A survivor… unclouded by conscience, remorse, or delusions of morality.
So you know what I always say about sequels & remakes:
But this is one series that I actually prefer the sequel over the original. I think Aliens surpasses Alien.
I know, I know. What is wrong with me?
I really think it is only because I watched the films in reverse. If I had seen Alien before Aliens, I’m sure I would think differently.
Hmm…
Anyways, so the film begins with a crew of people of the Nostromo being awakened early and far from home.
Apparently the ship heard a distress signal and policy says they have to follow it, even though almost all want to ignore it and head on home.
Ugh.
The signal comes from an alien spacecraft, and a group-Captain Dallas (Tom Skerrit), Lambert (Veronica Cartwright), and Kane (John Hurt)-are sent out to investigate it.
Hmm…
Meanwhile, Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) the second-in-command discovered that something was not right about the message that brought them there.
Ripley: Ash, that transmission… Mother’s deciphered part of it. It doesn’t look like an S.O.S.
Ash: What is it, then?
Ripley: Well, I… it looks like a warning. I’m gonna go out after them.
Ash: What’s the point? I mean by the-the time it takes to get there, you’ll… they’ll know if it’s a warning or not, yes?
Back on the planet, Kane gets separated from the rest of the group and finds a room full of something, he doesn’t know what. A hot room full of these pod like things.
One of them breaks open and Kane is attacked by what we later refer to as a facehugger.
Dallas and Lambert rush him quickly back to the ship, but Ripley does not want to let them in. Policy is that when a group is exposed to something, they are not allowed in for 24 hours in case they might infect the rest of the crew or damage the ship.
Everyone is angry with her and demanding her to open the ship, but she refuses. She refuses even though her boyfriend, Captain Dallas, is one of those outside and she was good friends with Kane. She is taking no chances, no matter what the pressure.
But the doors end up sliding open, and the three rush inside.
Help me! I’m confused!
Yes, it turns out that the new addition to their team- Science Officer Ash (Ian Holm [Bilbo Baggins to you LOtR fans]) has overridden her.
Ripley is furious, and instead of defending her-Dallas sides with Ash.
Ripley: Did you ever ship out with Ash before?
Dallas: I went out five times with another science officer. They replaced him two days before we left Thedus with Ash. Hm?
Ripley: I don’t trust him.
Dallas: Well, I don’t trust anybody.
Dallas and Ash them start investigating what the thing is and how they can help Kane.
Later the creature detaches itself and is found dead.
Strange…
Kane also wakes up and is perfectly fine!
I know, right?
Some strange alien creature stuck to his face, but no big deal he wakes up with just a little memory loss?
[Kane wakes up from his comatose state]
Parker: How ya doin’?
Kane: Terrific. Next silly question? [they laugh, Ash hands him a cup of water]Oh, thank you.
Dallas: You remember anything about the planet?
[Kane shakes his head]
Ripley: What’s the last thing you do remember? Huh?
Kane: I remember some… horrible dream about… smothering? I don’t know… Anyway, where are we?
Dallas: We’re right here.
Ripley: We’re on our way home!
Brett: Yeah, back to the ole freezerinos. Ahaha.
I always thought it was weird how this creature like attached itself on him like a leech but everyone was like no big deal.
I feel like I would think lets do some tests and make sure he doesn’t have something in his bloodstream or you know.
Hmm…
Anyways, business as normal. Everyone tries to get ready to return home-stopping for dinner.
Yes, one of the best scenes in the film. So terrifyingly great. And all the expressions were real. Ridley Scott told the crew barely anything because he wanted to be sure that when they saw what happened they were really surprised. And boy were they and everyone else.
And of course a scene like that is parodied and referenced so many times. Everything from Spaceballs to Shrek 2.
Wow
Anyways, now the crew has a giant problem. Here is a creature they know nothing about running around their ship, who has acid blood, and wants to kill them all. Quickly this turns to a vein of And Then There Were None/Ten Little Indians. Something is hunting them-picking them off one by one. But who will it strike next and when?
And to make things even worse-The alien-Xenomorph XX121-has grown to be bigger than any crew member.
And to make them even more worse-someone on the crew has betrays the others by wanting this to happen. Yes-one of the crew members purposely strove to find this creature and knew this destruction would occur.
This is a great film-and horror/mystery. And something else I love is the lighting, angles, set design and pacing of the film. They all work fantastically well to build suspense and tell the story.
To start Horrorfest VI from the beginning, go to One of Our Guests is a Werewolf, I Know It.: The Beast Must Die (1974)
For the previous post, go to Is She Mrs. X?: So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993)
For more on the Alien series, go to The Enemy of My Enemy is My Friend: Alien Vs. Predator (2004)
For more alien films, go to They’re Here Already! You’re Next!: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
For more films that spanned tons of sequels, go to You’re Gonna Need a Bigger Boat: Jaws (1975)
janeaustenrunsmylife 