Which is the best in the Alien Quadrilogy

[Peige]

Aliens for me, I think it captured all the essence of teh first but there was loads of them and you couldn't help but think they were doomed.

Might have also been the fact i was seeing a girl who worked in the cinema at the time and got to watch it three times

[NokkonWud]

I think I prefer the first one because it only took ONE Alien and ONE Facehugger to absolutely decimate them, resulting in the self-destruction of a ship in a bid to get rid of just one thing and the end result was drifting through space for 57 years. I think the whole tension and unknown of it was a plus, where as Aliens was very clear and open in showing you the Alien species.

[Pumpkinstew]

Fincher's directors cut of Alien 3 is a vast improvement on the theatrical release but it still doesn't come close to Alien or Aliens.

Aliens is a superb film. Probably Jim Cameron's second best film (behind T2, but that's an argument for another thread) but the stereotypical corporate scumbag and dumb Hollywood showdown at the climax leave it flawed.

Alien on the other hand is very close to the perfect film. The direction and cinematography are practically flawless, and the pacing is a masterclass in controlled storytelling. The infrequent glimpses of the alien (forced on Scott by the way the beast looked like a guy in rubber suit in good lighting) just adds to the fear of the unknown. When else has a moving dot filled you with terror?
The characters are better drawn and there are at least four scenes I wish I could use brain bleach on and watch again for the first time.

Of all the many films I've seen Alien is among the three that I consider to stand out from the rest as my very favourites, and I could watch it again and again and again.

[Flibster]

Originally Posted by Pumpkinstew

Fincher's directors cut of Alien 3 is a vast improvement on the theatrical release but it still doesn't come close to Alien or Aliens.

He had nothing to do with the extended cut.
It's not called the Directors Cut for a reason.

He pretty much had nothing to do with the theatrical cut either. He left the film's production before editing because the studio kept messing him about.

[Pumpkinstew]

I stand corrected.

13 people are still wrong about Aliens being better than Alien though

[Pheebs]

Ooooo err.

This is a hard one. Concept wise, you obviously have to hand it to Alien for it's originality. But, generally, I prefer to watch Aliens. Vasquez owns. The lines are stupendously awesome. The whole scenario is just wicked.


I do love both though. But vote wise... I will have to go with what I would watch I guess and plonk Aliens

[Dymetrie]

Alien is a horror film.

Aliens is an action film.

I prefer horror films.

[NokkonWud]

Originally Posted by Pumpkinstew

Alien on the other hand is very close to the perfect film. The direction and cinematography are practically flawless, and the pacing is a masterclass in controlled storytelling.

I agree, it really is. And on top of that all, it's not even close to being Ridley Scott's best film. (which for interest of those wondering, is Blade Runner).

[A Place of Light]

I bought the quadrilogy a few months back for a tenner from Hoomv.
Bargain IMHO.

Linkage

[Fayshun]

Originally Posted by A Place of Light

I bought the quadrilogy a few months back for a tenner from Hoomv.
Bargain IMHO.

Linkage

Me too. Awesome deal.