This is the movie that started the quadrology off as well the Predator vs. Alien movies. Its introduction to this species in this movie is pretty basic and does not get into the details of the Alien culture that you find in the second movie. But if you have not seen any of these movies then you do need to start here first. I found this movie to be slightly disappointing when I first saw it as far as depth is concerned, since I saw the second and third movies first. But that was because I was expecting so much more out of this movie. Without those heightened expectation I found that this is actually a very good movie and executes itself very well as a sci-fi/horror movie. I even find the replay value to be quite high. What about the other movies? In terms of rating I feel that movie one (Alien), two (Aliens), and four (Alien Resurrection) are on equal footing. Yes there are things I dislike in all three of these films, but as far as preference as to which one I want to watch, there is no distinction. I will let my company pick their favorite or I will just watch the one I have been away from the longest. I cannot pick a favorite because each is a unique experience. It is not the same plot over and over again like in so many other series. You do not get the same emotions duplicated in any of these films for the most part. Just keep in mind that movie 3 is not as good as the others but I do recommend seeing it in order if you see the others. Alien is the purest and simplest of the quadrology. It is a great movie because that purity is not tainted with unnecessary subplots or dynamics. You only follow the crew of 7 humans aboard a spaceship. They received a signal and investigate it. Since you know the title you can surmise that they encounter an alien and have to deal with it. By telling you any more would spoil the movie experience.
Special effects In this movie from 1979, there are no sophisticated special effects to speak of except for Lucas Arts. Stage effects such as lighting and smoke, some cool costuming, but no stop motion creatures or anything like that. I actually think that because they went this way it made for a better movie that has stood the test of time. It also should be an inspiration for the part of Hollywood that does the real live effects and detailed costuming. There is still a place for real special effects.
The Story The story is simple…well at least you think it is. There are a couple of twists to keep you from getting mentally bored. It isn’t as simple as other bug hunt movies that I find quite boring. But keep in mind that a lot of the story is suspense and anticipation. That is one of the things that keeps your mind turning while watching this movie. There is not any detailed or sophisticated plot, just a simple one of survival. So don’t expect to have a great revelation after seeing this movie (you’ll get that opportunity in the fourth movie).
The Pacing The pacing is nearly perfect. Except for the opening credits, you really are not bored with any part of the movie. You never really get bored in any particular scene while watching this film. The plot keeps moving from the moment they wake up from long term sleep and begin their duties. This isn’t a pleasure cruise, it is a working vessel in transit back to Earth. Also the Alien plays a big role, of course, in keeping the plot moving.
The acting The acting is great and the personalities play off each other well. Each actor has a very distinct personality. You not only get to enjoy the acting of each character, but each character interacts differently with each other. You see relationships, both friendly and hostile. There is also a clear command structure that is followed. You also get differences in how each character deals with the stressful environment they find themselves in. So you get multi-leveled characters who’s development is a pleasure to watch. This multi-layer interactions is due (in my opinion) to a great director (Ridley Scott) and some good writing. Ridley Scott made a wise decision to direct this film because it got his name more recognition, and he obviously saw the potential in this film. And in my opinion, he really was the main catalyst to get this story told as well as it was.
The set design The set design was well done for the time but looking at it now it looks dated. It doesn’t have a futuristic feel to it that modern films have, rather it looks like technology that came out of the 70’s. A keyboard interface was required to communicate with the computer (not voice commands like in Star Trek) and the control room was lit up like a Christmas tree. Why? Maybe someone on the build team likes white Christmas tree lights. But needless to say this is the worst, and most dated, part of the film. Other than that, the space ship had some real depth to it. There was plenty of places to explore for both human and alien. As far as the two cuts are concerned, theatrical and directors cut, I prefer the directors cut because of a couple of cool scenes that it added. In the end it is a simple story, but many times it is the simple ones that are so well done. This is one of those cases. You don't have to think about the sociological implications or what if (although you still can if you want). You can just experience a well told and intense story. The key players Director: Ridley Scott Writers: Dan O'Bannon, David Giler, Walter Hill, & Ronald Shusett Music: Jerry Goldsmith
My End Line This is a good movie and one that I feel should be on anyone's Sci-fi list. While it is not a complex movie when comparing it to other Alien(s) films, it is done very well. It is the simpliest of the Alien series so don't expect to have the same feelings and experiences you have from other Sci-Fi movies. But what it does it does flawlessly. And at the time it did break some ground in this Genre, and we have Ridley Scott to thank for that.
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