Alien vs Aliens

[Matt]

Which is the superior movie? I personally perfer Aliens. While not as scary, the characters are more fleshed out, the plot is better, and it is just an overall better experience (not to say Alien is not a great experience).

 

[Dark Knight 66]

I voted for Aliens because it is my favourite film of all time. Alien is also brilliant as well and it is my second favourite film. I think Alien 3 and Resurrection are underrated though. I don't think much of either of the AVP films.

 

[Erzengel]

I think most people will choose Aliens because it's more of Sci-Fi Action and Alien is more of a Sci-Fi Drama/Suspense.

I only recently watched the first Alien, in 2 parts because I turned it on, on cable after Kane was in the medical bay with a face hugger on his face. Then later I watched the beginning.

Alien was progressive for it's time and Scott even said that Star Wars was a reference for this film. Still I still think the movie is excellent and that sequel changed the formula in a successful more wide spread appeal.

I have to vote for Aliens, just because of the concept of the Space Marines, the Alien Queen and an Army of Aliens, plus I think the role of Ripley was more fully fleshed out in the second one.

 

[A.J.Rimmer(BSC)]

I know its lame but: What he said ^^^

 

[luca_frontino]

ALIEN

Because it's the first, it has more thrill, I like more that alien head, it was shot in anamorphic and there's the Spaceman (the alien fused with the ship).

 

[Galactus]

I think Aliens have more rewatch value since it's more of an action-movie. Alien is the kind of movie that have you on the edge the first time you see it. But this kind of movies that relies on the fear of the unknown just isn't that fun to watch multiple times.

 

[luca_frontino]

I think Aliens have more rewatch value since it's more of an action-movie. Alien is the kind of movie that have you on the edge the first time you see it. But this kind of movies that relies on the fear of the unknown just isn't that fun to watch multiple times.

Uhm...
I made my decision based on the first watch of both films, since a multiple watch, for me, would be annoying for both.

 

[Raiden]

I vote Aliens. I must've watched that movie on DVD for 7+ times, and it never gets old. IMO it's probably Cameron's finest film, even better than his Terminator movies, and the fact that its follow-ups were such disappointments only reinforce this movie's brilliance. Despite all those new AVP movies, there may never be another Alien movie quite like it.

 

[Bim]

Alien gets my vote... it's the one that had the biggest impact on me as a kid, with the freakiest scene i ever saw up to that point: the alien coming out of the dude's chest classic

But both movies are great though, i always enjoy watching them

 

[ANTOINE X]

My best movie is ALIEN(S) but if they do a 5 how about Aliens vs Jurrassic park?

 

[DorkyFresh]

xenodinomorphs? that could be interesting.

 

[X-Ray]

Aliens. Can't go wrong with space Marines.

 

[Gotham]

Aliens. It's my favorite Cameron film. I think, while doing honor to the original, he also advanced Ripley as a character.

 

[Figs]

Aliens.

 

[Heisenberg]

I chose Alien. I do like Aliens, a lot, it's a close call; i just prefer the pace and tone of the first time. I also thought it had a stronger ending.

 

[danoyse]

Tough call. I love Alien, because it's just scary as hell. It's tougher to watch now, because we've seen the Alien in so many other movies now...but I can't imagine what it was like seeing it for the first in 1979 and not knowing anything about it.

But I also think Aliens is one of the best sequels ever made. It also has a special place in my heart for being the first big action movie I ever saw in the theater. That was a big deal for me back then.

Can't stand the next two movies, though. I just consider the series over after the second movie.

 

[The Joker]

Aliens.

Better action, better story, and I love how they showed Ripley's maternal side as well as making her a total badass. Plus, I love Hicks, Hudson, Vasquez and rest of the marines.

 

[Nightmare]

Aliens is a classic.

 

[Jordacar]

Are there any books published about the making of either of these films?

 

[Boom]

Aliens, with Alien as a very close second.

 

[Hunter Rider]

It's like comparing Apocalypse Now to Saving Private Ryan, as in not comparable.

 

[Evil Twin]

They're both terrific films and comparing the two is splitting hairs, but I prefer Alien. A few reasons.

I think Aliens is basically the same movie, only with guns and more Aliens. Cameron even basically recreates the beats of the finale, Ripley discovers there's an alien on her ship, retreats into a closet, comes out and ultimately blows the alien out the air lock.

I disagree that the space marines are more fleshed out as characters than the space truckers. For the most part, they're a collection of cliches and one liners. The gruff sargeant. The green lieutenant. The slimy corporate weasel. The quiet, competent one. This most especially goes to Bill Paxton. They're good, entertaining cliches, but they really don't exist as characters outside the context of this particular story.

I like the production design of Alien better. Nothing wrong with the work in Aliens, but I'll take Giger any day.

There's an interesting subtext to Alien of male rape. John Hurt takes it in the mouth, from a vaginal-like egg. He later gives "birth". Harry Dean Stanton gets penetrated from behind. The alien has this tongue with teeth thing going for it. Cameron essentially removes all that subtext and simply turns the aliens into space bugs.

 

[Solidus]

Though as most said, they are both just too classic. I could never decide, one day it may be one , the next another. They are truly the only two movies, that I have to say are just complely tied.

I think that Alien gave more of that, feeling of being alone, and alienated in it self. Which was incredible. Both had great character development, and story, but just potrayed in other ways.

And to Evil Twin as for the cliche characters of the marines you pointed out, when the film came out, they were not cliche, most of those movies from then out copied Aliens in terms of characters and diversity. Aliens was the first real powerful sci fi action/military movie. And it has stuck in most minds, and writers of other movies have copied it making it cliche.

But both of them are just amazing. In my top movies of all time for sure.

 

[Addendum]

I enjoy Alien. I enjoy the suspense and pacing. Plus the small cast helped further the point that they're dealing with this unknown on their own, that there isn't anyone coming to save the day, and that they have to rely on each other and their own wits to survive.

I'd much rather have that than an action movie

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

Aliens is actually my number 1 movie of all time, so I had to vote for that of course.