Alien

Alien, the landmark 1979 film, is proof positive that some days you should just stay in bed. Warrant Officer Ripley didn't, and consequently lives through a saga stretching four films ( rumor has it that five is in the works), two hundred fifty years, and two incarnations. Her nemesis through it all is the insect-like Geiger creation simply identified as 'alien'.

The film follows a deteriorating situation mercilessly from nearly the first minute to the last, telegraphing a real sense of desperation and fear. As the body count rises and the options narrow, it becomes more and more apparent that the good guys can not win this fight; plans fail, courage leads to death, and all that remains is the slim hope of survival. This same formula is used over and over again in the "Alien" series of films, each time with less and less effect. Naturally, there's the requisite amount of bad thinking that populates almost any variation of the stalker/killer genre. Frankly, if an eight foot whatzit with pointy teeth was out to eat my brain, I wouldn't split up into small groups and chase down a cat. Kitty can take it's chances. In space, the SPCA can't hear you abandon cat. All in all, however, it's a great thrill ride. That's nothing most of you don't already know. But it's as fun to see again after all these years as it was the first time through the turnstile, so you may want to rent yourself a dusty ticket and catch it again.

As the credits of "Alien" open, the slowly paced opening titles and soft, eerie score give some indication of what viewers will experience when watching this film. It starts off so unassumingly that first-time viewers are unlikely to be moved by the story or inspired by the slight character development in the film's first half. It is in fact this lack of certainty that makes "Alien" work so well, for as the film hits it second half it shifts dramatically from slow space road movie to an intergalactic haunted house fright show. This flip in drama, pace and tension makes for an unnerving ride into the unknown and results in one of the landmark sub-genre-sci-fi movies of the 20th century. The film is directed by Englishman Ridley Scott, who had a total of one feature and numerous commercials under his belt when he took control of proceedings. Since the success of "Alien", Scott has had an uneven career with highlights like "Blade Runner", "Thelma and Louise", "Gladiator" and most recently "Black Hawk Down" and low points like "Legend", "G.I. Jane" and the bore-fest "1492". "Alien" represents the overtly stylistic and slick approach Scott brings to his films, traits that are useful in science fiction but can sometimes seem out of place in more realistic genres.

From this point the film takes off. Space and distance are enclosed as Scott uses a brilliant mix of close ups and wide angled shots to display the vastness of the Nostromo and the claustrophobia in the crew. The alien and set design are outstanding. The massive sexual overtones of Swiss artist's H.R. Giger's alien and derelict ship are truly breathtaking, as is the futuristic-retro styling of Michael Seymour's sets. Grubby yet cool, the production quality of "Alien" is something to admire. It took seven more years before a sequel was made and when James Cameron took over the directing chair he revolutionised the series by making it all out action over spooky sci-fi with "Aliens". It may be a better movie, but the original remains a quality stand alone film and a landmark in the sci-fi horror sub genre that has not been matched by any other saga.