Quote from: ThisBethesdaSea on Aug 12, 2011, 04:01:33 PM
With comments like "I won't see it unless there's a queen" I realize some people have a limited ability to understand fully the laws of nature when it applies to science fiction. Parthenogenesis is the process by which a female of the species becomes pregnant without contact with a male. It would then make plausible sense for the aliens to have alternate forms of reproduction as well. The possibilities are endless. Again, making a stand that you won't see the film because in your mind, things should only happen one way it quite ridiculous.
In terms of the queen....ultimately she was a device, and as eloquent as she was in terms of the design, she furthered the 'bug slash hive' mentality as promoted by Cambo in Aliens. Instead of a continuation of the quiet terror of ALIEN, he turned everything into a device including the creatures themselves, ergo dumbing the entire saga down. No queen needed.
I definitely understand your point of view...and to an extent, I agree with it.
But in terms of film making and the time (1986) that the film was made, Cameron made a lot of really insightful and smart decisions.
While I would like to have seen a more Alien-like sequel, I remember walking out of the theater after Aliens thinking "that was a great sequel". And obviously, the queen was a huge part of why that was so.
The really tough part about this franchise is that Alien 3 COULD have been fantastic. The extended edit is better than the theater version...and the somber ending is even acceptable finally...20 years later...but what killed my movie going experience, even in the extended edit, are some of the terrible effects shots.
As much as I want to believe it, the dog alien running along the ceiling is just not believable...and that's all I can think of when I see those scenes...
At least we don't have to worry about anything like that happening with Prometheus.
Again, I think Ridley really wants to make a science fiction movie (first) that's worthy of it's predecessor...(well, actually it's successor...but that's another issue entirely)...and if that's how it turns out, I think I'll be very happy with the result...