Anticitizen One
Banned
jett said:
Watch the director's cut
RTTP: Ridley Scott's ALIEN, or, the best movie he's ever made?
- Thread starter Anton Sugar
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Watch the director's cut
It's remarkable how much restraint Scott showed. He filmed a lot of footage showing the alien, and then cut around it. I agree it's much more effective (though the one extra shot of the creature during Brett's death in the extended cut was for the better - you can't really make out what you're looking at initially, just that something seems off).jett said:
I still don't see it. Combined with the extended scene of Brett's death, I thought it looked more like the alien was using its tail as a kind of sensor or antenna. In Brett's original death, the tail wraps up around and behind, and when it touches his back, that's when it strikes. Same thing here: when he's struck, the tail unwinds and points to what struck him, sniffs it out, and alien moves in rapidly to pin Lambert in the corner.AniHawk said:
FWIW, in the novelization of the movie, the scene where Ripley finds Parker and Lambert is described as Ripley seeing (paraphrasing, it's been a few years) "what remained behind after the alien had successfully squeezed their bodies into the ventilation shaft".
I still see the final cut in the film as being the Alien using its tail to grab hold of her and pull her forward. Lambert over the intercom is panicking, and you can hear her gasp, "it's coming..." and then the sound of the alien attacking and her cut off scream. I see nothing sexual in it. If that is indeed the intention, I think it really cheapens the effect and is a shitty directorial decision in an otherwise masterful film.
The Blue Jihad
Member
AniHawk said:
Yes and no, because the erect tail is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it further perpetuates the sexual themes in the film.
But on the other hand, it looks so cheesy that I have a hard time taking it seriously and consequently, what was implied to be a violent, sexual act just turns out to be really, really goofy and sophomoric. I mean, it's a giant dude in a rubber suit, crouched on the ground, pointing a long tail at a tiny woman. It's just silly. Removes any and all emotional tension. Scott and crew made a good call in cutting that shot.
So I'm back to square one with regards to the scene. I'm still left with something that's far too brief, vague, and ham-fisted for "it's rape" to be a viable conclusion. I suppose I'm approaching it differently. When I hear the word "rape" I think of an act where the perpetrator's primary goal is sexual gratification. Whether it's a power thing, or pleasure, or whatever, they're looking for a psychological thrill.
Here it seems more like an assault that just happens to have sexual overtones. In fact, the entire movie is an assault that just happens to have sexual overtones. Look at the Alien. Yes, Giger has issues. He's a fantastic artist. But look at what the Alien itself does throughout the movie. I never got the sense that it's looking for pleasure. All I saw was an asexual killing machine with a manner of reproduction that is completely and utterly removed from the personalized experience we know. For the Alien, there is no sex. It doesn't know what sex is. All the Alien does is kill, and eat, and help cocoon humans to make baby Aliens.
So if the Alien doesn't know what sex is, how could its interaction with Lambert be sexual (and by extension, be considered rape)? If anything, due to the inherently asexual nature of the creature, it could very well have just been trying to figure out what in the hell Lambert was, because she was so different compared to its prior victims.
BravoSuperStar
Member
Legend is a good fantasy movie. But I think Blade Runner and Alien are much better films overall, especially when it comes to the plot and storyline. But who can deny how awesome Tim Currys' role was? Tom Cruise taints it now though...
RustyNails
Member
Its Gladiator for me. Talk about epic.Snowman Prophet of Doom said:
Michael Mann and Ridley Scott are two of my favorite directors working in Hollywood right now.
I recently watched all four of the Alien movies, I think Aliens was the worst of the four. I don't think that they were better than the first, that's for sure. I wish they had changed up the plot dynamics in the latter films; it felt I was watching the same thing over and over again--with no real explanations in any of them.
Alien is a really awesome movie. I must have seen a bad version of Blade Runner because I didn't like it very much. I don't remember any narration, but I also don't remember it having much of a message after
It felt like from that point on, the movie didn't have anywhere else to go to explore its theme, so the rest of the action felt pointless to me.
But, I don't think I watched the right version of it if there's some way better version of the movie out there.
Also, I like Aliens, but it has more in common with Terminator or Terminator 2 than it does with Alien. And really, Aliens is basically 75% of videogames, in the form of the movie they've all been ripping off for years.
Deckard realizes the girl is a Replicant.
But, I don't think I watched the right version of it if there's some way better version of the movie out there.
Also, I like Aliens, but it has more in common with Terminator or Terminator 2 than it does with Alien. And really, Aliens is basically 75% of videogames, in the form of the movie they've all been ripping off for years.
muntersaur
Member
D.Lo said:
Good stuff. I wrote a 4000+ word essay on just the 2 minute (I think) birthing sequence in relation to Julia Kristeva's theory of abjection, which seems to fit the sequence and the rest of the film like a glove.
Alien is Ridley's best film IMO
It's interesting the way the Extended Cut trailer is done compared to the original
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNhARS02rfU
It's interesting the way the Extended Cut trailer is done compared to the original
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNhARS02rfU
Man, the original trailer was so so well done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojhGdRSkiUw
Not a single word of spoken dialogue. No captions or whatever to tell people what's going on (just the name of the movie and the tagline). Not one single shot of the Alien. And this is a time when most movie trailers sucked hard.
I mean christ, look at the trailer for Aliens.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4E5D3OCJn-Y&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojhGdRSkiUw
Not a single word of spoken dialogue. No captions or whatever to tell people what's going on (just the name of the movie and the tagline). Not one single shot of the Alien. And this is a time when most movie trailers sucked hard.
I mean christ, look at the trailer for Aliens.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4E5D3OCJn-Y&NR=1
Ya, it's ahead of its time (Alien)AniHawk said:
Another one that is pretty good is Jaws, very well cut, the narration isn't too dated either
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zkYRD51I34
kinoki
Illness is the doctor to whom we pay most heed; to kindness, to knowledge, we make promise only; pain we obey.
Personally I like the first one but I can't watch it because it has so many stupid scenes. The most idiotic is when the guy goes out alone without a walkie-talkie to search for the cat. Leave the fucking cat, it's just a cat there are millions of them--I'll buy you a new one when you get back. And the damn underwear! Why wear a pair of underwear that are so obviously not your size?
The second one is a good action movie. I like it. Cameron at the top of his game. The third one I can't really say I've watched too many times. I just think I saw it once and was kind of "meh" at the end of it. And I love the forth one. Something about it just makes me love it. I don't know what it is. I think it's because it's probably the art-design that does it. The Alien-series have four of my favorite directors attached to them: Scott, Jeunet, Fincher and Cameron.
As for Scott, damn. I'd say most movies of his trump Alien. Even though I'm a big sci-fi nerd I can't for the life of me like Alien. Blade Runner, Gladiator, Thelma and Louise, American Gangster. All superior movies. Alien is pretty forgetable as a movie but the real star of the show the alien character that's not.
The second one is a good action movie. I like it. Cameron at the top of his game. The third one I can't really say I've watched too many times. I just think I saw it once and was kind of "meh" at the end of it. And I love the forth one. Something about it just makes me love it. I don't know what it is. I think it's because it's probably the art-design that does it. The Alien-series have four of my favorite directors attached to them: Scott, Jeunet, Fincher and Cameron.
As for Scott, damn. I'd say most movies of his trump Alien. Even though I'm a big sci-fi nerd I can't for the life of me like Alien. Blade Runner, Gladiator, Thelma and Louise, American Gangster. All superior movies. Alien is pretty forgetable as a movie but the real star of the show the alien character that's not.
RustyNails said:
Gladiator is easily the worst Ripley Scott movie for me. Lame villain, lousy love interest, battle scene has too much CG, boring and repetitive score. Boring and fake looking gladiator scenes....
It's Ripley Scott's Brave Heart but he fumbled on this one IMO. Gladiator winnig Oscar is pretty much the equivalent of Avatar or Jurassic Park winning the Oscar.
kinoki
Illness is the doctor to whom we pay most heed; to kindness, to knowledge, we make promise only; pain we obey.
AniHawk said:
Still, consider the alternatives. Unknown lifeform on ship that has killed one crewmember so far. Why go out without any means to contact the others in search of a cat? A CAT? Sure, I have two cats and I love them very much but I'd leave them both in a similar situation.
Ollie Pooch
In a perfect world, we'd all be homersexual
how ANYONE can rate Resurrection above Aliens is beyond me. i walked out of the theatre after Resurrection in the worst mood; it shat on everything i loved about the series. i've tried rewatching it again recently and it's just shit. the only mildly interesting scene was when the two aliens destroyed a third to escape.
i love the first 3. alien for the amazing cinematography and atmosphere, aliens for everything, and alien 3 for the absolute depressing bleak feel of the entire film. even better in the extended cut.
i love the first 3. alien for the amazing cinematography and atmosphere, aliens for everything, and alien 3 for the absolute depressing bleak feel of the entire film. even better in the extended cut.
kinoki
Illness is the doctor to whom we pay most heed; to kindness, to knowledge, we make promise only; pain we obey.
... ... I'd probably prefer the Ressurection to Aliens... atleast in entertainment value. But I can't stress enough, the movie just clicks very well with me... it seems like Jeunet tells a story the way my eye/brain likes and while its story is pretty forgetable there's something about the visual design that captivates me. It's probably the best looking Alien-movie.
(yes, even Alien 4, but to a lesser extent). Aliens was probably my favorite though.love seeing Kingdom of Heaven Director's Cut getting so much love - it's AMAZING. one of the best films of the decade. it's unbelievable - i like to get drunk, corner people, and go off about how great it is.
also, people are forgetting how great Thelma and Louise is. there's like five amazing performances in it, the script is great (won the oscar - not that that counts for much, but still), it was brad pitt's breakout role, and it's easily one of the best road movies of all time
also, people are forgetting how great Thelma and Louise is. there's like five amazing performances in it, the script is great (won the oscar - not that that counts for much, but still), it was brad pitt's breakout role, and it's easily one of the best road movies of all time
PjotrStroganov
Member
I don't have a favorite, but of his lesser movies I love Black Rain. It's one of those movies I found bad-ass when I was younger and will always keep loving it.
The Bookerman
Member
I still have nightmares concerning facehuggers.
Reason why I can't watch alien movies anymore.
Reason why I can't watch alien movies anymore.
subzero9285
Banned
Something about been smothered I bet.The Bookerman said:
The Bookerman
Member
subzero9285 said:Something about been smothered I bet.
by a vagina with 8 legs and a tail.
Count of Monte Sawed-Off
un33dab@dpu$$y
RustyNails said:
I really wish Mann had gotten to do Gates of Fire. I want to see how he'd handle an historical epic.
How About No
Member
Jones and his new Chestburster friend playing hide-and-seek. Jones thought he had a clever spot. Chesty didn't take too kindly to Brett interrupting.serfr said:
gregor7777
Banned
I've watched Alien a bunch of times, and only yesterday did I finally arrive at that question :lol
I think the cat has a pact with the Alien. It's the only explanation.
kinoki
Illness is the doctor to whom we pay most heed; to kindness, to knowledge, we make promise only; pain we obey.
gregor7777 said:
So now what we've concluded the real plot of the movie. Alien invades ship, kills crewmember, humans flee, alien meets cat, alien forms a relationship with the cat, alien hides cat from evil humans, evil humans try to kidnap cat, alien gets mad and tries to kill filthy humans and the movie ends with the cat kidnapped and alien dead in his efforts to free the cat.
kinoki said:
No, the real plot is Alien invades ship, kills crewmember, humans flee, alien meets cat, cat instructs alien to kill remaining crewmembers, alien fails in its job, but cat survives and may spread its influence once it reaches some sort of civilization. Need proof? Just look at the cat when the Alien appears behind Brett. It's almost as though it's saying, "Good. Good."
I was watching this today again, but there's one thing I don't understand. It's about the moment when Ripley has entered the shuttle and she is about to go into cryo-sleep. Before Ripley activates the decompression process.
What is it with the Alien that doesn't make him attack Ripley? I mean, it looks like it's just lying there, like it's sleeping. Then it's hand reaches out, but why doesn't it attack Ripley? What is wrong with the Alien at that moment in the movie?
What is it with the Alien that doesn't make him attack Ripley? I mean, it looks like it's just lying there, like it's sleeping. Then it's hand reaches out, but why doesn't it attack Ripley? What is wrong with the Alien at that moment in the movie?
gregor7777
Banned
Maybe the same thing all of the Aliens are doing in..Aliens...when the team begins searching for the "town meeting".
Apparently they just chill like that until something comes along to kill.
Apparently they just chill like that until something comes along to kill.
Anton Sugar
Member
GhaleonEB said:
I don't agree at all. I don't want to get into anecdotal evidence or anything, but the two girls who watched it with me for the first time, were both sort of saying, "What the fuck?!?" during the Lambert death scene, because of the tail pointing straight up .
I like it. I don't think it cheapens it one bit--I think it makes the Alien better.
Anticitizen One
Banned
Alien Resurection is just gross like I actually get queasy while watching it. Only decent charecters in the film are Ron Pearlman and Winnona Ryder and the line:
"Earth...what a shithole"
"Earth...what a shithole"
BravoSuperStar
Member
Tr4nce said:
Perhaps the Alien has finally realized the futility of killing everyone and everything around it and is attempting a gesture of friendship? Also on some level I think the Alien realized the shuttle was it's only option...
BravoSuperStar
Member
Mr. Snrub said:
Yeah after watching the deleted footage it's clear some sort of sexual attack is implied. She is naked afterwards, and that creepy dance is so different than how the Alien approaches the other crew...
BertramCooper
Banned
IIRC, the clip of the alien slowly pulling up his tail behind Lambert was actually filmed for one of the other crew deaths (I want to say Brett, but I can't remember). Lambert wears cowboy boots throughout the film, but the clip of the tail sneaking up underneath her shows a person wearing white tennis shoes.Mr. Snrub said:
It's a goof, of course, but it kind of hurts the theory that the filmmakers intended for Lambert to be "raped" by the alien. The shot wasn't even originally meant for her death.
Anton Sugar
Member
BertramCooper said:
But...why did they use it for her death scene, then? What purpose would there be to her having a terrified look on her face, show the tail creeping between her legs, then having her screaming in pain, and later showing her bare leg with blood running down it?
Just sayin.
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