Alien (1979) - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

markpud · 1st March 2001, 10:02 PM

The first of 4 (maybe 5), and still the best of the bunch.

It was a groundbreaker in so many ways, with one of the first leading ladies in an action role, a masterpiece of design and production, and such an original idea to fire it all off.

HR Giger's Alien design and his designs for the alien spaceship, the space jockey, and the alien landscapes of the planet are outstanding, and haven't aged at all. The alien may have been a guy in a suit, rather than a CGI version that would be used these days, but it is very scary, not least because you don't get to see too much of the alien itself, but the shadows play tricks on you and you never know which corner it's going to jump out of...

OzScaper · 5th March 2001, 06:30 AM

For those of you who haven't heard of the Alien Series...

(there can't be that many of you

)

URL: http://us.imdb.com/Title?0078748

Plot Outline: A mining ship, investigating an SOS, lands on a distant planet. The crew discovers some strange creatures and investigates

Stars: Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver

Dave · 26th April 2001, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Fahrbot
I didn't really like the original alien either, I don't know if thats because I'm a youngen or whatever, but I didn't find it scary at all. (I think I was too busy laughing at the SFX because the ones we have now are sooo much better)

I must be too old then, because when I watched this at the cinema and that thing burst out of John Hurts chest, there wasn't a single person who didn't jump off their seats.

There was a little laugh when you realised it was a little like a muppet, and it scuttled out through the door, but it was definitely a nervous laugh!

markpud · 27th April 2001, 11:41 AM

well that last bit would of course be CGI'ed these days, and would look better, but part of the reason i like alien is because it was all done with models and real props, there was no CGI really back then (PS gonna move these to a thread about "alien" not "resurrection

)

Arcane · 24th June 2001, 03:08 AM

The suspense in this one nearly kills me every time.

They had the perfect equation for great suspense.

Take an unstoppable killer, mix with a group of initially unwitting victims, and put them in an escape-proof situation (the ship in deep space). Season with dark and eerie spaces with plenty of dripping water, things that make spooky noises (chains) and lots of nooks and crannies for the bad guy (or in this case, the alien) to hide in and leap out of.

No matter how many times I watch this movie, I always jump out of my skin when Dallas (Tom Skerritt) comes face to face with the alien. I keep holding out hope that one of these times, he'll escape.

For me, any film that draws me in that much gets my admiration and approval (like that matters much in the grand scheme of life).

markpud · 28th June 2001, 11:27 AM

i agree, it was the suspense, and they couldt reproduce that in any of the others, even though they tried to in III...

L. Arkwright · 27th September 2003, 06:29 PM

Its gotta be Alien. Aliens was typical Cameron fare (ie everything has a blue tint) the third was utter tripe and the fourth I feel although not as good had the same feeling as the first.

1st March 2001, 10:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
markpud Super-Mod to the gods Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: with Buffy, in Manchester, England... Posts: 4,732	Alien (1979) The first of 4 (maybe 5), and still the best of the bunch. It was a groundbreaker in so many ways, with one of the first leading ladies in an action role, a masterpiece of design and production, and such an original idea to fire it all off. HR Giger's Alien design and his designs for the alien spaceship, the space jockey, and the alien landscapes of the planet are outstanding, and haven't aged at all. The alien may have been a guy in a suit, rather than a CGI version that would be used these days, but it is very scary, not least because you don't get to see too much of the alien itself, but the shadows play tricks on you and you never know which corner it's going to jump out of...

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5th March 2001, 06:30 AM	#2 (permalink)
OzScaper OzScaper.com Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: UT's (Otherwise known as Perth, Australia) Posts: 2,099	For those of you who haven't heard of the Alien Series... (there can't be that many of you ) URL: http://us.imdb.com/Title?0078748 Plot Outline: A mining ship, investigating an SOS, lands on a distant planet. The crew discovers some strange creatures and investigates Stars: Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver

27th April 2001, 11:41 AM	#4 (permalink)
markpud Super-Mod to the gods Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: with Buffy, in Manchester, England... Posts: 4,732	well that last bit would of course be CGI'ed these days, and would look better, but part of the reason i like alien is because it was all done with models and real props, there was no CGI really back then (PS gonna move these to a thread about "alien" not "resurrection )

24th June 2001, 03:08 AM	#5 (permalink)
Arcane Skilled Linguist Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Chicago, IL USA ("the Windy City -- home of the Blackhawks, the Bulls, the White Sox. . .Don't forget the Cubs.") Posts: 58	The suspense in this one nearly kills me every time. They had the perfect equation for great suspense. Take an unstoppable killer, mix with a group of initially unwitting victims, and put them in an escape-proof situation (the ship in deep space). Season with dark and eerie spaces with plenty of dripping water, things that make spooky noises (chains) and lots of nooks and crannies for the bad guy (or in this case, the alien) to hide in and leap out of. No matter how many times I watch this movie, I always jump out of my skin when Dallas (Tom Skerritt) comes face to face with the alien. I keep holding out hope that one of these times, he'll escape. For me, any film that draws me in that much gets my admiration and approval (like that matters much in the grand scheme of life).

28th June 2001, 11:27 AM	#6 (permalink)
markpud Super-Mod to the gods Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: with Buffy, in Manchester, England... Posts: 4,732	i agree, it was the suspense, and they couldt reproduce that in any of the others, even though they tried to in III...

27th September 2003, 06:29 PM	#7 (permalink)
L. Arkwright Vimes's stunt double Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Salisbury England Posts: 97	Its gotta be Alien. Aliens was typical Cameron fare (ie everything has a blue tint) the third was utter tripe and the fourth I feel although not as good had the same feeling as the first.