Ranting against the idea of reboots and remakes of classic films is nothing new. It’s a risky endeavor that Hollywood takes on again and again – more often than not with poor results. But they keep on making them and people keep on seeing them, hoping to recapture the lightening in the bottle of the original.
Most of the time, I just abstain. From both seeing whatever remake and from participating in the discussion thereof. But this one I just cannot let go of. They have invaded my personal top 5 movies of all time.
I can’t tell you how old I was when I first saw “Alien”. Under age 8 because my family was still in our original house. I remember sitting on the cool tile floor in the Florida room and my father covering my eyes during the scariest parts. All the same, even without seeing a good portion of the movie, I was mesmerized. “Alien” is an achievement of film, a science fiction masterpiece that transcends science fiction by taking the classic premise of a haunted house and putting it in the cold vacuum of space. From the mystery of the “Space Jockey” found on LV-426, to Ash’s ultimate betrayal, the movie jolts you from one thrilling moment to the next, pausing only to agonizingly linger in a sense of desperation so thick it makes you sweat. And all of that doesn’t even scratch the surface, or even bring into consideration the beauty or horror in the design of the “Alien” (Xenomorph) itself. But, come on, it’s Giger. It’s gorgeous and monstrous and unforgettable. It is a nightmare made flesh.
With an original as spectacular as what Ridley Scott gave us, it was a difficult task to take on a sequel, with a new director and mostly new cast. But James Cameron delivered “Aliens” – a film that is more than up to the challenge of following in the footsteps of “Alien”. Yet, on the surface, it seems like a cheap idea. Instead of one xenomorph, the characters are up against a colony. Instead of being on a ship, they spend most of the time back on LV-426. And instead of a small crew of 7 blue collars, there’s the Colonial Marines. But where Ridley gave us eerie elegance sliced through with thrills, Cameron gave us grimy realism on the edges of absolute horror. And at the heart (safely ensconced in a 14′ steel power loader) is maternal instinct. Both Ripley’s for the orphaned Newt as well as the Alien Queen’s for all the soldiers beneath her. There are also themes of overcoming prejuidice, the betrayal of that which is supposed to protect us, profound loss, and the tension between the masculine and the feminine. Where “Alien” was an icey claw up your back, “Aliens” grabbed you by the throat and throttled you.
Even more, one of the most amazing things about both of these superb films, is how completely they hold up today. Using little more than rubber suits, camera tricks, puppets, props on strings and animatronics, it all looks just as good as the shiniest CGI (and better than then CGI that emerged in Alien3) used today – and feels a lot more visceral and organic in several scenes.
“Alien3” is the weakest of the bunch for me – but I don’t fault David Fincher for that. There were multiple scripts – even well into production there wasn’t a final script decided upon. And it was a production beset with troubles – from the Cinematographer Alex Thomson being replaced by Jordan Cronenweth after two weeks of filming, when Jordan Cronenweth fell ill, to daily studio interference. Interference that (depending on who’s version you believe) either led to Fincher walking out on the production before editing, or being cut out of the production by the studio. Given the extras on the 9 disc Quadrilogy Collection (which I watch, in its entirety, at least twice a year. Yes, all 9 discs. It’s heaven.), I’m betting it was the latter. As one of the SFX crew said – they didn’t so much wrap production as get told they were done. And then the studio took over everything. And even still, there are strengths to be found in “Alien3“. From the idea of a planet inhabitted by monastic like criminals to what the xenmorph would look like if birthed from a non-human organism, there are seevral interesting concepts. I wonder how much better it could have been if the studio had just backed off.
“Alien: Resurrection” is one that bothers a lot of people. I am not one of them. I think it is a beautiful film, drenched in the perfect amount of light, with impeccable costuming and a score that is still one of my very favorites. I am not bothered one bit by how Ripley was brought back into the time line and placed alongside the xenomorphs again. It makes sense to me that the goverment agency that traveled all the way to Fiorina ‘Fury’ 161 in “Alien3” to try and get the impregnated Ripley in their grip would use the tissue samples left behind during her treatment in Fury’s sick bay after her escape pod crashed there, and attempt to clone her. I liked how the Ripley we finally meet is version 8 and I think the melding of her genetic make up with that of the Xenomorph added a sense of dark humor that Ripley needed after being dead and now not quite human. The scene in the Auriga gym between Ripley and the crew of the Betty is pitch perfect and remains one of my favorite moments of the franchise. Plus….SWIMMING ALIENS (which, bit of trivia, they built the largest water tank stage for – so big that it took nearly a week just to fill it with water)!
Between then lines of these 4 movies, a shorthand was formed. Iconography was formed. Not just in the Xenomorph, face hugger and chest burster – but in Ripley. Arguably, the first modern, well written, tough as sin yet not a symbol for anima-as-animus-stand-in, female character to grace our film screens. And Sigourney Weaver portrayed her, every step of the way, perfectly.
As such, the idea here hurts my soul. Especially with the idea of introducing a “new Ripley”.
So please, I beg of you Fox – don’t. Just don’t.
Geek Rant: Alien reboot?
– May 28, 2009Posted in: Other Nerdery
Isn’t the new film supposed to be a prequel to “Alien” and not a direct remake?
If done well (such as J.J. Abrams’ “Star Trek”), a prequel could be a good thing.
I agree that “3” was the weakest of the franchise. It had a lot going against it from the start by killing off Hicks, Bishop and especially Newt. What was the point of that!? It also suffered from a terrible disjointed script and wasted a terrific performance by actor Charles Dance. Aside from Ripley, his character ‘Clemens’ was the only one that I was invested in and would have liked to see make to the end of the film. Sadly, that didn’t happen.
“Resurrection” actually had some genuine flashes of brilliance (interesting characters, good performances by the cast, cool futuristic touches) but ultimately collapsed around the alien escape/chase plot.
That being said, neither of these two sequels will ever hold up well against the magnificent “Alien” and thrilling “Aliens”. Get the directors cut or special editions of each on video and enjoy!
Ripley: “I say we take off and nuke the entire site from orbit. [pause] It’s the only way to be sure.”
Rick, indeed, Tony Scott (Ridley Scott’s brother and co-producer of this new project) announced the movie would be a prequel on May 29, 2009 – the day after I wrote this article.
However, that doesn’t necessarily make me feel any better. While, yes, there has always been the question of the origin of the “Space Jockey” species and how the derelict got on LV-426, I ultimately think that explaining that will detract somewhat from “Alien”. Part of the spookiness to “Alien” is that element of unease with the surroundings. The beginning of the movie is full of questions; Who sent the distress signal? Why were the Nostromo crew – inexperienced as they were – being sent to investigate? Where did the derelict ship come from? What the hell is the corpse that looks fused to the chair? OHMIGOD WHAT IS ON HIS FACE?!
What can be accomplished to serve the existing story in explaining the derelict? In order to do so, the race of the Space Jockey would have to be humanized in some way. Do we really need that?
No we don’t. Not really.
After further thought, unless they create an entire backstory that involves humans (basing a film on the origins and adventures of the space jockey wouldn’t make much sense), I agree… there really isn’t much wiggle room for a prequel.
That is not to say the Nostromo was the very first attempt by the company to investigate or retrieve a sample of the alien. After all, the original science officer scheduled to board the Nostromo was replaced by Ash, seemingly at the last moment. And mother was programmed to detect the distress signal, re-route the ship, wake the crew and hopefully capture a specimen. The special directive was of the highest priority with everyone’s lives expendable.
So my only guess is the prequel *could* explore that angle.
A good point Rick. I re-watched Alien yesterday (my nephew had never seen it and given that he’s 16, I felt remiss in my duties as a geek to have let that occur!)- looking specifically for where a prequel could go. I think the angle you identified is the only one.
Unless anyone else has any ideas?
I’m with you, Jessica — and very well said. The ALIEN films need no more sequels, no more prequels and god save us from any reimaginings. Yes (to the other Rick above), STAR TREK’s reimagining was superb — but we’re talking about a reboot to a series pushing FIFTY… and one with major, major flaws (mostly budgetary, tied to the TV medium and the relatively weak FX available at that point, though they did wonders with costuming and makeup and masks!). ALIEN, on the other hand, is a flawless picture, and at 30 years old doesn’t show a whit of age. It’s as perfect now as it was the year it debuted. ALIENS, as Jessica points out, is almost its equal in every way; energetic, visceral, thrilling and just a cleanly made, perfectly cast, utterly flawless motion picture (well, maybe not flawless; we didn’t get to see Burke meet his much-deserved fate!). These are not films that make you go “That was cool, but if they’d only…” Which to me is the perfect barometer for making a call on sequels/prequels/remakes. There’s really nothing to be improved on, nothing to profoundly move us, nothing to rock our socks off, like the first two adventures of Warrant Officer Ripley and her nasty xenomorph enemies. If the idea is simply to make a crapload of money, why not nurture good talent and get them to write something original, different and exciting that mines the same energy as the ALIEN saga, without needlessly going back to the exact same well?