics football team
Several girls started playing football at age four
They describe sport as their passion
The girls don’t dwell on their condition
They just say they may need to work a little harder than others
When not in training, they play football with their brothers and sisters
The girls want to inspire others to join the UAE Special Olympics teams
Company Profile
Company name: Fine Diner
Started: March, 2020
Co-founders: Sami Elayan, Saed Elayan and Zaid Azzouka
Based: Dubai
Industry: Technology and food delivery
Initial investment: Dh75,000
Investor: Dtec Startupbootcamp
Future plan: Looking to raise $400,000
Total sales: Over 1,000 deliveries in three months
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 4 liquid-cooled permanent magnet synchronous electric motors placed at each wheel
Battery: Rimac 120kWh Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2) chemistry
Power: 1877bhp
Torque: 2300Nm
Price: Dh7,500,00
On sale: Now
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
RESULT
Chelsea 2
Willian 13'
Ross Barkley 64'
Liverpool 0
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
The Year Earth Changed
Directed by:Tom Beard
Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough
Stars: 4