Alien (1979) (Movie Review)

  There are movies I love from the moment I first see them, and then there's the movies in which my feelings for them gradually develop over time. The 1979 Sci-Fi classic "Alien" is one of those cases in which it played the long game for me to really appreciate and admire the film for its qualities. I first saw this movie during my care-free teenage years, and at the time, I thought the film was just average, and not on par with its famous reputation. I was also riding the high of viewing it's 1986 sequel "Aliens", which is personally one of my favorite movies, and it just made the first movie feel disposable by comparison. However, the original still stuck with me, and after several viewings over many years, the film just got better and better, to the point where I finally saw why it's still regarded as one of the best of either the Sci-Fi or Horror genera. Two years off the heels of “Star Wars”, “Alien” was the next important chapter in elevating the status of Sci-Fi cinema, and is considered the gold standard for merging the wonder of outer space with the tension and suspense of a horrifying slasher picture.  

  A small group of people are alone in a giant spaceship called the Nostromo, which is a mining vessel, and on its way home. A mysterious warning signal from a barren moon puts a stop to their travels, and leads to the discovery of a crashed alien ship on the surface. Things get ugly when a crew member comes into contact with a mysterious life-form, and after departing the planet, the remaining crew members begin to drop like flies at the hands of an uninvited passenger that’s determined to see everyone dead. In the end, only our female lead named Rippley is strong enough and lucky enough to escape and defeat the monster. In a nutshell, it's a fairly straight forward formula picture, with a small band of people isolated and alone, at the mercy of a monstruous threat ... but even with all its recognizable tropes, the execution is unforgettable, with a presentation, personality and mood that's all it's own. Even the concept of astronauts battling a single alien invader on a ship had been done before in movies like "It: The Terror from Beyond Space", but just like "Star Wars" before it, "Alien" took old ideas, made something iconic out of it. 

 The ingenuity behind the Alien creature is the driving force of the film, but the experience is something that will be subject to personal taste. This movie is all about atmosphere and mood, as opposed to wall-to-wall monster action. While I'm generally partial to Sci-Fi laced with action, I'm also fond of suspense and atmosphere, and this film is rich with it. right from the lengthy opening credits, which slowly spells out the title, this film sets and tone and mood that hooks me right in. The whole first act is a perfect example of slow burning, but never boring, because even without the creature present, this film is permeated with a sense of mysterious dread, like some ugly secret is lurking in the shadows of this tight spaced ship. I remember back in my teenage years, I found myself fidgeting through all this build-up, but as an adult, I actually find the set-up in the first act a little more exciting than the payoff with the monster.  

  That being said, I don't want to undermine just how original and intriguing the alien creature, especially in how it goes through various stages before taking its final form. Instead of just hatching from an egg, it first releases a small creature that latches onto a victim's face, then lays an egg in its body, which then latter hatches by bursting out of the victim's chest, and after a fast growth rate, it finally takes on its terrifying and iconic form. The creature would have been spooky enough, but the thought of it needing to grow in a person's stomach first is a whole other level of shocking. Of course when it finally happens, it leads to one of the most famous death scenes in film history. The unfortunate victim that ultimately has a small alien bursting out of his chest was played by the late John Hurt, who was one of the best actors of his generation. In the 1987 Mel Brooks comedy “Spaceballs”, John Hurt makes a cameo in a scene that parody’s “Alien”. The creature bursts from his chest, to which John Hurt responds by saying “Oh No, Not Again!”

  While never directly mentioned in the movie, the creatures have come to be known as Xenomorph's, and the design by H. R. Giger is fantastic, arguably one of the most original and imposing depictions of a hostile outer space creature that I’ve ever seen. Like the best monster movies, the film shows off the creature sparingly, and it works in the film, although I will admit, I wish the monster had a little more of a presence even when off screen. In comparison to the 1987 classic “Predator”, the monster isn't seen until the end, but it was still present as an invisible entity, with its silhouette on display, and we even saw things from the creatures POV, which gave it far more of a presence, even when we didn't see it. Still, that's only a minor complaint, as the mood and tone in "Alien" is consistent, to the point where everything feels imposing, and doesn't need to rely on the physical presence of the Xenomorph to be exciting. 

 

  One other element I've always had mixed feelings about are the characters, who with two exceptions are fine, but no-one really leaves a memorable impression. There is at least a nice group dynamic, in that everyone feels real, but I'm not really attached to the crew either, which has always been something of a minor set-back. Thankfully, the two characters who are important work very well, and manage to carry the film. Our lead heroine Ripley, played by the always enduring Sigourney Weaver, would go on to become one of the great characters in Science Fiction cinema, but that status came more from the sequel. In this first movie, she's good enough to care for, easy to cheer on as she battles the monster, and it's nice to see the early stages of the character before she grows into her more iconic status.  

  The last and most intriguing character of the film is the shady crew member named Ash, who’s later revealed to be an android. He goes through something of a “HAL 9000” phase, in which he wants to preserve the creature at the cost of the crew’s life. When he gets destroyed, it leads to more awesome gross-out effects. This is personally my favorite part of the film, as it was completely unexpected, and the performance by Ian Holm suddenly has more layers upon repeat viewings. I’ve always been a fan of tales revolving around artificial intelligence, and the dangers that may come with it. It’s almost too good for this movie, as I find this subplot revolving around an evil android more interesting, and subsequently more frightening than the main story with the alien monster. However, even with my praises for the villain established, this movie still has one more ace up its sleave. 

  

  The absolute best thing about this movie by far is its setting, and the production-design is a work of art to say the least. It’s all so detailed, and effective that it becomes a character in of itself. Being stuck on this claustrophobic Spaceship, with no-one around to help you is genuinely intense. However, it does so much more than simply add to the mood of the film, as it's still a marvel to look at all these years later. In my opinion, this will go down in history along with “Star Wars” as one of the best visual achievements in Sci-Fi cinema, and is unaffected by the passing of time. It genuinely looks like something that could be released today, and I never once get the feeling like these characters are on a Hollywood set. Every room has its own personality, with detailed consoles, and even the outer design of the spaceship is interesting. It doesn’t even look like a spaceship, it actually looks like a big floating castle, which further characterizes this as a horror movie set in space. Naturally the film won the Oscar for best effects, and also received a nomination for best art design. The music was done by the always fantastic Jerry Goldsmith, and even though this score is small and quiet, it really works for establishing the films eerie atmosphere.  
 

  The final confrontation with the creature is fine, although, I always felt the lead-up to the climax with Ripley running through the ship before it explodes could have been trimmed down a little. Once it's just her and the Xenomorph on the shuttle, it's all very simple, but satisfying, and leaves me with chills all over. I should note that there's an extended Directors Cut of the film, which adds some details that are effectively chilling but don't rely add-up to the lore of the series moving forward. For example, in the sequel "Aliens", we see Ripley rescue a girl from a cocoon before a face-hugger latches on to her, and thus, there's no physical damage. The extended cut of the first "Alien" however has a sequence in which Ripley finds the bodies of her missing crew members, and their cocoon bondage seems to be mutating them without the need of a face hugger. It's all up to personal preference on which is better, and while I prefer the logic of the cocoons simply being a means of holding the victims, the scene is still quiet chilling on its own.  

  When all is said and done, the 1979 movie “Alien” has more than earned the right to be called a motion picture classic. I still have more fondness for other monster themed classics like “Jurassic Park”, “Jaws”, “Predator” and the previously mentioned 1986 sequel “Aliens” ... but with all that said, I just can't dismiss the original classic that started it all. Unlike those other films, "Alien" has the distinction of feeling different on each viewing, as I just found myself appreciating it more and more, and it's cool to say I've gone on this little journey with my feelings for a film going through all these different peaks and valleys. If you had a similar experience as I did with this film, I encourage you to give it another watch, as it might be better than you remember. It may not be one of my absolute favorites, but a winning classic all the same, and well worth seeing if you haven't yet.     

Thanks for reading my review of the 1979 Sci-Fi classic “Alien” ... and continue to enjoy the movies you Love!                         

My Top 10 Favorite Action Movie Brawls

  Action sequences can come in quiet the variety, and for me, my favorite layout has always been an action brawl. Not a large-scale war, or a one-on-one duel, or a car chase, or a shoot-out comprised of only rapid gun fire ... I mean a brawl with a reasonable amount of people ducking it out in either a tight space or small area, utilizing either weapons, bare fists, martial arts or maybe even superpowers. This is when action can get the most wild, exciting, creative and just plain fun to view. There’s lots I could select from, so, without trying to make some kind of official list, I’m just going to keep it simple by counting down my own personal top 10 favorite action movie brawls.

#10 The Warehouse Attack from “Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice” 

While this is personally my least favorite of Batman’s theatrical movies, it’s still not without some real highlights, including this thrilling action scene. When Superman’s mother is kidnapped, and held in a Warehouse, the Man of Steel has to trust his new ally Batman to rescue her. What follows is nothing short of awesome. Putting aside the ethics of the character, this has got to be one of Batman’s greatest stand out action set pieces of the whole franchise. It’s relentlessly fast paced, with brutal hand to hand combat, and Batman pulling off incredible stunts. We also see every side of Batman ranging from stealthy to brutally direct. My only problem once again is that it’s sandwiched in-between all the other action mayhem of the third act, and I wish it could have stood apart during all the talky scenes of earlier. Still, it’s a memorable fight scene in of itself, and will hold a special place among superhero fans.

#9 Rey and Ren Versus the Pretorian Guards from “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” 

During this installment of the "Star Wars" saga, the vileness Kylo Ren has taken our lead heroine Rey captive, and presents her before his vile master Snoke. Much to my surprise and delight, Kylo Ren refuses to follow the orders of his master and slays him, which leads into a battle with his remaining Pretorian Guards. Considering that “The Last Jedi” is only the middle chapter in a set trilogy, I didn’t think the main villain would reform this early, but it sure was satisfying just for a moment to see both our main protagonist and lead antagonist team-up for an all-out brawl against heavily armed guards. Now we’ve seen Jedi slice through brainless droids before, but these guards actually put up more of a fight, and had the means to combat someone wielding a lightsaber. The setting, the fight choreography, the relentless energy, the long, unedited shots … it’s all one big feast for the eyes. However, beyond being a riveting spectacle, it’s the novelty of just seeing a hero and villain team up for once that makes this feel so unique.   

#8 Bikers battle Vampires in “From Dusk Till Dawn” 

When two criminals take a family hostage in an effort to sneak out of the country, they venture into Mexico, and subtle for the night at a biker bar. Much to their surprise and misfortune, the bar is actually a nest for vampires, and their hungry. So now criminals, strangers, hostages and rough bikers must learn to work together to survive, and slay the vampires. What follows is one of the most wildly entertaining battles I’ve ever seen in a horror movie. It’s cools just seeing how many creative and over the top ways we can see vampires die, or explode, or melt or transform into giant rat monsters. It’s completely out of control and if you’re a monster movie buff, you have to check this film out. It’s also cool to see the variety of weapons used against the vampires, including water balloons filed with holly water, a goofy belt gun, and leading the charge is jackhammer stake wilding George Clooney, who in my opinion has never been more awesome then right here. 

#7 Gas Station Rumble from “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” 

I’m generally the kind of guy who loves comedy just as much as he loves action, so I just had to include one funny fight sequence, and this is my personal favorite. In this classic 1970’s comedy, a group of random people are on the race for riches, as literally each person in the film is trying to get to buried treasure before the other. One of the more lovable treasure seekers is named Lennie, and he hits quiet the bump in the road when he finds himself trapped at a gas station with two attendants, both of whom are preventing him from leaving. What follows is arguably one of the funniest and most destructive fight scenes ever put to film. The gas station itself is more fragile than an elementary school’s theater set, and seeing Lennie tear it apart is an absolute delight. As the fight wages he continues to do more and more damage to this station in his effort to escape. By the time the fight ends, the entire station is completely leveled to the ground. It’s so funny and over the top that I find myself laughing all the way through to the next scene.

#6 Iron Suits to the rescue from “Iron Man 3” 

When the President is held captive by a band of terrorists, Tony Stark has little choice but to go in for the rescue without the aid of his armored suit. Fortunately for our hero, just as he’s surrounded by enhanced fire powered villains, his small army of robotic suits fly in to even the playing field, and what follows is personally one of my favorite action scenes to ever be featured in a superhero movie. While this fight comes dangerously close into a full-on battle, I feel it stays just contained enough on the abandoned oil rig to still count for my list. What makes it work is the creativity on display, and seeing the various ways the suits due-in the bad guys. It’s also great to see the Iron suits there for Tony, and it’s all the more exciting to just see him jumping in and out of them. Another highlight is how the music builds, just before the suits attack, and Tony’s line “It’s Christmas ... take them to Church”, might just be my favorite line of his. There’s riveting energy, high stakes and no shortage of spectacular imagination on display.  

#5 The Factory Battle from “Dragons Forever” 

When it comes to Martial Arts Cinema, Jacki Chan easily stands out from the crowd, and is prominent in some of the greatest martial arts battles ever put to film. If I had to pick one for my own list, it would be the final factory showdown from “Dragons Forever”. In this late 80’s Kung Fu flick, Jacki and his comrades venture into a drug factory searching for their captive older brother, only to discover that the bad guys are refining narcotics. Thus, in an effort to shut them down, an all-out brawl breaks out in the factory, and it’s quiet the spectacle to behold. While the current generation of action movie gores can get distracted by the more flashy, special effects driven battles, this demonstrates the art of practical, breathless, physical action that’s all-in camera. It’s absolutely stunning to look at, with the factory setting being a perfect layout for a fight of this sort. It’s also very brutal, with heavy blows, and incredible stunt work. There’s a spectacular moment when one of the guys leaps through a broken window with razor edging. Bodies are flying all over, people smash through windows, the slow-motion camera angles are all great, and it leaves me feeling soar every time I watch it.

#4 The Chateau Fight from “The Matrix Reloaded” 

On a mission to rescue a special Key Maker, the chosen hero Neo finds himself trapped in a mansion with heavily armed worriers. This is personally my favorite action scene from this mixed, but mostly fun sequel. Whenever I think back on “Reloaded” it’s the Chateau sword fight that always stands out, as this is the only battle to feature a great use (and variety) of handheld weapons, and the choreography on display is stunning. This scene is just a perfect example of how an artist can be very creative with an action-set-piece, and it leaves me breathless every time I watch it. This is also the only fight from the movie that’s shot almost entirely in camera with very minimal CGI added in. Generally speaking, the action here is shot with ideal grace and rhythm, giving the weapon choreography the feel of a dance or ballet. No shaky camera, no relentlessly fast editing, it’s all very fluent, and it’s always stood out to me as a perfect template for how to do action right.

#3 Wolverine and Yukio Versus the Black Ninja Clan from “The Wolverine” 

During a mission to protect the heir to the largest Japanese company, Wolverine finds himself falling in love with the young woman and is determined to keep her safe. Unfortunately, it’s not too long before she gets kidnaped, and our favorite clawed hero goes in pursuit to rescue her. The scene plays out and is even shot like a classic medieval fable, with the beautiful princess locked in a tower and the brave knight battling various obstacles, with the figurative dragon coming in the form of a young swordsman who leads a mighty band of Ninja’s. The ensuing battle with Wolverine fighting the Black Clan in the abandoned village regrettably wasn’t in the theatrical cut of the film, but the extended cut put it back in its rightful place, and it’s personally one of my favorite action scenes of the whole "X-Men" film series. We have ninjas driving motorcycles on rooftops, we also have chain whips, explosions, Yukio drives this massive snowplow and literally shreds the villains in her path ... it’s just crazy awesome! The setting is also really cool, and it’s just a refreshing departure from what you’d usually see in an "X-Men" film. Typically, in these films we only see Wolverine battle another super-powered mutant, but it’s cool to see a clan of ninja’s deliver something new, as well as provide a real challenge for our hero to concur.

#2 The Showdown at the House of Blue Leaves from “Kill Bill Vol.1” 

Following the events of a wedding massacre, one lonely bride is out for revenge against those who took everything from her. Thus, her mission takes her to Tokyo, where she aims to face a crime boss named O-Ren Ishii ... but first, the Bride has to battle her faithful bodyguard and her own personal army called the Crazy 88. This whole final battle is often regarded as one of the absolute greatest action sequences of the past decade, and for good reason. While she’s insanely outnumbered, her drive for vengeance gets her to power through every one of these armed goons. Not only is this battle insanely well-choreographed, but it’s also executed with a great sense of style and subtle hummer. It’s out of control, completely absurd, not meant to be taken seriously, but that’s what makes it so fun. The fight is also a loving tribute to 1970’s martial art cinema, and the house setting is woven into the action choreography with great craft and staging. We see them fighting as silhouettes in a colorful room, the violence is cartoonishly over the top, filters change from black & white to color, and the music arrangement makes the scene come off as part fight and part dance, which is brilliant.   

There were obviously a lot of memorable brawls to choose from, and before I reveal my favorite, here are some Honorable Mentions … 

Skeleton Fight from “Jason and the Argonauts”,

Apartment Battle from “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie”, 

Bamboo fight from “House of Flying Daggers”, 

News crew brawl from “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy”, 

Hotel Rumble from “John Wick: Chapter 4”,

#1 The Airport Battle from “Captain America: Civil War” 

When a rift forms between the Avengers on how best to take responsible actions, a villain secretly takes advantage of this debate, and by putting select things in motion, he succeeds in turning this mighty team of heroes against one another. The culmination of this conflict is a massive brawl at an abandoned airport, in which the two divided sides of the Avengers duke it out in a spectacular melee. The beauty of this set-up is that we’re cheering for both sides of this battle, we identify with the point of view of each character, and the last thing we want is to see best friends rip each other apart. So, there’s a good deal of emotional context beneath the spectacle, but even putting the emotional context aside, this is still one of the most amazing feats of action ever put to film. In the words of video game journalist Adam Sessler (who was talking about something unrelated) “It indulges in childhood fantasies, I never thought could be realized”. 

This simply is one of the most thrilling action scenes I’ve ever experienced as a movie goer, and it takes me right back to things I dreamed of seeing as a child, but could never imagine actually coming to life. Seeing Spider-Man and all these iconic hero’s clashing in one big showdown offers a great deal of variety and fun, with multiple super-powers on display, and truly inventive ways of seeing them clash with other characters. I love seeing Ant-Man ride one of Hawkeyes arrows, and then dropping himself off in Iron Man’s suit. I loved seeing the Scarlet Witch use her powers to toss various cars and objects with her mind powers. I loved seeing Spider-Man web up a giant, along with two flying iron hero’s delivering the finishing blow. Also, the moment in which the two teams charge at each other is an absolutely riveting moment that gets me fired up every time I watch this. It’s creative, emotional, flashy and entertaining as Hell to view on just about every level. To call this my favorite action movie brawl is an understatement, because it truly is one of my all-time favorite action sequences put to film.

Thanks for reading my countdown ... and continue to enjoy the action you Love!