Alien Trilogy and time

[maledoro]

You're welcome!

[LargeLeader]

Carry on, my wayward son.

[JamesCameronOnline]

Yeah, you know, 80s action has its prime time in movies like Rambo or Commando. Or even more serious like Lethal Weapon. In 80s action you had the main characater:

- being shot at and never hit or badly hurt (and in Aliens, nothing like that happens, When aliens get to them, they get to them. When they shoot them, they get sprayed with acid, when things fall on their heads, people pass out)
- never ending ammo (yet in Aliens you even had the counter on the guns and we were constaly reminded how short on ammo and weapons they were)
-the hero shooting a one liner after killing someone or accomlishing the task (nothing like that happens in Aliens. The closest thing that comes to mind is Hudson's bravado during his last stand, which is not the same thing at all)
-the main heroes make out by the end (yet in Aliens, some spark between Ripley and Hicks is hinted, but never carried on)

But I dont want it to turn into defend Aliens thread again. I just wanted to find out if you think, just like many younger audiences, that the first classic Alien is dated to the point where it cant connect with the modern audiences anymore.

So stirring back on track, Im still surprised anyone would think that but I see how it aged with pacing and some other elements (and obviously special fx, but that doesnt count since its technical). And I still say Alien 3 is the only one that could blend today. And no, not because its the newest. That piece of shit Resurection came after it, yet its badly dated. Movie buffs would guess right away when it was made since it belongs to all those stupid mutant and monster movies from the mid 90s (*cough cough* Screamers)

Even the fellow board member Necronom IV gave us some examples of how some moments that used to be terrifying evoke laughter now or no reaction at all to some, so theres no point in covering the ears and turning the gun on Aliens instead. Lets discuss why and does it happen on a larger scale. I usually test movies like that and organize screenings for a large and varied group of people who havent seen the given movie to find out how it holds up and translates into today. Havent done it with Alien saga yet

[maledoro]

In 80s action you had the main characater:
- being shot at and never hit or badly hurt (and in Aliens, nothing like that happens, When aliens get to them, they get to them. When they shoot them, they get sprayed with acid, when things fall on their heads, people pass out)

Nevermind that with all the shooting of the aliens, the walls in Ops had maintained their integrity. Even more incredible was having the aliens being shot in closer quarters, such as in the air ducts during the marines' exodus. Not only was there no evidence of acid corrosion, I was amazed that the ducts had managed to hold the weight of the aliens and the marines as well.

- never ending ammo (yet in Aliens you even had the counter on the guns and we were constaly reminded how short on ammo and weapons they were)

By "constantly" do you mean "once or twice"?

-the hero shooting a one liner after killing someone or accomlishing the task (nothing like that happens in Aliens. The closest thing that comes to mind is Hudson's bravado during his last stand, which is not the same thing at all)

"Eat this!" *chuckle* *snort*

-the main heroes make out by the end (yet in Aliens, some spark between Ripley and Hicks is hinted, but never carried on)

You can have that one.

But I dont want it to turn into defend Aliens thread again.

Or to even remotely sound like one.

I just wanted to find out if you think, just like many younger audiences, that the first classic Alien is dated to the point where it cant connect with the modern audiences anymore.

I believe that only those who are attracted to spectacle would feel that way.

all those stupid mutant and monster movies from the mid 90s (*cough cough* Screamers)

I liked Screamers.


Wait: Were there mutants or monsters in that movie?

Even the fellow board member Necronom IV gave us some examples of how some moments that used to be terrifying evoke laughter now or no reaction at all to some, so theres no point in covering the ears and turning the gun on Aliens instead. Lets discuss why and does it happen on a larger scale. I usually test movies like that and organize screenings for a large and varied group of people who havent seen the given movie to find out how it holds up and translates into today. Havent done it with Alien saga yet

You might feed half of the audience Ritalin for a fair test. (Be sure not to tell them.)

[SiL]

Nevermind that with all the shooting of the aliens, the walls in Ops had maintained their integrity. Even more incredible was having the aliens being shot in closer quarters, such as in the air ducts during the marines' exodus. Not only was there no evidence of acid corrosion, I was amazed that the ducts had managed to hold the weight of the aliens and the marines as well.

Heaven forbid the movie had a budget

"Eat this!" *chuckle* *snort*

He did that before he shot the Alien 

I liked Screamers.

Respect.

[JamesCameronOnline]

Nevermind that with all the shooting of the aliens, the walls in Ops had maintained their integrity. Even more incredible was having the aliens being shot in closer quarters, such as in the air ducts during the marines' exodus. Not only was there no evidence of acid corrosion, I was amazed that the ducts had managed to hold the weight of the aliens and the marines as well.

But some of them burnt down. Its visible when Gorman and Vasquez got trapped. As for the ducts holding people, yeah, that was a convenient stretch. Cameron also laughs about that scene today

By "constantly" do you mean "once or twice"?

well, first we have the ammo counter. Then we find out from Hicks that they dont have much from what they recovered from APC. Then we see thesentry guns running out of ammo, with no refills. Then the vasquez scene. Then Ripley running out of ammo in the hive.

"Eat this!" *chuckle* *snort*

Oh... ah, f**k you  

I liked Screamers.

Well, it was pretty signature to all those B mvoies made at the time

Wait: Were there mutants or monsters in that movie?

No no, I was referring to the genre that stormed the mid 90s on video. Lots of mutants, hybrids, nasty monsters and comic bookish characters like from Resurrection
You might feed half of the audience Ritalin for a fair test. (Be sure not to tell them.)

[alvspr]

Nevermind that with all the shooting of the aliens, the walls in Ops had maintained their integrity. Even more incredible was having the aliens being shot in closer quarters, such as in the air ducts during the marines' exodus. Not only was there no evidence of acid corrosion,

But due to the quick cutting we never got to see any aftermath.  The whole scene played out very quickly and we never really got to see the aliens blood hit anything.

I was amazed that the ducts had managed to hold the weight of the aliens and the marines as well.

I'll put this down to significant advances in duct technology.  

By "constantly" do you mean "once or twice"?

it happened numerous times if I recall.  The original attack doesn't really count because all ammo (apart from the smart guns) was collected.  From then on we're told that the pulse rifels have very littel ammos left.

The sentry guns had limited ammo and all but ran dry.  In fact it was the lack of ammo here that causes tension.

We then see Vasquez run out of ammo in the escape in the duct. (granted her ammo seemed to have lasted a lot longer then "four pulse rifles with about 50 rounds each")

We then see Ripley on her rescue of Newt run out of ammo as well.  We see the ammo counter draining quite quickly when she's doing her carthartic thing by blowing away the eggs.


"

Eat this!" *chuckle* *snort*

You forgot "Get away from her you bitch"

I believe that only those who are attracted to spectacle would feel that way.

I disagree.  You don't have to be "attracted to spectacal" to not like Alien.  But would you say that today's audiences are less inclined to like a movie like Alien?

[LargeLeader]

all those stupid mutant and monster movies from the mid 90s (*cough cough* Screamers)

I warned you!

[maledoro]

But due to the quick cutting we never got to see any aftermath.  The whole scene played out very quickly and we never really got to see the aliens blood hit anything.

Logic dictates that that scene shouldn't have lasted as long as it had.

I'll put this down to significant advances in duct technology.

And I'll just put that down.

it happened numerous times if I recall.  The original attack doesn't really count because all ammo (apart from the smart guns) was collected.  From then on we're told that the pulse rifels have very littel ammos left.

Not often enough. The marines' last stand was pretty much a miracle of ammo replenishment.

The sentry guns had limited ammo and all but ran dry.  In fact it was the lack of ammo here that causes tension.

Weren't the sentry guns automatic? We're talking about stereotypical macho heroes and their eternally-firing weaponry as a plot element.

We then see Vasquez run out of ammo in the escape in the duct. (granted her ammo seemed to have lasted a lot longer then "four pulse rifles with about 50 rounds each")

Thank you for that.

We then see Ripley on her rescue of Newt run out of ammo as well.  We see the ammo counter draining quite quickly when she's doing her carthartic thing by blowing away the eggs.

"Carthartic" doesn't exactly imply that her ammo was limited in quantity. I guess they had to end that scene somehow...

I disagree.  You don't have to be "attracted to spectacal" to not like Alien.

From many grievances I had read, it sure looks that way.

But would you say that today's audiences are less inclined to like a movie like Alien?

Yep.

[JamesCameronOnline]

The most ridiculous thing ive ever read is from one internet poster who expresses his dissapointment in Alien because ...get ready for it...they didnt show much of an Alien, and they should either redo the movie by inserting a digital Alien or do a remake...

[xeno_alpha]

The most ridiculous thing ive ever read is from one internet poster who expresses his dissapointment in Alien because ...get ready for it...they didnt show much of an Alien, and they should either redo the movie by inserting a digital Alien or do a remake...

I would personally love to slap the yellow off that guys teeth for even thinking such blasphemy.

[CHAINS]

That is the most Dumbest thing ever said.

[LargeLeader]

The most ridiculous thing ive ever read is from one internet poster who expresses his dissapointment in Alien because ...get ready for it...they didnt show much of an Alien, and they should either redo the movie by inserting a digital Alien or do a remake...

The casual fanbase in a nutshell, it seems.

[JamesCameronOnline]

The casual fanbase in a nutshell, it seems.

Not sure about that. I read that on Galaxy from what it seemed to be a regular poster maybe a year ago or so. It was so stupid I remembver it to this day - definetely tops it all

[SM]

And I still say Alien 3 is the only one that could blend today.

Not with visual effects that were ten years out of date when it was released, it wouldn't.

Nevermind that all the problems that film had nearly 20 years ago haven't magically disappeared.