reception of the original Alien vs Prometheus

galacticnorth

MemberOvomorphJune 03, 2012946 Views4 Replies

Been interesting to compare how the original Alien was received by our critics in 1979. It scores 1/6 and 2/6 in the major norwegian reviews. It's critisised for lacking a story, lacking character development, being speculative (particularly the filming-sigourney-in-panties from behind) and for being pointless. Reviews overall were highly mixed but the criticism for nice effects over any real story abounded. Typically : A review by Time Out said the film was an "empty bag of tricks whose production values and expensive trickery cannot disguise imaginative poverty". Prometheus has met with considerably better initial reviews than Alien, but there is still a polarization at play especially amongst 'fans'. I think its all about expectation. Those of my friends who expected a new 'alien' were mostly dissapointed. Those who expected something else were mostly very happy. Personally i had taken Ridley Scotts words to heart and was prepared to see something completely different to alien and i think that is part of why i loved it so much. That being said it does share more 'DNA' with Alien than what is immediately apparent. There is a conceptual umbilical cord (no pun intended) that tie Alien and Prometheus more closely together than any of the other 3 alien movies. I find this far more interesting than James Camerons action-entertainment or the silliness that was ressurection. I still believe Fincher would have made a great 'haunted house' movie with Alien 3 if the 'money' had left him alone but we will never really know. Prometheus might have the making of a sci-fi classic. Going to my third viewing tonight... with my girlfriend this time. On a different note....female friends of mine who have seen the movie are loving the character of Elisabeth Shaw. A tough female protagonist who is still allowed to be feminine and vulnerable.

japes
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June 03, 2012

Thanks for still making me look forward to this. I just actually read someone saying it needed to say not an Alien prequel at the beginning of the movie and all I could think was that I thought Ridley had already said that in every interview since filming started, I mean even before.....after the script was completed. I know us Americans are not as hip as yall across the pind but our press core has reviewed it and overalll they have seemed to think it was amazing and breathtaking. I have bought imax for the morning of June 9th. But I also like the quasi directors cut of Alien 3, it has grown on me, but after that im pretty sure the xenomorph story is pretty tired, although avp is a fun popcorn movie. *Moderated by Cypher- We don't need to know those details, thanks*

Space Jockstrap
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June 03, 2012

I saw the original Alien in the cinema as an older-looking, underage boy. In those days it was the main feature, the first being "The Fog"....those were the days. It scared the living daylights out of me and I remember that it was just the shock elements that were discussed later not all this ridiculous picking apart and moaning about the score or character development that we see posted here. I witnessed the Alien phenomenon grow over the years into what fans view it as today. Back then we didn't worry about unaswered questions (what laid those eggs) we enjoyed the movie for was it was and that is what we should do with Prometheus.

kevin marks
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June 03, 2012

lets get one thing perfectly clear this IS a prequel to Alien its just so obvious

facebugger
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June 03, 2012

Well put it this way, I went to see it last night. There were 7 people in the WHOLE cinema! 4 in my group and another group of 3. And on the 2nd night of a films release that cant be good!!