"A Classic In Every Sense Of The Word"

Rating: Null/10 (24 January 2004)

One of the few times when science-fiction was taken seriously (though _2001: A Space Odyssey_ is another, beautiful, case in point. Ridley Scott once said that he aspired to be the John Ford of science-fiction in the cinema, and watching this film again makes me grieve that he shucked that ambition aside. Likewise, H.R. Giger--we would prefer to hear from you sooner, sir, instead of later. From the typewriter of Dan O'Bannon, the scenarist overcame the basic, B-Movie premise by being smarter, and more talented than your typical Hollywood screenwriter. The only sequel to come close to this tense, horrific ambience was Fincher's _Alien 3_.
Very close, actually, but still...not quite. Ten stars.