I've always been a huge fan of the Alien film franchise, with Alien and Aliens being two of my favorite movies. I do enjoy Alien 3, and I even like the first Aliens vs. Predator movie, but, though Alien Resurrection has some great characterization and interesting plot lines, I can't sit through it simply because I feel bad for one of the aliens when it dies. I can't remember much of what happens because I try to block it out, but I remember being really upset, not only because it kind of thought Ripley was it's mother, but because of the way it went out... both figuratively and literally.
But Alien and Aliens are tied for my favorite of the series simply because they're both incredibly awesome in their own ways. The claustrophobia of the first movie is amazing, and I'm a huge fan of all of James Cameron's movies (though I favor his earlier work, pre-Titanic), so I love everything about Aliens.
I feel the urge to go back and watch these movies again, now.
Yes, I also like all the films, even the third and fourth for different reasons. I can understand you not being able to watch the death of the Alien/Human hybrid at the end of the 4th movie. The shot where it understands it has been betrayed by the one comforting thing it knows and is being destroyed due to no fault of its own and because of its instinctual nature is powerful. Isn't it interesting how wrapped up we as viewers can become in a story? Another example of the power of cinema! -XIM
Alien and PrometheuscinematixyzMay 25 2012, 20:48:43 UTC
I have gotten so hyped up by the Prometheus website and the way the film has been mysteriously marketed. Great trailers and the TED talk is awesome! I hear buzz that this may be the next great TRUE science fiction film to come out since 2001 A Space Odyssey, Blade Runner, Contact and A.I. Artificial Intelligence. I have reviewed most of these films on this blog if you are interested in checking them out. -XIM
I liked "Alien" well enough, and I'm not even a horror fan most of the time. Then I saw "Aliens" and I was enthralled. I did my own reviews of the core four films a year or so back and I think all of them have something going for them, which generally doesn't happen in franchises.
However, whenever I think of the Alien series, I either think of a) the climax of Aliens, which is, bar none, my favorite action setpiece of all time, and b) my Mom's complete and utter distrust of Jones the cat. She is convinced to this day that the cat was in league with the Alien.
The biggest piece of praise I can give for the series? I'm going to see "Prometheus" in theaters, one of the only three films this year I want to see as soon as possible. Well done, Scott.
Alien series and PrometheuscinematixyzMay 27 2012, 03:24:58 UTC
I also think all four of the ALIEN films are good, and all for different reasons. It's too bad most audiences just want more of the same thing and that is why we have so many bad sequels and prequels and re-boots. And the re-boots are coming out closer and closer these days - it is so easy to razzle dazzle people into going to see something that you basically already know what the story will be and how it will end. Oops, got off on a rant there... anyway, I remember people thinking that Jones was going to be carrying an Alien inside of him for the sequel. The logic of this idea doesn't really hold up, but I give kudos to Cameron for addressing this idea and dispensing with it early in Aliens. And as for Prometheus? Not much can drag me out to the theater these days. Crowds, poor projection, expensive snacks, and people talking and texting on cell phones all keep me away. But I make an exception for a few things... like a new Cameron film, or Ridley Scott returning to SF after 30 years. Yeah, I will brave the theaters for stuff like
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Re: Alien series and PrometheusallisontooeyMay 27 2012, 04:18:10 UTC
He said he's doing another "Blade Runner?" In what sense? A sequel-like thing, or a movie with a similar atmosphere? Do you have a link? (my family are big Ridley Scott fans).
And strangely, I'd never heard the "Jones as Carrier" theory, although I can see why people would think that at the time. All I know is that for years, my mom would say "I hate that cat! I don't trust that cat!" whenever the movie was brought up.
Re: Alien series and PrometheuscinematixyzMay 27 2012, 21:38:22 UTC
In an interview for EMPIRE magazine with Prometheus on the cover, Ridley Scott talked about his return to Blade Runner. It is not known if it will be a sequel or prequel but will NOT be a remake. I have also heard this rumor in another film magazine and has been discussed on the Prometheus website. -Xim
I recently watched the Blu-Ray ALIEN director's cut (which is something of a misnomer; Ridley Scott considers the 1979 theatrical version the definitive version. He did the alternate version more to humor those making the big DVD set
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All good stuff in your comments. I remember all the Alien items that were released when the film came out, including the novel which I also read. The best scene in the book and almost included in the film was the one where they tried to trap the alien in the airlock but almost lost all the ship's air in the process. I loved the stuff surrounding this mysterious film at the time, including the huge Alien photonovel, the Book of Alien, Heavy Metal's graphic novel, and the little 8mm viewer with about 90 seconds of film footage to watch (this is before the proliferation of home video, folks!) I also remember holding the Alien toy figure which was withdrawn from the market due to complaints from parents here in America. (Take a look at a toy or collector store these days - my, have things changed...) Last time I looked an original Alien doll from 1979 in the box was worth about 500-700 dollars. Wow! Wish I bought a few of those back in the day. I liked your review of Prometheus and the other content on your site and recommend it to our
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But Alien and Aliens are tied for my favorite of the series simply because they're both incredibly awesome in their own ways. The claustrophobia of the first movie is amazing, and I'm a huge fan of all of James Cameron's movies (though I favor his earlier work, pre-Titanic), so I love everything about Aliens.
I feel the urge to go back and watch these movies again, now.
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However, whenever I think of the Alien series, I either think of a) the climax of Aliens, which is, bar none, my favorite action setpiece of all time, and b) my Mom's complete and utter distrust of Jones the cat. She is convinced to this day that the cat was in league with the Alien.
The biggest piece of praise I can give for the series? I'm going to see "Prometheus" in theaters, one of the only three films this year I want to see as soon as possible. Well done, Scott.
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And strangely, I'd never heard the "Jones as Carrier" theory, although I can see why people would think that at the time. All I know is that for years, my mom would say "I hate that cat! I don't trust that cat!" whenever the movie was brought up.
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