The “Alien” series is one of my favorites even though I have to admit the amount of good movies is majorly outnumbered by the bad ones.
This is one of the first horror series I could say I was a fan of and tracked down all of the films. Now in my house my dad had a rule we could (if we were 16+) could rent just about anything we wanted, but if it was a dark/gory movie we had to space it out. 2 horrors film in a row and we’d have to rent something like a comedy. This is also one of the few times I went behind his back to finish the series in one go. My mom at the time didn’t really care what we rented so when I went up to her place to visit for the weekend I rented “Alien 3” to complete the chain. Anyway, I’ll be going from best to worst for this one so let’s get started. As almost always SPOILERS!
6.) Aliens
These types of movies are always difficult to discuss. It’s not only my favorite “Alien” film and a movie I’d put on my top 10 favorite films of all-time, but many other people feel the same. I’m not sure what I’ll have to say about the film that hasn’t been commented on to death. It is the definition of a great sequel. It expands the character and story, gave more of an explanation of what the xenomorphs were (plus their official name) while still keeping them scary and mysterious. Some may complain, but I always thought they did a good job showing just enough to keep the fear. For anyone who thinks having more xenomorphs makes them less scary remember yes it was easier to kill them individually, but even the film itself shows their greatest strength is in their numbers. Plus the Marines has state-of-the-art weapons, assuming you’re a family that owns guns your chances of surviving an onslaught of them is still going to be slim no matter what the NRA tries to tell you. Plus you just can’t beat the characters in this film. All are memorable and I care about every last one. We’re even introduced to my favorite character of the franchise, Bishop.
I first came across this film as a small child. We had a bunch of the toys from the Kenner line. One time my older brothers were watching it and I walked on the knife scene, I got scared and ran out. Now in my defense I was very young and didn’t understand what was going on. I just saw that someone was being held down and screaming as someone else threw a knife down over and over. Then, years later when I was still too young to be watching rated R films I walked in on my brothers watching it again. This time they were with my dad, I had gone in to ask about something and casually looked over at the TV. I saw a man, woman and child standing around and all the sudden the man starting violent vomiting milk and a sharp tail burst through his chest. He was hoisted up where a giant monster ripped him in a half! Needless to say this was one of the most terrifying images 10 year old me had seen. My dad had an interesting reaction. He made me continue watching. After all these years I think his reasoning was that can’t be the last thing I see before going on with my life, I needed closure, I needed to this thing die. So even though I was terrified he kept me in the room to watch the rest of the film. Honestly, that did help and I wasn’t as scared by what I had seen as I otherwise would have been. You have to remember at this time in my life I was still being scared by movies like the animated “The Hobbit” or “Ernest Scared Stupid.” So this was quite the jump in terror.
Eric’s Advice: Favorite of the series and one of my favorite films of all-time. If you’re going to watch this film then watch the Special Edition version. I won’t say that it makes the theatrical version bad, but it does make it obsolete.
5.) Alien
“Alien” is a brilliant haunted house film that just happens to be set in outer space. The writers had no real experience other than writing “Dark Star” and working on Jodorswky’s doomed “Dune” project. What they did have was one incredible idea. Essentially truck drivers in space are awakened for a distress signal. They set down on this unusual world. They find a crashed derelict ship with a corpse of a huge creature (Space Jockey) and a room of thousands of strange eggs. In a move that befits horror characters one decides to take a closer look at one and gets a facehugger attached to his… face. It actually implants him with an alien embryo that later bursts through his chest. In a short time it grows to full-size and begins picking off the crew members one by one. Eventually it is just down to one woman, Ripley who must find a way to escape from the ship without getting killed by the alien. Director Ridley Scott says he was greatly inspired by the original “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and with that basic description it’s not hard to see why.
So what are some things of note about this? Well the infamous chest burster scene is just as shocking even if you were someone like me who grew up watching “Spaceballs” or had brothers who would stick their arms underneath their shirts to mimic it. There are some who still refuse to watch the movie for that scene. Of the two versions I like the theatrical cut better. The director’s cut is interesting with some of the new scenes, but nothing that makes it better. In fact, the most famous new scene of Ripley finding Dallas cocooned and Brett apparently becoming an egg is cool, but you quickly see why it was cut in the first place. It messes with the pace of the ending. If the film has one major flaw it would be that I feel it’s just a wee bit overrated. Now before you go nuts, just listen. There are so many interpretations of the film and its deeper meaning, but like I said it’s just a sci-fi version of a haunted house film. It is as well-executed as that kind of story can hope to be, but that’s what it is all the same. However, that’s more of an issue with the fandom than the film itself. My point being that when that’s your only main criticism for a film then you know it’s pretty damn good.
Eric’s Advice: A classic that started it all even if I think it may be a little overrated in terms of its depth. Still OBVIOUSLY see the damn film.
4.) Prometheus
Oddly enough the whole “is it good vs. is it bad” thing is almost irrelevant. The movie is more of a roller coaster ride of crazy scenes. It’s a film that I’d be more likely to say, “you gotta see some of the shit in this film” before I tell them that I liked it. Which I did. The storyline is that a group of scientists find similar early drawings from different cultures across the world of a giant being pointing to a configuration of planets that the early people of these times couldn’t possibly have known about. Their theory is that these aliens were our creators and these were maps for us to find them. They go to the planet with the help of the Weyland company and find what at first seems like a giant cave, but turns out to be an alien laboratory long since abandoned. After all these years, they find the body of a Space Jockey (now called Engineers) only to discover that it’s our creators and we share 100% of our DNA with it. They also find a room of vases with black goo that appears to have mutagenic properties. The android David decides to test it by sneaking some into the drink of one of the scientists who has been a prick to him throughout the film. And the movie only gets crazier from there. Before our lead scientist, Shaw and the head of David set off to find the Engineer’s homeworld.
I remember way back hearing of plans for an “Alien 5” in which James Cameron would write and Ridley Scott would direct. After nerds all over the world finished cumming in their pants, it was announced that these plans fell through. Then, Ridley Scott came back and agreed to make a prequel, but as Scott himself put it the script evolved into something else. After seeing the movie I’d describe this film as a spin-off that happens to take place in the same universe as “Alien”… kinda. We can tell that Scott is apparently really into the ancient astronaut theory and wanted to use the “Alien” series as a vehicle to explore that. I can see why that may rub some people the wrong way. However, the criticisms and nitpicks of this more are insane. Ya characters do dumb things… almost as if they’re in a horror film, like oh I don’t know the “Alien” films! To me the new concepts vastly outweighed the bad parts. Even if that or the jaw dropping visuals don’t grab you this has some amazingly intense scenes like the “abortion” scene. I was holding on to my theatre seat for dear life while watching the first time. It worked for me even though it may not have been perfect. Still way better than most of the other sequels.
Eric’s Advice: If “Alien” is a bit overrated than this would be the underrated film of the series. I don’t think my review actually matters. It’s a film everyone SHOULD see just for the ride that it is.
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3.) Alien: Covenant
I am so torn on this film. I was really looking forward to it. ALMOST made a review of it. Then, I remembered I was planning this so I shelved it until now. As I mentioned before I really liked “Prometheus” and wanted to see where they were going with all the unanswered questions. Boy was I disappointed… to a point. You see as a film in and of itself it’s fine. I was appropriately interested in seeing where it was going in the moment of the movie. Then the ending came which seemed more like it was made by a fan rather than Scott himself. It still looked as good as his other stuff, but well let’s just say when I get to that most of my problems will come from the 3rd act. The plot is that a different ship is on a mission to colonize a new earth like planet. On the way their ship gets horribly damaged and their cameo captain is killed. With morale down and a new equally earth like planet found to be even closer they set down to explore/colonize that one. As they explore this new planet they find no life yet plenty of evidence of human life maybe once being there. They’re attacked by prototype xenomorphs and recused by David who we learned made it to the Engineer homeworld with Shaw, but as they arrived David dropped most of the ship’s load of the black goo killing everything. Since then he’s been doing experiments and has created (it’s heavily implied he killed Shaw and used her body to make) the xenomorph eggs. After a new Alien is created the crew barely escapes. David and this crew’s new android Walter and a fight to the death and only one comes out to join them. Then, what a shock the Alien goes on a rampage on the ship before (this is so original) they blow it into space. The final “twist” is it wasn’t Walter who survived the fight, but David who is now on the ship. Everyone else is in cryosleep and he begins plans to create more xenomorphs. A twist that could only possibly work if “Alien: Covenant” is the first film you’ve ever watched.
So can you tell what my problems are from that summary? First the continuity, do you remember those who complained that “Prometheus” messed up continuity despite forgetting that it took place on a different planet. This actually does mess up the continuity. So this takes place only 18 years before the events of “Alien” meaning according to the series cannon The Nostromo has already been built, Ripley is already alive. And yet THIS is when the xenomorphs were created. Remember in “Alien” the Space Jockey (Engineer) they found that showed the unmistakable signs of being a face hugger victim was fossilized. Meaning it had been there for at least 10,000 years. So was David copying some other life he learned about? I’d accept that except what characters say in the dialog doesn’t bare that out. Now about that final act, I never thought I’d say this, but it really feels like Ridley Scott was trying to make something more like “Aliens.” I don’t know if all the complaints and nitpicking really got to him, but it feels like it. On the audio commentary James Cameron mentions that filming the scene with the derelict ship made him realize that he’s not Scott as even though it was the same model it never looked as good as it did in the movie. I would say the same applies the other way around. Scott doesn’t seem to be able to balance suspense and good action like Cameron could. Then, amazingly they showed us the xenomorph’s POV. I think that messes with the mystique of the creature more than a lot of other things other people mention. They have no visible eyes so even with all the filters added it still just makes it somehow seem less unique. At least in “Alien 3” I can argue some of those shots in the big chase aren’t truly how the xenomorph sees and just the camera approximating it. They keep saying there are plans for more Alien films following this prequel timeline, but I’m certain they have also been meeting within FOX discussing Scott’s future at the helm. Seriously they cancelled Neil Blomkamp’s “Alien V” for this?!
Eric’s Advice: Taken on its own merits it’s ok, as an “Alien” film it majorly messes with the continuity. If you see try not to spend too much for it.
2.) Alien 3
This film may have some of the highest highs of the series and the lowest lows. After “Aliens” was such a success FOX of course wanted another film, but without a concept the project lagged. That didn’t stop them from trying and this film had a bunch of potential scripts made for it. One was later used as the basis for “Pitch Black.” Still they thought they had found someone who could really do something unique with a director named Vincent Ward. However, due to constantly meddling he left the project after they had set a release date and already started building sets. So they hired a first time director who seemed to be showing some promise in his music videos David Fincher. He had to rewrite the script, find ways to re-purpose the sets and include all the new notes from the studio while the release date remained the same. This would be difficult enough for a veteran much less a first timer. The fact the film is as good as it is is a miracle. The plot is that the Sulaco’s escape pod crashes on a prison planet (FOX seemed oddly obsessed with this idea). Hicks and Newt die as we the audience are kicked in the collective groins. Shortly there after it’s discovered that an egg was onboard and one of the prisoner’s dogs becomes a host. So we have a more animalistic version of the Alien, but that never really comes into play. While trying and failing to stop the Alien they discover that Ripley was impregnated by a queen chestbuster. They eventually manage to kill the alien in the first original death in the series. Then, the Weyland company come with a new Bishop (we don’t know if he’s an android or the designer) and Ripley sacrifices herself to make sure the Aliens can’t get into their hands.
The film looks great and the depressing atmosphere pours off the screen. However, as is often the cast with these kinds of films with such strong visuals and atmosphere it can feel more like a collection of scenes than a real story. There’s no real forward momentum which ends up making the movie feel longer than it should. When the film is good it shows how it could have been a great though different film. Most of the stuff involving Charles S Dutton’s character is amazing. He’s always been a great actor, but he really shines in this film. My favorite scene in this film (and one my favorites of the whole series) is when he convinces all the other prisoners to stand and fight the Alien. “You’re all gonna die. The only question is how you check out. Do you want it on your feet or on your fucking knees BEGGING! I ain’t much for begging! Nobody ever game me nothing! So I say fuck that thing, let’s fight it!” We also have Ripley’s little speech before it mentioning the events of the last 2 films and with Elliot Goldenthal’s Gothic music building and building makes this scene feel like the real culmination of the then trilogy. It actually gives me goosebumps. There are a number of scenes like that throughout. When Ripley dies and takes the queen into the fire it really feels like a true finale. It makes it all the more disappointing that the rest isn’t up to par with those specific scenes when it’s not doing flat-out stupid things like killing off beloved characters for no reason cheapening the ending of the last film.
Eric’s Advice: One of the most frustrating bad films because I constantly can see how this COULD be a very good film and a few scenes seems to prove it then goes back to just being unpleasant. Skip it unless you must see all of them.
1.) Alien Resurrection
After “Alien 3” bombed at the US box office FOX decided to rush out a film 5 years later. That may not seem like rushing, but you have to remember the time in between the other sequels were much longer especially by today’s standards. But how to proceed when you killed off the main character in such a definitive way? In this case, they hired a promising young writer by the name of Joss Whedon. You may have heard of him. His solution… well the only thing he could think of was cloning her. Plus hiring the director of “City of Lost Children” Jean-Pierre Jeunet who was an interesting choice, but clearly not a right fit. It’s OK he went to much better films with “Amélie.” The story is that even further in the future a military installation has obtained a DNA sample of Ripley and has cloned her to get at the queen alien that was inside her. It works, a bit imperfect as Ripley is now part xenomorph. She has slightly acidic blood and can hear them. At the same time, a bunch of space pirates (a very “Firefly” vibe) arrive with a shipment of humans to act as facehugger victims. One of them turns out to be an android Call (played by Winona Ryder) who knows about Ripley and the xenomorphs. They of course get loose and Ripley and the pirates must make it to their ship in order to escape. In the end they find the xenomorphs are mutating and must fight a human/xenomorph hybrid. They defeat by what a shock blowing out the airlock. Well I guess when you got a theme going…
What is there even to say?! Does anyone ever defend this movie? Well the internet has taught me that there are some who like this better than “Alien 3.” Their argument typically is something to the effect of “”Alien 3” is too serious and dull whereas “Alien: Resurrection” can be so bad it’s funny. It’s bad choices are so amazingly bad and it’s standards so low that you’ll always remember them.” Given my opinions on the “Alien vs Predator” (hint for next year’s articles) films I can understand to a certain degree. Even though I don’t agree in this case. Before the movie came out Whedon praised the film. Then, it came out and rightly got slammed by fans and critics and all the sudden he talks about how the script was radically changed and the hybrid at the end was not in his story at all. The only part I find a little interesting is that Call is an android apparently built by the older generation of robots, they’re even programmed to believe and observe religions. It’s more just a character detail, but it seems to me as something that could have been expanded upon. My main problem is that while Ripley is back, it’s not the real Ripley as she is changed. This clone Ripley is a new character that just happens to be played by Sigourney Weaver and I don’t particularly care for the new character. So I find it hard to get invested while watching.
Eric’s Advice: Avoid, not even the special edition version can save it.