Alien

I’ve rewatched it again. I don’t even know how many times now, but it’s been a long time since the last time. I didn’t remember it being THAT good. What H.R. Giger does here is, I think, the best creature design ever made. From the egg to the final form, it’s just brilliant. This design is what in a way made the film what it is because the biology of the creature is both otherworldly (amazing blending between organic and tube-like organism) and believable. Any other creature design wouldn’t have worked, and this film wouldn’t be what it is if the creature had been some cheesy cliché green or a spider/octopus alien. The spaceship and outer space design are equally great. Even though it’s an old movie, it still feels believable today. Nothing looks like it was just placed there for the sake of it, nor does it feel like a set. This creates a completely immersive experience, making you genuinely feel like part of this realistic futuristic world. The script is also excellent. What stood out the most were the conversations. They add three-dimensionality and realism to the characters. Dialogues, like when the crew complains about food or pay, feel like genuine worker conversations. Each character has a distinctive voice and personality that remain consistent throughout the film. For example, Ripley is a cold, strong, and calculated woman who rarely shows emotion and is always rationally driven. In contrast, other characters are far more emotionally driven, with Lambert being the character that does this the most. I have to say that I really like how they got the audience to root for such a cold character, which differs from the standard, warm-hearted 'final girl,' creating in the process one of the best protagonists ever made. The plot twist is perfectly constructed; it doesn’t come out of nowhere. The robot's actions such as protecting the creature and allowing the infected crew member to board despite Ripley making it clear this was against protocol justify the twist. However, these actions could also be interpreted as an act of empathy for the crew member or fear of attacking the alien due to its unknown biology. This makes the audience have no way to figure it out until it happens. The last few minutes of the film are pure tension. From the moment the 10-minute timer starts until the credits roll, I felt tense, even though I already knew what was going to happen. This was especially true since there was too much smoke, and Ripley kept running over the same spots, leaving the poor cat all over the place because of the alien. The cinematography is also perfect. One of the shots I really liked is the one where the transmission detected by the computer is projected onto the emergency helmet. It is very well-composed and visually pleasing. Additionally, the shots showcasing the incredible matte painting work of space and the spaceship models are mind-blowing. In other words… it’s just a masterpiece. After rewatching it, this movie has gone from being one of my favorites to becoming my favorite movie of all time. I wish the blockbusters of today had the same soul and passion as the movies from back then.