Did anybody actually see this in a theater?
If so what did you think when you walked out?
shareI did (at 13 years old). Arrived late and missed the opening credits, so wasn't aware that one of the crew had been "face hugged". Loved the film! Still do (and not even the Assembly Cut, I prefer the theatrical cut myself, warts and all).
Ages better than Cameron's 'Aliens' I think.
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Great post!
Awesome.
I also think it could be a better film than "Aliens."
TY!
"I also think it could be a better film than "Aliens.""
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I realize it's not the popular opinion (although 'Alien3' seems to be getting more and more love as time passes...) and I'm well aware of the infamous production troubles the film went through, but I still think so too.
Cameron's 'Aliens' is the first film of the saga I saw, at a fairly young age, and it really impressed me at the time.
I still think Scott's 1979 'Alien' is in a league of its own, and nothing short of a major masterpiece (from an otherwise fairly mediocre filmmaker, I have to say, but that's a discussion for another board I guess...).
That being said, I much prefer the photography, sets and costume design from Alien3, compared to Aliens. Aliens is full of ugly blue screen and interior design reminiscent of the first Alien.
I also prefer Ripley's characterization in Alien3: give me "horny Ripley" ("-Are you attracted to me?", "-In what way?", "-In THAT way!") over "motherly Ripley" from Aliens, any day of the week.
The editing in Alien3 is also better, I find (watch that autopsy sequence again! https://youtu.be/8xzSZYaeBcU?t=58).
But mostly, I find 'Alien 3' is "about" something at the same time more complex, grander and more relatable than anything 'Aliens' is about:
- Grief for the tragic loss of a “child”, and acceptance of the intrinsic unfairness of existence (something I understand the immense majority of people who disliked Alien3 for "killing off" both Newt and Hicks had the most difficulty coping with).
- The depression and difficulty to stand up and fight in the face of what seems like insurmountable odds: Ripley is at the same time so much stronger (she stands her ground amidst a group of violent male criminals and rapists) and vulnerable (she can’t take it anymore and decides to end her life at some point… before deciding to fight again) than in the other films.
- The sheer terror and hyper-reality of the moment you realize something with your x-ray is not quite right, and all that it could imply.
- The living for so long with something inside of you that will eventually kill you, that it becomes a part of who you are.
- Acceptance in a community that is so fundamentally different from yourself, and learns to "tolerate" the "intolerable". Turn on the news today and see how crucial and difficult this is.
Great post!
sharesomething I understand the immense majority of people who disliked Alien3 for "killing off" both Newt and Hicks had the most difficulty coping with
I think what people had difficulty coping with was killing off the main cast during the opening credits. Also what smacked of overly convenient way of disposing of unwanted characters. It didn’t feel natural or organic to what came before. The film would have been received differently if they’d been killed halfway through or something more consistent. share
"It didn’t feel natural or organic to what came before."
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What's important, is that it feels organic to what comes AFTER (and it certainly does).
Maybe, but that’s why it doesn’t work as a sequel. In fact, at times it doesn’t feel like an alien movie. Resurrection actually feels more Alien-like than this does.
Although I question the “organic” nature of any script with this many plot holes.
"Maybe, but that’s why it doesn’t work as a sequel"
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I agree, it doesn't work "as a sequel". It works as something greater than a mere sequel (see my earlier post).
But... plot holes.
Also, isn’t it a cheat to have a film, its entire story and character motivations being built on a previous film, only to then disregard everything about said prior film? Alien3 can’t stand on its own without being compared to the second, because it still serves as a direct sequel.
Personally, I'm not one of what Hitchcock (whose number of films were ridden with plot holes and inconsistencies, yet were -and still are- masterpieces) called "the realists": I'm not overly bothered by plot holes in (good) films. Mainly because in arts "Truth" has little to do with "reality" or realism. Secondly, because even in reality, many things are extremely difficult to explain or understand.
But I understand why some people would be bothered by them: we don't all look for the same things in film.
Also, I don't agree that Fincher's film disregards everything about Cameron's. But even if it did, I wouldn't mind either. I'm more interested in originality than continuity of vision.
Sometimes unforeseeable tragedy strikes, and people's lives, predicament and motivations change.
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Aliens is full of ugly blue screen and interior design reminiscent of the first Alien.
As opposed to shitty compositing for a bad rod puppet in Alien Cubed. Poor special effects for the space ships. share
That may be but the Alien in Alien3 was scary because it was a fast and athletic instead of the stiff bulky motion we got from Aliens.
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