Lord Error
Insane For Sony
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Punch it, Bishop! ALIENS 25th Anniversary Appreciation Thread
- Thread starter SCULLIBUNDO
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PhoncipleBone
Banned
Buckethead said:
Then a lot of directors in Hollywood must hate a lot of their product then, since a lot of stuff gets corrupted.
I do think Fincher's issue is with the experience of making it. It was just an awful first time directing experience, I am shocked Fincher made a movie after that. But I am glad he did.
Buckethead
Banned
Every director gets a project squashed/interfered with.
Orson Wells had The Magnificent Ambersons, Paul Thomas Anderson had Sydney, and Ridley Scott had every movie he's ever made.
Orson Wells had The Magnificent Ambersons, Paul Thomas Anderson had Sydney, and Ridley Scott had every movie he's ever made.
Buckethead
Banned
Yep. Initially.Spire said:
Unlike most others, he makes Director's Cuts after the bad versions come out.
PhoncipleBone
Banned
Yet, it is a very positive review. That is one of my favorite reviews of his because of that. He goes through all the things about the film that made him uneasy, then praises it for being expertly made and suspenseful.icarus-daedelus said:
Buckethead said:
I don't think you're correct on this. He actually gets flack for not standing up for his vision enough. The DC of Kingdom of Heaven is his original cut of the film, but the studio asked him to cut it down to closer to 2 hours and he obliged. I think experienced directors realize that there is a give and take with the studios and accept that. I really don't think they hate their own films just because they had to change a thing or two. Fincher's experience with Alien 3 is a bit different as it was his first film, they started shooting without a finished script, they never let him have full power, spied on him and undermined him and eventually kicked him off the movie.
Buckethead
Banned
Ok well whatever, it wasn't an exact comparison.
Thanks for the latter link, watching tonight and tomorrow.Scullibundo said:
Aliens still stands as one of the best action movies ever, and one of the scariest. I love that Cameron decided to make a terrifying film that was not a retread of Alien, but held structural parallels.
We're on an express elevator to hell, goin' down.
Yeah. I'm a bit desensitized at my age as well, but Aliens did to me what it did to Ebert back then. Much of what makes it so effective is the long build ups before action releases. The sound of that motion tracker gradually rising in pitch....good lord. It haunted my dreams for years.PhoncipleBone said:
My favorite interview from that making-of documentary is with James Horner. Sounds like James and Gale treated him like shit and he ended up delivering, arguably, the best score he's ever written. I am surprised that he and Cameron were able to reconnect many years later on Titanic after that experience.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aeMK-S5Pyw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aeMK-S5Pyw
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
JB1981 said:
Its not even close to being the best score he's written.
kinoki
Illness is the doctor to whom we pay most heed; to kindness, to knowledge, we make promise only; pain we obey.
I need to buy the Blu-Ray collection, that's for sure.
Though I'm one probably alone in this; I've gotten the most enjoyment out of Ressurection. It's my favorite Alien-movie. Aliens is in second place and I don't care much for Alien or Alien3. Really looking forward to Prometheus.
Though I'm one probably alone in this; I've gotten the most enjoyment out of Ressurection. It's my favorite Alien-movie. Aliens is in second place and I don't care much for Alien or Alien3. Really looking forward to Prometheus.
PhoncipleBone
Banned
You are alone on that.kinoki said:
Lv99 Slacker
Member
Scullibundo said:
The Land Before Time?
Discotheque
Banned
Scullibundo said:
....nah it's definitely the best score he's ever written. And then followed by Star Trek 2 and Braveheart
Price Drop
Member
Just watched the Aliens Blu-ray a few days ago. It should really be THE blueprint on how to make an action film. Spend 40 min to build the story, 20 min to insert cast into terrible situation, next 50 in and out of suspense / action sequences and last 27 min in full out non-stop action with an epic boss battle.
One thing in common with Alien and Aliens is that Ripley is surrounded by memorable, non-annoying characters. Capt. Dallas, Lambert, Kane, Parker, Hudson, Vasquez, Newt, Bishop, and Hicks. Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection she's surrounded by fools that nobody remembers.
But the major thing that makes Ripley amazing in Alien and Aliens is her writing. You can see in each film when she has dialogue where she stands up for herself, leads with assured direction and takes action into her own hands. In Alien 3 she's written to be overthrown by loudmouth prisoners and in Resurrection she's introspective, passive and doesn't even want to kill the Alien.
After Prometheus I hope Ridley or James Cameron look into one definitive Alien sequel to end it all. Ripley deserves it.
One thing in common with Alien and Aliens is that Ripley is surrounded by memorable, non-annoying characters. Capt. Dallas, Lambert, Kane, Parker, Hudson, Vasquez, Newt, Bishop, and Hicks. Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection she's surrounded by fools that nobody remembers.
But the major thing that makes Ripley amazing in Alien and Aliens is her writing. You can see in each film when she has dialogue where she stands up for herself, leads with assured direction and takes action into her own hands. In Alien 3 she's written to be overthrown by loudmouth prisoners and in Resurrection she's introspective, passive and doesn't even want to kill the Alien.
After Prometheus I hope Ridley or James Cameron look into one definitive Alien sequel to end it all. Ripley deserves it.
SpacedCadette
Member
How About No
Member
dalin80 said:If the guy doesnt understand the importance of tea breaks then he is a cretin. Powered by tea the british crews made some of the best and long lasting effects, visuals and atmosphere ever put to tape.
FUEL OF THE GODS.
That looks like coffee to me.
In Cameron's America, tea's a translucent brown with a lemon wedge!
And thank god we don't need to see those shoes for another century.
Count of Monte Sawed-Off
un33dab@dpu$$y
jett said:
Indeed. It is one of the few things I can still appreciate about the movie.
How About No
Member
dalin80 said:
I'll just show myself the door then
Alien Resurrection is what made me hate Joss Whedon, because even after it was essentially unanimous that it was the worst possible Alien movie, he maintained that the script was great and everything else is what made it shit.kinoki said:
It was an awful script and he wouldn't even take responsibility.
PhoncipleBone
Banned
jett said:
Braveheart is probably his best. I am partial to his Apollo 13 score as well, and it was from the same year!
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
Lucky Forward
Member
The reactor is going critical. The countdown is on. The clock is ticking...
Scullibundo said:
Insane Metal
Gold Member
One of the best movies I've ever watched. Absolutely amazing.
There are so many amazing things about this film that I know I really can't do a proper appreciation post. I love this movie so much I feel like I can't do it justice without spending an exorbitant amount of time writing it, and even then I know I'd have to watch it again (and I just saw it last week!). Probably once with commentary on too.
GAF even managed to get Ebert's review in on the first page which has always struck me as the best non-cast/crew commentary on the film; this is a movie that feels like a punch to the stomach, even after its bite has been watered downed by years of repeat viewings and seeing it pretty much cut and paste into the gaming world via Halo and Starcraft.
I don't understand the back-and-forth between Alien and Aliens fans; Alien always struck me as a sci-fi/horror movie where Aliens is a sci-fi Action movie; same saga, almost different genres. I love both movies, but where Aliens is my Absolute Number One Favorite Action Movie of all Time, Alien isn't my favorite horror-themed film. Alien also requires that I compare it to Scott's other sci-fi masterpiece, Blade Runner, and I think in my mind that brings Alien down slightly. Unfair, I know, but that's just how things worked out.
On Director's Cut vs. Theatrical, I honestly prefer the Director's Cut for the little bits and pieces that make the film feel more solid; The death of Ripley's daughter really defines her relationship and the lengths she goes to for Newt much better. After dumping the Queen out of the Airlock, you notice that Newt runs to Ripley and calls her "Mommy" instead of "Ripley". The final scene of the film is Ripley and Newt in the stasis pods, at such an angle that Ripley appears to be sleeping next to her new-found daughter and watching over her. Without the scene explaining Ripley's loss early in the film, it just doesn't jump out so well or have quite the same impact.
The colony scenes aren't required but nice, same with the auto-guns. There are a few scenes here and there with the marines that don't really serve much purpose, but viewed as a whole, any minute where people are walking around looking for something or getting ready to do something is another minute of tension building up for the inevitable explosion.
Edit: Fuck, forgot the exchange between Hicks and Ripley where they use eachother's first names was DC-only. Chalk that up as another reason I favor the DC.
Also, despite going on to do amazing work in Terminator 2 and Jurassic Park, I feel like Stan Winston is at his absolute peak here (he won his first Oscar for it). Those other two films suffer slightly because early CGI is used and looks cheap, bringing the rest of the films down slightly (not knocking either of them, love me some T2 and JP too!). Apart from a few rear-projection shots, everything looks good even today. There's puppetry, miniatures, guys-in-suits... and what's sad is that nowadays it would just be some god damned CGI-monstrosity that looks more like a guy in a rubber suit than the actual guy in a rubber suit. Winston also got to do the directing work for the scene where Newt is shoulder-deep in water as Ripley tries to cut her out as the aliens swarm in and one erupts from beneath the water. I'm not sure if the shot stands out because I know he personally handled it or if it's just really well done and creepy, but I think it's one of the top scenes in the film.
Was just discussing with a friend the other day how Cameron even managed to find a perfect child actor (which is dangerous territory) in Carrie Henn.
It's also worth mentioning that while James Horner has had better scores since, he really cut his teeth on Aliens (it was his first major score and also his first Oscar nod). I often wonder what his score might be like if he were given the opportunity to work at his own pace.
So... yeah... Aliens. Fuck Yeah!
Wrote a god damned huge post while trying not to!
GAF even managed to get Ebert's review in on the first page which has always struck me as the best non-cast/crew commentary on the film; this is a movie that feels like a punch to the stomach, even after its bite has been watered downed by years of repeat viewings and seeing it pretty much cut and paste into the gaming world via Halo and Starcraft.
I don't understand the back-and-forth between Alien and Aliens fans; Alien always struck me as a sci-fi/horror movie where Aliens is a sci-fi Action movie; same saga, almost different genres. I love both movies, but where Aliens is my Absolute Number One Favorite Action Movie of all Time, Alien isn't my favorite horror-themed film. Alien also requires that I compare it to Scott's other sci-fi masterpiece, Blade Runner, and I think in my mind that brings Alien down slightly. Unfair, I know, but that's just how things worked out.
On Director's Cut vs. Theatrical, I honestly prefer the Director's Cut for the little bits and pieces that make the film feel more solid; The death of Ripley's daughter really defines her relationship and the lengths she goes to for Newt much better. After dumping the Queen out of the Airlock, you notice that Newt runs to Ripley and calls her "Mommy" instead of "Ripley". The final scene of the film is Ripley and Newt in the stasis pods, at such an angle that Ripley appears to be sleeping next to her new-found daughter and watching over her. Without the scene explaining Ripley's loss early in the film, it just doesn't jump out so well or have quite the same impact.
The colony scenes aren't required but nice, same with the auto-guns. There are a few scenes here and there with the marines that don't really serve much purpose, but viewed as a whole, any minute where people are walking around looking for something or getting ready to do something is another minute of tension building up for the inevitable explosion.
Edit: Fuck, forgot the exchange between Hicks and Ripley where they use eachother's first names was DC-only. Chalk that up as another reason I favor the DC.
Also, despite going on to do amazing work in Terminator 2 and Jurassic Park, I feel like Stan Winston is at his absolute peak here (he won his first Oscar for it). Those other two films suffer slightly because early CGI is used and looks cheap, bringing the rest of the films down slightly (not knocking either of them, love me some T2 and JP too!). Apart from a few rear-projection shots, everything looks good even today. There's puppetry, miniatures, guys-in-suits... and what's sad is that nowadays it would just be some god damned CGI-monstrosity that looks more like a guy in a rubber suit than the actual guy in a rubber suit. Winston also got to do the directing work for the scene where Newt is shoulder-deep in water as Ripley tries to cut her out as the aliens swarm in and one erupts from beneath the water. I'm not sure if the shot stands out because I know he personally handled it or if it's just really well done and creepy, but I think it's one of the top scenes in the film.
Was just discussing with a friend the other day how Cameron even managed to find a perfect child actor (which is dangerous territory) in Carrie Henn.
It's also worth mentioning that while James Horner has had better scores since, he really cut his teeth on Aliens (it was his first major score and also his first Oscar nod). I often wonder what his score might be like if he were given the opportunity to work at his own pace.
So... yeah... Aliens. Fuck Yeah!
Wrote a god damned huge post while trying not to!
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
tuffy said:
LOL. Time constraints nothing. Horner lifts from his own work all the time. James HORNer.
Neuromancer
Member
I'm ready, man, check it out. I am the ultimate badass! State of the badass art! You do NOT wanna fuck with me. Check it out! Hey Ripley, don't worry. Me and my squad of ultimate badasses will protect you! Check it out! Independently targeting particle beam phalanx. Vwap! Fry half a city with this puppy. We got tactical smart missiles, phase-plasma pulse rifles, RPGs, we got sonic electronic ball breakers! We got nukes, we got knives, sharp sticks...
Nappuccino
Member
Good movie... but I don't know. I only really like the final 40 min or so. The characters besides Ripley, Hicks, Bishop and Burke made me want to punch who ever finalized the dialog. It is so bad and cheesy, especially compared to the realistic interactions of the first film.
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