Alien

Rating:
Summary: "In Space no one can hear you scream". How true is that !!
Review: "It's got a wonderful defence mechanism - you don't dare kill it"

So go the words of a terrified crewmember aboard the commercial towing vehicle 'The Nostromo', the spaceship which provides the platform for this Ridley Scott classic.

It's difficult to believe this totally studio-filmed movie is almost a quarter of a century old - the special effects and attention to detail would easily be at home in the 21st Century. The only thing that gives away the film's age, in my opinion, is the telex-like computers onboard ship which do look rather old-fashioned to the modern viewer.

Regardless of this one tiny detail, the liberal sprinkling of talented actors make this film one of the best sci-fi/horror movies available; a film which is emulated, but seldom bettered, even to this day.

Sigourney Weaver has that 'Hard as Males' demeanour right from the outset, and then of course there's the ubiquitous English bad guy which American movie lovers are so tirelessly fond of.

The most alluring part about 'Alien', however, is it's ability to build up the tension, juggle with the watcher's mind and then deliver the goods in some genuinely frightening and gory ways. There are simply so many nooks and crannies onboard The Nostromo that you don't know where the Alien is going to spring from next.
It's almost a sci-fi version of the 'stalk and slash' movies of the past and present but without the dreadful clichés.

After watching this movie, Sigourney Weaver, versatile as she is, always seems badly miscast in any other film.
Her character, Ripley, was her first starring role and it's the one that many people associate with her name.

Full stars would have been given to 'Alien' had it's sequel, 'Aliens' not been superior to it in the action-packed department. But this is a matter of personal taste and detracts nothing from the first film (apart from the single star, of course).

This movie has it all:
Insane science officer with a twist, hidden agendas, deception, bickering crewmembers fighting each other and 'IT', futile terror-stricken escape attempts through steel corridors, and the most memorable dinner scene ever.
Guaranteed suspense and surprises right through to the end.

Buy it, watch it - then watch it again.

Rating:
Summary: "In Space, No One Can Hear You Scream"
Review: Many have tried and failed to repeat its success, but nothing can beat the masterpiece that is Alien. Unleashed at cinemas in 1979, the film is a flat-out classic sci-fi horror flick, using extreme moments of suspense to build up the scary scenes. Directed by Ridley Scott, the film is a ground-breaking classic that still holds up amazingly well today, and made an international superstar if Sigourney Weaver.

In Alien, the terror begins when the crew of the spaceship Nostromo are instructed to investigate a transmission from a desolate planet, as they are on their way back home to Earth. Upon their arrival, they make a horrifying discovery - a life form that attaches itself to the victims face, using it as a host before breeding inside the body. The life form then removes itself, waiting for the young it has planted inside the human victim to be born and explode through the stomach. A gruesome description indeed, which is why the film is so brilliant. The alien is now on board the spaceship after it exploded through the stomach of one of the spaceship's crew, all because the remaining crew foolishly let him back on board. It's now up to the crew to stop this alien menace, and fight not only for their own survival, but the survival of all mankind.

Sigourney Weaver stars as Ellen Ripley in her film debut role. Weaver is absolutely perfect for the role, and was practically the first girl-power type female heroine who single-handedly carries this international blockbuster right through until the final minutes. John Cane also plays Kurt to excellent effect, especially in his death scene as he frantically wriggles on the table with the alien inside him. Harry Dean Stanton is brilliant as Brett, as is Tom Skerritt as Dallas. Yaphet Kotto is also perfectly cast as Parker, who provides many on-screen laughs. Veronica Kartwright stars as the loveable Lambert, the only other female member of the crew along with Ripley. Ian Holm as Ash is absolutely brilliant in his role as the android secretly sent on board to bring back the alien life-form, while - in his eyes, and "Mother's" - all other crew members are expendable. The acting in this film is really first-rate, which is another big factor in why the film works so well.

Many scenes from Alien are classics, and are all equally scary. The first really scary scene we witness is when Kane investigates the egg in which the life-form is waiting to spring out onto his face. The noise it makes is enough to give anyone nightmares, and the deathly silence that proceeds after the event is truly eerie. The first extremely shocking scene we get is when the alien explodes from Kane's stomach. The noises it makes, and the screams of pain and terror from the crew members is most disturbing, rivalling anything previously set in horror films such as the scenes from The Exorcist. Ripley's confrontation with the robot Ash is truly terrifying. After she discovers exactly why he is on board and what the truth behind their the mission, he tries to kill her, by blocking all the exits in the spaceship. It's only when the remaining crew (those who haven't been killed off by the alien) come to her rescue that Ash reveals his true self, spinning around the room with white liquid exploding from every orifice. Before long, Ripley is the only surviving member of the crew. On her own, she proves herself to be a true action hero as she finally defeats the alien on board.

All in all, Alien is a terrific sci-fi horror movie that plays with your senses incredibly well. Nothing happens for the first 30 minutes, and that is exactly the director's intent. By doing so, a feeling of extreme suspense is instantly formed, leaving you on the edge of your seat until the very end. When you think of the film when not watching it, you'll think of the long corridors and the eerie silence that stalks them, as these are the scenes that you remember most vividly because of the suspense created.

I urge anyone who hasn't seen Alien to pick up a copy and watch it today, because you really are missing out on a landmark film that redefined the way people think of space, and the horror movie genre in general. As they say, "In Space, No One Can Hear You Scream."

Rating:
Summary: Great Movie, Terrible DVD
Review: I recently ordered this DVD, as it is one of my favorite sci-fi/horror movies. However, I can't access any of the extra features except one trailer. This knocks the DVD down to one star. The film itself has a wonderful transfer, the clearest I have seen yet. It boils down to this: the movie is great, but that is all you will get with this DVD.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best sci-fi horror films ever!
Review: I saw this film the week it opened, and ended up going back to the theatre 6 times to see it before it closed, not to mention the numerous times I've seen it on video, TV, and now DVD. The critics were very unreceptive initially, many calling it a "dreary" and "predictable" "space opera." Even as an adolescent, I thought, "Shoot, what do THEY know?" I was right--"Alien" has stood the test of time, and remains one of the scariest films ever made. Sigourney Weaver is astonishing, using the right blend of toughness and humanity to flesh out her character. The rest of the distinguished cast is equally wonderful: Ian Holm as the twitchy "Ash," Tom Skerrit as broody "Dallas," Veronica Cartwright as whiney "Lambert," and Harry Dean Stanton in his portrait of stunned space grunt "Brett," etc. These are not meant to be fully fleshed-out characters--as evidenced by the use of their last names--but they are nonetheless adequately engaging and believable to evoke our empathy as the horror of their journey unfolds. The set design and cinematography is legendary, as is the vision of Ridley Scott, and the creature is one of the screen's coldest, most ferocious killers. The less you know about this film, the better, but it still stands up as a great viewing experience after repeated viewings, even as you anticipate the next scene. The dialogue is crisp and just funny enough to make the creepy elements all the more jarring. Ridley Scott may equal this film, as he did with "Blade Runner," but I will be surprised if he ever surpasses it. If only all sci-fi films could be this thought-provoking, and all horror films this disturbing!

Rating:
Summary: Classic
Review: This movie is probably one of the scariest and best sci-fi movies of all time. The DVD is well put together too. It inlcudes several additional scenes that didn't make it into the film including the infamous cocoon scene. I think the scene would have made the film even better but Mr. Scott disagreed. The movie is great and so is the DVD. A good edition to any collection.

Rating:
Summary: Sci Fi Horror Art Flick
Review: Seven crewmembers of a cargo space freighter unwittingly bring the perfect killing machine onto the ship with them and let it loose to prey on them. In a movie that uses darkness, grime, claustrophia, and fear to create an air of suspense and horror; Sigourney Weaver became the first legitimate female action star in a movie that wasn't an action movie. It would be a few years before Aliens would exploit the action aspect of the Alien story. Alien is mostly acting and dialogue. The tense, twitchy, trapped interplay in a small group of funtionaries. Amidst the chains, dripping water, grimy metal, antiseptic sickbay, cramped air ducts, and the awful silent void of space, these doomed rats scurry vainly from the python in thier glass tank. A fascinating blend of artistic sets, acting, horror, and terror. A groundbreaker and genremaker.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Science Fiction with an Action genre twist!
Review: This is the best alien movie bar-none! Just the way they move and act is like almost they flew to another planet and kidnapped actual acid-dripping, jaw-shootin' aliens. I still haven't seen a movie where the aliens looked and acted this good. I was actually afraid of the aliens when I first seen this movie when I was little but know I watch it emmensily for it's awesome makeup and costumes. The Special Features are another treat added to the film so you can stock up on all the info you want on how the movie came to be. I doubt you have never seen or heard about this movie but if you were actually able to climb out of your rock then blow the 30 bucks cause it's worth it.

Rating:
Summary: Classic (4 1/2 stars)
Review: With 1977's The Duellists already under his belt, Ridley Scott was first in line to direct this stupefying old fashioned blend of stylish sci fi and inspired horror. The most distinguishing difference between Alien and James Cameron's overrated sequal "Aliens" is that the original is mysterious, scary and compelling while the latter substitutes for mainstream violence and finds little sucess in its mechanical approach.

Fan's of more conventional fare such as Predator, however, may be disappointed as that particular film offered the predictability of its alien disposing of each victim bar its subsequent hero in a far more open environment (a jungle)with a greater focus on its eye for violence. Alien, on the other hand, is chilling because of the isolation and danger of being trapped in space with nowhere to hide and little time to think.

Its "Haunted house in space" reference is the one of the truest and best taglines for any film. It makes your skin crawl and keeps your eyes glued to the screen, still remaining fresh to this day because it was made before both Predator and The Shining, which examined similar themes of being left isolated in the hands of a violent monster.

Alien also finds its success in its simplicity. Despite being influenced heavily by sci fi such as Star Wars, it delivers on all its own accounts. The narrative is easy to follow, the startling cinematography is candy for your eyes, the gripping suspense leaves your skin crawling with terror and the special effects are not overblown- all this shot through Ridley Scott's bravura cinematic technique. In summary, Alien is an excellent modern day space horror/sci fi flick and holds up well the repeat viewings.

Rating:
Summary: LOOKING FOR AN AMAZING SCI-FI THRILLER? ALIEN IS YOUR MOVIE
Review: The first installment in the "Alien" series, is one of the best sci-fi movies ever made; the claustrophobic environment of the Nostromo spaceship and an almost invincible Alien creature victimizing one by one the other passengers, make this film a must-see for any movie fan. Even if "Alien" was released in 1979, this sci-fi film remains as one of the best thrillers that you can find; by the time when Sigourney Weaver (Lt. Ripley) meets the monster for the final battle, your attention will be focused only in the screen of your TV.

As Ellen Ripley, Sigourney Weaver set the standard for the movie heroines to come, and the rest of the cast made a great job as well. And the film hasn't dated a bit, it still feels futuristic and disturbing every time you see it. If you are sick of teenager slashing flicks that instead of making you feel horror, make you laugh out loud, check this one, "Alien" is the real thing.

Rating:
Summary: Alien - the 1st one
Review: Alien... This is not my favourite horror movie (that's the Omen). And 'Alien' isn't the best in the 'Alien Saga'... I think 'Aliens' is the that. This movie tells you how it all begins. You'll get to now the rules of this horrorstory. See them all, if you like horror, you'll like the whole saga... I did! Buy it NOW! -Excellent picture quality, brilliant sound and the special features are great:
-Commentary by director Ridley Scott
-Isolated musical score on a separate audio channel

-Theatrical trailer(s)
-Alternate music and production sound track
-Deleted scenes (Not included in the movie...Not so good feature)
-Artwork and photo galleries
-Outtakes
-Web links
-Booklet with production notes

Starring:
-Tom Skerritt ... Dallas
-Sigourney Weaver ... Ripley
-Veronica Cartwright ... Lambert
-Harry Dean Stanton ... Brett
-John Hurt ... Kane
-Ian Holm ... Ash
-Yaphet Kotto ... Parker
-Bolaji Badejo ... Alien
-Helen Horton ... Mother
-Eddie Powell ... Alien

Director: Ridley Scott

Rated: R.-

Alien is an excellent movie, taking the classic SF plot of a group of people isolated and at the mercy of something nasty, and elevating it to a height only ever bettered by its first sequel...