Good idea, poor execution.

Rating: 4/10 (8 July 2012)

This film may be a classic to most people, but to me it's just another sci-fi flick that doesn't quite shine over other classics, like Planet of the Apes or Star Wars, which were released around that time and with less budget, and way better special effects, WAY better. The part where they exchange the robot head for the human one, was a total laugh. Also, watching it in 2012 and noticing the poorly done effects definitely lowers the vote. If you watch Star Wars, for example, today, you still can be amazed by those incredible special effects, done around the same time (1977) and with less money. So, I think the poor special effects are one of the reasons for this film to be not so great, in my opinion.
The idea is great: to encounter an alien form on a deserted planet was not something very common back in 1979 like it is nowadays. It was original and scary. That idea, combined with the suspense atmosphere and the large set designs, provided some good amount of expectation about what's coming next. Sadly, the expectation on the first moments, turned into frustration around half of the movie: nothing happened until the last 20 minutes, so it made the first 90 way too long, and way too boring.
The characters are stupid, specially Lambert, who I really, really hate. I didn't get to care for any of these people, so when they die I'm just glad because something's finally happening in this movie.
There are a lot of plot holes. For one, if you're going to make an "emergency" detonation system, try to make it fast and simple. The idea for "emergency" is that you have no time for pulling two heavy levers, opening a large chest, reading what you have to do, putting a code, inserting FOUR cylindrical things into holes, opening each one of them and pressing a button. Oh, and then you have to run like 2 miles of corridors to get to the shuttle. But, what if you change your mind? Easy, go back and deactivate the "emergency" system by doing all of the described above in reverse. But, you only have 5 minutes to do it. That's completely ridiculous.
Another thing that I disliked, was the fact that while an alien is trying to kill them all, instead of preparing the shuttle to get the hell out of there, Ripley goes off looking for a CAT. Yes, a cat!
Bottom line: average movie, boring and long at first just to be a big disappointment in the end. My vote: 4/10.