Alien

9

ERG1008Aug 23, 2010

Space Freighter stops to check out a distress signal, finds crashed unknown craft, strange things inside, crew member gets attacked, survives, or does he?
Still a brilliant film after all these years. Very intense & a good mixture ofSpace Freighter stops to check out a distress signal, finds crashed unknown craft, strange things inside, crew member gets attacked, survives, or does he?
Still a brilliant film after all these years. Very intense & a good mixture of personalities within the crew. Forgot how good Ian Holm is as Ash & still probably Sigourney Weaver's best film.
The effects are fine but the Alien does look like a man in a suit at times.… Expand

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9

Neo010390Apr 19, 2011

"In space no one can hear you scream". A most memorable tagline from one of the most terrifying, science fiction horror films I have seen in my life. After the success of Star Trek and Star Wars, the filmmakers have produced a terrifying"In space no one can hear you scream". A most memorable tagline from one of the most terrifying, science fiction horror films I have seen in my life. After the success of Star Trek and Star Wars, the filmmakers have produced a terrifying Sci-fi horror and boy have they done a great job. The film focuses on seven space crew members, who are on a return ship to Earth. The crew, awakened by the ships computer, receives a transmission from an unknown asteroid. By orders from their employers, the crew search on the asteroid and find an alien spacecraft. Kane (one of the crew members) searches inside a chamber which encountered of numerous eggs, and one of them opens up and releases a creature, famously known as a "Facehugger" that attacks him on the face. The crew decide to take Kane back to their spaceship and try to remove the Facehugger, but are unable to as it is strapped tightly around is neck, and fear any sudden move attempt could cause the creature to strangle Kane and kill him. Eventually though he lets go of Kane and dies of unknown cause. I will not spoil what happens from this point, but what I will warn all newcomers who haven't seen the movie yet to brace themselves. What I really liked about this movie was that, although the special effects for its day were great, it was more of the suspense than anything. I've got to admit, suspense was a category that I never really got into because they would always drag it on for too long and wanted to know the climax as soon as possible. But when I watched this, I got into it so much that I wasn't bothered about the timing of how long it took to actually unveil the mystery or shadow hidden in the dark. The performance of cast also helped to make this film come alive, as I reckon it wouldn't have got the same response from critics and audiences had they not delivered a great performance. Nowadays I understand and appreciate these kinds of films more. I realised that that you don't always necessarily need to start and finish and movie with a bang by showing off none stop action - gun shooting, long lasting brawls and chase scenes that usually occur during the final 30 minutes of a film. Sometimes just a quiet and frightening suspense like this is a good enough. I give credit to Dan O'Bannon who wrote this incredible story, and director Ridley Scott for using his skills to make sure that the cast, (particularly Sigourney Weaver's character Ripley) delivered a brilliant performance. Alien is one of the films that have become a cult classic, and still remain popular today… Expand

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9

MartyJDec 13, 2010

Aliens is a cult film and rightly so, great plot awesome character interaction and awesome settings back before good CGI so had to make good models which they did. The aliens themselves are a class type of beast more like a Wasp or Ants withAliens is a cult film and rightly so, great plot awesome character interaction and awesome settings back before good CGI so had to make good models which they did. The aliens themselves are a class type of beast more like a Wasp or Ants with one queen propagating the whole species and then they eradicate anything that could cause a problem to their existence. Also not killing enough of their prey to ensure they can multiply great horror film worth a watch without a doubt… Expand

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9

drlowdonAug 20, 2023

The crew of a commercial spaceship are awakened from their cryo-sleep halfway through their journey home when they receive a distress call from an alien vessel. When they discover a nest of eggs inside the alien ship, they have no idea of theThe crew of a commercial spaceship are awakened from their cryo-sleep halfway through their journey home when they receive a distress call from an alien vessel. When they discover a nest of eggs inside the alien ship, they have no idea of the horrors that await. With a career defining performance from Sigourney Weaver Alien set a new standard for sci-fi horror upon release in 1979, and with its iconic look and plethora of memorable scenes, it has arguably yet to be bettered.… Expand

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9

HalfwelshmanMar 29, 2012

Alien is Ridley Scott at his very best. Intelligent, atmospheric and scary, it has quite rightly become an icon of both science-fiction and horror cinema. Like all of his films, it's visually flawless, and thematically complex, but this neverAlien is Ridley Scott at his very best. Intelligent, atmospheric and scary, it has quite rightly become an icon of both science-fiction and horror cinema. Like all of his films, it's visually flawless, and thematically complex, but this never detracts from what matters - character and story. There will never be another female action hero like Ellen Ripley (the sublime Sigourney Weaver) and it is in this film you see her as she was meant to be - strong, level-headed and independent, before James Cameron sunk his over-sentimental, popularity-clamoring, profiteering claws in with Aliens, which softened and some would say ruined the character of Ripley with unnecessary trivialities like a maternal instinct. The rest of the crew of the Nostromo all play their part, with John Hurt's Kane, Ian Holm's Ash and Harry Dean Stanton's Brett in particular making their mark. Alien maintains its tension throughout, and plays cleverly into the viewer's (and by extension humanity's) fear of the unknown, and Scott imbues the whole film with an intense feeling of claustrophobia, which the director himself suffers from.. It doesn't suffer from the problem that plagues so many modern horror films, that of predictability as it wrote much of the rule book. You'd be hard pressed to guess the order of the crew's grisly ends, and who'll make it out alive, as you often can in contemporary horror (something the Scream series lampoons extremely effectively). It is also highly influential in the realms of sci-fi (as it should be - it's mostly set on a frickin' spaceship) - only Scott can communicate the evil of big corporations as well, and the dark and manipulative force that pulls the strings behind the scenes of the narrative is in many ways more frightening than the alien itself. Don't get me wrong, the alien is fantastic, and H. R. Giger's mecha-organic dream case study for psychoanalysts makes an extremely effective symbol for the film's horrific themes, and its appearance has now deservedly become embedded in popular culture. In 1979, Alien was a film the likes of which the world had never seen before. Even today it leaves an impression - it's an uncompromising and provocative sci-fi/horror hybrid that is a feast for the eyes and the mind, and gives you a fair amount of heart-jolting scares for good measure. Here's hoping Ridley Scott delivers with Prometheus, and does justice to his own film legacy when he revisits it.… Expand

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9

potatoes351Jan 16, 2013

Alien is sci-fi horror in its prime. A small group of scientists on a mining ship, the Nostromo, pick up a distress beacon on a nearby planet. After stopping to investigate the crew are hunted down one by one by the aggressive and deadlyAlien is sci-fi horror in its prime. A small group of scientists on a mining ship, the Nostromo, pick up a distress beacon on a nearby planet. After stopping to investigate the crew are hunted down one by one by the aggressive and deadly creature they find on the planet. The film is very slow to start off with and even when it gets going its still pretty slow but a great and enjoyable film. Lack of character development and story is a little irritating though.… Expand

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9

SpangleJul 22, 2014

The film is a little slow in the beginning, but once everything kicks in, my God is this ever a great thrill ride. Thrilling, terrifying, and exciting, it is stunning to think this one came out in 1979, since it still works perfectly today.The film is a little slow in the beginning, but once everything kicks in, my God is this ever a great thrill ride. Thrilling, terrifying, and exciting, it is stunning to think this one came out in 1979, since it still works perfectly today. The acting is solid, the thrills are ever present, and the script is great. There is really not much wrong with Alien. However, the real star is the set and production design. The planet they go to is brilliantly put together, their ship is done very well, and the alien is masterfully done and definitely the face of terror it claims to be. There is no disappoint at all when we first see the alien since it is so well done and fits our imagination of what it looks like and more. Undeniably timeless, Alien is a classic in every sense of the world and truly lives up to the hype. A must watch for anybody who has yet to see it.… Expand

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9

oliver1hNov 13, 2012

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Ridley Scott only made two great movies. This is one of those! The artistic direction, the interior designs, the design of the alien creature, the alien planet and the Nostromo are all looking spectacular!
The mood is just perfect! Sigourney Weaver created a believable "dominant" female character. Ian Holme as the scary, calculating and sexually frustrated android is also excellent in his role! The music is unsettling, the camera work is beautiful! One of the rare gems of science fiction - horror genre!… Expand

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9

sanyrubDec 24, 2013

A true classic. It almost created a new genre and perfectly showed us that less is better most of the times. It´s the first and also the best Alien film. The second was a really good sequel, but loses some of the appeal. This one is perfect,A true classic. It almost created a new genre and perfectly showed us that less is better most of the times. It´s the first and also the best Alien film. The second was a really good sequel, but loses some of the appeal. This one is perfect, the pace, the acting and the tension. Incredibly tense I would say. The final scenes (last 10 minutes or so) are iconic. The leading character Ripley is one of the best woman characters ever made, and is brilliantly brought to life by Sigourney Weaver. Original and strong film.… Expand

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9

TrilobiteGAug 18, 2013

This has to be one of my favourite sci-fi of all time. I am a huge fan of this film and you'll find out soon. I love how this film brings suspense into scenes which generally leaves the audience staring at the screen....wanting to be toldThis has to be one of my favourite sci-fi of all time. I am a huge fan of this film and you'll find out soon. I love how this film brings suspense into scenes which generally leaves the audience staring at the screen....wanting to be told that everything is ok and that the character is in good condition, and if the character is not....then they will find themselves shocked, excited and scared for what is to come. I love how the xenomorph tracks it's prey. It is like a silent assassin that swoops from tree to tree looking for something to devour and kill. It is by far my favourite alien in any film it stars in ever. Ridley has developed a complete anatomy and a life cycle around this creature which is extraordinary. He has invented this being which has it's own species and adaptations and that to me is just pure genius. So, alien is a great watch for ages 10 and up and I do hope we see the xenomorph hit cinemas again soon!… Expand

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9

LaGuertaApr 18, 2013

Scott's severe dedication to suspense occasionally caused my eyes to drift away from the screen but not for long. This film is very much in control of itself and doesn't stray from the gloom it creates except for the few minutes when it isScott's severe dedication to suspense occasionally caused my eyes to drift away from the screen but not for long. This film is very much in control of itself and doesn't stray from the gloom it creates except for the few minutes when it is appropriate to do so. Markedly better on second viewing.… Expand

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9

busbfranOct 17, 2014

Alien is the go to place for the best in business si-fi action. Alien introduces an exciting new world that makes me beg for a sequel. The down right on point acting and cleaver dialogue will still proclaim this movie as the best in theAlien is the go to place for the best in business si-fi action. Alien introduces an exciting new world that makes me beg for a sequel. The down right on point acting and cleaver dialogue will still proclaim this movie as the best in the genre. Don't miss out! instant classic!… Expand

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9

marcmyworksJan 11, 2014

The first time I saw this was when I was 12 and I was extremely disappointed in how slow it was compared to the visual smorgasbord of 'Aliens'. As I've gotten older I've learned to appreciate the subtleties and suspense in this horror classic.

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9

Akshay7Jan 3, 2014

Suspenseful storytelling at its Best!

After watching 'Prometheus' the prequel to 'Alien' first thing to notice was that Prometheus has many plot elements similar to Alien and that may have some slight effect on my experience with Alien.Suspenseful storytelling at its Best!

After watching 'Prometheus' the prequel to 'Alien' first thing to notice was that Prometheus has many plot elements similar to Alien and that may have some slight effect on my experience with Alien. But leaving that thing aside 'Alien' is a fine blend of horror and science-fiction which leaves lasting impression even after so many years of its release. I thoroughly enjoyed each and every bit of it. The slow pacing and build and lack of kick-alien action may make some people not like this but that's the region where Alien scores, the suspenseful buildup to discovering the unknown with the eerie music and silence of being in the space by Jerry Goldsmith is still fresh in my mind even after hours of watching the film and the Horror of the Alien not revealed much leaving it open for imagination delivers unexpectedly. I can imagine what this would have been experience watching this epic movie on big screen or alone at night would have been back in 1979. This 'Alien' is a timeless classic.… Expand

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9

demolisher7778Oct 14, 2014

Alien is a fantastic Horror film because of its tension and amazing screenplay and not to mention its originality for a 70's Sci-Fi film. A definite horror classic and a must watch

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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9

bfoore90May 28, 2017

Ridley Scott tells a superbly scary story with a perfect blend of synchronized visuals, atmosphere and sound. Alien is a good piece of Sci-fi horror that still stands the test of time.

4 of 5 users found this helpful41

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9

Viper8787May 11, 2014

A great classic movie. Heard lots of great things about it, and of course since I am such a big movie fan I would obviously have to check it out. Really enjoyed it thought it would be scarier then it was but it didn't scare me. If I watchedA great classic movie. Heard lots of great things about it, and of course since I am such a big movie fan I would obviously have to check it out. Really enjoyed it thought it would be scarier then it was but it didn't scare me. If I watched it when it first came out I would have been horrified probably. Good action and great acting a job well done by Ridley Scott… Expand

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9

Larry223Aug 22, 2014

Al principio yo no sabia que esperar de esta película. Había oído que era de terror lo cual me pareció interesante, un alien aterrador con habilidades de matar y sobrevivir únicas. Sin embargo no sabia hasta que punto tendría miedo pero siAl principio yo no sabia que esperar de esta película. Había oído que era de terror lo cual me pareció interesante, un alien aterrador con habilidades de matar y sobrevivir únicas. Sin embargo no sabia hasta que punto tendría miedo pero si que te da tensión ya que los humanos tienen diferentes personalidades y aunque no tienen mucho tiempo para desarrollarse, no los quieres ver morir quieres que vivan. Tiene partes en las que sale el alien y te asusta de la nada pero la película te lo llega a avisar por que moldea el momento y medio lo puedes ver venir, no es algo como un screamer de youtube. Al final esta película me pareció buena, tiene un antagonista muy interesante ya que sabes poco de el, los personajes están bien presentados y te llegara a asustar pero tampoco resulto la mejor película de horror que haya visto le doy un 08/10 una gran película.… Expand

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9

DanBotterillNov 4, 2014

From the surface it seems like your typical, predictable horror story which visualises the cineosis of Humans vs. Aliens, but it’s easy to forget that this film’s script wasn't typical at its time and its narrative structure became overusedFrom the surface it seems like your typical, predictable horror story which visualises the cineosis of Humans vs. Aliens, but it’s easy to forget that this film’s script wasn't typical at its time and its narrative structure became overused by the latter horror movies. It differentiates in the way it uses ambiguous Freudian overtones, very unusual for its time. As for predictable, well, I believe that was intentional. It gives it an almost ‘Hitchcockian’ form of omniscient narration which results in suspense. The camera seems to frequently latch on to different characters as if it were taking bets on who would survive but can’t make its mind up, as if it were an alien looking for a new host. Most of the time we know what is going to happen to the crew and it is our expectations which cause the apprehension that follows and it is this apprehension which seems to alienate us within the storyline. The nauseating feeling in your chest grows until it feels like bursting.… Expand

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9

ShedeggDec 5, 2014

The first of an amazing series, alien does not disappoint. For a movie made a fair while ago, the effects used were good. The acting and directing is perfectly done, and in one scene the main cast didn't know what was going to happen! This isThe first of an amazing series, alien does not disappoint. For a movie made a fair while ago, the effects used were good. The acting and directing is perfectly done, and in one scene the main cast didn't know what was going to happen! This is probably one movie people should watch before they die. If you like sci-fi, you will probably like this. And once you have watched this be ready for 3 (4 if you count Prometheus) more amazing movies! I would definitely recommend this movie… Expand

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9

Le__XenomorphDec 15, 2014

This movie is the near-perfect example of horror. Its creepy atmosphere drips with tension as you share Ripley's fear when running from the Alien. 'Nuff said. 9/10 (Awesome).

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9

MovieManiac83Apr 23, 2015

Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey and Ridley Scott's Alien bookend a decade of space-themed films, and the distance between them is telling. Released a year before the lunar landing, 2001 looked to the stars with an almost religiousStanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey and Ridley Scott's Alien bookend a decade of space-themed films, and the distance between them is telling. Released a year before the lunar landing, 2001 looked to the stars with an almost religious sense of optimism. At the end of the following decade–after Star Wars, Close Encounters Of The Third Kind, and others–1979's Alien suggested another view of space: It could suck. Written by Dan O'Bannon and Ronald Shusett and directed by Scott, Alien opens with a series of scenes depicting life on the deep-space cargo vessel Nostromo, where the food is bad, management quarrels with labor, and the computer wakes the crew up to check out weird signals coming from some godforsaken planet. Plus, there's the small matter of an alien getting loose and killing everyone. Reissued apparently to celebrate the film's 24th anniversary, this new cut of Alien adds a few intriguing but negligible scenes that will already be familiar to laserdisc and DVD fans. No matter. Despite years of imitators, sequels (some great, some not so), and edited-for-television broadcasts, Alien has lost none of its power, and the big screen only intensifies its impact. Scott's slow, unrelentingly dread-inducing direction, which makes even the shadow of some wind chimes look scary, has a lot to do with it. So does the never-equaled creature design by Swiss surrealist H.R. Giger, who crafts a giant bug-monkey of bottomless appetites, dreadful appendages, and an uncomfortable resemblance to certain portions of the human anatomy. But there's another reason, too: Where 2001 and Close Encounters suggested that humanity would bring its best impulses and brightest hopes beyond the clouds, Alien served as a reminder that its worst fears would also be part of the package. It's bodies, not ideals, that travel the stars, and bodies break, burst, and scream.… Expand

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9

DanBurritoApr 27, 2016

Ridley Scott's "Alien" is a suspenseful, thrilling, and terrifically acted sci-fi classic. I was on the edge of my seat the whole way through, and there were plot twists that I never saw coming. Ripley is a great character, and one of theRidley Scott's "Alien" is a suspenseful, thrilling, and terrifically acted sci-fi classic. I was on the edge of my seat the whole way through, and there were plot twists that I never saw coming. Ripley is a great character, and one of the best movie heroines of all time. The special effects are still pretty impressive for 1979, and the plot's slow-building tension keeps your heart pounding the whole time. In short, "Alien" is a very important film in cinema history and one of the best sci-fi films ever made.… Expand

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9

EpicLadySpongeFeb 1, 2016

This classical installment is what we like to call a masterpiece! Even though it isn't close to a 10, but it's still worth giving a 9 on it for being an excellent work.

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9

PachekoviskMar 18, 2016

EXCELLENT
An Amazing mix of Science Fiction and Horror and one of the best movies of both of those genres.
It's the best of its series and really a film to be remembered as one of the greatest.

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9

FilmClubMar 26, 2016

When Alien was first released during the summer movie season of 1979, science fiction films were all the rage. The trend had been started two years earlier with the unexpected box office success of Star Wars, and, by 1979, anything evenWhen Alien was first released during the summer movie season of 1979, science fiction films were all the rage. The trend had been started two years earlier with the unexpected box office success of Star Wars, and, by 1979, anything even remotely connected with space and/or aliens was guaranteed to raise some interest. Two highly anticipated efforts - the big-screen debut of Star Trek (Star Trek: The Motion Picture) and the Star Wars sequel (The Empire Strikes Back) - both of which were within a year of their opening dates, further invigorated the atmosphere. It was into this climate that Alien was unleashed upon the general public.

The film's memorable tag line, "In space, no one can hear you scream", promised a far different experience than the popcorn entertainment of Star Wars or the kinder, gentler saga of Close Encounters of the Third Kind. In fact, Alien was as much horror as it was science fiction. In fact, one could make a convincing argument that there is more synergy between this picture and John Carpenter's Halloween than between Alien and any of the other umpteen sci-fi movies invading movie theaters at the time. Alien is about shocks and chills and thrills, not space battles. Where Star Wars has light sabers and blasters, Alien has intense atmosphere.

In many ways, Alien was the first of a kind. True - it wasn't the first space movie to feature a homicidal monster, nor was it the first time a group of characters were hunted down one-by-one in dark, dank spaces. However, this "haunted house in space" film was one of the first to effectively cross-pollinate these two genres. Alien became the blueprint for dozens of rip-offs and three sequels. With one exception (James Cameron's superior Aliens, which substituted all-out action for creepy horror), none has come close to what the filmmakers attained with the 1979 feature.

The director of Alien is British-born Ridley Scott, who was stepping behind the camera for only the second time (his feature debut was 1977's The Duellists). Along with 1982's Blade Runner, Alien cemented Scott as a filmmaker of great promise and ability. These days, whenever the director releases a new film, reviewers will inevitably mention Alien, Blade Runner, or both somewhere within the text of their write-up.

In addition to blending graphic horror with science fiction, Alien has another distinction - it is one of the first films to feature a female action hero. Even today, on those rare occasions when a woman takes the lead in an action/adventure movie, she is typically measured up to Sigourney Weaver's Ellen Ripley. In actuality, much of Ripley's reputation is based on events in Aliens, where she strikes back against the creatures with a vengeance. In Alien, Ripley is essentially just one of several crew members - until the end, when she's the last one standing (not counting Jones the cat). Having Ripley as the hero of Alien is an interesting twist. In 1979, viewers automatically expected that role to be filled by Tom Skerritt - not only because he had top billing, but because he is a man.

Alien is a perfect example of a director gradually elevating the level of energy and anticipation in a motion picture. The way Scott meticulously raises the sense of menace and tension is worthy of Hitchcock. Like Steven Spielberg's great thriller Jaws, this atmosphere-soaked production relies on the viewer's imagination to enhance the alien's nightmarishness. Scott carefully restricts how much we see of the creature - there's enough to provide our minds with horrifying images, but not so much that the illusion is spoiled.

Alien contains its fair share of genuine scares. These aren't mere "boo" moments, where something benign jumps out of the shadows accompanied by a loud noise and a musical crescendo, but legitimate shocks. The first occurs when the face-hugger leaps out of the egg and attaches itself to Kane. The second is when the alien explodes through Kane's chest. Then, during the hunt for the alien, there are numerous others. In fact, the level of suspense during the film's final 30 minutes becomes almost unbearable. What started as a seemingly low-key motion picture turns into a real white-knuckler.

Despite not featuring any big names, the cast for Alien is comprised of credible actors, including two --Ian Holm and John Hurt - who have won numerous critical plaudits and earned Oscar nominations. Ironically, Sigourney Weaver, who would go on to be the most successful of the Alien stars, arguably gives the least impressive performance. Weaver is an uneven actress, with strengths in comedy and action, but weaknesses in drama.

In its own way, Alien was as influential as Star Wars, proving that in the '70s/'80s wave of sci-fi, there was room for darker, grittier stories than the ones set a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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9

MovieMasterEddyApr 9, 2016

When Alien was first released during the summer movie season of 1979, science fiction films were all the rage. The trend had been started two years earlier with the unexpected box office success of Star Wars, and, by 1979, anything evenWhen Alien was first released during the summer movie season of 1979, science fiction films were all the rage. The trend had been started two years earlier with the unexpected box office success of Star Wars, and, by 1979, anything even remotely connected with space and/or aliens was guaranteed to raise some interest. Two highly anticipated efforts - the big-screen debut of Star Trek (Star Trek: The Motion Picture) and the Star Wars sequel (The Empire Strikes Back) - both of which were within a year of their opening dates, further invigorated the atmosphere. It was into this climate that Alien was unleashed upon the general public.

The film's memorable tag line, "In space, no one can hear you scream", promised a far different experience than the popcorn entertainment of Star Wars or the kinder, gentler saga of Close Encounters of the Third Kind. In fact, Alien was as much horror as it was science fiction. In fact, one could make a convincing argument that there is more synergy between this picture and John Carpenter's Halloween than between Alien and any of the other umpteen sci-fi movies invading movie theaters at the time. Alien is about shocks and chills and thrills, not space battles. Where Star Wars has light sabers and blasters, Alien has intense atmosphere.

In many ways, Alien was the first of a kind. True - it wasn't the first space movie to feature a homicidal monster, nor was it the first time a group of characters were hunted down one-by-one in dark, dank spaces. However, this "haunted house in space" film was one of the first to effectively cross-pollinate these two genres. Alien became the blueprint for dozens of rip-offs and three sequels. With one exception (James Cameron's superior Aliens, which substituted all-out action for creepy horror), none has come close to what the filmmakers attained with the 1979 feature.

The director of Alien is British-born Ridley Scott, who was stepping behind the camera for only the second time (his feature debut was 1977's The Duellists). Along with 1982's Blade Runner, Alien cemented Scott as a filmmaker of great promise and ability. These days, whenever the director releases a new film, reviewers will inevitably mention Alien, Blade Runner, or both somewhere within the text of their write-up.

In addition to blending graphic horror with science fiction, Alien has another distinction - it is one of the first films to feature a female action hero. Even today, on those rare occasions when a woman takes the lead in an action/adventure movie, she is typically measured up to Sigourney Weaver's Ellen Ripley. In actuality, much of Ripley's reputation is based on events in Aliens, where she strikes back against the creatures with a vengeance. In Alien, Ripley is essentially just one of several crew members - until the end, when she's the last one standing (not counting Jones the cat). Having Ripley as the hero of Alien is an interesting twist. In 1979, viewers automatically expected that role to be filled by Tom Skerritt - not only because he had top billing, but because he is a man.

Alien is a perfect example of a director gradually elevating the level of energy and anticipation in a motion picture. The way Scott meticulously raises the sense of menace and tension is worthy of Hitchcock. Like Steven Spielberg's great thriller Jaws, this atmosphere-soaked production relies on the viewer's imagination to enhance the alien's nightmarishness. Scott carefully restricts how much we see of the creature - there's enough to provide our minds with horrifying images, but not so much that the illusion is spoiled.

Alien contains its fair share of genuine scares. These aren't mere "boo" moments, where something benign jumps out of the shadows accompanied by a loud noise and a musical crescendo, but legitimate shocks. The first occurs when the face-hugger leaps out of the egg and attaches itself to Kane. The second is when the alien explodes through Kane's chest. Then, during the hunt for the alien, there are numerous others. In fact, the level of suspense during the film's final 30 minutes becomes almost unbearable. What started as a seemingly low-key motion picture turns into a real white-knuckler.

Despite not featuring any big names, the cast for Alien is comprised of credible actors, including two --Ian Holm and John Hurt - who have won numerous critical plaudits and earned Oscar nominations. Ironically, Sigourney Weaver, who would go on to be the most successful of the Alien stars, arguably gives the least impressive performance. Weaver is an uneven actress, with strengths in comedy and action, but weaknesses in drama.

In its own way, Alien was as influential as Star Wars, proving that in the '70s/'80s wave of sci-fi, there was room for darker, grittier stories than the ones set a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.… Expand

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9

hassallJan 14, 2017

Alien is a really good film it was Brilliant. Scary. Horrible. Scary. Scary. Tense. Intelligent. Oh, and it's scary. It has to be seen, especially if you like being scared.

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9

eva3si0nFeb 22, 2021

Alien is one of the best films not only by Ridley Scott but also by the entire genre of space fiction. It is difficult not to say how much this is a fundamental movie that many subsequent generations will remember, a real masterpiece thatAlien is one of the best films not only by Ridley Scott but also by the entire genre of space fiction. It is difficult not to say how much this is a fundamental movie that many subsequent generations will remember, a real masterpiece that gave rise to one of the most famous franchises. Relevant even after 40 years. After the restart of the franchise in 2012 and even more so the last part, the original is perceived as an unattainable level. And if even Ridley Scott could not restart the franchise, then it remains only to enjoy the classics.… Expand

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9

VirgonoShakaNov 21, 2017

Alien is a sci-fi movie that really shows how to make a survival horror movie done right, and with its great atmosphere, designs, sound, characters, and production. It is a classic, in the way that every scene is excellent, has a great placeAlien is a sci-fi movie that really shows how to make a survival horror movie done right, and with its great atmosphere, designs, sound, characters, and production. It is a classic, in the way that every scene is excellent, has a great place in the narrative and the characters in general are so memorable. The only reason it doesn't go into "masterpiece" level, is that there are a few small aspects that I just don't think are at the level of the rest of the movie. Nevertheless, this is a movie that is one of the best in its genre, and one for the list of movies you have to watch before you die, no matter if you like the type or not. Final verdict: 9.4… Expand

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9

Cameronius_113Jan 15, 2017

Alien was released in 1979 and was directed by Ridley Scott. The movie is about a crew of a space vessel who have an alien being get on board their ship which begins to wipe them all out so they must try and defend themselves and get rid ofAlien was released in 1979 and was directed by Ridley Scott. The movie is about a crew of a space vessel who have an alien being get on board their ship which begins to wipe them all out so they must try and defend themselves and get rid of it.
The movie has a great, tensional atmosphere which is built up extremely well; many scenes are either quiet or silent which adds to the sense of isolation and the fact that their enemy could be absolutely anywhere. This is quite a slow-paced movie (nearly the first five minutes are all silent shots of panning through locations). Usually this would be a weak point but the pace works for this film as it adds to the amount of tension. Also, because of the slow pace it gives you time to appreciate how well done each small part of the film is done and makes everything memorable.
The practical effects are great for the time, the alien itself is a prime example; when I first saw it I was stunned by how real it looked and to think that this was nearly 40 years ago at the time of writing this is even more stunning. There's also more effects that I loved but I'll let you experience them when you see them yourself so hopefully you'll be as equally as impressed as I was.
Ellen Ripley is considered one of the greatest female leads in movies of all time and that is for good reason. She was a strong and intelligent lead and was also quite relatable at the same time.
Movies I really like are ones which I guess are 'small' so they don't really move around that far if you understand what I'm talking about; they give every aspect of the film the attention they deserve and usually end up as a more interesting movie. This movie is a prime example of a great one of these.
This is usually regarded as a horror film, hence the tagline 'In space, no one can hear you scream'. However, there's nothing really too scary here and as I said earlier is full of tension and relies on surprises and shocks rather than scares.
Overall, this was a great movie with an amazing well-built up atmosphere and gives every aspect of the film the attention it deserves, from the characters, the writing and the effects. I would highly recommend this film.
8.6/10
Who else loved Jones the Cat?… Expand

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9

mouseypoo13Jun 18, 2017

9 out of 10. Great horror movie. Interesting plot, good acting and a great alien character. HR Giger inspired the Alien and it can clearly be seen in the terrifying xenomorph. Brilliant, must watch.

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9

BobbyLikesMovieMar 23, 2017

So I saw Alien and Alien is a very solid science fiction movie. It is a wholly entertaining and quite the bewildering experience. Alien, taking place in a spaceship called Nostromo away from Earth in the future, is mainly about the survivalSo I saw Alien and Alien is a very solid science fiction movie. It is a wholly entertaining and quite the bewildering experience. Alien, taking place in a spaceship called Nostromo away from Earth in the future, is mainly about the survival of a crew from an intruding alien. Ridley Scott, the director, takes in elements from the genres of suspense, thriller, and horror. I find this movie as something darkly satisfying probably because of the over-bearing loneliness that the movie holds. There is something so serenely and creepily alluring that Scott manages to pull off. Certain aspects such as the cinematography, production design, and costume design make this movie dark and beautiful despite it’s adventurous tone. Basically, Scott is a practical master at creating a feeling of desolation for the audience while managing the audience to be thoroughly entertained. Today, thrillers and horror movies rely on other entities (i.e monsters) to create conflict and thrills. In Alien, it does rely on a certain monster to make the plot well-paced but there is a substantial amount of character conflict. Different characters have different ideologies and emotions. Emotions, feelings, and rationales conflict with each other. The human drama in this movie about an alien makes this movie the more realistic. It makes sure that the movie is not confined by a singular conflict only caused by the alien. I think that the human drama adds more depth to the movie and it is something that a lot of modern-day thrillers have a problem with. More on the characters, Ripley is a milestone of a protagonist. She is evidently the protagonist of this movie. She has great characteristics (i.e bold, daring, brave) and she is not one-dimensional. Through Sigourney Weaver’s monumental acting, she is perfectly fleshed out and well bodied as a character. During the 70s and before, women were not playing prominent roles. Certainly there were some movies that had a woman as a prominent role, but the notion was not popularized. This movie popularized the notion that women can play daring and brave roles. There may be more appreciation for what this movie did than what the movie is: and that is completely fine. Movies that revolutionize the film industry deserve credit. All the other cast members also do admirable acting. In actuality, all the characters are fleshed out perfectly told. However what I think makes this movie such a classic is mainly Ridley Scott. Ridley Scott manages to balance a very venturous and daring plot while making undertones that are grimly gory and chilling. Mainly, I believe that thrillers and science fiction movies during that time had to either be eerie and disturbing or fun and daring. Ridley Scott makes sure you feel that sense of loneliness and desolation that crew felt which thrillers and suspense movies (i.e The Conversation) had whilst maintaining a competent adventure which science fiction movies had (i.e Star Wars). Scott balance both ideas effortlessly and flawlessly. He proves that horror/thriller movies can have a huge scope and have adventure and proves that adventurous movies can have a twinge of horror and creepiness. He revolutionizes the genre of science-fiction, horror, and thrillers with this movie and he deserves credit for doing something largely monumental. Now, the question is: is this the greatest movie of all time? Lately I think it has been getting praise and has gained some type of monumental status. I do not think it is the greatest film of all time, but is an entertaining and visceral experience that manages to be revolutionary. The whole point of movies is to entertain people. And this movie entertains me a lot while being revolutionary and having a beautiful scope. Isn’t that an achievement?… Expand

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9

zapVJan 1, 2018

Masterful horror that apart of perfectly exploiting usual tools of the genre like building a terrific atmosphere and creating a horrifying villain also hits you from unexpected angles. By scattering sexual symbols throughout the movie itMasterful horror that apart of perfectly exploiting usual tools of the genre like building a terrific atmosphere and creating a horrifying villain also hits you from unexpected angles. By scattering sexual symbols throughout the movie it awakens our unconscious fears and anxieties about rape, unwanted pregnancy and gory childbirth.… Expand

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9

Stephenj2010Jun 12, 2020

''Alien'' (1979) is really is the masterpiece of the cinema, it's the best sci-fi horror movie of the 1970s. The idea of turning a Sci-fi movie adding horror stuff is very, VERY scary to the sci-fi fans and Star Wars as well. The idea of a''Alien'' (1979) is really is the masterpiece of the cinema, it's the best sci-fi horror movie of the 1970s. The idea of turning a Sci-fi movie adding horror stuff is very, VERY scary to the sci-fi fans and Star Wars as well. The idea of a space film about a killer Alien creature named Xenomorph goes inside of the spaceship named Nostromo and finding to kill the Xenomorph before the Xenomorph kills everyone on the ship at the time is very original. It has memorable and iconic characters, such as Ripley, played by Sigourney Weaver. The Alien (later known as the "Xenomorph") itself also became an iconic movie monster. Notably, the Xenomorph was designed and created to convey a fear of rape; it succeeded, it has amazing designs courtesy of Ron Cobb, Jean "Moebius" Giraud, and Chris Foss, who designed the movie's human aspects, such as the space suits and the Nostromo itself, and the late H.R. Giger, who designed the movie's alien aspects, which succeeds at being very disturbing and helped popularize the artist. Noteworthy is that Foss, Giger, Moebius, and O'Bannon had previously worked on Alejandro Jodorowsky's canceled film adaptation of Frank Herbert's Dune. It has a lot of scary scenes that became iconic, notably the chestburster scene. The filming of this scene actually terrified the actors; Veronica Cartwright's reactions were genuine. Ripley is pretty much a likable character, which she'll go on even more likable character in Aliens (1986). The soundtrack was scary, and it's amazing. And it's sequel, Aliens, which it's even more awesome.

By the way, It's still amazing sci-fi horror movie of all time. :)… Expand

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9

Dungeon00XNov 14, 2019

After Dan O'Bannon's spectacular failure of making a scary alien in Dark Star, he then wrote the screenplay to this terrifying extraterrestrial movie directed by Ridley Scott. Another favorite of mine that should not be missed, great specialAfter Dan O'Bannon's spectacular failure of making a scary alien in Dark Star, he then wrote the screenplay to this terrifying extraterrestrial movie directed by Ridley Scott. Another favorite of mine that should not be missed, great special effects and superb acting. The director's cut has even more to love if you can find it! If you love suspense films, the this one will have you on edge.… Expand

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9

MrPajamasFeb 4, 2021

Alien is one of the classics and also one of the really high quality. She has an excellent story, the main heroine, of course the negative emzák, and most of all she adds an atmosphere to this film that is absolutely luxurious. This is simplyAlien is one of the classics and also one of the really high quality. She has an excellent story, the main heroine, of course the negative emzák, and most of all she adds an atmosphere to this film that is absolutely luxurious. This is simply a MUST-SEE image that you must not miss.… Expand

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9

JLauSep 18, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Commercial starship answers distress beacon, brings lifeform onboard, lifeform incubates in guy's chest, kills most of the crew and the cat survives.… Expand

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9

MisterdionyMay 29, 2021

The only thing that I regret of watching the movie is that I waited too long. I mean, it was released 42 years ago and stills feels fresh. Awesome story and great actor performances.

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9

Pan_KrytykJul 31, 2022

pozycja obowiązkowa dla każdego kinomaniaka... rewelacyjny film... polecam każdemu kto lubi horrory i sci-fi...ave

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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9

SilarMaldonJan 30, 2022

One of the best movies ever made. Suspenseful, gritty, retro-futuristic. What's not to like?

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9

HellHoleHorrorFeb 16, 2022

This was made in the seventies. Seventies. The picture quality is stunning. Undeniably stunning. The sound is perfect except minor issues regarding occasional muffled dialogue. God it looks good. Rivals and beats many films made thirty yearsThis was made in the seventies. Seventies. The picture quality is stunning. Undeniably stunning. The sound is perfect except minor issues regarding occasional muffled dialogue. God it looks good. Rivals and beats many films made thirty years later. The blend of suspense, horror, science-fiction is perfect. The budget is perfectly used. Perfect. I say stick with the theatrical version, the various director cuts are not as well paced, add irrelevant scenes and don’t fix the one bit that annoys me – the jump cut on Ash’s head. Stay theatrical and think of the best film ever made and you would possibly have this. There may be a scant few other films but this would be the first. The ending is so intense and fearful without cheap techniques. I love it. Very minor technical issues are forgotten through fear, fascination and legacy.… Expand

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8

asthobaskoroJun 26, 2012

Alien blends science fiction and horror, this has re-defined what sci-fi on future. Maybe it's not class A movie, looks like horror B-movie trapped on space than sci-fi. It's modern classic, all sci-fi movie will thanks to it.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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8

rotkuJan 31, 2012

Classic sci-fi movie that changed movie making in its genre. Although a little dated now you still have to admire how well made the movie is. The characters are believable, the set is believable, the storyline is excellent and for most partClassic sci-fi movie that changed movie making in its genre. Although a little dated now you still have to admire how well made the movie is. The characters are believable, the set is believable, the storyline is excellent and for most part the alien is terrifying. The main disappointment is the long shots of the alien which give it a human in a suit look. often copied but rarely bettered,if you have not seen this movie do so now.… Expand

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8

grandpajoe6191Sep 29, 2011

Ridley Scott's "Alien" is scary and amazing. It has the scary tense moments, presenting them with such screenplay that's even rare these day. A definite must watch.

13 of 15 users found this helpful132

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8

watithink123Apr 15, 2012

A very good movie. Best Alien movie in the series. By far the scariest movie in the series. A few jump monments. A great fim. Alien 8.6/10

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8

SantiagoMAKiiNAJun 4, 2012

As Prometheus dawns on us, I have decided to revisit all of the Alien films. Yes, you may call that an excuse to do a super fun marathon at home. "Work" as I like to call it.
I admit I was a bit skeptic at first. Having grown up with theseAs Prometheus dawns on us, I have decided to revisit all of the Alien films. Yes, you may call that an excuse to do a super fun marathon at home. "Work" as I like to call it.
I admit I was a bit skeptic at first. Having grown up with these films and feeling great admiration for them, I was worried that a modern viewing might date the content and change my fond memories of the material. And can I happily declare that "Alien", not only stood the test of time, but reminded me of how irrefutable is Ridley Scott's natural talent for film making. Let me remind you this is Ridley's second outing at feature film. The guy just has that organic instinct for the art of the shot.
The version I settled on was the 2003 director's cut. I was curious to see what Ridley would do as a final attempt on the series he launched to great influence into pop culture of the 20th century. The extras are not many but worth the time. They feel more like a polish more than a rework. Why change a master piece?
One aspect of the film that I simply couldn't avoid is the cinematography. The shots are a living canvas. Derek VanLint passed away a while back. He left us with seriously impacting work. My eyes wouldn't wander off the screen. Though It helps having Mr. Scott handling the pace of the shots. You can feel the hand of a surgeon at work here. Not much is seen per-say of the typical horror visual bluntness of this genre. Most is left to the imagination and the world of the implied. Anxiety in the form of a concerto of subtlety.
Many modern film makers should take note of how little is needed to keep an audience nails clenching teeth. It's not the overblown budget or the hordes of hoakey monsters. But the work of a man that knows how to hold you back with dire anticipation until the very few money shots that actually do scare you.
It seems obvious to discuss Mr. Giger's creature. Although this subject has been pounded endlessly over the years. Alien, the creature, having interwoven itself in modern culture. My addition to the mass of literature will be minimal... It's still scary. Yes, it certainly is. And, no, I wouldn't want to wake up next to it any time soon. Even if Ripley herself is laying there with me ready to help.
Speaking of waking up to Ripley. You know which scene I'm talking about. I was beginning to think wearing microscopic underwear and revealing a phenomenal waist line was all modern fare. No, sir. Ripley was well on to this incoming trend back in the 70s. I mean. The ease with which she reveals that body in the escape pod. It's almost as if the director was thinking, "how do I reward my audience after nearly two hours of torturous panic?" Ridley, you did reward us, sir. The movie. The monster. The girl. We loved it all... Once again.… Expand

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8

Tall_But_ShortJul 10, 2012

Ridley Scott's Alien takes a hell of a long time to start the actual suspense of the movie but when it does actually begin, its fantastic. However, these slow first fifty or so minutes builds the movie and paces it in a brilliant way. TheRidley Scott's Alien takes a hell of a long time to start the actual suspense of the movie but when it does actually begin, its fantastic. However, these slow first fifty or so minutes builds the movie and paces it in a brilliant way. The suspense is great but I wouldn't consider this a horror movie. Nonetheless, this is a fantastic film.… Expand

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8

RikiegeJan 23, 2013

In his time the movie was original.

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8

hardkor33Aug 5, 2013

Alien 8/10............................................................................................................................................

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8

Compi24Nov 28, 2012

Yeah, not really sure this movie needs an introduction, but here it comes anyway. "Alien" is a 1976 Ridley Scott directed Sci-Fi Horror flick starring Sigourney Weaver as Ripley, a warrant officer on a mining ship that begins to encounterYeah, not really sure this movie needs an introduction, but here it comes anyway. "Alien" is a 1976 Ridley Scott directed Sci-Fi Horror flick starring Sigourney Weaver as Ripley, a warrant officer on a mining ship that begins to encounter strange creatures. Now, It's hard for me to say that I haven't seen "Alien" up until this point, but it's true so I'll cop to it. After seeing it, I can safely say that everyone I talked to was right - I missed a lot. "Alien" is a really great film, crafted by one of the greatest revolutionary living directors. Ridley Scott really shows his keen ability to develop unbelievable tension through almost every scene. I had to turn down the volume on my television at some points, because I was almost certain that something was going to pop up and scare the seven shades of poop outta' me. But that's the thing, it didn't always happen when I expected it to. This is something that horror movies today seem to fail to accomplish - in a sense, they give away when the jump scares are going to happen. "Alien" really excels at blurring the line between the moments when you're sure a jump scare'll happen and the moments when they won't. The story, written by the legendary Dan O'Bannon is often cited as the influence for numerous other Sci-Fi Horror films and stories. This story is the fulcrum of the film, and O'Bannon's ability to create unending tension via the narrative is really a noteworthy skill. The cinematography and lighting also really helps in creating intense strain on the audience. At one point in the film, it seems as though cinematographer Derek Vanlint uses strobe lights for lighting. This jarring effect, once again, keeps the audience intensely stressed out. The sounds in the film are really very eerie, as the unnerving creaking sounds of the Nostromo and the shrill shriek of the Alien still resonate in my head. Sigourney Weaver does a great job in one of her very first (and arguably most memorable) roles. H.R. Giger's set and costume design really shines in this film, possibly establishing the Sci-Fi Horror aesthetic as we know it. In the end, I found Ridley Scott's "Alien" to be an awesomely frightening film that effectively exudes the overwhelming amount of skill that was placed into it.… Expand

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8

FreezeBlade1220Oct 6, 2015

This is my favorite movie of all time despite the 8/10 rating. Why? It's honestly not as scary as I thought it would be. The Alien isn't that terrifying. The atmosphere, though, is a different story. It almost made me stop watching. Back toThis is my favorite movie of all time despite the 8/10 rating. Why? It's honestly not as scary as I thought it would be. The Alien isn't that terrifying. The atmosphere, though, is a different story. It almost made me stop watching. Back to why it isn't that scary. Only one moment gave me a "jump out of your skin" moment, and I've barely hit teenage years!! Only about 5 or 6 people are seen dying. So, basically, great movie, but kinda overrated and not as scary as most people say.… Expand

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8

jools123Aug 4, 2014

This movie carried some fine acting and a great plot. Packed with suspense and action, this movie blasted Weaver's carrier up to the top. It was a fine Ridley Scott movie too. It does lack some character development thought.

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8

DenisManuSep 5, 2014

Alien is a Sci-Fi Horror movie that dazzles you with wonder. Ridley Scott manages to create a true classic that's suspenseful and amazing.Highly recommended.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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8

CinemaSinsMay 9, 2015

When Alien was first released during the summer movie season of 1979, science fiction films were all the rage. The trend had been started two years earlier with the unexpected box office success of Star Wars, and, by 1979, anything evenWhen Alien was first released during the summer movie season of 1979, science fiction films were all the rage. The trend had been started two years earlier with the unexpected box office success of Star Wars, and, by 1979, anything even remotely connected with space and/or aliens was guaranteed to raise some interest. Two highly anticipated efforts - the big-screen debut of Star Trek (Star Trek: The Motion Picture) and the Star Wars sequel (The Empire Strikes Back) - both of which were within a year of their opening dates, further invigorated the atmosphere. It was into this climate that Alien was unleashed upon the general public.

The film's memorable tag line, "In space, no one can hear you scream", promised a far different experience than the popcorn entertainment of Star Wars or the kinder, gentler saga of Close Encounters of the Third Kind. In fact, Alien was as much horror as it was science fiction. In fact, one could make a convincing argument that there is more synergy between this picture and John Carpenter's Halloween than between Alien and any of the other umpteen sci-fi movies invading movie theaters at the time. Alien is about shocks and chills and thrills, not space battles. Where Star Wars has light sabers and blasters, Alien has intense atmosphere.

In many ways, Alien was the first of a kind. True - it wasn't the first space movie to feature a homicidal monster, nor was it the first time a group of characters were hunted down one-by-one in dark, dank spaces. However, this "haunted house in space" film was one of the first to effectively cross-pollinate these two genres. Alien became the blueprint for dozens of rip-offs and three sequels. With one exception (James Cameron's superior Aliens, which substituted all-out action for creepy horror), none has come close to what the filmmakers attained with the 1979 feature.

The director of Alien is British-born Ridley Scott, who was stepping behind the camera for only the second time (his feature debut was 1977's The Duellists). Along with 1982's Blade Runner, Alien cemented Scott as a filmmaker of great promise and ability. These days, whenever the director releases a new film, reviewers will inevitably mention Alien, Blade Runner, or both somewhere within the text of their write-up.

In addition to blending graphic horror with science fiction, Alien has another distinction - it is one of the first films to feature a female action hero. Even today, on those rare occasions when a woman takes the lead in an action/adventure movie, she is typically measured up to Sigourney Weaver's Ellen Ripley. In actuality, much of Ripley's reputation is based on events in Aliens, where she strikes back against the creatures with a vengeance. In Alien, Ripley is essentially just one of several crew members - until the end, when she's the last one standing (not counting Jones the cat). Having Ripley as the hero of Alien is an interesting twist. In 1979, viewers automatically expected that role to be filled by Tom Skerritt - not only because he had top billing, but because he is a man.

Many so-called "Director's Cuts" are significant re-workings of their theatrical siblings. This is not the case with Alien. The most important features of this "new" version are the digital cleaning of the print and the re-mastering of the sound. There are a few added scenes, but they are mostly insignificant and have been previously seen (at least by fans of the movie) on the laserdisc or DVD releases. The best thing about having this movie available 24 years after it first reached theaters is that it gives a new generation of film-goers a chance to experience it on the big screen. And, despite the passage of a quarter of a century, Alien has lost none of its punch. I can't think of a better way to spend a Halloween night.… Expand

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8

RickyReviewsJun 24, 2016

Alien is one of those films that was so good, but then ruined by a bunch of bad sequels. This is one of the, if not the most suspenseful films ever. There is a reason that Roger Ebert calls this a "Great Movie". I won't go as far as to giveAlien is one of those films that was so good, but then ruined by a bunch of bad sequels. This is one of the, if not the most suspenseful films ever. There is a reason that Roger Ebert calls this a "Great Movie". I won't go as far as to give this film 10 stars, but it truly deserves 8. Mediocre acting sadly. Effects were the best for 1979, but won't suffice today.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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8

CinemassacreMar 13, 2016

When Alien was first released during the summer movie season of 1979, science fiction films were all the rage. The trend had been started two years earlier with the unexpected box office success of Star Wars, and, by 1979, anything evenWhen Alien was first released during the summer movie season of 1979, science fiction films were all the rage. The trend had been started two years earlier with the unexpected box office success of Star Wars, and, by 1979, anything even remotely connected with space and/or aliens was guaranteed to raise some interest. Two highly anticipated efforts - the big-screen debut of Star Trek (Star Trek: The Motion Picture) and the Star Wars sequel (The Empire Strikes Back) - both of which were within a year of their opening dates, further invigorated the atmosphere. It was into this climate that Alien was unleashed upon the general public.

The film's memorable tag line, "In space, no one can hear you scream", promised a far different experience than the popcorn entertainment of Star Wars or the kinder, gentler saga of Close Encounters of the Third Kind. In fact, Alien was as much horror as it was science fiction. In fact, one could make a convincing argument that there is more synergy between this picture and John Carpenter's Halloween than between Alien and any of the other umpteen sci-fi movies invading movie theaters at the time. Alien is about shocks and chills and thrills, not space battles. Where Star Wars has light sabers and blasters, Alien has intense atmosphere.

In many ways, Alien was the first of a kind. True - it wasn't the first space movie to feature a homicidal monster, nor was it the first time a group of characters were hunted down one-by-one in dark, dank spaces. However, this "haunted house in space" film was one of the first to effectively cross-pollinate these two genres. Alien became the blueprint for dozens of rip-offs and three sequels. With one exception (James Cameron's superior Aliens, which substituted all-out action for creepy horror), none has come close to what the filmmakers attained with the 1979 feature.

The director of Alien is British-born Ridley Scott, who was stepping behind the camera for only the second time (his feature debut was 1977's The Duellists). Along with 1982's Blade Runner, Alien cemented Scott as a filmmaker of great promise and ability. These days, whenever the director releases a new film, reviewers will inevitably mention Alien, Blade Runner, or both somewhere within the text of their write-up.

In addition to blending graphic horror with science fiction, Alien has another distinction - it is one of the first films to feature a female action hero. Even today, on those rare occasions when a woman takes the lead in an action/adventure movie, she is typically measured up to Sigourney Weaver's Ellen Ripley. In actuality, much of Ripley's reputation is based on events in Aliens, where she strikes back against the creatures with a vengeance. In Alien, Ripley is essentially just one of several crew members - until the end, when she's the last one standing (not counting Jones the cat). Having Ripley as the hero of Alien is an interesting twist. In 1979, viewers automatically expected that role to be filled by Tom Skerritt - not only because he had top billing, but because he is a man.

Alien begins slowly and calmly by introducing us to the crew of the Nostromo, a commercial towing space vehicle on a return course for Earth. They number seven - the relatively laid-back captain, Dallas (Skerritt); Ripley (Weaver), the ship's warrant officer; Lambert (Veronica Cartwright), the ship's highly strung navigator; science officer Ash (Ian Holm), who seems to have ice water for blood; Kane (John Hurt), who is possessed of a gallows humor; and grunts Brett (Harry Dean Stanton) and Parker (Yaphet Kotto), who spend their time grumbling about not getting full bonuses. During the film's early scenes, there's a sense of ordinariness about the crew's activities. For them, this is drudgery - they're looking forward to getting home and collecting their money. The dangers of space are far from their minds, and, as a result, from ours. Those who believe the beginning of Alien is dull and plodding are missing the point. The somewhat lethargic pace is necessary for the rest of the movie to work as effectively as it does.

Many so-called "Director's Cuts" are significant re-workings of their theatrical siblings. This is not the case with Alien. The most important features of this "new" version are the digital cleaning of the print and the re-mastering of the sound. There are a few added scenes, but they are mostly insignificant and have been previously seen (at least by fans of the movie) on the laserdisc or DVD releases. The best thing about having this movie available 24 years after it first reached theaters is that it gives a new generation of film-goers a chance to experience it on the big screen. And, despite the passage of a quarter of a century, Alien has lost none of its punch. I can't think of a better way to spend a Halloween night.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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8

daviddelnorte23May 13, 2017

Aprovechando el estreno este viernes día 12 de mayo, de 'Alien, Covenant' era una inmejorable oportunidad para visionar la cinta original de Ridley Scott. Y es que esta 'Alien, el octavo pasajero' es un auténtico clásico del cine. UnaAprovechando el estreno este viernes día 12 de mayo, de 'Alien, Covenant' era una inmejorable oportunidad para visionar la cinta original de Ridley Scott. Y es que esta 'Alien, el octavo pasajero' es un auténtico clásico del cine. Una película que marcó un antes y un después, con un montón de copias e influencias posteriores.

Personalmente, me gusta más como película de ciencia ficción que como película de terror/suspense. ¿Porqué? Debido a las múltiples "cosas" basadas en Alien y llevadas más bestialmente, que hacen que no me impresione ya la original, en ese sentido, cosas de la época...

El resto, es magnífico en todo, el guión perfectamente coherente dentro de lo que cabe, desarrolla perfectamente a los personajes que son múltiples con su personalidad cada uno bien marcada. Los propios personajes me gustan mucho, empezando por la propia Ripley, la cual me sorprendió, ese personaje con ese carácter y con un look tan poco "atractivo" a simple vista, nada de machismo en una cinta de esa época. Me sorprendió mucho.

El Alien, si que da miedo y como está desarrollado es magnífico, con esas etapas de crecimiento. Al igual que el giro de guión, el momento con el científico, cuando explican todo es sensacional. Y ese final. Es tremendo.

En resumen, peliculón que no me sorprende tanto por la época en efectos ni en novedad, pero que es una obra maestra y el pistoletazo inicial de una época y de un género. Un 8.… Expand

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8

KelvinSelimorNov 12, 2022

Alien. This is not Star Wars. It's the late 70s outside, and Ridley Scott is sitting in the director's chair, creating a scary space story. Around the same time, George Lucas was surprising with his Star Wars, but Ridley Scott showed aAlien. This is not Star Wars. It's the late 70s outside, and Ridley Scott is sitting in the director's chair, creating a scary space story. Around the same time, George Lucas was surprising with his Star Wars, but Ridley Scott showed a similar level. Space is just as mysterious and mysterious, but this mystery can be very costly for one space team. Alien 1979 is very creepy and very violent for its time. Only one scene in the dining room has forever become a cult and recognizable by everyone. The aliens themselves were made very frightening and disgustingly beautiful. It remains now to watch the continuation, in which there may be more Aliens.… Expand

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8

SilentTacticianSep 1, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. For its time it was a great movie filled with precise scenes that created tension, thrills, and scares. Movie magnified the vastness and isolation of space plus the dangers of entering into uncharted territory. The set design and costume creation of the monster attacks and chest burst scene. For a long time, this movie has been recommended to me as a must watch thriller, suspense, and horror movie and it lived up to all of my expectations. I found it enjoyable but not the best of the best.… Expand

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8

CTHReviewsMar 15, 2018

I really like Alien. Like Jaws, the direction and suspense is top-notch. However, also like Jaws, the creature effects look dated when viewed from a far away angle.

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8

BryceHarperFeb 23, 2018

Although I was deeply intrigued by the plots and visual sequences of this film, the most surprising fact is that this was created 40 years earlier from nowadays.

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8

OwenMansellJun 19, 2018

The film Alien was directed by Ridley Scott and released in 1979, seeing this film for the first time i went in with an open mind and i definitely wasn't disappointed, it aged well and kept you on the edge of your seat with the amount ofThe film Alien was directed by Ridley Scott and released in 1979, seeing this film for the first time i went in with an open mind and i definitely wasn't disappointed, it aged well and kept you on the edge of your seat with the amount of suspense it gave. This film is really enjoyable and is worth a watch. It would have been a fresh taste in movies for the 70's as there wasn't many science fiction horror films before Alien. A very original and eerie film.… Expand

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8

ElbanNinjaMar 23, 2019

Sigourney Weaver is an absolute madlad badass in that movie.

She plays the role of Ridley. A true hero that you will root for and relate with no matter if you are a woman or a man. The story is progressive and she has to overcome some nastySigourney Weaver is an absolute madlad badass in that movie.

She plays the role of Ridley. A true hero that you will root for and relate with no matter if you are a woman or a man. The story is progressive and she has to overcome some nasty and hard stuff through the movie but she ends up thriumphing in glory.

This is a movie with nasty scenes that will not let you indifferent. I absolutely loved it and I highly recommend it.… Expand

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8

AWESOM-0Jan 23, 2020

A good movie now and a great movie when it was released. It has influenced so many things in sci-fi, both in movies and novels.

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8

FifthWheelApr 11, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A classic sci-fi/horror thriller that laid the foundation for others to follow. While it's dated in the special effects and animations departments these days, this movie has a lot more soul than others like it that are released these days. Between the camaraderie with the crew, to the chase to find out where the Alien will go next, to seeing everybody else die and Ripley escape, this movie has tons of twists and turns to keep you engaged.… Expand

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8

r96skFeb 21, 2022

'Alien' isn't as eventful, and as such as entertaining, as I had anticipated, though it is still an enjoyable near two hours.

It's a strong cast, with newbie Sigourney Weaver putting in a great performance. Tom Skerritt, Harry Dean Stanton,'Alien' isn't as eventful, and as such as entertaining, as I had anticipated, though it is still an enjoyable near two hours.

It's a strong cast, with newbie Sigourney Weaver putting in a great performance. Tom Skerritt, Harry Dean Stanton, Yaphet Kotto and John Hurt are good too. I wanted to see more of them, though that's normal given the tightness of the setting - there's only so much they can do, of course.

Other positives include the neat set design, solid special effects and well done tension building. I can't say I was ever fully unnerved, in fairness that's more a personal thing as fiction rarely scares me, but I was locked on for the entirety. It also gets respect for setting the benchmark it did.

Will check out the sequels, prequels and spin-offs/crossovers with much intrigue.… Expand

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8

SamirhusejnovicMar 29, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Ein sehr guter Film und ein großer Fußstapfen in dem Sci–Fi und Horror Jounre,. Emphelenswert.… Expand

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8

turonSep 11, 2022

Se marco un antes y un después en el cine con esta película, una pena que el director este empeñado en destruir la saga.

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8

HeroicAge616Oct 27, 2021

Alien succeeds in a creeping tone that pervades every nook and cranny of the screen.

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8

royalguy07Jul 4, 2023

A masterwork of monster and production design from the era. Its very slow in the first half unfortunately but more than makes up for it.

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7

Harry210May 2, 2011

Alien is one of the first horror movies I've seen and I think it was a good, suspense, science fiction movie which is definitely worth a watch. This movie introduced the grotesque and horrifying creature to cinema and TV screens. I'd thoughtAlien is one of the first horror movies I've seen and I think it was a good, suspense, science fiction movie which is definitely worth a watch. This movie introduced the grotesque and horrifying creature to cinema and TV screens. I'd thought I would never watch an Alien movie knowing that the movie was a sci-fi horror flick. Well, I plucked up the courage to see this movie and I thought it was a satisfying movie and is a good start to the Alien franchise. The movie is primary set on a huge space ship and carrying 7 crew members. This movie does start off slow but it does gradually introduce the main creature eventually. The nightmare begins after a couple of the crew investigate an abandoned alien spaceship on a dark and misty unknown planet. I actually jumped a little bit seeing when one of the crew members suddenly gets attacked by a crab like creature known as a facehugger; breaking through his space suit and latching onto his face. In my own opinion, these little critters with their crab like fingers, slimy alien tail and brownish appearance is possibly more terrifying to look at than the actual matured Alien. It's a good thing that they die as soon as they impregnate the embryo into their victim. The steps that we witness, in creating an alien are quite horrific and this introduces some horror to the movie; seeing the helpless human slip into a coma while an immovable facehugger impregnates them with an Alien embryo and then having the Alien burst out of the rib cage of the host and run away to fully mature, also known as a chestbuster. It's fascinating to watch and the grossest scene in the movie. Ah yes, the famous chestbuster scene: I thought that I wouldn't be able to stomach this scene but I found it to be the highlight of this movie. Seeing the crew member Kurt first enjoying a meal with the rest of the crew, unknown to him and the others, that the alien inside him is about to burst out of him creates an uncertainly atmosphere. The facehugger just leapt onto him, put him into a coma and died. It makes us think that at the moment, everything is alright with Kurt which I like because it does build up a bit of tension. I then knew what was going to happen when Kane was squirming and fidgeting and then the alien famously burst out of his stomach with a squirt of blood. What I find amazing is that the alien is a puppet and it makes you believe that its actually happening; no CGI here. The baby alien casually looks at the rest of the crew as if he's saying "What the hell are you looking at?" Then he just jumps out of Kurt's body and runs out of the room like he has a skateboard under his feet (I thought that was funny). I somehow find it weird that I think that the baby alien is cute. I love the design of the matured alien and we see for the first time, a great horror icon. His long claws, two mouths, skinny build and his huge head make him look like a typical monster and again, no CGI here; just a tall man in a suit which makes the alien more believable looking. The alien is a stealthy creature, much like the Predator creature in the Predator movie which was released after Alien. He can't talk but seems to have enough intelligence to hide from his prey. One by one, the alien takes out the crew, leaving one crew member, Ripley, eventually standing. You don't really see the alien and his unique character design much; he pretty much lurks in the shadows of the ship, quickly moves into our view and kills using his little mouth which gives us some gory moments but not as gory as the chestbuster scene. The crew are scared to death and they are pretty much defenceless; I mean, there only scientists, not colonel marines with huge ass machine guns. The acting was good; it gets the job done in this movie. The movie can be a little boring; sometimes I would be waiting for something to happen but I guess this is a suspense film. I think this movie is a little too long but that's only a very minor criticism. The attempt at getting rid of the alien by blowing up the ship gives us a good intense ending where Ripley shoots off in one of the escape pods and then BAM! The alien is a stowaway on the escape pod. It was a bit predictable but at least it provided a satisfying ending to the movie where Ripley faces off against the alien. As for the sets used, like the space ship and the planet they land on, I thought they were well designed. As the first Alien movie I watched, it was a good, gritty sci-fi movie. This movie didn't really scare me but it was gross seeing those facehuggers!… Expand

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7

TheQuietGamerJul 18, 2011

Alien succeeds in creating a tense atmosphere, and some cool moments, it's just disappointing that the characters aren't really like-able, I never really cared about any of there fates, and you never really find out who the main character isAlien succeeds in creating a tense atmosphere, and some cool moments, it's just disappointing that the characters aren't really like-able, I never really cared about any of there fates, and you never really find out who the main character is until everyone else dies, and before the actually come in contact with the Alien you have to listen to the characters having boring conversations with each other, but when the Alien finally shows up it gets enjoyable, but just know you have to some incredibly boring moments to get to the cool ones.… Expand

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7

TyranianApr 7, 2019

Very well-made horror/thriller with good pacing and plotting. Some effects have dated badly but otherwise holds up well.

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7

Jimbo82Apr 13, 2013

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Technically, Alien is pretty much flawless and right from the start when the camera is panning round the ship you know you're in for something special. The film starts slowly by gradually building the tension and suspense once the crew get to the distant planet (the build up was a little too slow if I'm being super critical). The cinematography was also excellent and once they reach the distant planet to investigate the apparent S.O.S you really feel as though you are at a bleak and desperate place and this really helps to set the scene and continues to build the tension.

The main crew on board the ship consists of; Ripley (Weaver) Dallas (Skerritt) and Parker (Kotto) to name a few. All performances given by the cast were good, but no-one gave a stand out performance in my opinion. I did enjoy the interaction between all the characters and felt as though they all connected well together they all squabbled with each other at times, but were all there for each other and worked as a team when it mattered.

Alien also benefits from impressive special effects (considering it was made in 1979) and once the alien grew to full size I thought it looked quite menacing.

The main problem I have with Alien is the rather poor ending. Once all the crew on board are killed, there is only Ripley as the surviving member. Having hunted down and killed all her crew, the Alien doesn't chase Ripley and instead just lets her run round the ship, pick up her cat and then get in the escape capsule. Then the Alien turns up wedged at the front of the capsule (for no apparent reason). Ripley then gases the Alien, fires at it and it gets blasted out of the door and that's pretty much the end. How I wish that Ridley Scott would have opted for a 'proper final showdown' (a la Predator). But instead Ridley opts for a rather pathetic ending.

I probably would have rated Alien either 8 or 9 had it not had such an anti-climactic ending, but for that resson I have given Alien a 7.… Expand

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7

Skullgirlsfan13May 28, 2013

I wanted to always see this movie because I hear that it's one of those type of movies that just has to be watched, but I never got around to it. It was until my American studies teacher told me I should watch it over the summer; last year,I wanted to always see this movie because I hear that it's one of those type of movies that just has to be watched, but I never got around to it. It was until my American studies teacher told me I should watch it over the summer; last year, and I finally did. I thought it built suspense up very well, using classic ways of camera work, and good effects to make the alien as scary as possible. Now my problem with the film is just its pacing, I feel like a lot of time is wasted until the Alien appears, which I did get over, but I'm saying that its there. The actors are okay, the main lead is really good in trying to show that women can stand up for themselves, and I really do care for her in tense situations. The alien itself is well done, every stage it's in is creepy and terrifying. The ending is sort of a mixed message to me, it's either that now she'll wait eons for anyone to help or they hope for another movie. Whatever that ending may say I think this is a very good horror movie, and deserves the credit it has been appointed.… Expand

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7

inaneswineNov 14, 2017

I completely understand how important this film is to the horror genre. Nonetheless, the film never particularly blew me away when I watched it for the first time, and it doesn't particularly now. Where it should be building tension, it justI completely understand how important this film is to the horror genre. Nonetheless, the film never particularly blew me away when I watched it for the first time, and it doesn't particularly now. Where it should be building tension, it just seems to drag on sometimes. Having said that, it really is terrifying at times. The third act of the film is so tense, so excellently shot and so well performed by Weaver. It is a well put together film with a great cast and a great creature, beautifully realised by H.R. Giger. Nevertheless, today, Alien feels to me as though it serves only as a prelude to the far superior Aliens.… Expand

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7

amheretojudgeDec 7, 2018

Scott's traumatic taunting exploration of other beings leaves out a long lasting impression on its shook audience.

Alien Scott's traumatic taunting exploration of other beings leaves out a long lasting impression on its shook audience. ThisScott's traumatic taunting exploration of other beings leaves out a long lasting impression on its shook audience.

Alien

Scott's traumatic taunting exploration of other beings leaves out a long lasting impression on its shook audience. This classic horror drama is smart and mature on its sharp screenplay. And since the concept allows it to rely upon physical sequences, the tactics and methods used in to make a best out of a crisis, is pure genius. Despite of being short handed on visual effects, this sci-fi venture leads you to a darker and sinister path through your own imaginations. Scott uses sound and light effects to scare his viewers. This horror isn't based on any mythological or spiritual tales to create horrifying environment or on building a backstory for its cynicism.

This is a human surviving out in the nature that it fails to understand or connect with. One of the major apprentice of Scott is the uncertainty of the characteristics of the antagonist depicted in here. Among many, many deaths, one of the best sequence is the one that follows a guy chasing a cat and water dripping over him, not only does this sequence gives you goosebump audibly but the way it is shot, the visuals too are jaw dropping. The structure of the script isn't your usual in and out mission, the first half executed with sweat drop precision adds more thrill to the last breathtaking act.

Weaver as the fittest survival of all, is the real deal. Her three dimensional character is aptly cooked. The range offered to her by the writers is wide enough to flaunt her talent and she milks out the best she can from it, she is vulnerable and flawed yet brave and bold enough to stand against the impossible, the arc that takes place in front of her molds for a better illuminating character. Alien was and is definitely ahead of its time, the future is clearly visible in here.… Expand

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7

GrantD243May 1, 2018

I can definitely see how Alien was a pretty amazing movie for the year it was released in. It could easily pass as a sci-fi film that has been released much more recently than 1979. However, I can't really judge it purely based off of theI can definitely see how Alien was a pretty amazing movie for the year it was released in. It could easily pass as a sci-fi film that has been released much more recently than 1979. However, I can't really judge it purely based off of the year it was released in because I'm watching it for the first time in 2018. And, honestly, it just didn't grab me like I thought it would. I definitely expected more horror elements than what it had, and frankly I didn't find anything about this film particularly excellent outside of how good the alien looks for the era this film was made in. It was still a fun watch, and I do plan on watching the rest of the films in the Alien franchise, but this one was definitely a bit of a let down.… Expand

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7

zNeverSleepingAug 31, 2020

Há muitos pontos positivos aqui.

A começar por todo conceito do filme. A nave, o alien, o background. Tudo me parece bem único e ajuda a atmosfera a ter um ar próprio, o que por si só já cria uma tensão em volta do Alien. Infelizmente, oHá muitos pontos positivos aqui.

A começar por todo conceito do filme. A nave, o alien, o background. Tudo me parece bem único e ajuda a atmosfera a ter um ar próprio, o que por si só já cria uma tensão em volta do Alien. Infelizmente, o suspense não me pegou tanto quanto eu gostaria - muito menos o medo. Mas a imagem do extraterrestre foi tão massante pelo apelo excessivo do publico que minha apatia se dê por conta disso.

Os personagens são ótimos. Suas discussões, medos e raiva parecem reais. É interessante como o Alien nem precisou se esforçar tanto para separa-los. Os embates funcionam bem e dão uma importância maior a ponto de levarmos aquilo mais a serio.

O conteúdo gráfico é bom, assim como os efeitos especiais de forma geral. A fotografia envelheceu muito bem. Consta com uma técnica muito bem aplicada.… Expand

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7

akshatmahajanSep 25, 2020

Alien is a well made movie. It has both sci-fi and horror elements. It remains one of the most original movie. The atmospheric was chilling and terrifying and the story holds up incredibly well. The special effects were incredible at thatAlien is a well made movie. It has both sci-fi and horror elements. It remains one of the most original movie. The atmospheric was chilling and terrifying and the story holds up incredibly well. The special effects were incredible at that time. The music effects were good and the direction was great.

One thing that I think was not good about thr movie was it's pace. Movie is slow in first hour and then fastens. Due to this, some people can lose interest in first half only.

Overall, it's a good movie and everyone should give it a try.… Expand

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7

AJ_13Oct 17, 2022

THE GOOD: The fact that this was made in 1979 is both admiring and unbelievable. Production design, VFX, cinematography and editing are way ahead its time.

THE BAD: That been said, I was disappointed. Much less scarier than I thought itTHE GOOD: The fact that this was made in 1979 is both admiring and unbelievable. Production design, VFX, cinematography and editing are way ahead its time.

THE BAD: That been said, I was disappointed. Much less scarier than I thought it would be and I didn't really care for the crew members' fate aside from Ripley's. I wish I were a bit more character/dialogue driven.… Expand

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6

btzneb92Aug 13, 2012

For a film made in 1979, the movie feels pretty timeless, now watching it in 2012, which gives a lot of merit to the film itself. Ellen Ripley is an engaging and strong female protagonist, and it was an interesting choice to make her behaveFor a film made in 1979, the movie feels pretty timeless, now watching it in 2012, which gives a lot of merit to the film itself. Ellen Ripley is an engaging and strong female protagonist, and it was an interesting choice to make her behave like an antagonist on the first half of the film. Good creature and make-up effects as well.… Expand

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6

Rox22Mar 17, 2013

Overall a very slow paced film. Effect were great for the day and I'm sure when this was new it was the scariest movie in the Sci-fi genre, but I originally only watched this in the late 80s, or early 90s so the same initial effect was lostOverall a very slow paced film. Effect were great for the day and I'm sure when this was new it was the scariest movie in the Sci-fi genre, but I originally only watched this in the late 80s, or early 90s so the same initial effect was lost to me. However it still adds allot of atmosphere and the Alien itself is truly menacing. Like I said before, my real grip with this movie is that its pacing is almost snail like. Even faster scenes seem to drag on. To me it feels like they just tried to stretch every scene just to hit some sort of running time target. Allot could have been cut from the movie, and I'm sure most wouldn't even notice, except for the fact that it would only be just under an hour long. Overall: A very good sci-fi thriller that could have been flushed out with some more character development rather than the ultra slow camera tracking. Very good, but equally flawed.… Expand

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6

BigZNov 5, 2014

Ridley Scott unleashing a trademark creature and series that would horrify for decades. Go back to the root and you find a solid bit of just plain good movie making. The story may move on the slow side but the build of curiosity and scaresRidley Scott unleashing a trademark creature and series that would horrify for decades. Go back to the root and you find a solid bit of just plain good movie making. The story may move on the slow side but the build of curiosity and scares relatively well. This is just a classic, there isn't much else to say. People argue that you have to consider the time it was made and while that is important and it may have a significant effect on the graphics and production value, the time is here and now and her and now I think it holds its own. It was slow and for that it lost some points while also being on the lower scale with few actors it is harder to stay grounded. This movie had all the right components though and it was made in the 70s...pretty hard to believe because there wasn't anything too obvious to age the movie. That's tough to do. As far as sci-fi horror is concerned, this is up at the top. Worth a watch.… Expand

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6

Webber123Nov 15, 2019

The second best Alien film, it’s not good as his sequel, but still, is watchable and great!

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6

liamexeJan 15, 2023

The beast, the alien spacecraft, and Ripley, of course, are three wonderful things. Not great: the story, disposable characters (apart from Ripley), and the film's protracted beginning. If you enjoy the Ripley character and the AlienThe beast, the alien spacecraft, and Ripley, of course, are three wonderful things. Not great: the story, disposable characters (apart from Ripley), and the film's protracted beginning. If you enjoy the Ripley character and the Alien franchise, you should see this.… Expand

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5

TheUnknownBardFeb 18, 2013

This is just mediocre sci-fi horror movie with a lot of screamers and pointless scenes. Not saying it's bad, but it's so damn overrated.

3 of 6 users found this helpful33

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5

Jay777Jan 19, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It's a good movie but I hate it that the aliens exploded out of people that part goes to far but good sy-fi film
Warning: very intense jump-scares
I do recommend it but very intense… Expand

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5

sebastianaliAug 12, 2021

Alien tiene algunas cosas para destacar. Gráficamente es todo un espectáculo, efectos especiales impresionantes, escenarios tan detallados que se ven bien a dia de hoy, y un muy buen uso de las luces. Es increíble que una película actuada tanAlien tiene algunas cosas para destacar. Gráficamente es todo un espectáculo, efectos especiales impresionantes, escenarios tan detallados que se ven bien a dia de hoy, y un muy buen uso de las luces. Es increíble que una película actuada tan vieja (1979) pueda envejecer tan bien, salvo la ultima escena en la que muestran el cuerpo completo del alien, que si se nota que la trabajaron muy poco, pero todo lo demás es increíble. También debo destacar la atmósfera, que si bien en parte juega en contra (ya diré luego porque), la película mantiene muy bien ese nivel de tensión, sumado a que hay pocos jumpscares, realmente no te los esperas, y en cierta medida reduce así las situaciones cliches. Pero ahora a hablar de los puntos negativos. Y es que si bien dije que la atmosfera en cierta medida juega a favor, esto es a costa de dejar muy poco desarrollo de personajes y mantener muchas secciones con solo tensión y nada mas. En parte sentí que la película se estaba alargando artificialmente. La película dura 2 horas, y debo decir que la primera media hora la sentí muy de relleno. Si bien algunos podrían contraargumentar que la película intenta transmitir tension y suspenso (que en parte lo hace), esto es asi hasta el final, y a costa de no dar una historia llamativa, ni explicarnos cosas como el origen del alien o las verdaderas intenciones de la compañía con hallar el descubrimiento (por dar un ejemplo). Realmente la historia nunca se explota, es otra de esas películas de terror que solo buscan atmósfera, pero por tener solo atmósfera, al menos a mi, no van a lograr captar mi atención, quiero una buena historia también, y desgraciadamente muy pocas de su genero lo han logrado. Llega a tener varios cliches, incluso para su tiempo y algunos son muy predecibles, los personajes a veces actúan como tontos y, en resumen, se siente como la típica película thriller en la casa, solo que esta vez con temática futurista. No es que haya envejecido mal, simplemente es aburrida de ver y con un montón de cosas que podrían haberse explorado y explotado.… Expand

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5

KempMar 5, 2021

Maybe this really was special when it was made, but if so, it doesn't hold up.

Generic plot, underdeveloped characters, lackluster acting (apart from my boy Parker), horrible sound design, and hit or miss directing. The one thing that isMaybe this really was special when it was made, but if so, it doesn't hold up.

Generic plot, underdeveloped characters, lackluster acting (apart from my boy Parker), horrible sound design, and hit or miss directing. The one thing that is still pretty impressive is the visual effects. This is a profoundly overrated movie, though very influential.… Expand

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4

rockytopthadJan 28, 2022

Victimized again by overly high expectations! If I try really hard to channel an inner film student who is seeing this in historical blahblah then maybe. But on its face, in 2022, it’s not entertaining at any substantive level.

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MovieGuysSep 15, 2013

Except for the occasional jump scene, this movie was slow, ponderously directed, and banal. Nothing really happened in it except for a couple of climax scenes. It was nothing more than average fare. Such a shame, since I really love someExcept for the occasional jump scene, this movie was slow, ponderously directed, and banal. Nothing really happened in it except for a couple of climax scenes. It was nothing more than average fare. Such a shame, since I really love some other Ridley Scott movies (Black Hawk Down, American Gangster, Gladiator)… Expand

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PeteCarterSep 17, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The storyline of this pathetic excuse of a movie is so filled with nonsense that it's hard to find something that DOES make sense. But I should point out at the start that I have a PhD in Physics, so the analytic side of my mind is automatically on and can't be "turned off" whether I want to or not. So let me enumerate the big "goofs":
1. The Nostromo is an interstellar towing vessel --- it travels from earth to a planet around a distant star, mates with a "barge" containing 20 million tons of ore, and returns to earth (with of course a little detour). So why is a crew needed? This entire round trip could be easily done robotically.
2. Stars are, on average about 7 light years apart. From the fact that they make a detour to another star to checkout this signal, the source of the ore has to be at least 20 light years distant. Also, the remaining duration of the trip from the planetoid they had to stop at was a few months, thus the total trip was on the order of a couple of years. To make a 40 light year trip in 2-3 years would require traveling at close to the speed of light. This would require extreme acceleration and the expenditure of more energy than all the world's power plants have generated since the beginning of the industrial age, "more" means by a factor of at least a trillion. The cost of this energy would be so high that, if they were hauling 20 million tons of polished diamonds, it would be a money loser. However, if they traveled at a more realistic 1% of the speed of light (still 2000 miles/sec), the trip would take 4000 years, a little long for a crew who'd like to return to a familiar world.
3. The beginning scene of the interior shows a display monitor coming on, with technical words and numbers showing. Since the crew is still in cryosleep, what's the point?
4. If the last living member of the crew of the doomed ship wanted other vessels to keep away (as Ripley mentions "it [the signal] looks like a warning"), why send out the signal? And to call the transmitter an "acoustical beacon" (Dallas's words) is ridiculous --- there are no acoustics in space.
5. The on-board computer (mother) is a joke. You'd think they'd have voice recognition by then and could just talk to it (as in Star Trek). And Dallas's inquiry as to mission status:"What's the story mother"? Gimme a break.
6. After landing, three of the crew exit the ship and enter the alien ship --- amazing that they had such an easy time getting in. Then Kane rappels down a cable to the main hold, seeing all the "eggs" arranged in neat rows. Although knowing that they could pose a hazard, when he sees one open its "mouth", instead of taking a defensive stance, he bends over and puts his face right over it --- something only an idiot would do, and of course he pays for this recklessness.
7. When Kane recovers from his "nap", he feels nothing unusual in his abdomen, like an infant alien about to hatch, and his midsection looks pretty flat. And then the alien bursts out and quickly scuttles away. What is more ridiculous is that, without consuming anything, and within a couple of hours, this little guy has somehow "expanded" to a towering monster that attacks and consumes Brett. What you could call a blatant violation of conservation of mass-energy. Not only is it huge in that scene, it seemingly has the ability to shrink down to a tiny version of itself, as it had to have done to be a stowaway that hides among the plumbing in the shuttle Ripley uses to escape before the ship detonates. And WHY would the builders of this towing vessel feel a need to install a self-destruct system of thermonuclear caliber?
8. One of the most nonsensical parts of the plot is the "outing" of Ash as a robot. Wasn't he eating with the crew? What does a robot do with food, excrete it just like a human excretes waste? And Ash's human-like artificial intelligence is quite a contrast to the very primitive "mother" supposedly running the ship. At the minimum they should have "her" at least at the level of HAL in 2001: A Space Odyssey.
9. And a couple of minor points that i found irritating: In the latest version, Lambert the navigator tells the crew that the signal is coming from a planetoid 1200 kilometers (about 750 miles) in diameter, but it's gravity is 0.86 (that of earth), which is a ridiculous value, it should be more like 0.1. So why not have it as 12,000 km in the script, or almost earth-size? And when the Nostromo begins its descent to the surface, the rockets fire the wrong direction --- to reduce altitude, speed must be reduced, so the rockets should retro-fire instead. But of course it just looks neater to fire the way they did, like, who would know?

I could go on with a few more non-sequiturs and faux pas' but I might be accused of nitpicking. I just think it's sad that people who make scifi movies seem to have total disregard for the most basic facts of science --- there's really no science in science fiction, at least not in that turkey.… Expand

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Timbuck2Aug 2, 2006

This movie can never bee made into a decent film, it will always be pathatic and nothing but fake gore, annoying script and stupid scares...awful in every way...no match for "The Descent".

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