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A L ((I)) E N S

Started by soaking wet, mate, November 01, 2020, 03:25:38 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

lazarou

Quote from: Kelvin on November 01, 2020, 05:04:55 PM
I do like Aliens, but my problems with the film definitely stems from it's role in the series. In particular, I dislike how they neuter the Aliens to make them just a mindless horde, throwing themselves at the turrets like Zapp Brannigan's finest hour. It's not a bad film, by any stretch, I can watch it if it's on. But as a sequel to Aliens, I prefer the ugly nihilism of 3.

The turrets were excised entirely from the original theatrical cut and it's probably a stronger film without them. Maybe it's because I first saw it long after I'd watched the theatrical cut to death, but as much as I enjoy them most of the additional scenes from the special edition feel more like added bonuses than essential parts of the film. It's certainly a lot tighter in its original cut. It's got a more claustrophobic feel with the establishing colony stuff removed, you've got no idea what the marines are walking into and newt is just some weird kid who turns up out of nowhere. I prefer the special edition these days but I'm glad that was the first version I saw.

bgmnts

I think the portrayal of the xenos as an insect like horde pretty fucking scary to be honest.

greenman

Quote from: bgmnts on November 02, 2020, 11:23:04 AM
I think the portrayal of the xenos as an insect like horde pretty fucking scary to be honest.

That was I think a smart choice by Cameron if he wanted to make more of an action film, allowed him to up the numbers but still have an adversary akin to the original alien in the queen.

I quite like the turrets personally, plays up the idea of an endless horde and keeps the tension a bit higher. The section of the colony pre Alien is the main thing I'd chop, partly because it kills the mystery, partly because I just don't think its very well shot.

bgmnts

Quote from: greenman on November 02, 2020, 11:30:03 AM
The section of the colony pre Alien is the main thing I'd chop, partly because it kills the mystery, partly because I just don't think its very well shot.

There's an audiobook called River of Pain dealing with Hadley's Hope and fuck me it's dull so far.

greenman

It just looks very TV movie when compared to the discover of the derelict in the original.

lazarou

Quote from: greenman on November 02, 2020, 11:30:03 AM
I quite like the turrets personally, plays up the idea of an endless horde and keeps the tension a bit higher.
I quite like it too but it does change the dynamic of the aliens a bit. Without the turret scenes it feels like every time the aliens are on-screen they're actively killing and/or overwhelming people, you never really see them getting beaten back. I do think it's the strongest of the added footage, the colony stuff is more of a curio and some bits like Hudson's bragging on the dropship should've probably stayed cut.

badaids


The turret scene is not needed in the final cut, as effectively it's just another count down. But it is a good tool for ratcheting up the tension another notch.

Claude the Racecar Driving Rockstar Super Sleuth

I find it difficult to take the Hadley's Hope scenes seriously, just because the leader is Captain Holister from Red Dwarf.

Same thing with Brian Glover in 3.

El Unicornio, mang

Quote from: greenman on November 02, 2020, 11:42:29 AM
It just looks very TV movie when compared to the discover of the derelict in the original.

I think this is partly due to it being shot with the 1.85:1 aspect ratio (as a lot of big 80s movies were). I watched it for about the 50th time last week, first time in a few years, and although I still think it's fantastic, something about seeing it in HD and having the whole screen filled brought out a bit too much of the film set look which I don't get so much from Alien. The latter is very, very sparingly lit which works tremendously.

I like Alien 3 for what it is but think of it more as an alternative timeline (kind of like the comics did). Ripley, Newt, Hicks and Bishop were fine and lived a long and fruitful life together.

greenman

Quote from: El Unicornio, mang on November 02, 2020, 12:33:43 PM
I think this is partly due to it being shot with the 1.85:1 aspect ratio (as a lot of big 80s movies were). I watched it for about the 50th time last week, first time in a few years, and although I still think it's fantastic, something about seeing it in HD and having the whole screen filled brought out a bit too much of the film set look which I don't get so much from Alien. The latter is very, very sparingly lit which works tremendously.

Its just trying to follow a setup that Scotts films does incredible well and spends a lot of time on and ends up looking a bit cheap and rushed by comparison. The colony sets themselves were also I'd say designed for the much more muted lighting latter in the film, brightly lit here they do look a bit basic IMHO.

bgmnts

Quote from: Claude the Racecar Driving Rockstar Super Sleuth on November 02, 2020, 12:20:40 PM
I find it difficult to take the Hadley's Hope scenes seriously, just because the leader is Captain Holister from Red Dwarf.

Same thing with Brian Glover in 3.

The guy playing the colonial administrator in this audiobook sounds so much like Mac MacDonald its crazy.

Claude the Racecar Driving Rockstar Super Sleuth

Quote from: Kelvin on November 01, 2020, 05:04:55 PM
I dislike how they neuter the Aliens to make them just a mindless horde, throwing themselves at the turrets
I prefer the theatrical cut myself, but that scene does effectively portray their psychology as, well, alien. And, as even SGN grovelingly admits, they're hardly depicted as mindless elsewhere, e.g. "What do you mean they cut the power!?"

El Unicornio, mang

I always thought there were different levels of Aliens anyway, the lowest intelligence ones being basically cannon fodder that rampage en masse at everything, and the smarter ones that stand guard around the Queen, etc.

Claude the Racecar Driving Rockstar Super Sleuth

The one in the first film didn't display much cunning anyway. It was just a a very effective, stealthy predator (but not a Predator).

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

Having reached an entente cordiale with SGN, it gives me great pleasure to say that, after no deliberation, I have chosen Kelvin as my new film adversary.

On behalf of everyone at our disorganisation, I would like wish heartiest congratulations to you, Kelvin. The gift package of chocolates and scented bath oils is in the bin. Prepare to be destroyed.

Chedney Honks

I love the turret scene, not only because of the countdown tension, but because it shows the herd insectoid mentality. They'll go to any lengths to exhaust the ammo supply, total cannon fodder, as long as the species can overcome.

There something that oppressively aggressive about that. Kamikaze. Total fuckdown. Looney Bergonzi.

Claude the Racecar Driving Rockstar Super Sleuth

Yes. It's the antithesis of the Western individualist mentality.

Chedney Honks

Yeah, genuinely frightening to place so little value on the One life.

Shit Good Nose

Quote from: Claude the Racecar Driving Rockstar Super Sleuth on November 02, 2020, 06:09:57 PM
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

Having reached an entente cordiale with SGN, it gives me great pleasure to say that, after no deliberation, I have chosen Kelvin as my new film adversary.

On behalf of everyone at our disorganisation, I would like wish heartiest congratulations to you, Kelvin. The gift package of chocolates and scented bath oils is in the bin. Prepare to be destroyed.

'sake.

And a gift package in the bin to boot!  All I got was a greasy paper bag filled with semi-solid tods and a used johnny. DELIVERED TO ME.

May as well hand in my CaB resignation now.

kalowski

I read today that the androids in the Alien films are called
Ash
Bishop
Call
David


Claude the Racecar Driving Rockstar Super Sleuth

Quote from: Shit Good Nose on November 02, 2020, 06:36:48 PM
All I got was a greasy paper bag filled with semi-solid tods and a used johnny. DELIVERED TO ME.
I was going full method to audition for the role of Jared Leto in what will surely prove to be Kelvin's favourite film ever.

Menu

Quote from: kalowski on November 02, 2020, 06:52:36 PM
I read today that the androids in the Alien films are called
Ash
Bishop
Call
David

Winona

buzby

#51
Quote from: Chedney Honks on November 02, 2020, 06:19:01 PM
I love the turret scene, not only because of the countdown tension, but because it shows the herd insectoid mentality. They'll go to any lengths to exhaust the ammo supply, total cannon fodder, as long as the species can overcome.

There something that oppressively aggressive about that. Kamikaze. Total fuckdown. Looney Bergonzi.
Quote from: Claude the Racecar Driving Rockstar Super Sleuth on November 02, 2020, 06:23:38 PM
Yes. It's the antithesis of the Western individualist mentality.
It was based  on the Chinese and North Korean tactics for storming machine gun posts in the Korean War - basically throw bodies at them until they have to reload or the barrel overheated:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/korean-war-horrors-linger-50-years-later/article4128965/

bgmnts

Seriously there is an hour left of the audiobook and the first xenomorph has burst out. How can you make Alien so boring?

Chedney Honks

Quote from: buzby on November 03, 2020, 09:50:41 AM
It was based  on the Chinese and North Korean tactics for storming machine gun posts in the Korean War - basically throw bodies at them until they have to reload or the barrel overheated:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/korean-war-horrors-linger-50-years-later/article4128965/

Jesus Christ.

Chedney Honks

Watching the cunt on Blu Ray right now to get fired up for a night of the election. Undoubtedly, the 4K Alien dwarfs it in terms of detail and especially in the shadowy scenes, but the regular BD is actually pretty damn good. Is there a better sound than the pulse rifle in movies? (outside porno)

PPPRRRREHHH PPPRRREEEHHH PPRRREHHH

beanheadmcginty

I reckon loads of famous computer game stuff would never have come to pass in the way that it has without the influence of Aliens. Mainly the guns, aliens and environments admittedly, but that's a hell of a lot of influence for one film.

Polymorphia

There were plans that Doom could be an Aliens tie-in, and though that idea was shelved very early on, you can definitely tell Aliens's influence on the most important FPS ever made

Claude the Racecar Driving Rockstar Super Sleuth

Quote from: beanheadmcginty on November 03, 2020, 10:34:30 PM
I reckon loads of famous computer game stuff would never have come to pass in the way that it has without the influence of Aliens. Mainly the guns, aliens and environments admittedly, but that's a hell of a lot of influence for one film.
Undoubtedly, although we should probably acknowledge the film's enormous debt to Starship Troopers.

greenman

When it comes to Mac McDonald I always wondered did Aliens have influence on Red Dwarf? I mean the parts are VERY similar yet my understanding was those scenes were only released in 1990?

bgmnts

Quote from: greenman on November 04, 2020, 12:55:02 PM
When it comes to Mac McDonald I always wondered did Aliens have influence on Red Dwarf? I mean the parts are VERY similar yet my understanding was those scenes were only released in 1990?

The Polymorph definitely.