Back when I was starting my “Summer of a Hundred Movies” project, I watched Alien vs. Predator and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem.
No, I was not smoking a lot of dope back then. I was watching some of those movies I’d just not watch at home with the wife or kids. And really, that list of “Movies I’d Never Watch In the Presence of Another Human Being” has Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem at #6 (Howard the Duck is #1, and Xanadu is #2, if you’re really curious).
As i was making my way through the Star Wars series, I was toying with what to watch next. Some action flicks, like Transformers, the Transporter films, or Jet Li? Or old Samuri flicks, on which some of the characters from Star Wars are based (like C3PO and R2D2)?
What I decided on is the Alien box set. I bought it a few years ago, have seen Alien and Aliens a couple of times since then, and only once did I watch them all – 1 to 4 — back to back.
If my views of Star Wars could change so much seeing it now, would Aliens be any different?
I suspect the answer will be yes. So, here we go: Alien.
I was too young to see this when it came out in the theaters. Stop laughing — that’s not funny.
And to be honest, if I had, I would not have slept until I was 26.
I did see this when it came out on video — I remember either my Dad getting it, or my getting it, and I distinctly remember it scaring the shit out of me. And by “scaring the shit out of me” I mean watching it with all of the lights on; with my feet up under me on the couch; and of not going to sleep for a long time after it ended.
Watching it, I knew it was suppose to be a scary movie, but I couldn’t take my eyes off of it. It just drew me, and wouldn’t let me go. And being unable to watch only made it that much scarier.
Why?
Holy crap, that thing just bursts right out of his chest! In one of the documentaries, the crew talks about how what’s on screen was their first take. They had not rehearsed it, and they had not been told what it would be like. They were all caught off guard. And wow, it shows.
I love their trip into the crashed spaceship. Here they are in something that looks like a SCUBA suit from 1880, walking through the visually stunning world of H. R. Giger. The ship and her contents are just beautiful – like the scene of Kane lowering onto the level where all of the eggs are — fantastical symmetry in the walls and structure, and the rows upon rows of eggs, all gently covered with a fine layer of mist. Giger’s work is so amazing, so radical, I’d watch this movie every day for the visuals if it wasn’t so damn scary.
And I mentioned scary, right? From the egg opening and the face sucker jumping out, to the blood being acid and eating through the floor, to the whole exploding-chest thing, there is suspense and tension throughout this movie. Holy crap — it lays its egg in you, and has acid for blood? Unkillable. And scary as hell.
This film made the career of Sigourney Weaver. Nowadays, it’s strange to see Tom Skerritt in the lead. He’s very good in this. He’s such a nonchalant leader, willing to bend and or break rules to do what he thinks is right (like break quarantine protocol in order to try and save a life). And John Hurt, he whose chest explodes — well, he sort of defined the role of he whose chest explodes.
Harry Dean Stanton? Well, he’s only OK in this.
* The story in this is awesome. This tale could be retold in any decade.
* The technology in this shows the age of the film. I don’t think that will keep it from being watchable in the future, but it will leave people scratching their heads.
* The visuals are wonderful.
* If you can stomach the tension, this is a “watch once a year” movie and is definitely a “buy the DVD” kind of movie.
* This is a movie you make your kids watch when they’re old enough. They’ll complain about having to watch a “classic” with you, but make them do it any way.
If you’ve never seen this movie, shame on you. Go see. It played a decisive role in shaping the American culture, and seeing it is necessary in understanding who and what we are as Americans.
August 22nd, 2008 at 4:53 am
I wasn’t too young to see this when it came out — though I did see it with my dad. It made such an impression on me that I can still remember the theater we saw it in (walking distance from the house, on Ventura Blvd, and now a strip mall). I also remember sitting on the edge of my seat the whole time, and jumping right to the roof when the alien exploded from his chest. This is the best of the four and probably the best in it’s genre.
August 22nd, 2008 at 5:40 am
Sometime I lived in NYS, so ages 23-26, I tried watching this movie. I lasted maybe half an hour; too scary.
Maybe I’m ready now?
August 22nd, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Orwell — maybe. It’s still a damn scary, damn suspenseful movie!