tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-585323794423400780.post8399588568036936303..comments2024-02-10T10:52:58.614-05:00Comments on THE DIG: Rating the ALIENcinemarchaeologisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13507603255666191405noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-585323794423400780.post-53620716812841727612012-06-17T21:13:52.702-04:002012-06-17T21:13:52.702-04:00In defense of ALIENS, I think a big part of the re...In defense of ALIENS, I think a big part of the reason it is held in such regard is the expansion of the Ripley character, who was fairly well fleshed-out for one of these types of films. Despite being handed some lousy lines, Weaver really was fantastic in this role; moreso in ALIENS than any of the other films in this series (including ALIEN). Not that that alone makes ALIENS a better film than ALIEN, but it *does* provide a nice grounding point to all of the loud action in the 2nd half of the film.<br /><br />I've always thought ALIEN was the better horror film, while ALIENS was the better popcorn action flick. And I will take great horror any day of the week over great popcorn action (great horror is also much, much more difficult to pull off and more rare). <br /><br />Now that I think about it, comparing ALIEN to ALIENS is kind of like comparing the original DAWN OF THE DEAD to the remake.* Alien and the original Dawn stick with you while Aliens and the Dawn remake are fun while they last and that's that. <br /><br />* I don't mean to insult Aliens in this comparison since it's clearly superior to Dawn '04.The Bloody Pit of Horrorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04419921450872885649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-585323794423400780.post-56157699592168741852012-06-11T18:14:39.712-04:002012-06-11T18:14:39.712-04:00Yes, I linked to it over on the IMDb boards, and g...Yes, I linked to it over on the IMDb boards, and got lots of objections from Cameron fanboys about my dismissive attitude toward ALIENS. I just don't have much use for it. I suspect a lot of its defenders, who fell in love with it as teenagers, wouldn't be as gung-ho about it if they had rescreened it more recently--it doesn't hold up well at all. One fellow <i>did</i> say he'd preferred ALIENS when he was a teenager, but having just watched the movies again, he now says he much prefers the original. Back then, he was a part of the target audience for ALIENS; now, he's among the target audience for ALIEN.<br /><br />I don't know when or even if I'll ever see PROMETHEUS. It doesn't interest me at all. It's a flick I'd never go out of my way to see. If it was on tv some night when there was nothing else on, I may take a look. Both Scott and the aliens wore out their welcome with me a long time ago.cinemarchaeologisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13507603255666191405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-585323794423400780.post-18528179665732153632012-06-11T12:51:19.235-04:002012-06-11T12:51:19.235-04:00Aw rats! I was expecting to see a lot of fanboi w...Aw rats! I was expecting to see a lot of fanboi whining. I guess that's coming in other venues.<br /><br />I actually like Aliens quite well for what it is. While I don't consider it to be a classic in any way, it's a fun movie. I am impressed that Cameron took Alien as a starting point and came up with a take on a sequel that worked. I don't think many film-makers at the time could have done the same.<br /><br />Alien is a movie that probably shouldn't have had a sequel. Subsequent films have shown just how bad an idea an Alien sequel can be. So I really have nothing but respect for Cameron pulling off what he dud with Aliens.<br /><br />Having said that, I think your criticisms of Aliens are mostly fair. <br /><br />I am still digesting Prometheus. I really respect its ambition and the ways in which it deviates from the Alien formula. And yet, I can't fully embrace it as a satisfying viewing experience.<br /><br />Aliens is definitely a more pedestrian film than Promrtheus. And yet, on a visceral level, it left me more satisfied as a viewer. I wonder if that will remain true on repeat viewings.<br /><br />Great fun as always. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on Prometheus eventually.lebeauhttp://lebeauleblog.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com