THE DANMAN CAN

James Cameron 's  Aliens   (1986) is an excellent sequel and a great blockbuster sci-fi horror action extravaganza, with a top notch cast, highly quotable dialogue, and beautiful analog effects and production design.  I hadn't watched the film since it was released in the Alien Anthology Blu-ray box set in 2010. It continues to hold up very well (I prefer the Special Edition) thanks to strong characters, its big entertainment value, and the choice to set itself apart from its perfect predecessor ( review ) by not simply replicating it.  Stay frosty . James Cameron Feature Films Ranked Alien  Franchise Films Ranked

Fede Álvarez ’s Alien: Romulus (2024) is a perfectly serviceable Alien film that doesn't do enough of its own thing, instead paying more fan service than it needs to (and, most egregiously, resurrecting (sort of) a character in a terribly uncanny way for far too much screen time). I just don't understand why anyone wants member berries . Recreating moments from beloved films with new characters is, for the most part, never a good idea. The reason we loved those moments in the first place is because they were  unique and they are iconic.  At least the also-perfectly-OK-but-not-amazing  Ridley Scott  prequels tried new things and had deeper ideas. Álvarez does try  some  new ideas in A:R (and those are some of the best moments in the film), but too sparingly. Instead, we get multiple scenes recreated (and somewhat  subverted, so that they maybe feel newish)—and lines of dialogue directly (and poorly) ripped—from both  Alien   (1979) ( ...

Ridley Scott 's   Alien   (1979) is and always will be the most perfect sci-fi/horror film ever made—an absolute masterpiece of tension, pacing, direction, production and sound design, with a perfect cast, an excellent  Jerry Goldsmith  score, and an iconic theatrical poster. One of my  Top 100 Films  and  Top 10 Horror Films .   Ridley Scott Feature Films Ranked Alien Franchise Films Ranked

Ridley Scott 's   Alien (1979) is and always will be the most perfect sci-fi/horror film ever made—an absolute masterpiece of tension, pacing, direction, production and sound design, with a perfect cast, an excellent Jerry Goldsmith score, and an iconic theatrical poster. One of my  Top 100 Films  and Top 10 Horror Films .   Ridley Scott Feature Films Ranked

As I wrote the first time I saw it,  Alien: Covenant  (2017) is yet another flawed but intriguing and entertaining film in this franchise. I don't think this is any better or worse than the third or fourth films, which get a lot of flack. With Covenant ,  Ridley Scott tried to satisfy both the fans of his lofty  Prometheus  (2012) and of his proto-slasher masterpiece Alien  (1979) by continuing the story of gods, creation, and power from the former and ramping up the action, horror, and iconography from the latter. Ultimately, for this fan, he failed, due to numerous decisions—too much CGI, tonal disparity, a half-assed attempt at a new Ripley, and poorly-drawn characters that make incredibly dumb choices. But on "Take 2", I still enjoyed parts of Covenant —the brilliant dual roles of Michael Fassbender , the handsome cinematography, and a better execution of the ideas explored in its predecessor. Due to the box office underperformance, I've not sure ...

Alien: Covenant  (2017) is yet another flawed but intriguing and entertaining film in this franchise. I don't think this is any better or worse than the third or fourth films.

Prometheus  (2012) is a decent film, but not one to stand the test of time, like Alien  (1979). I stand by my initial thoughts .

Prometheus (2012) is   intriguing, ambitious, lofty at times. Definitely not what I was expecting. I have issues. I'd like to write something up about this, but I feel like I need a second viewing. Though I don't think it reaches the same level of camp and I don't think it will tank at the box office, I can only compare this to Dune (1984) on the level of confusion, disappointment and mixed reactions that it is receiving. Maybe this will become a cult film...? The 3-D actually looked great and most of the special f/x were top notch.

The most perfect sci-fi/horror film ever made.