Masterclass

Rating: 10/10 (5 April 2007)

Wow were do I start , this film is truly amazing . When this film was released back in 79 ,YES THAT'S 79 , it must have been like an alien itself landed . There is nothing in this jaunra before or after this film that can beat this film , not even Cameron's fine sequel .
This film might be getting on to nearly 30 years old but it still looks great . From the first moment in this film where the computer logs on a starts up the movie grips you and does'nt let go . Ridly Scott's vision of a deep space mining ship is truly amazing and still looks plausible today .
Scott's masterfull us of lighting and narrow corridors created a situation so intense and chilling that when I first saw this film 20 year's ago it was the best movie experience I think I ever had . You really get a feel for the characters in their dire situation that director's today seem to overlook in favour of gore and special effect's . You really get a feel of how helpless man is if he were to come up against such a creature .
And boy what a creature . I don't think the alien has been surpassed in movie history by a more realistic or terrifying creature . Giger broke the mold when he dreamt this one up . The alien in this movie has a more humanoid look about it than any of the sequels which I think give's it a more psychologically menacing aspect to it . It's Scott's sparing use of the creature due to him not having the budget or huge animatronics team behind him Cameron did that works so well leaving the imagination of the cinema goer to run wild .
The film builds gradually to a crescendo of and ending with great twist's along the way . The casting for the film was perfect and great array of talent on show scott's went for unknowns with ability rather than the established star root . This worked well as it reinforced the impression ordinary people in an extraordinary situation it probably also cut down on cost .
This lead's us to be introduced to the very talented Sigourny Weaver who play's the Riply character to perfection and made her an icon in movie history .
In the age of CGI and high wire's some younger viewers may find it all a little dated but for me when the alien became computerised it lost it's magic and realism and you just did'nt find it scary anymore .
So if you have'nt seen it yet your missing a real treat .