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Alien Flim rankings

N

Nappuccino

Member
Of the ones I've seen

Alien--Theatrical. One of the greatest films I've ever seen. Every rewatch is spellbinding.

First half of Alien 3-- "Assembly Cut" a problematic movie, but everything right up until the alien arrives is damn near perfect.

Aliens--Theatrical. I'm not a big fan of Ripley's development or the kid. But the Alien Queen is incredible and I miss Paul Riser

Second half of Alien 3--A boring slog that doesn't capitalize on the first half. The puppetry is neat, but poorly composited, and the alien is mostly non-threatening.

Prometheus. Stupid, so so terribly stupid. And yet very watchable with the sound off. If none of the characters spoke, beside David, I would be tempted to put it over Aliens. Maybe. Some of the Fan edits do a lot to improve the film, but I'd have to sit down and cut my own version. Maybe I will, at some point.

Alien Resurrection. It's . . . well, a movie, somehow.
 
S

Spine_Ripper

Member
Liking that other people have seen and, at the very least, somewhat like Aliens 3: Assembly Cut. I own the bluray boxset and saw the first 3 movies in the span of 3 consecutive nights. I had seen the first 2 countless times, but never 3. I was expecting a train wreck, but to be perfectly honest, it's actually just as good as the first two...until the final act happens and everything turns to shit. But the entire film before? Pretty damn good.
 
D

Dommo

Member
So no one's got the courage to put Aliens first, eh?

Fuck it, I'm going in.

Aliens > Alien.

First hour or so of Alien is kind of perfect. Once the alien in its full form materialises, things get a touch stale and repetitive. Each sequence sort of blurs into the last for me. Things don't really pick up again until it's just Ripley by herself, then it returns to form.

Aliens isn't quite ever as perfect, but it's consistently evolving in new and interesting ways. The relationship between Ripley and Newt is touching and warm. The decision to make what could have been a tired, repetitive sequel and instead flip it into a different genre that still feels like a logical progression from its predecessor is fantastic.

And Ripley peaks out in Aliens. Never better:
tumblr_n3xk7tHjlv1s2wio8o5_500.gif
tumblr_n3xk7tHjlv1s2wio8o7_500.gif
 
F

Fancyarcher

Member
Alien - Still the best.

Aliens - Amazing follow-up, great action, great characters, & one of the best climaxes ever.

Prometheus - It's not great, but I do enjoy it.

Alien3 - Flawed, but there are some good characters, and it's certainly a film with an interesting / troubled production. What could have been I guess.

Alien: Resurrection - Meh! Film looks steam after they kill Michael Wincott.

Alien Vs. Predator - Yeah... no!

Alien Vs. Predator: Requiem - The film could be so much if we actually knew what the fuck was going on. I'm sure there's a colorful version of that film somewhere out there, but as is, it's trash.
 
M

MattKeil

BIGTIME TV MOGUL #2
Alien
Aliens

<yawning chasm of endless light years>

All the rest except Alien 3
Alien 3

I mean who cares which piece of shit tastes slightly better than another? Alien 3 in all its forms is the worst, though.
 
Stilton Disco

Stilton Disco

Member
Alien and Aliens are equal to me, just very different kinds of movies. Personally I like Aliens more, but they both equally achieve what they set out to do, are perfectly cast and scripted, beautifully shot and directed, magnificently paced and pretty much both the best examples of their respective genres.

Then there's a huge gulf in quality, and in order of least bad to just tripe:

Alien 3 > Prometheus > Resurrection.

Honestly, after Aliens I just follow the old Dark Horse comics as far as my 'canon' fiction goes.
 
C

CaviarMeths

Member
Haven't seen Covenant yet.

1. Aliens (DC): Prime James Cameron making what is possibly the best action film ever made (or 2nd best after RotLA), while also being a great sci-fi film and decent horror film in its own right.
2. Alien (TC): Prime Ridley Scott making a horror film that probably hasn't been topped in sheer terror ever since. Not only that though, it's just a damn good sci-fi flick about discovering an alien life form and studying its unique biology that didn't even need to be a horror movie to work.

-big gap-

3. AvP: Yeah, I rank it 3rd. It's a stupid as fuck movie, but it never pretends to be anything otherwise. Paul WS Anderson just comes off as a fangeek that had a great time shooting the thing and it shows. It's a pretty good way to spend a Friday night with some beer and friends.
4. Alien 3 (AC): We will never, ever get to see the movie this was supposed to be and that will always bother me. It's a miracle it turned out as well as it did though with the disaster of a production.
5. Prometheus: Movie has its head so far up its own ass and is about half as clever as it thinks it is. Terrible script but a gorgeous movie to look at.
6. Alien: Resurrection: Basically what Bobby said. It's a bad parody of Alien, but it's an interesting watch for that proto-Whedon feel.

-big gap-

7. AvP: Requiem: The only completely irredeemable film in the franchise. Garbage on every level and thoroughly incompetent filmmaking. Can't even see shit in scenes that take place in broad daylight.
 
M

Metalmarc

Member
Alien - The only Sci-Fi horror film that bests it is John Carpenters The Thing (Sorry Bobby)

Aliens - James Camerons best film ever

Alien 3 - I have only seen the original version i think

Alien Resurrection - I saw this in the cinema when i was 14, i was let down even then, probably cos my friend showed me alien/aliens just a month prior

Prometheus - ugh had high hopes for this.

Have not seen Covenant.
 
jufonuk

jufonuk

not tag worthy
Aliens an alien equal top ranking.

Alien best pure sci-fi horror only matched by the Thing (carpenter version)

Aliens best Sci-fi action horror one of the most influential films of all time.

Then it just goes into one sisaapoontment after the other and then you just have to choose where to rank them.

Then the lie that is Prometheus.
 
C

CloudWolf

Member
Alien >> Aliens >>>> that other stuff

Alien is just scifi horror perfection. Aliens is a good 80's action flick, but Cameron made some choices I strongly dislike like turning the smart alien species from the first film into what's basically a bee hive. The Queen is a terrible, unnecessary addition IMO.
 
F

Fliesen

Member
Aliens > Alien - but that's just imho. - I just don't enjoy Horror, as a whole, as much as some might.

I'd rank Prometheus closer to Alien 3 than to Alien: Resurrection, though.
Prometheus tried to be smart. Alien Resurrection tried to be 'cool' / 'badass'. The latter makes me cringe a lot more.
 
D

DECK'ARD

The Amiga Brotherhood
I've managed to keep expectations of Covenant to an absolute minimum after the trauma Prometheus inflicted on me.

So short of a fist coming out of the screen and punching me it has to be an improvement.
 
F

Ferr986

Member
Alien = Aliens (both theatrical, srsly, Aliens SE fucks with the pacing too much).

That's pretty much it. Rest is Alien 3 > Prometheus > AvP > Resurrection > AvP:R, but the're all BAAAAD.
 
mcz117chief

mcz117chief

Member
Alien 3 > Alien > Aliens > Resurrection > Prometheus

Alien 3 is my favourite. I love the scenery, the music, the dirty look of everything, the amazing themes and characters. And the ending when "The Company" arrives is insanely well done. They all appear like demons coming to take his brother back home, very imposing.
alien3-company-has-arrived.png


alien+3+colonial+marine+1.jpg
Click to expand...

The biggest problem with Aliens is that it is just a shoot fest. The movie degrades the alien, who is supposed to be this perfect organism, into another space ant that badass American marines can shoot for two hours. A great action movie but a bad alien movie. Resurrection is pretty much the same as Aliens with some funny scenes added in to make it feel even less like an alien movie, but it has its charm. Prometheus has great special effects and all that but the movie as a whole is very drab and boring.
 
J

Jake.

Member
i say the same thing every thread. initially only one or two people agreed, but now more come to the dark side.

alien >>> alien 3 > aliens >>> resurrection > the rest of the trash.
 
J

jossueinacoma

Member
Alien- I have always said its the best horror movie.
Aliens- great follow up, could not expect a better sequel
Alien 3- is what it is... a failed attempt, at least it didn't have intentions of undermining and making a mockery of its franchise just like...
*sigh*
Alien Resurrection-why does this exist
Prometheus- idk if us even call it an Alien flick. I just finished watching it about 30 minutes ago and it's such a mess...a beautiful convoluted pretentious mess...it didn't hold up as much as I thought it would. Prior to seeing it agin it was pretty high up there....boy was I naive
Covenant please be good &#128553;
 
eot

eot

Banned
I'm fine with people saying Alien is better than Aliens, but I'd much rather watch the latter.
 
F

Farmboy

Member
I actually think one of the cool things about the franchise (not counting AvP1&2) is that none of them are completely terrible. It's just that all of them beyond 1&2 have huge and obvious flaws, and since 1&2 are neigh-on perfect, they show.

But they all have redeeming qualities:
- Alien 3: looks fantastic, great ending for Ripley, in hindsight comes much closer to the first two overall than what followed
- Alien Resurrection: interesting tone, some nice Whedon-isms, some cool designs (and one notably terrible Alien design), Weaver and Ryder having fun
- Prometheus: great atmosphere, Fassbender, Caesarian sequence

Haven't seen Covenant yet but I hope Bobby's right that it's Alien 3 tier.
 
S

Sojgat

Member
Alien > Aliens

But give it some time. Ridley Scott seems like he's not going to stop until he's found a way to retroactively make the first movie terrible.

The others are all bad and not worth ranking.
 
nkarafo

nkarafo

Member
Alien > Alien 3 > Aliens > I don't care for the others.

Yeah, i'm not a huge fan of the action oriented Alien, raise your pitchforks.
 
taizuke

taizuke

Member
People who say Requiem isn't the worst baffle me.

Resurrection is at least fun.

Up until i played Isolation i always regarded Aliens as the best. The game made me appreciate and see the first Alien in ways i never had. But, i still lean towards Aliens.

Avp is also fun and that first fight of the Aliens against the Predators is amazing.

Alien 3 has Tywin Lannister.
 
D.Lo

D.Lo

Member
shintoki said:
Alien
Alien 3 DC
Aliens
Alien Res
Prom
Click to expand...
Correct.

Aliens is a solid film for what it sets out to do, but is much more simplistic, wrecks/disrespects the core horror of the original, and made with a rich 80s cheese sauce. So it becomes an emotional favourite of kids/teens, but is a 'period classic' (eg Commando) instead of an all time classic (eg Apocalypse Now).

Prometheus is the Phantom Menace combined with Attack of the Clones of the franchise.
 
E

EGM1966

Member
1 - Alien. Essentially perfect. Chilly. Cold. Existential. Body horror. Primal fear. A terrific cast and implacable, hope smothering pacing. Iconic designs and the best sense of creeping unknown and the unknown depths of space in one.

1.5 - Aliens. Almost perfect and almost a tie with Alien. Perfect sequel to a horror film once the "cats out the bag". The creatures no longer a mystery so show it more. Open up the world and show more of that. Take the lone survivor and make then the lead from the start. Switch the horror to muscular, tension fueled thriller. One of the greatest action thrillers ever made.

Big quality gap follows to:

Alien 3 and Prometheus. Both interesting. Both flawed (quite heavily and that includes assembly cut A3). Mix of great and awful characterisation. Uneven pacing. Both achingly beautiful at times. Some terrific imagery and scenes. Curios both.

Another gap the the assorted rest.
 
D

Danielsan

Member
When I really think about it, the only Alien movie I really love is the original. Aliens is okay, but I hate that it's an action movie in which Xenomorphs just get splattered across the wall as if they're nothing. Never watched 3 and I somewhat enjoyed Prometheus, though the movie has so many issues that it's not even funny.
 
F

Fancy Clown

Member
Alien
Aliens
Alien 3
Prometheus
Alien Resurrection

I haven't seen the AvP movies recently enough to rank them, but they'd probably be somewhere in that Prometheus tier of badness. Alien 3 despite all it's flaws actually manages to be a pretty good movie, so there's a massive drop in quality between that and the two that follow.

Alien is basically a perfect movie. Aliens isn't quite as evocative or sharp, but it's up there as well. A recent rewatch put it a lot closer to Alien in quality for me than I had before, I was really picking up what Cameron was throwing down.
 
V

Vincent Grayson

Member
Aliens (which is constantly vying for 1st place in my overall ranking with The Thing)
Alien
Prometheus
Alien: Resurrection
Alien 3
AvP/AvP: Requiem

I'm weird in that I actually really like Prometheus, and don't find the things most people hate about it to be bothersome at all. Of course, I also kinda like Resurrection, so maybe I can't be trusted at all. There's just something about how goddamn weird it is that reminds me of the Alien novels (some of which are really bonkers).
 
L

linkboy

Member
Alien - One of my favorite sci-fi horror movies, favorite movie in general

Aliens - Amazing action movie

Prometheus - Is it perfect, no, but it's not the disaster people say it is either.

Alien 3 - Decent movie, but it's problems are to big to overcome.

Alien Resurrection - Who gives a shit. I hate this film

There's not much of a gap between Prometheus and Alien 3. Both movies suffer from the same thing, they're not as good as they could be, but they're better then they should be.

Haven't seen Covenant yet, and I don't give two shits about the Alien vs Predator films.
 
Yautja_Warrior

Yautja_Warrior

Member
Alien
Aliens Special Edition
Alien 3 Special Edition / Workprint
Prometheus
Alien Resurrection
AvP / AvP 2 (Draw, both have good and bad points, sadly more bad than good)

Covenant might bump Alien 3 off the 3rd spot, will see this weekend. I know Alien is the better film (why it's at 1 on my list) I do actually like Aliens a little more, it's my favourite movie.
 
S

SpacLock

Member
1. Alien - One of the greatest horror movies of all time.
2. Aliens - Fantastic action/horror.
3. Prometheus - Just enough suspense to keep me in it, but you all know what's wrong. Personally, I enjoyed it.
4. Alien Resurrection - Nostalgia keeps me in this one. Watched a few times with a good friend in my younger years.
5. Alien 3 (ugh)
 
A

Alienfan

Member
Alien > Alien Covenant > Prometheus == Alien 3 > Aliens >>>>>Alien Resurrection

I'll never not be amazed by how much people like Aliens. I just dont get it. Visually it's dated the worst, the characters are dumb space marines devoid of character development so you don't give a shit when they die, the Alien queen is ridiculous looking, the dialogue is too on the nose, the child character and Ripley predictably live. Everything that makes the Alien so terrifying is almost all gone, they become cannon fodder. A totally enjoyable action movie, maybe even great, but a terrible Alien movie
 
Z

Zakalwe

Banned
I hate the Alien Vs Aliens debate. They don't exist in contest, but an absolutely perfect set of complementary pieces.

Alien to Aliens remains the greatest original to sequel transition of all time, imo.


Alienfan said:
Alien > Alien Covenant > Prometheus == Alien 3 > Aliens >>>>>Alien Resurrection

I'll never not be amazed by how much people like Aliens. I just dont get it. Visually it's dated the worst, the characters are dumb space marines devoid of character development so you don't give a shit when they die, the Alien queen is ridiculous looking, the dialogue is too on the nose, the child character and Ripley predictably live. Everything that makes the Alien so terrifying is almost all gone, they become cannon fodder
Click to expand...

The only dated parts are the bluescreen moments, aside from that it looks better than most films released to day by miles simply due to the heavy practical effects. The Queen battle will look incredible forever.

The dialogue in the film is amazing, I have no idea what you mean here. The marines are dumb /on purpose/, they're supposed to spew the idiotic shit they do and they're arrogance is what gets them trounced in the hive. They're cannon fodder, but they're fun/cool fodder. The actual writing is one of the films best aspects, especially Ripley's smart arse quips.

And there was nothing predictable ab out the ending, sure they live but the actual ending sequence is one of the most masterfully crafted in cinematic history. From the moment they return to the facility to the moment they go to sleep, I have no idea how anyone could deny the ending is incredible.

Also this isn't a horror film, it's got horror elements but the Aliens aren't presented in the same way. This is not better or wrose, but different, which is pretty much the entire ethos for the film. It takes what Alien did and creates a sequel that compliments it perfectly while also taking it in an entirely new direction.

Oh, and Ripley's character is one of the greatest examples of a female heroine ever.

In short: I think you're mad, I'd say that was fine but you put Promethearse ahead of one of the greatest films ever made. That hurts to read!
 
Sub_Level

Sub_Level

wants to fuck an Asian grill.
Aliens is not simply a good movie. Its a masterpiece in its own right. The sound design, the sets, the character, the acting. What a ride.

hyLGmRA.jpg


And while I do classify it as an action movie, its important to note that the entire first half does not even see a single alien. Alien 3 has more action in its first half than Aliens.
 
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