Hellish, totally engrossing ride.....

Rating: Null/10 (31 October 2007)

So much has been written on this film already that I won't go over the plot synopsis or the special effects, other than to say they stand amazingly well on their own, even today. Nothing about this film, not even the hair styles, feels datedcertainly not to the era of Bee Gees and polyester leisure suits of the time period when this was filmed. The effects are top notch, the ships, machinery, and of course, H.R. Geiger's creature are as believable today as ever. Like the Van Morrison song Brown Eyed Girl, if it came out today, Alien would be a #1 hit.
Much of Alien's greatness lies in how much it leaves to your imagination. Other than the chest bursting scene and Parker's very briefly shown impalement, the viewer is treated to no actual shots of human bodies being abused.its all left to your imagination. Which is running wildly as little bits and pieces of the creature's terrifying physical characteristics are revealed. In retrospect, I prefer the original cut of the movie to the directors cut where Ripley finds the cocooned Dallas near the end, as it takes away the suspense from the captain's original disappearance. It's a testament to Ridley Scott's brilliance that he left it out of the original film, and instead let the viewer decide what other appendages the alien had in store for him. We found this. No blood. No Dallas. Nothing.
The other great part of this film's atmosphere for me is the improv. style of many of the conversations. A lot of the scenes sound like they were filmed without wireless and boom mikes, and the effect is totally convincing. Characters mumble, they talk over each other, and they carry on conversations that don't feel scripted at all. The meals in the mess hall, Kane's coming out of the coma, and Dallas descending into hell are scenes that are particularly noteworthy. Alien doesn't feel like a conventional movie at allit swings between these Discovery Channel documentary like scenes, to Ripley's desperate, nightmarish last dash for the lifeboat at the end. Klaxon's blaring, steam venting and strobe like warning lights just meld together to create the perfect atmosphere of primal survival and mind numbing horror that makes you feel like you are running through the ship with her. The finis is just as brilliant as the rest of the film. It sucks you into a sense of false security with a few brief moments to enjoy the amazingly beautiful 20 year old and disrobed Sigourney Weaver. But this is no ordinary cheese cake shoot.by the time all hell has started breaking loose, you're so terrified and rooting for Ripley that you've almost forgotten those bikini panties. At least temporarily.
Its difficult to understate how shocking and effective this movie was at the time it came out. Nothing like it had ever been seen before. Alien is like an orgasm.its effect on your psyche and the high you get is difficult to describe the first time you experience it, but it just gets better and better the more you indulge in it, and the more practiced you become in appreciating it's nuances. Even though it has no equal to this day, our collective exposure to other original and disturbing horror films like Hellraiser and Seven will dull the experience somewhat if you are seeing it for the first time. Which, by the way, if you are, I'd recommend locating the biggest screen you can, and surround sound if possible. Every fan of this movie should also get a hold of a copy of H.R. Geiger's Necronomicron books of artwork for some truly disturbing images that inspired the movie.