IMDb top 250: #40
Rating 9/10
Director: Ridley Scott
Writers: Dan O'Bannon & Ronald Shusett
Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, Ian Holm & John Hurt
"You are my lucky star. You... Lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky."
Commercial spaceship Nostromo is on a return trip home to earth carrying tons of mineral ore and 7 crew members in a deep sleep. The ship detects a transmission (possibly a distress call) from an unknown origin and awakes the crew to investigate, following orders stipulated in their contracts. The Nostromo lands on the planetoid and three members leave to investigate, they find a crashed alien ship where they discover a chamber full of eggs. Crew member Kane (Hurt) is attacked by a creature that latches onto his face when it hatches from it's egg. Foolishly, the three investigating crew members arrive back at the Nostromo with the Alien life form where it escapes and terrorises the shipmates.
There's a bit of theme happening here, but I absolutely love this film and most it is down to the exceptional filmmaking of Ridley Scott. The guy is a genius and Alien is one of his greatest pictures. The atmosphere and sense of fear he brings to the movie with the remarkable camera work and editing is something that has and will be copied for years and years to come. Once the Alien is on board the Nostromo the tension never lets up, it's edge of your seat stuff to the end.
The sound effects and music in Alien also play a big part in the atmosphere and tension. I've seen this movie so many times but the big "scare" scenes still make me jump out my seat because of the great use of sound. The movie is really claustrophobic and you really fear for Ripley and Co as this creature could be just around the corner. There's no where to run and as the brilliant tagline points out "In Space no one can hear you scream!"
The fact that CGI wasn't used in the movie is also a massive plus. Scott had to really think outside the box in terms of camera angles and lighting to make the creature seem as scary as it should be. Nowadays it would be some ridiculous CGI Alien or full shot of a guy in a rubber suit (see AVP for more details) and it looks awful. The fact we never get full on shots of the Alien just adds to the atmosphere and the scares.
Sigourney Weavers' Ripley is now iconic and rightly so. Here is a female character, who plays by the rule book but doesn't whine or seek revenge when she doesn't get her own way or is outranked. She just get's on with her duties for the protection of herself and her crew members. Whilst she was right not to let the investigating crew back on the ship with the alien, she doesn't rub it in their faces when things go tits up! She's a brilliant character and Weaver plays her beautifully. Not to mention she looks smoking in those little panties! The supporting cast including Jonesy are great too.
Alien is a Sci-Fi classic and a must see!
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