CHUD.com Community › Forums › THE MAIN SEWER › CHUD.COM Main › FRANCHISE ME: ALIEN
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

FRANCHISE ME: ALIEN

post #1 of 29
5/24/12 at 12:21pm
Thread Starter 
by Joshua Miller: link

Josh is chest-bursting with excitement.
Reply
post #2 of 29
5/24/12 at 1:33pm

Great read, and probably my favourite movie.

 

What always bothered me: that they couldn't notice Dallas not being the moving blip.

Reply
post #3 of 29
5/24/12 at 1:34pm

good write up, although I think you should have mentioned one aspect that O'Bannon and Shusett put into the film regarding one of the deep seated phobias addressed in the film. This is especially important given the overt sexual look/actions of the creature. (I'm starting to hate the term 'xenomorph')

 

from wiki

 

Quote:

Shusett said, "I have an idea: the monster screws one of them,"[3] planting its seed in his body, and then bursting out of his chest. Both realized the idea had never been done before, and it subsequently became the core of the film.[3] "This is a movie about alien interspecies rape," O'Bannon said on the documentary Alien Evolution, "That's scary because it hits all of our buttons."[4] O'Bannon felt that the symbolism of "homosexual oral rape" was an effective means of discomforting male viewers.
 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_%28creature_in_Alien_franchise%29

 

I've mentioned it before....I went into this movie completely blind as a 13/14 yr old scifi nerd. It fucked me up in the head for a while after I saw it. At the time, Giger's design freaked me the fuck out.It was nothing like I had ever seen before (and is still very unique despite all the copycats). 

Leaving the theater, after seeing the late show that night (I think it was opening night) was a little unnerving...too many shadows. eek.gif

Reply
post #4 of 29
5/24/12 at 2:56pm

Regarding O'Bannon's contribution, it's also worth noting that many of  Alien 's central concepts first appeared in Dark Star-- the bored, blue-collar crew, the 'mother' computer, and the search for an alien in the bowels of the ship. O'Bannon lost directorial credit to John Carpenter there but his involvement was complete.

Reply
post #5 of 29
5/24/12 at 7:42pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hammerhead View Post

O'Bannon lost directorial credit to John Carpenter there but his involvement was complete.

 

Which is something Carpenter has always agreed with.  O'Bannon, however, tried to arbitrate for sole directorial credit and seemed to hold a grudge over losing until the day he died.  That's part of why it's so hard to figure who exactly contributed what to the scriptwriting process of Alien.  Too many big egos in the mix, minus the always-gracious Shusett.

 

Anyway, on to more "important" things....

 

The Alien's archnemesis:  Jonesy the Cat!  Those of us who have owned (or currently own) cats know how they are.  There is absolutely NO WAY IN HELL that Jonesy didn't chase around and torment the Alien while it was a little chestburster.  I guarantee it grew up (doesn't matter how quickly) with a deep-seated fear of that cat.

 

Who put Jonesy in the locker?  Probably the Alien.  While Brett did not open the locker, he DID let the cat get away.  So who dies first?  Brett.  The Alien then takes to the ventilation system where the cat cannot follow and remains there........until Dallas goes in and tries to flush it out into Jonesy territory.  So Dallas bites it.  At this point, the Alien goes back into hiding while all of the Ash hijinks are occurring.  As it wonders about the ship, it hears over the comm-system where the cat is (with Ripley) and moves elsewhere.  Ole Xeno accidentally bumps into Lambert & Parker and decides not to take its chances.  And then runs off to hide in a corridor again.

 

"What the fuck, here comes that bitch with that GODDAMN CAT again!  Maybe if I scare her, she'll leave!  FUCK!  She ran off, but FORGOT THE CAT!  And he's blocking the route for me to leave this hallway!"

 

*DIRECTOR'S CUT TERRITORY*  "Might as well fuck with him while he's in that cage and can't get me!  *smacks carrier over*  Oh fuck, he's really pissed now!  Best get a move on!" *END DIRECTOR'S CUT*

 

"Ahh, peace and quiet in the escape shuttle.  Time for a nap.  Well shit, here comes that bitch again...AND WITH THE FUCKING CAT!  Maybe if I just lay here quietly, they will leave me alone.  Oh good, she put the cat in the sleepy-time chamber.  Shit, she saw me.  I'll just continue to mind my ownOH GOD IT BURNS!  You done fucked up now!  Should have kept that demonspawn out here with you!  Then you might have lived!  OH FUCK, I'M FLYING INTO THE BIG BLACKNESS!  Well, at least the cat isn't out here anymore...............I hope.  =("

Reply
post #6 of 29
5/24/12 at 11:02pm

Yeah, having heard/read both sides of the ALIEN writing situation - and assuming the truth likely lies somewhere in between - I think O'Bannon's original script was probably fairly B-movie-like, as pretty much everything else he's written was. And that's not an insult. I love much of his other work. But Giler and Hill seem to have been responsible for the more natural tone the ALIEN shooting script came out with (and who knows how much ad-libbing was also going on). And they came up with Ash. They made major contributions that probably warranted sharing screenwriting credit, but O'Bannon was obsessive about such things -- maybe even to the point of denial. ALIEN was his baby. But Giler and Hill played a big part too. Everyone else - Scott, the studio, and other producer - seem to agree with Giler and Hill.

Reply
post #7 of 29
5/25/12 at 6:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by VTRan View Post
 (I'm starting to hate the term 'xenomorph')

 

How's that even possible? It's an awesome word! Especially as a noun.

Reply
post #8 of 29
5/25/12 at 7:17am
Quote:
Originally Posted by S.D. Bob Plissken View Post

 

Which is something Carpenter has always agreed with.  O'Bannon, however, tried to arbitrate for sole directorial credit and seemed to hold a grudge over losing until the day he died.  That's part of why it's so hard to figure who exactly contributed what to the scriptwriting process of Alien.  Too many big egos in the mix, minus the always-gracious Shusett.

 

Anyway, on to more "important" things....

 

The Alien's archnemesis:  Jonesy the Cat!  Those of us who have owned (or currently own) cats know how they are.  There is absolutely NO WAY IN HELL that Jonesy didn't chase around and torment the Alien while it was a little chestburster.  I guarantee it grew up (doesn't matter how quickly) with a deep-seated fear of that cat.

 

Who put Jonesy in the locker?  Probably the Alien.  While Brett did not open the locker, he DID let the cat get away.  So who dies first?  Brett.  The Alien then takes to the ventilation system where the cat cannot follow and remains there........until Dallas goes in and tries to flush it out into Jonesy territory.  So Dallas bites it.  At this point, the Alien goes back into hiding while all of the Ash hijinks are occurring.  As it wonders about the ship, it hears over the comm-system where the cat is (with Ripley) and moves elsewhere.  Ole Xeno accidentally bumps into Lambert & Parker and decides not to take its chances.  And then runs off to hide in a corridor again.

 

"What the fuck, here comes that bitch with that GODDAMN CAT again!  Maybe if I scare her, she'll leave!  FUCK!  She ran off, but FORGOT THE CAT!  And he's blocking the route for me to leave this hallway!"

 

*DIRECTOR'S CUT TERRITORY*  "Might as well fuck with him while he's in that cage and can't get me!  *smacks carrier over*  Oh fuck, he's really pissed now!  Best get a move on!" *END DIRECTOR'S CUT*

 

"Ahh, peace and quiet in the escape shuttle.  Time for a nap.  Well shit, here comes that bitch again...AND WITH THE FUCKING CAT!  Maybe if I just lay here quietly, they will leave me alone.  Oh good, she put the cat in the sleepy-time chamber.  Shit, she saw me.  I'll just continue to mind my ownOH GOD IT BURNS!  You done fucked up now!  Should have kept that demonspawn out here with you!  Then you might have lived!  OH FUCK, I'M FLYING INTO THE BIG BLACKNESS!  Well, at least the cat isn't out here anymore...............I hope.  =("

 

 

Ah, that is fucking great. Having had cats my whole life, I'm amazed I never came to this interpretation but now that I've heard it - it makes total sense. Well, maybe not in a canon sense but in terms of my own experience the idea tickles the shit out of me. Note Jonesy's excitement during Ripley's chestburster dream in Aliens: That cat's totally going, "Lunch! Fuck yeah!".

Reply
post #9 of 29
5/25/12 at 7:38am

That was a great Alien article. It gets me excited for Prometheus!

Reply
post #10 of 29
5/25/12 at 7:39am

I love what O'Bannon contributed to genre cinema, but from all accounts the guy was almost impossibly stubborn. I just read a cool book on 70's horror cinema called SHOCK VALUE and O'Bannon's difficulties are well documented there. He was a guy who couldn't see past his own (admittedly good) ideas to see a greater picture. He didn't know how to collaborate, and in Hollywood that is the mark of death. It's why he wasn't as prolific as he could have been. He also suffered from a horrible stomach condition (ironic, considering the chest-burster) and that may have played a large role in his disagreeable personality. It certainly played a role in his death.

Reply
post #11 of 29
5/25/12 at 7:48am

Another fine edition of FM.  I love the thoughts on the ideas of the movie never been explained, thus the viewer is left relying on their imaginiaton, far more staisfactory

 

One of my greatest Fanboy wishes was to see Scott do a sequel which ignored Aliens (which I love as well) and let him play in such a Lovecraftian universe.

Reply
post #12 of 29
5/25/12 at 7:49am
Quote:
I mean, how have the facehugger eggs survived for so long on this long abandoned, semi-ancient ship without nourishment (they even note that the dead humanoid they find looks “fossilized”)?

I think the eggs were in some sort of stasis, below that layer of blue light. It's clear there was some sort of functioning containment field even though the ship was an ancient wreck.

Reply
post #13 of 29
5/25/12 at 7:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Workyticket View Post

 

 

Ah, that is fucking great. Having had cats my whole life, I'm amazed I never came to this interpretation but now that I've heard it - it makes total sense. Well, maybe not in a canon sense but in terms of my own experience the idea tickles the shit out of me. Note Jonesy's excitement during Ripley's chestburster dream in Aliens: That cat's totally going, "Lunch! Fuck yeah!".

 

Not only that, but I don't think the Alien was the only one afraid of Jonesy. Ripley may coddle and placate him, even risk her life to save him from the Nostromo (done out of affection or fear of angering him?), but in Aliens she takes the first opportunity that comes to put some light-years between her and that cat, even if it means going back to Planet Xenomorph. Apparently reliving that is less traumatic than staying with Jonesy.

Reply
post #14 of 29
5/25/12 at 9:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Arjen Rudd View Post

 

How's that even possible? It's an awesome word! Especially as a noun.

 

don't get me wrong, I agree 'xenomorph' is a very cool sounding word and more than applicable to the matter at hand, and yet....

 

It seems so nerdy (fanboyish) and wantonly thrown around by said nerds to point out how superior their nerd cred is.

 

spoken with some sort of nasal blockage: "You do you know that the xenomorph(s) blood was not really a true 'acid' in the literal sense of the word....?"

 

maybe I just need to get it out of my system...

 

xenomorph

xenomorph

xenomorph

xenomorph

 

nah, I still like 'Alien'

Reply
post #15 of 29
5/25/12 at 9:49am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sebastian OB View Post
It's why he wasn't as prolific as he could have been.

 

That's what I've always assumed.

 

I have no idea how true this story is, but I had a professor in college who knew O'Bannon when they were in their 20's. And he told an anecdote of discovering a gun under O'Bannon's bedroom pillow, and when he asked about it, O'Bannon's response was, "You never know."

Reply
post #16 of 29
5/25/12 at 9:51am

The big irony about the word 'Xenomorph' is that it was a throwaway thing introduced to establish Gorman's love of unnecessarily clinical military language. It was basically invented to set up a punchline from Hicks, yet became the name for the aliens for a huge chunk of the fanbase.

Reply
post #17 of 29
5/26/12 at 12:42am

I was actually surprised when it popped up again in the extended cut of Alien 3.

 

That said, it is Dark Horse Comics that took the term and ran with it.................along with their own alternate Predator term, "Yautja".

Reply
post #18 of 29
5/26/12 at 2:57pm

Great article. Can't wait for the rest of the series. Like the Rambo Saturday morning series in the 80s, there was a proposed Alien Saturday morning cartoon series. Wish I could find the pilot.

 

oacartoon0.gif

 

http://www.alienscollection.com/operationaliens.html

 

Would love to see the James Bond series tackled next with Skyfall coming in November. With 23 movies it would be the most epic Franchise Me yet.

Reply
post #19 of 29
5/26/12 at 3:38pm

Yet another amazing article, Joshua. Love how you highlight Yaphet Kotto's brilliant turn in the film. He thoroughly earns the "And Yaphet Kotto as Parker" credit.

 

 

I've been on board with the whole "Jones the Alien intimidator" angle for a while now. Makes perfect sense, and I'm a cat owner as well. They take shit from no one, but they're so lovable and fun!

 

 

That proposed Aliens saturday morning cartoon looks to be based off the 1992 toyline. I can see Ripley and Drake in that one, and the screenshots in the link feature Hicks among others.

Reply
post #20 of 29
5/26/12 at 7:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by User_32 View Post

Would love to see the James Bond series tackled next with Skyfall coming in November. With 23 movies it would be the most epic Franchise Me yet.

 

That would be a pretty massive undertaking.  I'd almost recommend that he do it in chunks (Connery/Lazenby, Moore/Dalton, Brosnan/Craig) with small "refresher" franchises in between than all at once.  Joshua, you're a trooper if you decide to set your sights on such a mega-franchise this year.

 

And if you decide to go for it, might as well include the other two Casino Royale adaptations and Never Say Never Again.

Reply
post #21 of 29
5/28/12 at 10:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by User_32 View Post

Great article. Can't wait for the rest of the series. Like the Rambo Saturday morning series in the 80s, there was a proposed Alien Saturday morning cartoon series. Wish I could find the pilot.

 

oacartoon0.gif

 

http://www.alienscollection.com/operationaliens.html

 

Would love to see the James Bond series tackled next with Skyfall coming in November. With 23 movies it would be the most epic Franchise Me yet.

 

I wish that had gotten picked up. Just so I could see it.

Reply
post #22 of 29
5/28/12 at 2:51pm

Same here.  Alas, we were only left with an action figure line with mini-comics that made no sense.

Reply
post #23 of 29
6/6/12 at 6:20pm

Watched this in anticipation of Prometheus, and noticed something I never have before: when Ash is examining the dead facehugger, he's drinking a glass of white liquid. Milk? Weird foreshadowing or character quirk, but I like it.

Reply
post #24 of 29
6/6/12 at 8:22pm

Yeah, I noted that too. At first I thought "Is he re-fueling?" But if I'm not mistaken we see him eating real food with the rest of the gang too. So seemingly just a fun insert by Scott (or whoever suggested it).

Reply
post #25 of 29
6/6/12 at 8:49pm

I do so love his delivery of the line "I think it's safe to assume it's not a zombie"

 

Holm is just so good in that role.

Reply
post #26 of 29
6/6/12 at 9:33pm

tumblr_lgcjzho13s1qe0eclo1_r18_500.gif

 

tumblr_lgcpzsgGRN1qe0eclo1_r2_500.gif

 

tumblr_lr5rs3jvka1qe0eclo1_r4_500.gif

Reply
post #27 of 29
6/20/12 at 9:31am

He almost creeps me out more than Giger's design! Because I know he's real.

 

http://www.chud.com/98065/the-alien-beneath-the-alien/

Reply
post #28 of 29
6/20/12 at 10:02am

It took me quite a while to realize this (and I'm likely not the first one to make this observation), but Ash is basically Dr. Carrington (Robert Cornthwaite) from Hawks' The Thing. A cold, likely sexually frustrated person with a disturbing affinity for a creature he deems perfect for its complete lack of human frailties (listen to the assessment of the respective creatures by either character, they're saying exactly the same thing and revealing something about their own inner life) and who puts its well-being before that of the people he's technically meant to support. The only difference is that one is human and the other is not, though it can be argued that in Ash's case the difference is nominal.

Reply
post #29 of 29
6/21/12 at 7:24am
Quote:

Shusett said, "I have an idea: the monster screws one of them,"[3] planting its seed in his body, and then bursting out of his chest. Both realized the idea had never been done before

 

That'd be great if it were true.  They liberally borrowed the idea from Cronenberg's Shivers, which came out in 1975.

Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: CHUD.COM Main
CHUD.com Community › Forums › THE MAIN SEWER › CHUD.COM Main › FRANCHISE ME: ALIEN