ALIEN (1979) Retrospective / Review
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ALIEN (1979) Retrospective / Review
Get the ALIEN Anthology set here goo.gl/yWImsE
Get the ALIEN Soundtrack here goo.gl/t3UQJy
Intro Artwork provided by Jack Davies - www.jackdaviesart.com
Let's Play Channel
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Get the ALIEN Anthology set here goo.gl/yWImsE
Get the ALIEN Soundtrack here goo.gl/t3UQJy
I also enjoyed very much, thanks Oliver!
Know where you can get the Alien Quadrilogy in Director’s Cut form? Every one I’ve seen has been the theatrical cuts
Could you do one for the lord of the rings series? They're comparable to starwars in epicness...
Man you should do trailers. The alien trailer with the egg is brilliant though it shows nowt
Hi Oliver and everyone! I have a question regarding Ash. I noticed that their "hibernation" machine or something only has 6! Pods and they are 7, meaning Ash didnt need to hibernate just like the character David in Prometheus. How come they did not notice this?! When they woke up they must have seen there were only 6 sleeping pods not 7! Thanks!
Alien is a flawless masterpiece. And Sigourney Weaver is easily the best female heroine in cinema history.
True. She never should have left the cat in the first place...
What about Sara Connor?
Female lead done right. Not this woke feminist clowns we have now.
@@alextargaryen7886 FACTS
Oggatha Christie no, she’s not. Because she had DEVELOPMENT. It felt organic. The movie didn’t spend time slamming you with reminders that she had a p*ssy, and neither did the publicity.
For a film made in the 70's the design and effects piss all over 99% of what they make today.
Naah it's not the 70s it's marking the end of it and the start of the 80s
Make that 100%
People in 2049 will watch the Revengers or whatever smoldering garbage Hollywood shits out nowadays and say the same thing.
Star wars 1977
Prometheus
Alien, Aliens, T1, T2, The Thing (1982) ... all time classics
The 80s and Early 90s created so many classics..
DieHardjagged Alien is 70's bruh
yeah, 1979... that's like calling yourself a 90's kid when you were born in 1999
Josh Daw Well you're still technically a 90's kid
M RO Don't forget predator
The sign of a good sci fi film is how well it dates.
Alien and Bladerunner do not look old.
Logans Run while a great story looks like a 70's film
Also The Thing, Predator, The Terminator and Aliens.
Surprise no one has mention the biggest one, Star Wars which was 1977
I'll never watch another Marvel film, Christ they suck balls.
@@bryan0x05 that's because Star Wars is pants. The effects were good, but the movie is junk.
@@MichaelJohnson-kq7qg You may not have liked it, but it ended being one of the biggest and most beloved sci-fi franchises, and open the doorway for companies realizing high budget sci-fi is viable.
Watching this made me realise that not only is this film an absolute masterwork, so is the soundtrack
Very true. When I got older, I ended up realizing what a real genius Jerry Goldsmith was. In all of his work, there's this romantic, dreamy element quality in it.
Its vast, expansive, immersive, just like the mythos Ridley Scott created
I made a Jerry Goldsmith CD for the car and Alien is followed by his score for Leviathan, which is also very good. (The score, not so much the film!)
Probably Ilia's Theme. There are quite a few great scores I don't think people even realise are his: Capricorn One, Total Recall, Rambo, The 13th Warrior and even the original Man From U.N.C.L.E. theme.
The soundtrack is amazing. I just did my second annual re watch of Alien. And I must say even re watching Alien it is hella GRIPPING this movie grabs hold of you and doesn’t let go. Can’t tell you how many times I jumped with fright watching it last night even though I’ve seen it a million times. Damn good movie holy shit love it love it
R.I.P. John Hurt, Harry Dean Stanton and Bill Paxton. :(
TheBraunMachine2011 and don.t forgot dan o bannon
Game over man..
TheBraunMachine2011 RIP as well to actor Bolaji Badejo who played the Zenomorph in Alien in 1979 and died in 1992.
billythekid perez that was actor Kevin Peter Hall who played the Predator in Predator in 1987 and again in Predator 2 in 1990 who played Harry but he died in 1991. Badejo was the unknown actor who played Xenomorph in Alien but sadly died in 1992 from sickle cell anemia.
May they continue the good fight above the Heavens.
I have to agree with some of the other comments, from just a technical perspective, Alien is a perfect movie. Just enough character development to make you care. Each character is different and recognizable. Scenes move at a perfect pace. The sound is amazing. Totally mood setting, emotion filled sound track. The sets are so memorable. You can look at a still photo of any shot in the movie and know that it belongs to Alien. The monster is incredible. Perfectly designed and photographed. No CGI, just pure art and acting. Even today I look at the scenes where they reveal the xenomorph and I just keep saying to myself, that looks soooo cool! .... Alien is a perfect movie.
Many of the sets were designed by Jean Giraud, better known by his artist name Moebius, an influential French sf cartoonist.
I could not agree more
when i was growing up as a young lad in the late 70s, my family would not allow me watch the 1979 "Alien",
but when ALIENS came out in early 80s, my dad was ok with taking me to the theater on opening day.
it was probably another 10+ yrs before I finally saw the first Alien, and it did not disappoint- that movie still scares me every time i watch it.
Those set pieces are still jaw-dropping. Incredible what they were able to achieve with a tiny budget.
The greatest sci fi horror movie ever. Nothing compares to this. Everything is perfect: the pacing, the characters, the creature, the environment, the music.
Aliens is great but still has nothing on Alien
Aliens is more like action adventure with dying characters than horror/thriller.
You obviously have never seen Galaxina...
Nothing compares to Alien. It really is a one of a kind.
Totally agree!
The thing can compete
This film actually improves as the years go by.
And it is the best one! At the time, this was never done before, so it was groundbreaking in any way. It's the reference for every movie in the same genre.
Same with Aliens and especially Alien 3
@@tangent4416 I disagree. Aliens is actually the best one.
@@kendallrivers1119 Aliens is an okay movie. It's not a good "Alien" movie.
Thats becuase the ones coming out today are mostly absolute dogshit by comparison.
One of the greatest Movies ever made, Even today nearly 40 years later it stands up very well.
It really does. Every time I watch it, it still gives me that very real feeling of isolation & dread.
Alien is my favorite horror movie ever.
It's so fucking amazing! The rest of the team who helped make it need more credit though.
+Harri927 Yea, together with The THing (1982) these two are (by my opinon) the basic (or undament) o the modern horror sci-i ;)
yeah still a great movie.
+MrWizzyKin id disagree. it is most certainly a horror movie but is a sci fi horror, similar films such as the thing or invasion of the body snatchers.
It's my favorite movie ever period!
From the Alien’s perspective, this is “Die Hard.”
Lol
Omg, did we miss the white t shirt all these years ? 😅
Hahahaha
Alien in the vents "now I know what a tv dinner feels like"
RIP John Hurt aka Kane. Thanks for showing the true meaning of horror in a horror movie. 1940-2017
Also R.I.P. to co star Harry Dean Stanton 1926-2017 who played Brett
Also to sir Ian Holm, who played ash
1931-2020
What'd he die of?
@@scottknode898 and RIP yaphet koto, 1938-2018
@@visicircle who are you asking about Ian Holm who was 88 years old when died of Parkinson’s Disease in 2020. John Hurt died of pancreatic cancer in 2017 and Harry Dean Stanton died also died in 2017 at age 91 of nautural causes
Aliens is great!! But Alien captures the creepy atmosphere best :)
i could not agree more!
They are both great for what they are, but they are practically working in two separate genres that just happen to be in the same series....
alien is much better in my opinion, but aliens is easier to digest
***** yes, however that doesn't take away from the fact that aliens had horror elements, but did want to focus more on action (for the most part). I still jump when the queen is chasing ripley through the levels and pops out of the smoke.
Indeed,some of the model work looks like"The Thunderbirds".I did not have the same feeling watching Alien.
This is the one and only movie that was so intense in the theater that I wanted badly to get out into the lobby. But because the movie was so wildly new and popular I was in a theater where people were even sitting in the aisles and in the back row standing. I found the scene in the the medical bay where they had John Hurt's body in a chamber while he had the face hugger on him the most suspenseful to the point I was almost panicking. The part when the alien's skin and fell down off the overhead light made me so terrified I whispered to my best friend "I don't think I can stay here, I gotta get out" and she whispered back "I know, but it's too crowded to get out! Just cover your eyes..."
Oh boy, imagine being 12 year old kid at home alone in the late evening after watching Relic (1997) switching off the light and going to bed the feeling was `who is there in the dark ? Is it gonna get me ?` 😆Sweating in panic.
Another 12 years later I`ve read the book. It is still on my shelf on top row.
My little brother was 12 and he only saw a feature about the film on TV. But after that he couldn‘t eat eggs for quiet a long time 😅
I find it funny how a character, Yaphet as Parker, casted just to add diversity actually became one of my favorite characters in the movie. Yaphet was so good in this movie. I truly believed him and the choices his character made during this movie. One of my favorite scenes, when the alien bursts from Kane, the way Parker acts throughout the entire scene is so believable and then when he kind of pushes Ripley behind him, even though she’s such a badass. You just really believe they are a crew and , although human with faults, they care to save each other. Makes his later choices in the film that more believable. Love this movie
"Why don't you freeze him??" was both funny and insightful and I found myself agreeing with him lol
I likes the android he was great. This movie is a masterpiece
amazing they just build an entire ship and no cgi
What impresses me most is that the entire ship was created as a single set that the actors could walk through from room to room, corridor to corridor. Just brilliant.
All sets and everything is in camera...that's why they still look so good today
You can't beat physical sets and model work. CGI always looks like CGI no matter how good it gets. Today you and I can create the kind of CGI they used in the 90s on our own PCs but even the Hollywod studios can't make CGI look as real as a physical model. It always looks too... plasticky if you know what I mean
@@countzero1136 I agree, sometimes CGI looks too perfect, for want of a better word. A physical set is better.
Made in England.
Pacing is really important to me in a movie. I really appreciate a movie that takes it's time. It seems like modern audiences just need to be stimulated constantly or boredom will set in. I like to savor my movies.
For proper pacing im replying to you 3 years later
Lol
Right I agree. A break from reality. Getting lost in a well paced movie is always nice
The Global Movie audience that now exists, demands an "Amusement Park Ride" style of a movie. The explosions for the sake of explosions crowd. If you're 10 then yeah...
The Usual Suspects comes to mind.
41 years old and this movie is still a masterpiece! 👌
I saw it at the drive-in when I was 8. My parents smuggled me in the rear footwell covered in a blanket so they didn't have to buy a ticket. It scared the absolute _shit_ outta me! I had to curl up on my dad's chest and not look at the screen. Just listen to his heartbeat while he laughed. He loved scary movies. Ahhh... Good times. :)
HaHa The drive-in was my 1st as well. My mother took me (I was 12) It was one of those drive-ins where you tuned your car radio to a certain frequency and heard it through your stereo. My eyes were as big as pie plates and you can still make out the claw marks on my left forearm where she had a death grip. After the movie was over we both could finally breathe _out._ Good times indeed. ;)
@@michaelmoore7975 You had a STEREO! Man, that's fancy. We had an AM mono radio. Wouldn't matter tho', coz we didn't have those fancy FM radio waves yet. Just the metal speaker you hook on your window.
When I was teen we used to crawl through a hole in the fence and sit next to one of those speakers. Got chased-off a couple times, but we leapt over the fence like gazelles! Good times. :)
@@MajorMalfunction It might've been quadruple mono for all I know.....but my mom's boyfriend at the time was a sort of an audiophile and fitted her car with a "system" of that time....badass 8-track with 4 speakers oh yeahhh!! I can't tell you how many times I've had Billy Joel's _Zanzibar_ blasting in my ears... *_good times indeed._*
@@michaelmoore7975 8-track? Phew! That WAS the good stuff!
Did your drive-ins have kids playgrounds up front? As kids we'd all run and play around there until the movie started. Everyone would flash their lights and honk their horns, and the kids would run back to their cars. And everyone would flash their lights and honk their horns in applause when something interesting happened in the movie.
And if it was a dual screen, and your movie ended before the other one, you'd drive over and catch the end of the other one. Even better if they had two movies each. You could drive from one screen to the other to choose which two movies you wanted to watch.
Tho' it's bad manners to use your headlights moving when the movie's on. ;)
@@MajorMalfunction Yup. All that. But our "playground" was pretty neglected; things never got fixed. Maybe 2 or 3 swings still had chains and could use. The merry-go-round went...sorta around, but sounded like someone dragging a metal trash can across a gravel parking lot. And half of the whatchacallits... those plastic animal things mounted on a giant spring? There was always 1 or 2 that looked like a flaccid pecker. Also on the 4th of July you went in, found a spot, and they would use the playground to stage the fireworks. Also also the snack bar you could enter at the rear or front that was a breezeway between 2 buildings. All the scary kids who smoked and looked for trouble hung out in the back entrance. You avoided them at all costs. So going in the front, the huge snack bar was on the right with the sound of the movie piped in and a huuuge plate glass viewing window. In front of the snack bar was an area walled around a bunch of chairs where you could watch in the open air. But on the left side was a completely enclosed and air conditioned seating area. And the glass front was the longest piece of glass I'd ever seen. But they hardly ever opened that up. It got to the point to we went but never watched the movie, instead meeting at the playground and passing around a bottle of corn whiskey somebody pilfered from their dads toolbox.
By the time I was a HS Senior, it had shutdown.... *_but_* .....they left the little roadways open and the drive-in became my personal budoir for all things _en flagrante delicto._ Just a little outside town, perfectly isolated, no chance of getting caught. For 2 years I used that place...until I/we got caught; cold outside, steamed up windows, not a stitch on and giving the suspension a workout...and all of a sudden....a flashlight clicks on _right outside the window_ not 4 inches from my face....instant floppy. I crack the window about an inch and I say to the cop, "Can I help ya with something?
Replies: "Y'all put your clothes on and c'mon out."
The worst part was the cop told her to call her dad to pick her up because we're both under 21.
Acting, writing, editing, setting, plot, story, effects, musical score, tension and horror. It's movie making at it's absolelute best.
And in 1986, Cameron comes along and makes one of the five best sequels ever.
James Cameron would also make another one of the five best sequels with Terminator 2 Judgement Day!
Couldnt agree more. Aliens and t2 are the best sequels.... Lethal weapon 2 and Halloween 2 are also good... What are the other good sequels in your opinion
What are the other four?
Terminator 2
Lethal weapon 2
Back to the future 2
The empire strikes back
And other great sequels are: Indiana Jones and the last crusade, return of the jedi.
Rocky 2, Rocky Balboa. But that's just my choices.
@@klickklack3949 The Dark Knight.
The Dallas cocoon scene is still tough to take. Just the thought of being slowly dissolved like that.
It's not cannon to me. As far as I'm concerned. It never happened. I don't like to think Dallas died that way.
Kiiiiillll meeeeeeee
No you don't get it. Dallas was not dissolving. He was going to be the host for the next face hugger, which Brett was being turned into just a few feet away. In the scene, Ripley looks over and quietly says, 'Brett'.
@@seekthegreatness4818 It is canon actually. They cut the scene because Ridley felt it stopped the film's pacing but Dallas was to be the host for the face hugger, which is what Brett was being transformed into. The alien, because it was separated from its hive, had to rely on this method of reproduction. Propagating its species was its primary purpose. BUT when all is said and done, yes Dallas would die, the same way that Kane did.
@@outpost31mac You're right on an objective level. But like I said it's not Canon TO ME. It's better to remember Dallas being instantly killed than suffering and dying in such an undignified way. I really hate it. Sometimes people like to shut certain things out from their memory. And I'm glad it was cut from the theatrical release.
R.I.P. to stars Harry Dean Stanton and John Hurt and it’s crazy to think this classic movie had only 7 cast members and could follow each character. One of my favorite movies
H.R Giger is such a genius with his designs there's literally nothing else like them! What a fantastic find he was to join the movie.
What a superb piece of work this review is. Well done - u obviously put a huge amount of time and effort into it. Top class and thank you.
Thank you very much!
One of my favorite movies ever. I can watch it over and over again.
Alien is by far my favourite movie in the franchise ...
Aliens is a great sci-fi action movie with a bit of horror added and is rightly seen as a true classic...
BUT
Alien is a masterclass in suspense/horror... The sci-fi is the backdrop of the movie. NOT its genre. The slow pace, dialogue, acting and special effects (which still hold up in 2018) make this movie a true legendary movie ... leagues above the sequels and similar movies.
Watch Alien 3 :D it's even more unique with that grungy vibe and haunting perfect soundtrack
Its been 3 or 4 years since I last watched Alien and after playing Alien Isolation I am surprised with the amount of detail and care they put into the game straight out of the movie. I feel like watching Alien after playing Alien Isolation
I sincerely mean this Oliver you deserve way more views and subscribers than Chris Stuckman. Your reviews actually make me want to rewatch all of these movies all over again and end up learning new things. Keep up the exceptional work!
Thank you very much Jairo!
What does Chris Stuckmann have to do with Oliver? Their videos are completely different genres.
I concur. I have the same feeling after I watch each episode of his reviews.
Why the need to bring up someone else to put across your compliment. There's enough space on this platform for all kinds of reviewers. I personally love both.
Both are excellent and provide many insights. I watch both quite faithfully. It's their differences that make them entertaining in their own unique ways.
Jesus, I don't even want to imagine the hell of a copyright you had to go through making this review. Respect.
The acting in this movie was phenomenal. They all had so much chemistry. It really felt as though they were helplessly stuck in this horrible situation as opposed to acting out a script. A true masterpiece. As for the alien itself, brilliant and unique design. A true envisioned demon from Hell.
Always loved Ash's speech on morality.
I think Alien helped inspire the resident evil series. The themes of the mega corporation viewing people as expendable, the self destruct sequences the slow pace and rich environments creating atmosphere are all present. RE2 has one of the characters implanted with an embryo that will yield lethal results like the alien's and the flamethrower in the game is an exact copy of the flamethrower from Aliens.
My favorite part of this review is when you talk about Ash (around the 30 minutes mark). I think exactly the same. Such a fascinating character and what great acting by Ian Holm. Although all actors are great in this classic.
+Clint Dlowrev
Only when you watch this several times and pay close attention to Ash do you realise what a terrific piece of acting that was - and not just when the shit hits the fan. Even early on in the film, you need to look closely to see the robotic way he changes his facial expressions. It's beautifully done.
That running-on-the-spot gesture, haha - even the crappy robots in Alien Isolation do that!
+Mai Nem I still need to play that game.
Interesting that the android David stole the show in the new Prometheus story arc.
The cast didn't like Ian Holmes - because they were "in character" and knew Ian was on the side of the Alien, which he was (again, Ian was "in character") - so he was rejected as a friend and had lonely time filming. I saw a photo of him at age 70 or 80 and he was still in character (maybe just for the photo)
When I was a early teenager, my dad made me watch this movie and The Thing when they came on back to back on the TV channel AMC. Alien was terrifying yet kept my interest, but The Thing scarred me for life.
Still my favourite sci-fi movie after 30 years, pure magic.
Back when I was younger I thought this movie was too slow but now as an adult I appreciate the build up in tension and the atmosphere that this movie has to offer.
You know what they say... in space, no one can hear you scream.
I watched this movie at the drive in theater back in 1979!! I feel in love with little know actress named Sigourney Weaver that night!!
I want to scream.
That was amazing
You know what they say... Once you kills a cow, you gotta make a burger.
Some of the greatest tag lines are this time it's war, you will believe a man can fly, breaking out is impossible but breaking in is insane.
Alien is THE best scifi horror film of all time: a simple story, beautiful and realistic sets, with a superb cast of very believable looking / acting / reacting, emphasis on suspense and growing anxiety, while not over relying on special effects (which often get in the way or derail most CGI era films).
Alien is scary. But the slow pace, the music and the calm before the storm is so therapeutic to me.
Bravo Oliver! Well done. I saw Alien for the first time when I was 8 years old (thanks Dad) and it has always stuck with me as one of the most beautifully horrifying thrillers ever. Thank you for treating it with the respect it deserves.
I have been a sub for a year now and still dont know why he doesnt have more subscribers
Yeah , just thinking that aswell . Ollie should be at least 75,000 by now
+Movies4Life Thats very nice of you to say. Im slowly building up numbers but it takes promotion and for individuals to share my work on websites with large traffic to build up numbers quickly and to gain bigger audience.
Oliver Harper off course i stayed, i love the editing in your videos and that you cover everything of a movie.
I love how you stay dedicated to making the retrospectives even though they dont get that high amount of views.
Keep on the great work Oliver, i know i will be looking forward to every video you will be making in the future.
P.S. -Cant wait for the Aliens retrospective, its my favorite movie of all time
+Movies4Life haha sorry i meant 'say' not stay, i was typing too fast. But thanks for your feedback buddy. Most of the big CZcamsrs who have the large followers have a huge fanbase of kids and young teens and 80s & 90s movies don't really interest them plus they like reviews that are 3mins long..short attention spans i guess. But saying that I do have fans who are 16 and younger (i believe in a small capacity) and it's great to read their comments to know they enjoy classic movies and can look past dated effects etc and still appreciate them.
Oliver Harper I am 15 and i would choose Practical effects over CGI anyday.
I want to be a director later and when i do i will try to put as little CGI in a movie as possible.
And i love really long reviews, i think its better to tell everything with great visual editing to keep you entertained then a guy sitting in front of a camera talking about a film he just saw (*coughs* JeremyJahns *coughs* *coughs*)
This is still one of my favorite movies
Number 5 on my top 20 of all time
Alien is the original and the best, liked them all but number 1 for me.
You just said you liked Alien then said you didnt?
Mo Kat, insert the word “is” after “number 1”
That’s why Cameron made a complete different movie! You can’t compare 1+2! The quiet isolation that plays with your fears in the original against a loud war-movie we got in the sequel!
Both outstanding!
I first saw Alien in the theater on shrooms and was totally immersed in the experience and absolutely horrified. The colors, strobes, sounds and effects were so intense and the alien terrifying that I could hardly stay in my seat. One of my most favorite scifi films.
You're brave AF lmao
Congrats on another great retrospective! I loved Aliens when I was a teenager, but Alien has slowly grown on me as I've matured. It's remarkable how the cast and characters of this film create such an instant connection with adult viewers. It really bumps up the suspension of disbelief which is sort of lacking in many of today's action and horror films.
The blood spraying on Lambert as the alien bursts from Kane's chest and her very real reaction have to be my favorite scene in the whole movie! But the whole movie is amazing and should be preserved for all time. The special effects really hold up well even today as do all the visuals, it's truly a masterpiece!
I don't think you could make a horror film like this today. People are too impatient for the jump scares and the beast to appear. But I still call it one of the best ever made.
And great page, by the way!
+K August That's not true, I hate these new kind o movies, where "everything" is about jump scares :-(
+Rudolf Klusal I hate them, too. That was my point.
+K August Agreed. In the 70's films took more chances. They could never make The Exorcist today either which is still the greatest "possession" film ever.
I disagree. There are plenty of great slow burns that come out. Whether it be Hereditary or The Witch or It Follows or The Babadook. Even movies like The Conjuring build intensity before we see anything really happen. You just gotta know where to look and I’m sure you’ll find many horror films that you’ll love that are newer.
Well, I watched Alien the first time on TV. As it happened, it was also the first time that I stayed up well past midnight for anything actually. Quite an experience at that time and age. Still one of my all-time favorite movies...
25:49 - Oliver: "Its plot seemed all too familiar."
Ripley: "...I don't like it."
Probably the best Retro Reviewer on CZcams, really enjoying your in-dept and enjoyable videos, most of these would feel right at home on a collectors blu ray of each movie.
Terrific retrospective. You always do a good job, but I was surprised you didn't mention one of the main (if not the main) themes of the film- birth/life. There are so many references and symbols throughout the film- the embryo, Kane's son, the eggs, the fact the alien is in Kane's stomach/chest, the ship is named Mother, the fact the facehugger resembles a vagina when Dallas/Ash examine it, the phallic shape of the Alien's head (thank you HR Giger).
I know there are more since I had a philosophy teacher in high school view this film and then discussed this same topic. If you did cover it and I somehow missed it, then I apologize.
I don't think the main theme of the film was birth/life per se, but rather how reproduction, at least in the case of the Xenomorpe, was achieved: rape.
Greatings from Denmark.
Thanks for the review!
Once again you deliver a super job. Its really well made and filled with indepth info and knowledge.
I really enjoy your reviews and looking forward to the next video from you!
Keep up the GOOD work.
Oliver you are truly the best movie reviewer on CZcams! this review is absolutely AMAZING!.I got goosebumps watching the intro,the information that I've learned from this is very much appreciated and the thumbnail art is fantastic,what a great retrospective oliver : )
2:58 these vintage photos are priceless. Saw this pic in a What Culture video.
You're totally right about the production design. While "Star Wars: A new Hope" more or less introduced the trope of 'Used Future', "Alien" took it even further and set the benchmark with only a few films made afterwards (like "The Empire strikes back", "Outland", "Aliens" and "Blade Runner") coming even close.
+degree7
lol - you are the first to be labelled a "Star Wars Nazi". :)
This video literally melted my brain as it made the connection that Ian Holm was in two of my favorite films. Not just as Ash in this film, but also the Priest in Luc Besson's The Fifth Element. I literally uttered the words, "holy shit." In short, your retrospectives are some of the best of the internet's video essays on film and television. Bravo, good sir. Bravo.
Great review on a top notch film. Gets better with every viewing. There are few in the genre that compare, but the short list includes Aliens, The Thing, The Terminator, and Predator. Notice, none rely on CGI... it's story, acting, action, imagination, and musical score...
Top 5 horror film of all time, top 5 science fiction film of all time, top 25 film of all time. This is what a master piece looks like :) Wonderful breakdown Oliver. I miss these kind of solo reviews you did in the 25 to 45 minute range :). Amazing quality
I first saw this film in the early 80's on HBO. It scarred me silly, lol!
Great mix and cuts at the end, Mr. Harper. You should be a trailer producer.
I ever knew that Ridley Scott used his children as stunt doubles... LOL...
Yeah - they were the facehuggers.
Practical effects FTW!
@@jazzx251 what no way??
Marky Mark lol no dude
Pretty much marathoning as much of your content as is interesting and have yet to be disappointed. I can't praise you enough for your editing skills. All the openings have just enough material to remind me how much I love these films and the use of music cut in with you voice-overs have me fighting the urge to watch the films after your videos.
Wait, you do commentary?!!!! Oh boy.
Another quality review that does one of my all time favourite films justice. The preamble before you get into the meat of the review is a very credible piece of editing, especially the use of music. I know so much about the franchise that I knew there wouldn't be anything new for me to learn, but as always I'm interested in your opinion about the movie as a whole and how much of an impact it had on you when you saw it.
I'm glad you waited to create an Alien retrospective as this, along with the Bladerunner review are easily your best pieces work. I think it's a combination of your experience making these retrospectives that makes them well cut and polished, and the fact you appear to truly enjoy Ridley Scott's creative process as much as I do. One thing I know for certain - No one is going to ask for those 36 minutes back. Full credit, mate.
+Bret Higgins Thanks Brett! Your feedback was very generous and supportive. With Blade Runner and ALIEN both having extensive documentaries with their blu-ray releases thanks to Charles de Lauzirika i had to give my viewers at least something to match them in information and quality but in a more condensed manner. When covering a film with a wealth of production background its hard what to leave in and what needs to be removed.
Yet another brilliant retrospective, Oliver. I still maintain that the first Alien film is the best of the franchise and one of the best Sci Fi films of all time. Few films can induce tension nearly as well. Thanks!
I really enjoy your retrospective documentaries. They have depth, details unknown to me, warmth to the voice over that makes it enjoyable to listen to. I've watched 7 or 8 so far. Keep going.
Hi Oli!
I just wanted to thank you for all the super informative and entertaining videos you've produced. You have a great voice for listening and I enjoy your editting a whole lot. When it's storming out I love putting on one of your classics while working.
Keep killing it, bud!
Alien 3 the assembly cut improves the film a lot, just as shame the studio interfered too much and we got the theatrical cut which took a lot of story out of the movie
+KD84Afc™ Assembly cut? Worth getting then? I just got bored with Alien 3. If the story improved I would want to see it again.
akechi mitsuhide yeah I thought it was better major sub plot was reinserted that I thought improved the film, the alien didn't have a dog for a host either
Alien 3 had a lot of material for a good movie directed by David Fincher of all people, but the production pangs ruined its potential. The assembly cut is nonetheless decent
+David Curry Fox interfered far to much, Alien 3 became a studio movie instead of giving the director a chance to produce something he wanted and plus the fact Sigourney Weaver had some creative input too being a producer
+akechi mitsuhide IT is very rough, but even with this version you can feel the potential and scope of the story.
27:45 while it probably makes my dad a pretty bad father, I practically grew up on alien, terminator and other classics :p
My parents took me to see this in the theater when I was 9 years old. Don't know why because I was never allowed to watch R rated movies at the time. I was terrified for 2 weeks after seeing it but I knew that I had found my favorite movie of all time. Still love it today.
Nooooo not at a he was probably so excited to show you those movies and bond over them with you, my Dad was the same way and he'd explain how the effects were done. Always so fascinating, blew my mind back then and to this day I have a great appreciation for special effects and puppiteering 😊
RancidKippa I grew up watching these movies and action movies like Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, westerns from Clint Eastwood and John Wayne from my Dad we would watch Alien and Aliens and many other movies that are classics now and better then some of today’s movies. Can remember going to video rental stores and getting the vhs and then DVDs some good times. My parents would buy movies to on weekends and over the years had quite the collection of vhs and DVDs.
John Hurt's performance in this was perfect! All of the performances were extremely believable!
Always blows me away how beautiful Sigorney was in this film.
Bravo Oliver! Bravo! Your reviews are spot on with description, information, editing and entertainment value. You deserve far more subscribers, keep up your excellent work!
Thanks Daniel!
Good retrospective for one of my favorite scifi and horror movies ever and I'm damn happy my parents let me watch this and other great movies when I was a kid, it really helped form my taste in movies.
Completely agree with your closing comments Oliver. Must-see masterpiece of filmmaking.
Alien is a masterpiece, superb special effects which have barely dated, the Nostromo looks like a well used tug. LV426 looks first class and the alien derelict ship is stunning even by todays standards. It looks and feels real, but the story and casting are fantastic. Even now 37 years later it still looks as good today, and of course the Alien creature itself still fills people with horror. I just love this film beyond anything else.
Another excellent review Oliver. Alien is one of my favorite films off all time. I watch it yearly along with Aliens and Bladerunner. Great editing at the end of the video with your pseudo super trailer.
Thank god they didn't have CGI to ruin this movie. There could never be a movie this good today because of it.
Man your editing skills are amazing! Loved the cut at the end. I also appreciate your commentary, it's very well structured!
Found your channel watched 2 of your reviews and subscribed .
Keep up the good work.
We need more reviewers like you .
Great review and history of the film.
I think Star Wars (adventure), Alien (horror) & 2001 (mystery) goes together.
Alien.. the best movie ever made?
One of the best :)
+Thomas h cullen Yep it's pretty fucking awesome.
+Chris Wolff I rate Alien on par with Halloween The Curse of Michael Myers (the theatrical cut), along with Wes Craven's Scream.
+Thomas h cullen God ! To rate on par a masterpiece like Alien to The Curse of Michael Myers and Scream is a sacrlige to say the least.
+Rogerio Barbosa Is it a sacrilege? Scream is full of soul, as is Halloween 6.
I really love the way you tak the time let the movies speak, visually, that's rare in analysis and review, but honestly the most sober thing to do ...
Found your channel last night and it’s awesome. Super happy I have so many videos to binge
The most visceral science fiction movie of all time.
And the ship environments still set the standard even for modern movies, so freaking cool
Top drawer once again Oliver. Alien has always been a favourite of mine and I can't wait for the Retrospectives of the sequels, Alien3 in particular should be most entertaining. With it's troubled production, crazy Wooden Planet origins, where the hell did the egg come from, dog / ox burster alien, amazing score by Elliot Goldenthal and Brian Glover goodness there is plenty to get stuck into. Keep up the truly excellent work young man.
+Duncan S Cheers Duncan. yeah I look forward to covering ALIENS and especially ALIEN 3.
Oliver Harper Was waiting for this one. Thank you.
This was an amazing and well done review, I'm glad you took the time and effort to do it, subscribed!
Amazing work as always, Oliver! Love your videos. How you don’t have a million subs is beyond me.
I am considered one of the greatest of fans of Alien and the Alien series....My favorite movie of all time is and will be "Alien". I have seen it literally probably over 700 times since 1979 when I was in college. So I want to thank you for doing this fantastic retrospective of the Alien. Of course Aliens was great but actually IMHO, Alien was the best.Thank you thank you thank you...from all of us Alien fans there who believe in the franchise to this day and hope to see many many more Alien films to come....
The films in the 70's to 80's were fantastic. Film makers need to go back basics, great sets and costumes, a paced film that builds suspense.
Its so hard to believe this was pre 1980 .... (by only 1 year) but my god, how much of an advanced vision.....
In 1979 I had the incredible luck to stand in line for 7 hours at the Egyptian Theatre on Hollywood Blvd. waiting to get in to watch the only, and I do mean ONLY movie ever to scare the living crap out of me. :) In cinematic history, this is and will remain the most important film ever done by a human being. There are not enough words to describe the incredible power and allure of 'The Alien' universe. Star Wars was great but this movie was sheer genius and an unbelievable directorial achievement. Ridley Scott is the best director of his time and will never be forgotten. As a matter of fact, can you say 'Blade Runner?' What a genius he is.
I still don't know how anyone could say Aliens is better than Alien. It's like the dumber version of Alien. I actually loved the fact that Alien was so slow. It's the atmosphere that makes it such a joy to watch.
+Ben Grieve ; how diplomatic of you. Jabs aside, Aliens is more fun, that's why more people enjoy it. It's not "dumber". Action doesn't always mean "dumb".
I completely agree, but the main reason I prefer Aliens is the characters. Outside of Riply, john hurt and ash I don't really care for the characters in this film! In aliens, you had hicks, newt, bishop, female Rambo and Bill F**king Baxton! It's the same with predator, you want them to survive, in alien it's only when Riply is the last survivor that I start feeling scared!
A GriffinTV I think it's fair to say that no film in the franchise has done a great job with every character. Both Alien and Aliens have throwaway characters. That being said, though, I liked the characters more in Alien. They're far less obnoxious.
+Ben Grieve Ok then, I'll tell you how. First of all, the "dumber version of Alien"?? You're basically taking a cheap shot at one masterpiece of film-making to defend the other. Because, yes, they are BOTH masterpieces in their own right. And I sure as hell prefer James Cameron's work over anything Ridley Scott has done. So why would anyone say they like Aliens better?
Well, let me think. Alien is a simple, straight horror movie. Nothing more or less. Which is perfectly fine. But Aliens is really a blend of just about everything one could want: Great action, suspense, horror, drama, comedy, etc. In other words, a much more fulfilling emotional roller coaster. To add, it's got more like-able characters, more development for each character, it goes more in depth and fleshes out and expands this world, etc. That's why the film stands among the best sequels along with T-2 and Empire. It accomplishes similar things as those do. So, people prefer the sequel because they're looking for more and it certainly delivers more. I know it had more of an impact on me. Alien & Aliens are very different movies with different intentions. This is why an ongoing "battle" between them is actually pointless.
Leomerya12 No, not all action is dumb but it certainly doesn't make a film more intelligent.
The first three minutes of this retrospective is so AMAZING
Still the best movie reviews/perspectives out there on the web :) Happy New Year Oliver :) ❄️☃⛄️🎊🎉🍾☺️
Dude I love your work! It's not lost on me how much work goes into your videos.
Thanks very much Abir!
RIP Harry Dean Stanton and John Hurt.
And Ian Holm....
And Yaphet Kotto
My favourite movie of my favourite franchise! Ridley Scott made such a convincing world, it just pulls you in and doesn't let go. I really love Prometheus too, even though it has its flaws. It brings back that perfect world-building and a great mystery. I thought taking it away from a straight-up prequel was the best thing. We don't need a back story that lines up perfectly, where's the fun in that? Ridley took a chance and presented something new that expands the mythology. I'd much prefer that over another retread of the original movie. The first one is still the best though. The alien was at its scariest here, and never really looked quite so alien again. With each sequel it became more of a generic monster, culminating in the growling beast that they are in A: Resurrection.
Another fantastic review, Mr. Harper ! You also have a soothing voice, which makes me close my eyes and relax.
Wow what an excellent retrospective! You not only elevated your own series with this entertaining and imformative review, you have managed to do the same for an already lofted film. Well done Oliver. Bravo