Again, like Superman 3, I actually get offended when people give this movie its unjust deserves as personally, I hold this film in higher regard than Aliens nowadays. BLASPHEMY I hear you all scream in unison, GAME OVER MAN, GAME OVER! YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS? Now before you go all Corporal Hudson on me let me explain my argument. Aliens is a great film, a classic action blockbuster with iconic, unforgettable characters, set pieces that just blow your mind & to top it off, was a sequel to undoubtedly the greatest sci fi film ever made. And Bill Paxton. But the thing is, have you watched it lately? I don't think it has aged that well. Regardless of how great an action film it is, that's just the problem. It is a generic 80's action film. Quite possibly THE definitive action film, but still an action film.
And the original Alien was anything but. It relied on atmospheric tension and a claustrophobic feel to create genuine horror that scared the bejeebus out of everyone. And of all the sequels and spinoffs that followed the only one that was based on the actual framework the original Alien laid down was David Finchers horribly underrated effort (dare I say, masterpiece). Only Alien 3 truly went out to capture the original feel that made Alien such a landmark classic. And as I mentioned with Batman and Robin, the preproduction was a complete nightmare (probably one of the worst in film history) with the execs once again showing how truly untalented they are at filmmaking. I mean, they released a teaser to a film that didn't even have a script yet. Come on! So with half a script (if that), angry management and frustrated actors. David Fincher went out and created a truly amazing film, showcased even more with the definitive Directors Cut (initially released as part of the Alien Quadrilogy dvd/vhs boxset) which highlights the original religious motif Fincher and Co. were going for. This version of the movie I think is a much superior film in many ways to James Cameron's Aliens in terms of direction. But aside from that, I thought the concept of the Xenomorph coming from something other than a human was mind blowing and exciting (Dog or Ox, doesn't matter. It was something different), even at the time of the theatrical release. And they had a plethora of thespians who seemingly used the stressful situation to their advantage and put in some truly solid and strong performances. And unlike Aliens there was no witty one liners to fall back on or massive explosive set pieces to hide behind. This film was everything that Aliens wasn't and Alien was. The fact alone that he did this with such immense pressure from the execs, with the budget constantly being cut back and with half a script, I say should've earn't the man an Oscar. It actually angers me and makes me lose a little respect for Fincher with regards to his feelings about this movie (he has disowned it completely). My personal belief is that no director should omit anything from their resume. It just shows how pretentious you are as a person and if you have the nerve to take the job, you should be willing to put your name on it regardless of how bad YOU might think it is or it turns out to be. Nothing is stopping these directors from walking now is there? Why did he sign up in the first place as the pre-production problems were already well known? I don't see George Clooney running from the fact that he was the star of "Return of the Killer Tomatoes." He embraces it, and for that reason he is awesome. But I digress. Alien 3 is just as much a definitive sci fi classic as much as the first two with a great story, excellent direction by Fincher, wonderfully acted by all involved and has a definitive end to the "trilogy", although we all know that concept didn't last long. And if none of this convinces you to change your mind about Alien 3, why not watch it after a viewing of the abomination known as "Prometheus", then come back and tell me why it has a bigger rating on both Rotten Tomatoes and IMDB. Give me a break, pfft. So there it is, 6 films that in my opinion are given way too much flak, deserve a way lot more credit then they currently receive and in comparison to some of the garbage Hollywood is throwing out there as of late. probably should be re-evaluated & given fresh ratings. But I guess that in the long run it is up to the personal tastes of the individual cinema goer. Although considering Grown Ups 2 beat out Pacific Rim in the US at least I think maybe that I might actually be a voice of reason on a planet of madness. Tell me I'm Wrong?
Passions in life: Movies, Music and Wrestling....My childhood was spent growing up in the "Outback" of Australia (I'm a little bit country) and my adulthood resided within the city limits (I'm a little bit rock and roll), so you could say that I am the best (or worst) of both worlds. A 6 foot 7 ex wannabe pro wrestler (whose career was cut short due to a busted back, NOT caused by wrestling) & muso who has a precocious cat & a habit of doing the wrong thing but for the right reasons. The story of my life????
All demos, no albums ;)
