Alien - 1979

[This image SO deserves to be larger; couldn't get it to enlarge.]

Well, I just saw Clint Eastwood's newest, The Hereafter, and will post a review, but frankly, it's fast fading in my mind and I want to talk about this old classic I recently revisited.

There I was, minding my own business, when I turned the channel and Alien was just starting. I thereby lost 2 hours of my life sitting, riveted, completely caught up in a film I knew I liked, but had forgotten how AWESOME it was. In fact, I had to stop with 20 mins. to go to fix dinner, so I taped the remainder and couldn't wait to return to it the next day! That's the sign of a good movie.

1979 - ah, yes, I remember it well. I believe Alien was the modern start to a wave of sophisticated sci-fi flicks. While sci-fi is not my favorite genre, if a movie is good, it's good. Here we see early signs of director, Ridley Scott's, genius. Now, I don't need to summarize the movie for you; so I'll just itemize what makes this such a classic.

1. Sigourney Weaver. Remember, this was 1979, and to see a female protagonist who is strong, resourceful, and darned intelligent was an important statement in those times. Weaver has a square set prominent jaw - perfect for her character's steadfast nature. She looks like she's wearing zero make-up and her natural flawless, porcelain complexion is striking. (Naturally, they had to include the obligatory "wearing barely more than bikini panties" shot near the very end. oh well.) Her character is all heroine.

2. The plot satisfied both the themes of "teamwork," and "solo-hero."

3. The alien prototype is downright terrifying (right up there with my second place choice of the one in Terminator (see previous post). From it's "birth" out of John Hurd's chest, rapid molting, and surprise appearances, it truly scares the hell out of me.

4. I am struck by the contrast between the ultra sophisticated, high end technology in science and engineering in machinery and weaponry, pitted against the most primitive of organic substance that was the alien. Every inch of the ship is antiseptically clean and bright and minimal - the monster is dark and wet and slimy and gross. And if you look closely, many of the structural designs and patterns on the alien are actually replicated in the technological interior sets of the spaceship, such as the spine on one and the coiled pipes of the other. Amazing.

5. Put all that in the hands of Scott as he adds elements of darkness, wetness, blinking (almost disco) lights, tinkling chains, and great scoring and you have one mesmerizing monster movie. When Ripley (Weaver's character) finally blasts the alien out of the ship I literally burst into clapping and cheering.

If it's been a long time since you, too, have watched this classic, revisit it. It's a goody!