242 replies to this topic

[BloodBoal]

Since I decided to rewatch all the films from the franchise after seeing Prometheus, and since I know a lot of people love both films (more or less) equally, I thought it'd be interesting to have such a poll (besides, it's been a long time since the last poll. Blame it on N°500!). Alien may end up being the clear winner, but that's not entrely sure...

It's been a while since the last time I watch those films (and I still have never seen to this day Alien: Resurrection). And what struck me is that both films are as different as an original film and its sequel can be. The first one is more of a thriller, that shows the creature very little in order for it to have a stronger impact when it appears fully. It is also a film that doesn't give a lot of background information on the universe. What's this derelict ship? How did it crash here? What's that creature that is dead inside it? Why were there all those eggs in it? What is this company Ash work for? Why did they wanted the creature? How did they know this ship was there? Lots of questions, and none answered by the end of the film. It relies on mystery to create an atmosphere.
The sequel is somehow at the other end of the spectrum. It's an action film. Pure and simple. We go to the planet, and we kill as many aliens as we can. And there is an awful lot of aliens. That's more or less the problem with this film. It shows so many xenomorphs it cheapens the effect they have on the audience somehow. But they did improved the creatures movements a lot. I love the part where you see them walking on the walls. This film also adds a lot of background info to the universe : the company is named, we know how the xenomorphs' society and reproduction system works, we learn a bit more about Ripley's past... One thing in which the film succeed is expanding the universe.
Another thing that differentiates both films is the way the battle between the creature(s) and the characters is being told.
Alien is more about being attacked on the inside: the chestburster coming out of one of the Nostromo's members, the creature then being one with the ship (the design of the creature is very reminiscent of wires and things like that by the way. It is pretty obvious at the end, when it's sleeping in the shuttle), so it's basically the ship turning against its crew. In the end, the objective is to get the enemy out of our territory.
In Aliens, it's about going into enemy territory and kicking their asses. It's payback time. It's "WOOHOO, FUCK YEAH! LET'S GO KILL THEM!" And that's why it works: because it's not the same story being told: it offers something new. It's not "more of the same", it's "more of a different thing in the same universe", if you know what I mean. And it's also a very fun film. It's cool to see them kill aliens!

While Alien is more of a depressing film (because you see the characters die one by one in horrible ways, and they are defenceless against the creature), Aliens clearly is a rollercoaster ride (this time, the characters have impressive firepower, so it's explosions all the way! Who wouldn't want that?), with lots of great setpieces. And Alien³... Well, it's Alien³!
All this to say, depending of the mood I'm in, I'd prefer one over the other, and vice-versa. But I'll go with Aliens this time. Just because I just finished watching it last night.

On a side note : one thing I noticed while watching Alien, is that the scariest creature in the film isn't the xenomorph. It isn't even the chestburster. It really is the facehugger. It is so amazingly well done, I was in awe when rewatching the film. It doesn't look like an animatronic at all. It looks like a real creature. One of the most convincing creature ever to be put on screen.
In that regard, Aliens made them look a bit cheap. While the facehuggers scene is quite nice, the way they move made them look like the hand from The Adams Family, and overall, they looked more like puppets than anything else. The only reason why they still scared me in this film is because of their arachnean features.
In that regard, Alien wins easily.

Enough talk now! Time for you to speak!

BloodBoal - on his way to see Alien³ (God help me!)



P.S.: For the anecdote, I never noticed until then that in Alien, when Ripley activates the Nostromo's self-destruction system, she's reading the french instructions. Weird...

[Quint]

Nostalgia plays a significant part, but Aliens has always been my favourite in the franchise and just one of my favourite movies ever. It's the ultimate action movie. That it's set in space, has genuine scares and suspense, a motley crew of fantastic characters and THE most quotable script of all time, and well, it's just one of those great stars were aligned sort movie's. Very special to me.

However as someone who considers themselves to be pretty well balanced and versed in film, I know I'm in a minority when placing it higher than Alien, which is fine.

[Wojo]

Nice commentary. I just realized that I wish Bill Paxton's character in Aliens had been the android just so he could be re-used in sequels.

[Jason LeBlanc]

I recently re-watched Alien (on the amazing Anthology Blu Ray set) for the first time in probably a decade or more; I plan to do so with Aliens too, then I will vote in the poll. Both films are great in so different ways.

Haven't decided yet if I'll watch the Theatrical Cut or the Special Edition for Aliens (For Alien I watched the Theatrical Cut). Which version do people here generally prefer? I always loved the SE, but I haven't seen the TC in so long I might just watch that....

[BloodBoal]

Personally, I watched the Special Edition. I don't even remember the TC.

[Greg1138]

Have seen both films many, many times - two of the top films in their respective genres. And that's where my problem with this question lies - which is better out of two films that belong to different genres. Tough call, really tough, and it's one of those where my opinion might change next week - but for the time being I'm going with "Alien". For the record - the original cut too.

[Jason LeBlanc]

Personally, I watched the Special Edition. I don't even remember the TC.

I remember greatly enjoying all the additional scenes - especially the automatic guns, Hudson's extra machismo dialogue before the descent, Hicks and Ripley's little exchange before she goes back for Newt, and additional backstory about Ripley's daughter (makes her wanting to save Newt so badly more poignant). As a kid I don't think I minded the extra scenes of Newt on the planet before the marines get there, but I dunno if as an adult I will be a fan of them revealing the aliens that early in the film.

[Quint]

I've been over this before but I strictly prefer the original theatrical cut of Aliens.

[Jason LeBlanc]

Are there any particular additions you find especially egregious? What additions do you actually not mind / hate the least?

[Wojo]

I think I've only seen the SE of Aliens because that's the DVD I have.

This never gets old:

[KK.]

Having watched both films for the first time quite recently, I've got to go with Alien. The fact that there is a lack of answers is the film's greatest strength. The mysterious atmosphere is what I loved so much about the film. While watching the film, you know nothing about the alien. It's constantly changing and you have no clue what will happen next and that keeps you on the edge of your seat. It's a brilliantly conceived film.

Aliens is a great movie too. But you mentioned some great points BloodBoal that made the sequel inferior to original in my opinion. The first one leaves the audience in awe with this mysterious creature. But the 2nd one has a whole army of aliens (not to mention a queen alien too!!!) and that really cheapened the impact that the original Alien had on me. The crew of the Nostromos were no match for this beast, and yet here in the sequel we find out they aren't so hard to kill after all, as long as you have cool guns! And the Marines were frustrating to me in most of their shallow, stereotypically cliched character types. And there's that one scene that really irked me. When the girl (Newt) sees the facehugger on her dad for the first time, she does one of those big cliched screams as the camera pans into both her face and the facehugger. It really took away the brilliant mystique of its appearance in the original. Where this film succeeds is ultimately in its 2nd half, because once the action starts, there is no stopping! Its a thrilling ride from there and highly enjoyable (especially with the improved movements of the aliens, as you mentioned). And another thing I really liked about this film is the direction they took with Ripley's character with, really impressive stuff. Theres a lot to like in this movie.

In the end, both movies are great! But I've got to say that Alien wins for me.

[Jason LeBlanc]

I think Cameron was very wise to cut the scenes with Newt and her father from the theatrical cut. Honestly, its kind of surprising they were even conceived and filmed

[Quint]

Are there any particular additions you find especially egregious? What additions do you actually not mind / hate the least?

I wish I knew how to use the search engine as well as BoodBoal!

[Sandor]

I love both for different reasons. Aliens is one of the greatest sequels ever made.

[Jason LeBlanc]

Are there any particular additions you find especially egregious? What additions do you actually not mind / hate the least?

I wish I knew how to use the search engine as well as BoodBoal!

Are you talking about these posts or are their more?

http://www.jwfan.com...680#entry769271

[Quint]

Well found!

I'd go a couple of posts earlier though: http://www.jwfan.com...680#entry769271

[Jason LeBlanc]

So my question remains - you seem to only hate the early reveal of Newt and live on LV426. Are there any additional scenes you DO like?

[Quint]

The sentry scene is a perfectly good addition, but the film already manages more than enough tension without it. The idea of Ripley having a child who died an old lady is certainly a deep theme and a superb extra layer to the character, but again I just feel it adds bloat to a movie which already had very generous exposition provided by the previous film.

Those two standout as being worthwhile, but to me they simply aren't necessary. The Newt intro on the other hand I simply do not like at all. It's damages the mystery of the unfolding events in the same way Isulder being shown vanishing when slipping on the Ring in the EE prologue ruined the "surprise" at Bilbo's birthday party.

[Jason LeBlanc]

Those are my 2 favorite additional scenes too. Maybe I will watch the SE but hit the skip button on the LV426 scenes.

For The Abyss and Terminator 2 I prefer the SE versions as well. Haven't seen the Avatar SE yet.

[Taikomochi]

Alien is great, but... Aliens is my favorite film of all time, and for good reason. It's the far superior film.


Though, neither lives up to Alien: Resurrection.

[Joey]

wow, what an original thread. Its a wonder no one ever thought to do this before....

I still prefer Aliens. I love Alien but I love Aliens just a bit more. I love the rich characters in Aliens. Sigourney Weaver's performance is one of the great female performances of all time.

both films make a great 1, 2 afternoon. I prefer the directors cut on both. For Alien I love the Dallas, Brett sequence at the end. It adds a bit more humanity to the film. And I really love the added scenes on LV-426 in Aliens!

both films are among the best use of blu ray with the Alien Anthology my favorite set on blu

[Jason LeBlanc]

Did you guys know they actually corrected some mistakes in Aliens for the Blu Ray?

http://www.movie-cen...t.php?ID=294598

I remember always noticing the scratches on the window before she actually started hitting it with the chair. Never noticed the swapped gun shots or the hole in the ground under Bishop before though.

I actually don't mind these kinds of fixes at all.

[Joey]

I prefer Horner's score to Goldsmiths too. Love um both though.

[Quint]

Horner's score is BEAST!

[Jason LeBlanc]

They are both absolutely fantastic scores, my favorite from each composer

[BloodBoal]

wow, what an original thread. Its a wonder no one ever thought to do this before...

Yes, I know.

I'm a very original person.

[mrbellamy]

I really love Aliens, but Alien is one of my all-time favorites. Plus it doesn't have Hudson.

[Quint]

Hmm, you have a point. Maybe that's what Alien is lacking.

[mrbellamy]

"GAME OVER, MIYAAAAN!!! GAME OVER!!!"

[KK.]

Hmm, you have a point. Maybe that's what Alien is lacking.

hmmm.....something smells fishy....

Alien is great, but... Aliens is my favorite film of all time, and for good reason. It's the far superior film.

I felt that way with Alien. Both are still great movies though.

[Olivier]

Did you guys know they actually corrected some mistakes in Aliens for the Blu Ray?

http://www.movie-cen...t.php?ID=294598

I remember always noticing the scratches on the window before she actually started hitting it with the chair. Never noticed the swapped gun shots or the hole in the ground under Bishop before though.

I actually don't mind these kinds of fixes at all.

By golly!
When watched the BR, even though I didn't want to, I couldn't help thinking about this, but I didn't see it; I didn't scrutinize the picture because i really didn't want to be taken out of the movie, so I was happy not to notice it.
That's why I didn't!
That's a great thing they did.

[Pasi Tiitinen]

Meh, this is one of the easiest poll to vote. Alien.

We just recently watched Aliens with mrs, It supposed to be decent flick in both's book.

We ended up with laughter and rolled eyes; this film is bad in all parts, full of cliche characters, stupid adoration of the military,

dialogue with stupid one-liners etc...

Well it's Cameron, mediocre movie maker(no personal touch what so ever) but brilliant money collector.

Alien is still very enjoyable albeit the first time was the best. Brilliant.

Some of the great movies need multiple views to be grand. Not this one.

[Fozmo]

Nice poll, but HARD to pick one over the other.

Deep down, I know it's gotta be Aliens. It just ticks all the boxes. It was so important to me growing up, it was a faboy's dream. And endlessly quotable too (at least amongst my friends) - "Ok people let's move it, assholes and elbows!" etc.

Brilliant how we always got that impression of hordes of aliens in the complex, yet actually never see more than about 6 onscreen at once. Nowadays we'd see swarms of CGI xenos swarming all over the shop... meh.

Did you guys know they actually corrected some mistakes in Aliens for the Blu Ray?

Wow! Had no idea. Like you I remember the scratches but nothing else.

[pixie_twinkle]

Wow, I really expected this poll to go the other way. From my experience most people prefer the action-packed Aliens to its darker, more terrifying predecessor. I'm really glad to see the original getting props in this poll. Both films are great, but the original is truly the stuff of nightmares. A complete absence of shouty and whiny marines in the original is also a plus.

[Pasi Tiitinen]

A complete absence of shouty and whiny marines in the original is also a plus.

This

[KK.]

Wow, I really expected this poll to go the other way. From my experience most people prefer the action-packed Aliens to its darker, more terrifying predecessor. I'm really glad to see the original getting props in this poll. Both films are great, but the original is truly the stuff of nightmares. A complete absence of shouty and whiny marines in the original is also a plus.

[Fozmo]

A complete absence of shouty and whiny marines in the original is also a plus.

But surely Veronica Cartwright in the first film out-whines all...

[Koray Savas]

both films make a great 1, 2 afternoon. I prefer the directors cut on both.

Aren't the theatrical cuts the directors' cuts?

[Olivier]

Back on topic: I love both movies; Cameron's may win by a little bit just because it's the easier one to go to for a moment of fun; you may even simply go to a sequence; Alien demands more attention. This doesn't make one better than the other; the slight advantage is just due to a practical possibility the excellent sequel has.

[KK.]

A complete absence of shouty and whiny marines in the original is also a plus.

But surely Veronica Cartwright in the first film out-whines all...

At least she's not shouting unbelievably cliched lines with overbearing overtones of military patriotism. At least Veronica's fear seemed genuine. I'm pretty sure real marines are nowhere near as dumb as those in Aliens.

Again, I really liked both films, but Aliens its short-comings.