What's so great about ALIEN?

[The Guard]

Finally saw it. I know it's history, and I know where the various inspirations for it came from. But other than the production stuff, sets, effects etc, I just wasn't that impressed. Why is everyone so gungho about it? What's the deal?

Does it just have a cult following? Do people actually think it's a good suspense/horror movie?

 

[Drizzle]

I find it to be a great horror/sci-fi movie, but it pales in comparison to its sequel, "Aliens".

 

[matthooper]

Finally saw it. I know it's history, and I know where the various inspirations for it came from. But other than the production stuff, sets, effects etc, I just wasn't that impressed. Why is everyone so gungho about it? What's the deal?

Does it just have a cult following? Do people actually think it's a good suspense/horror movie?

Little kids who watch it today won't like it. Most adults who know what a good film is, appreciate it.

I think it's the greatest science fiction film ever made.

 

[DorkyFresh]

if i were to watch it today for the first time EVER i probably wouldn't think it's all that either, but you also have to keep in mind the time when it was made. most monster/alien movies were seen as corny and silly. alien was probably the first movie to take realistic sci fi and blend it with suspense/horror.

 

[JTStarkiller]

Took me two viewings to fully appreciate it.

 

[블라스]

Holy crap, this thread can kiss my ass.

 

[danoyse]

Well, it is a good suspense/horror movie. The problem is that it's had so many sequels and terrible spinoffs that the novelty of an alien with acid for blood and a set of jaws at the end of its tongue that rips out of people's chests at the dinner table has probably worn off for anyone going back to watch the original now. Back in 1979, that had to be pretty scary. It still IS very scary.

I first saw it on video back when Aliens was released in theaters, and I remember not liking it as much as the second film (which I'd seen twice in the theater). In more recent years, I've come to appreciate just how scary the original film was, and I really like it.

I don't think it's ever had a cult following. It just scared the hell out the people who saw it in 1979.

 

[블라스]

I can't understand today's audiences, seriously

 

[Venomfan]

I can't understand today's audiences, seriously

its probably the terrible effects with the first chest burster, its hilarious

 

[danoyse]

I can't understand today's audiences, seriously

Same here. I'll take the original Alien over the AVP crap anytime.

 

[Finlandman]

''What's so great about ALIEN?''
Well, it's the best Horror/Monster movie ever! When I first watched it, I was 8 years old, and I thought it was boring. But when I watched it in my teenage years, I came to realize that it is damn good movie!

 

[블라스]

Let's wait for the "What's so great about Casablanca?" thread, I'm pretty sure it's coming.

 

[bullets]

I'm more about Aliens

 

[danoyse]

Let's wait for the "What's so great about Casablanca?" thread, I'm pretty sure it's coming.

Or "Gone With The Wind...what's the big deal??"

 

[블라스]

Or "The Great Escape"....it's gonna happen, just wait

Anyway, before I'm told to "STOP TROLLING!!!"...what's so good?

Acting, story, production, mood & atmosphere, special effects, music, innovation...am I missing something?

 

[LegendaryCaleb]

not a huge fan of all the aliens and predators movies...
but they are watchable

 

[SalaciousVC]

Alien Is one of the best Sci-Fi/Horror films Ever,Aliens I like even more!But they pretty much crapped on it with,Alien Res,AVP,And AVPR

And I gotta admit I kinda liked AVPR,lol,Even with the Horrible Human Characters and Aliens That Just sit there waiting to be killed by the Wolf Predator

 

[ShaneHelms]

I'm more about Aliens

Alien is a great film, but i prefer Aliens.

 

[dark_b]

i am more shocked that the guard saw alien for the first time in 2008.

i really dont know where have you been. dont you like to watch movies? i mean in the 90's alien was extreme popular and was on TV like every year twice.

lets forget that some people like it or some dont. the fact that in 2008 ??????? wooooow. have you watched star wars or E.T.? and belive me i am in no way joking here.

 

[porchmonkey408]

Alien is scary as hell, if you think about it.

Knowing there is an unstoppable force that never allows you to know where it is, in place you cannot escape, enshrouded in darkness and silence most of the time...

How is it not scary?

But I see the thread-starter's point, it can be dated in a way. It takes a certain perspective, I guess. But no worries, I will not be one of those, "You are just too childish to get it" kind of jerks.

Though, Aliens is just pure pwnage. And I like Alien 3.

 

[OctaviusINC]

Aliens is a good sci-fi flick. Good and scary.

 

[Electro UK]

What's so great about Alien? You mean the fact that no movie will ever come anywhere near as close to building the tension and suspense and making you think "Ohmygodohmygodohmygod." Then you throw in Ripley, a DAMN cool Alien design, and you've essentially got one of the best movies of all time.

 

[Arcturus]

Alien is truly a classic, but I think my favorite of the entire franchise has got to be Aliens. They both are on my all-time favorite movies list.

 

[Rac]

Or "Gone With The Wind...what's the big deal??"

I could go into that one... Yeah, it was watchable, but...

 

[terry78]

Honestly, a lot of film fans let nostalgia and peer pressure cloud their judgment when it comes to what a "good movie" should be. There are many classics that honestly are just not that well done to be honest, but society has deemed them as such, so anything short of worship is blasphemy. I liked the first Alien, but didn't care for the second.