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[GhaleonEB]

That theory makes sense. I have to say, the idea of the original alien life cycle is much scarier than what Cameron came up with. The alien was more frightening when it seemed less like an animal.

Agree. I love Aliens, and how different it is from Alien. But in concept and execution, the creature is just much more frightening in the first film that it ever was in the rest of the series. Cameron filled in the gap in its lifecycle in a way that made it seem familiar, rather than, well, alien.

On that note, I've just finished reading the shooting script: http://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/alien_shooting.html

It reads nearly twice as long as the film, lots of additional character stuff and more encounters with the alien. I remember a couple of the scenes from the novelization of the film I read in high school. Some details in the action were changed in the final film, but it was still an interesting read.

From the very end:

The Creature rises.
Faces the locker.
Catches the steel shaft through its midriff.
The Alien clutches at the spear.
Yellow acid begins to flow from the wound.
Before the fluid can touch the floor...
Ripley reaches back and pulls the switch.
Blows the rear hatch.
The atmosphere in the shuttle immediately sucked into space.
The bleeding creature along with it.
Ripley grabs a strut to keep from being pulled out.
The Alien shoots past her.
Grab's Ripley's ankle with an appendage.

EXT. NARCISSUS

Ripley now hanging halfway out of the shuttle-craft.
The Alien clinging to her leg.
She kicks at it with her free foot.
The Creature holds fast.

The ending was different in the movie, but Cameron lifted the scene of Ripley being pulled out the air lock with the alien dangling on her foot for Aliens.

 

[AniHawk]

Agree. I love Aliens, and how different it is from Alien. But in concept and execution, the creature is just much more frightening in the first film that it ever was in the rest of the series. Cameron filled in the gap in its lifecycle in a way that made it seem familiar, rather than, well, alien.

On that note, I've just finished reading the shooting script: http://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/alien_shooting.html

It reads nearly twice as long as the film, lots of additional character stuff and more encounters with the alien. I remember a couple of the scenes from the novelization of the film I read in high school. Some details in the action were changed in the final film, but it was still an interesting read.

Thanks for that. I'm reading the part where Dallas goes in the vents, and there's a part where the Alien almost grabs him. And supposedly there's a scene of the Alien's mouth before Dallas finds the drool and decides to turn back. I'm glad they just kept it to the Alien suddenly being right behind him. It's my favorite "Boo!" scare ever.

EDIT: Here we go: http://www.spike.com/video/alien-directors-cut/2477571

What's great is that he actually lowers himself down next to it, and that you can actually see its dome from the light of the fire.

 

[Man]

I love the Dallas vent scene.

His fear seems so real. He's the leading officer and seems like a very reasoned and stern man but how he slowly breaks down in the vent.. I mean, he does not loose it but he is one the verge and is in full retreat mode, very tense.

 

[D.Lo]

I love the Dallas vent scene.

His fear seems so real. He's the leading officer and seems like a very reasoned and stern man but how he slowly breaks down in the vent.. I mean, he does not loose it but he is one the verge and is in full retreat mode, very tense.

Yeah, one of the best scenes. The only problem is the Alien reveal at him is pretty cheesy.

I'll say it again, where the Blu Ray? I want to watch this right now in HD.

 

[subzero9285]

Yeah, one of the best scenes. The only problem is the Alien reveal at him is pretty cheesy.

I'll say it again, where the Blu Ray? I want to watch this right now in HD.

 

[D.Lo]

Christmas 2010? Doh. Hopefully sold separately as well, I don't want any of the others.

 

[How About No]

Doh this better be real.

Though...wasn't ALIENS shot in really shit quality compared to ALIEN?

 

[Tedesco!]

Christmas 2010? Doh. Hopefully sold separately as well, I don't want any of the others.

I highly doubt that will happen right away. I would guess it would be at least a year until they separate the films.

 

[EatChildren]

Exactly. I think Cameron was very smart . . . instead of trying to compete with a great movie by making something like it, he avoided suspense & horror and went with adrenalin action. Both movies are great.

Indeed, he was smart to do this and I think that is why a lot of people enjoy both films, as Aliens doesnt feel like its trying to be Alien.

That being said, its also one of the reasons so many can be so split between the two. Aliens might be very popular, but its a different beast to Alien and thus is missing (for good reason) many elements of which people enjoyed from Alien.

I like both, but for me personally the slow brooding tension and fear of the Alien as well as a focus on character interaction is greater than action.

Its also why I love the extended cut of Alien 3 so much. Sure, it basically copies the idea behind Alien over the twist that Aliens introduced, but thats really what I want. Even so, I like how it introduced its own twists to the formula; this wasnt a crew willing to work together, this was a bunch of criminals who want to gut one another, all struggling with their own existance.

Everyone is so detestable, but you end up rooting for them.

 

[AniHawk]

The only problem is the Alien reveal at him is pretty cheesy.

Yeah, it's kinda cheesy, but at the same time, it's the only thing like that in the movie, and the first time you really see the Alien full on like that. I think that's why I like it. Plus, the idea that it waits there for him and ambushes him is terrifying. It's not the animal-creature from the sequels.

 

[D.Lo]

That's a terrible flyer in so many ways. But at least it doesn't say 'quadrilogy', I refuse to ever buy anything with that collection of roman letters written on it in that order.

 

[Monocle]

That's a terrible flyer in so many ways. But at least it doesn't say 'quadrilogy', I refuse to ever buy anything with that collection of roman letters written on it in that order.

Now that's just silly.

 

[AniHawk]

Bwah!