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Post by Nanocrystal on Aug 16, 2021 3:48:30 GMT
No this isn't the title of a misguided franchise reboot. Just putting Font Geek's poll feature to good use so we can settle this once and for all.
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Post by dominalien on Aug 16, 2021 5:40:28 GMT
Mods can see who voted how, right?
That’s going to be a legitimate use for the banhammer right here.
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Post by simple on Aug 16, 2021 6:15:02 GMT
Alien vs Aliens would be like Congo wouldn’t it? A tame hand-reared alien and its handler/parent on an expedition to somewhere that turns out to have wild bad aliens. Eventually it saves the day after appearing to have turned feral or been horribly injured.
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Post by Nanocrystal on Aug 16, 2021 7:28:00 GMT
Alien vs Aliens would be like Congo wouldn’t it? A tame hand-reared alien and its handler/parent on an expedition to somewhere that turns out to have wild bad aliens. Eventually it saves the day after appearing to have turned feral or been horribly injured. Still sounds better than Prometheus. |
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Post by Zuluhero on Aug 19, 2021 22:36:53 GMT
Oof, tough call between Alien and Aliens...
First just edges it for me for atmosphere, but I grew up with the second one.
I pretend they didn't make any others.
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Post by Aunt Alison on Aug 19, 2021 22:42:14 GMT
Alien is prob the better film but Aliens is more rewatchable because of the greater emphasis on action
I voted Alien 3 because I felt like it
Alien Resurrection is a bit pants but it has got Brad Dourif and Winona Ryder in so there are some positives
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Post by Lionheart on Aug 19, 2021 22:53:54 GMT
It’s hard to beat a combo of James Cameron, Michael Biehn and Bill Paxton (RIP) and just hands down one of the best action movies of all time, but I’d have to go with Alien on the basis that I don’t like many horror movies and it’s probably my favourite. A masterclass in dread and suspense.
Prometheus had an interesting premise but didn’t need to be an alien prequel or a disastrously bad film. Still, at least there’s plenty of hilariously withering reviews of it on YouTube for the lols.
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aubergine
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Post by aubergine on Aug 24, 2021 0:18:57 GMT
Alien and Aliens are both great films. I have to object to how often people describe “Aliens” as an action movie though. There’s a brief action sequence after a full hour of slow-paced sci-fi, horror and character building (where Ripley crashes the army bus through the complex to rescue the marines) which lasts all of three minutes, then a more complete action sequence forty minutes later when the aliens chase them out of Medical. You could argue that it’s mostly straight action from that point I guess, but probably only because we’re so desensitised to the aliens and what they do now that we don’t remember the feelings of all the horror content and reveals in that last forty minutes.
That review on Eurogamer where the writer opened with thinking that Ripley is an action hero first, that’s just how they remembered her from the last reel of Aliens, completing her transformation from scared / abused / disbelieved woman of the first act into Human Queen in full Rambo mode for the Big Mum Battle at the end. Likewise in the first movie she mostly reacts out of (sensible) terror, but takes charge despite of it, despite being extremely underpowered.
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Post by simple on Sept 4, 2021 9:34:04 GMT
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Post by Jambowayoh on Sept 4, 2021 11:08:54 GMT
Alien and Aliens are both great films. I have to object to how often people describe “Aliens” as an action movie though. There’s a brief action sequence after a full hour of slow-paced sci-fi, horror and character building (where Ripley crashes the army bus through the complex to rescue the marines) which lasts all of three minutes, then a more complete action sequence forty minutes later when the aliens chase them out of Medical. You could argue that it’s mostly straight action from that point I guess, but probably only because we’re so desensitised to the aliens and what they do now that we don’t remember the feelings of all the horror content and reveals in that last forty minutes. That review on Eurogamer where the writer opened with thinking that Ripley is an action hero first, that’s just how they remembered her from the last reel of Aliens, completing her transformation from scared / abused / disbelieved woman of the first act into Human Queen in full Rambo mode for the Big Mum Battle at the end. Likewise in the first movie she mostly reacts out of (sensible) terror, but takes charge despite of it, despite being extremely underpowered. Fully agree with you here. I watched it this week and being told repeatedly by other people that it was an action movie made me believe that. Seeing it again and it's clear as day that it's a horror movie but the inclusion of GUNZ has created the idea of action. I'd also forgotten how tight it is, not an ounce of fat. I know I do love my cgi Marvel films but shit, I really do miss proper practical effects in films, it feels like such a lost art. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2021 14:37:27 GMT
I see the flaws in the prequels, I really do, but I do quite like them, especially Prometheus. You can't deny the nastiness and tension of the abortion scene.
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Post by Jambowayoh on Sept 4, 2021 16:03:02 GMT
Alien Covenant is a fucking travesty though.
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Cosmopolitan
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Post by Cosmopolitan on Sept 4, 2021 16:06:19 GMT
It's definitively Alien for me. I was a teenager and , as a small-town boy, happened to be in Prague when I first saw it (in a large cinema). I had no idea what I was going to see so it was a stunning experience for me which I'll never forget. Became a sci-fi horror movie geek right there.
One slight niggle though.
Even though most of Alien's visual effects were incredible for that period, I heard some people in the cinema chuckle after the infamous "little alien rips out from his belly" scene and say "It's obviously a puppet".
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Post by Aunt Alison on Sept 4, 2021 16:29:21 GMT
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sport✅
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Post by sport✅ on Sept 4, 2021 16:31:13 GMT
Alien Covenant is a fucking travesty though. To high fantasy for you? |
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Vortex
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Post by Vortex on Sept 4, 2021 17:20:26 GMT
Alien. So tense, even when you know what to expect. I love Aliens, but it doesn't have that same menace of the first one.
It's more of an action film, ahem, cheesy romp. Who was it that used term that for Jaws again? The maniac. Aliens is also far more quotable, which kind of ruins the tension a bit.
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Post by Zuluhero on Sept 4, 2021 19:39:16 GMT
It's definitively Alien for me. I was a teenager and , as a small-town boy, happened to be in Prague when I first saw it (in a large cinema). I had no idea what I was going to see so it was a stunning experience for me which I'll never forget. Became a sci-fi horror movie geek right there. One slight niggle though. Even though most of Alien's visual effects were incredible for that period, I heard some people in the cinema chuckle after the infamous "little alien rips out from his belly" scene and say "It's obviously a puppet". What year did you see it? It's ironic, that scene is so iconic because the rest of the actors weren't in on it (just Scott and Hurt and special effects guys), so the look of horror and disgust is genuine. You can tell they didn't think it was just a puppet!  |
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Post by Jambowayoh on Sept 4, 2021 20:08:18 GMT
Alien Covenant is a fucking travesty though. To high fantasy for you? Without a doubt. |
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aubergine
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Post by aubergine on Sept 5, 2021 4:54:41 GMT
Alien and Aliens are both great films. I have to object to how often people describe “Aliens” as an action movie though. There’s a brief action sequence after a full hour of slow-paced sci-fi, horror and character building (where Ripley crashes the army bus through the complex to rescue the marines) which lasts all of three minutes, then a more complete action sequence forty minutes later when the aliens chase them out of Medical. You could argue that it’s mostly straight action from that point I guess, but probably only because we’re so desensitised to the aliens and what they do now that we don’t remember the feelings of all the horror content and reveals in that last forty minutes. That review on Eurogamer where the writer opened with thinking that Ripley is an action hero first, that’s just how they remembered her from the last reel of Aliens, completing her transformation from scared / abused / disbelieved woman of the first act into Human Queen in full Rambo mode for the Big Mum Battle at the end. Likewise in the first movie she mostly reacts out of (sensible) terror, but takes charge despite of it, despite being extremely underpowered. Fully agree with you here. I watched it this week and being told repeatedly by other people that it was an action movie made me believe that. Seeing it again and it's clear as day that it's a horror movie but the inclusion of GUNZ has created the idea of action. I'd also forgotten how tight it is, not an ounce of fat. I know I do love my cgi Marvel films but shit, I really do miss proper practical effects in films, it feels like such a lost art. The other thing I think that gets lost in the “Aliens is an action movie” reduction is that the heavily armed marines are sent into a situation where they turn out to be powerless. Cameron said he wanted to give it “Vietnam in Space” themes, with the gung-ho soldiers being wholly unprepared for a foreign enemy in a foreign environment with wholly foreign tactics. Which is probably why the directors cut of Aliens is so long and slow paced, to get that authentic US Military Quagmire feeling. |
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Post by Zuluhero on Sept 5, 2021 7:48:49 GMT
That's interesting, never knew that, but I can totally see it now.
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Post by simple on Sept 5, 2021 8:04:26 GMT
Yeah I always figured after reading the Vietnam comments that Aliens is a war film in space rather than an action movie.
Although, arguably Alien3 is despite it being less gung-ho.
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Roddy
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Post by Roddy on Sept 5, 2021 20:21:56 GMT
I rewatched both recently. In my memory, Aliens was the better film, but after rewatching, it's clear that Alien is in a class of its own. The impending sense of dread and the slow-burn pace that the story unfolds, works in its favour.
Aliens is overly shouty and shooty and almost feels like it went too big, whereas, Alien, being a quieter film with characters being picked off one by one, ups the tension no end.
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Post by Rodimus-Prime on Sept 5, 2021 20:33:21 GMT
Aliens for me. While there is more action in it than Alien, i really don't see it as an action film. Especially if you watch the directors cut.
I do agree the third one is underrated though. Elliot Goldenthal's music is probably the series' best.
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espibara
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Post by espibara on Sept 5, 2021 22:12:15 GMT
Alien is the better film but Aliens is just so rewatchable.
I’d have to say Aliens as I grew up with it easily seen it 100 times and if you give me a pen I could prob write the whole script word for word.
Big shout out to Alien 3 for having the courage to do something different. I always liked it as it’s like a dark depressing nightmare.
Elliot Goldenthals soundtrack for Alien 3 is just hauntingly brilliant.
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espibara
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Post by espibara on Sept 5, 2021 22:14:58 GMT
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Post by paulyboy81 on Sept 5, 2021 23:08:33 GMT
Aliens for me also.
Not to take anything away from the original mind you, it's a horror masterclass in slow burn tension and atmosphere, but the sequel is such a rollercoaster ride, it's always been my favourite.
From the sheer number of memorable setpieces, iconic moments, likeable characters, quotable dialogue and James Horner's amazing score, it's just a hugely entertaining movie.
This thread has made me sad that Cameron is fannying around with Avatar sequels, I'd love to see him take a stab at some proper adult sci-fi/action/horror like Terminator/Aliens/Abyss again.
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aubergine
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Post by aubergine on Sept 7, 2021 4:18:46 GMT
I’m so despondent in this endless lockdown / home detention that I watched Alien 3 and Resurrection back to back last night.
It was the first time I’d watched Alien 3 since it was in cinemas - was it early 90s? - and it’s not as bad a film as I remember. But it’s still terrible in its premise. When I watched it on release the cinema sound quality was terrible, and I couldn’t understand a lot of the dialogue, which was mostly guys shouting “shut fucking up you fucking fuckety fuck fuck”. But it’s a lot more atmospheric, well performed and interestingly shot than I’d have noticed when I was a teenager.
But my main objections to it at the time remain. They killed off Hicks and Newt and Bishop off-camera in what felt like a committee decision to save money. We’re to believe that the Queen had 1-2 eggs in her butt that she could quickly pop out in the landing gear bay of the dropship, and Ripley, Bishop etc did not even think to check over the dropship for more possible aliens after the Queen hitched a ride on it. 1-2 facehuggers then found its way through giant ship to frozen humans, hugged Ripley and then had a second charge available to hug the dog. Then everyone died except Ripley.
You’re asked to chow down on so many ridiculous plot points and coincidences before even a single line of dialogue is spoken.
Also, the puppet green screen effects are terrible.
Alien Resurrection is just a joke movie though. A Joss Whedon quipfest. Weaver appears to be having a great time as Super Ripley though, so that’s something. I did wonder why Brad Douriff wasn’t frozen by the Aliens though instead of Random Soldier, but he needed to deliver exposition in the last act. The army general though is probably the worst character I’ve seen in a movie. Fincher at least made Alien 3 feel cinematic.
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Post by Aunt Alison on Sept 18, 2021 23:12:41 GMT
My recent rewatching of Aliens has raised two questions;
How intelligent are the xenomorphs? Hudson says something like "How can they cut the power? They're animals" but as far as I know it's never expounded on
The xenomorphs don't kill people, they take them to the nest to be hosts, but how do they carry them? In their arms, over the shoulder, drag them along the floor? I can't imagine it not looking silly. Artists impressions are acceptable
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Post by Danno on Sept 18, 2021 23:17:10 GMT
My recent rewatching of Aliens has raised two questions; How intelligent are the xenomorphs? Hudson says something like "How can they cut the power? They animals" but as far as I know it's never expounded on The Xenomorphs don't kill people, they take them to the nest to be hosts, but how do they carry them? In their arms, over the shoulder, drag them along the floor? I can't imagine it not looking silly. Artists impressions are acceptable pop cock into available orifice and RUN |
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Post by Aunt Alison on Sept 18, 2021 23:22:13 GMT
That's a bit dark when the main part I'm referring to is Newt getting caught and Ripley saying they don't kill their victims
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