...and I heartily suggest to anyone to watch the superior Director's Cut...
....and to read the new book "Alien: River of Pain", which goes further into the original "event" at Hadley's Hope before Ripley arrives...and is a thumping good read...
I actually prefer the theatrical cut for the most part. I would keep the auto turret scene, but lose everything else. Seeing the station full of people before the marines arrive just kinda takes the mystery out of it for me.
I prefer the theatrical cut as well. I especially disliked the stuff with the little girls parents. But yeah, keep things a mystery it's better when its not all spelled out for you. Which is the case when they start tampering with their films or films nowadays.
the blu-ray transfer really did Aliens justice ...
It certainly does....in fact all four films look amazing on Blu-Ray and the work put in (again) to the Alien 3 Workprint version is yet another step up.
I've said it before and I'll say it once more...the "Alien Anthology" box set alone is worth the cost of buying a Blu-Ray player to play it on.
I actually prefer the theatrical cut for the most part. I would keep the auto turret scene, but lose everything else. Seeing the station full of people before the marines arrive just kinda takes the mystery out of it for me.
Yes, it's an unnecessary rehash of the first movie and adds little to the story. It also makes Newt's character have less of an impact when you first encounter her in the TC. Then there's the scene where Ripley finds out about her relatives on earth, I know it's there to set up the paternal connection she'll have to Newt later on, but Sigourney Weaver does that through her acting anyway. The turret scene would have been nice to keep in.
So yes, the theatrical cut for me as well, it flows seamlessly and the action, the performances, the dialogues, the horror, the sets, the props, the sound design as well as the amazing score (all copied endlessly in similar films) make this a movie I keep revisiting and enjoying each time.
....and NO digital effects needed!
The only sequence where it could have benefitted from digital effects is when the drop ship goes down to the planet, though a great setup, the execution looks terribly fake by today's standards.
I'm with you, Henry. This is right up there, fighting with JURASSIC PARK and ALIEN (and maybe a couple of other candidates depending on mood) for the title of my alltime favourite movie!
As a blueprint for white knuckle thrill rides, there are few to even come close to it. Cameron's oft-used pattern of "plot, plot, plot, BANG, F****************************************************************************************************************************CK!" has never been more effective, and I include both the theatrical cut and SE in that (the SE, for the couple of faults that crept in because of it, feels more breathlessly paced to me,
The effects are astonishingly good (it's still hard to imagine just how the Queen was completely realised with no CGI - the docs on the DVD/Blu show some of the tricks, but only some).
Cameron is right up there with Spielberg. A masterful filmographer who knows how to make bigger than life films. An event and life experience. Which is what I want when I go to one. He's however not a very good actors director. I don't think he gets the best performances out of ppl.
Cameron is right up there with Spielberg. A masterful filmographer who knows how to make bigger than life films. An event and life experience. Which is what I want when I go to one. He's however not a very good actors director. I don't think he gets the best performances out of ppl.
Hi solium! In addition to Spielberg, I'm a big Cameron fan too. I'm glad you like ALIENS, I know we don't always agree on films, but I value your opinion my friend.
Cameron is right up there with Spielberg. A masterful filmographer who knows how to make bigger than life films. An event and life experience. Which is what I want when I go to one. He's however not a very good actors director. I don't think he gets the best performances out of ppl.
Hi solium! In addition to Spielberg, I'm a big Cameron fan too. I'm glad you like ALIENS, I know we don't always agree on films, but I value your opinion my friend.
I’ve always liked the movie. Really well-done. I also like Horner’s score. My favorite scene is when Ripley gets on the elevator to rescue Newt. She’s dripping sweat, stripping down to pants and a T shirt, and loading her gun. She is scared but determined, the perfect woman warrior
Oddly, I just hated the movie when it was first released, feeling it was just a retread of the first movie. Maybe it was just my mood that day.
Since then, I've come to love it. Take the turret scene, the scene where Ripley finds out about her daughter, lose the rest of the extended cut. The theatrical version is pretty dammed tight as is. Love the movie, love the score.
And I've finished reading Out Of The Shadows, and will take on Sea Of Sorrows and River Of Pain next. Really enjoyed Out Of The Shadows. It kinda dovetailed into Aliens as you'd expect, but it was a good addition to the Alien universe.
I’ve always liked the movie. Really well-done. I also like Horner’s score. My favorite scene is when Ripley gets on the elevator to rescue Newt. She’s dripping sweat, stripping down to pants and a T shirt, and loading her gun. She is scared but determined, the perfect woman warrior
I consider this the all time greatest action movie 'the gloves are off' entrance by anyone, bar none. When I initially saw this I was dumbstruck at the courage required to willingly go to the pits of Alien hell to rescue the child she had promised to protect.
I’ve always liked the movie. Really well-done. I also like Horner’s score. My favorite scene is when Ripley gets on the elevator to rescue Newt. She’s dripping sweat, stripping down to pants and a T shirt, and loading her gun. She is scared but determined, the perfect woman warrior
I consider this the all time greatest action movie 'the gloves are off' entrance by anyone, bar none. When I initially saw this I was dumbstruck at the courage required to willingly go to the pits of Alien hell to rescue the child she had promised to protect.
Is it wrong of me to champion Burke each time I see the movie?