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Films/TV => Alien Films => Topic started by: Jermzzzy on Apr 18, 2012, 09:51:01 AM

Title: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: Jermzzzy on Apr 18, 2012, 09:51:01 AM
In Alien 3 the facehugger burns/cracks holes in both Newt's and Ripley's cryotubes. When they crash into the ocean on Fury 161 Newt's cryotube presumably floods and drowns her because of the hole in hers. What I don't understand is why the same doesn't happen to Ripley as there is clearly a hole in hers too. When the EEV is hoisted out of the ocean and Ripley is discovered to be alive you can see her breathing, yet she is encased in a cryotube which was completely flooded just moments before.

I love Alien 3 (it's actually my favorite in the series, and yes I have valid reasons :D) but this plothole has driven me insane for a long time. Any explanations? ???
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: 8thPassenger on Apr 18, 2012, 12:55:57 PM
I guess she was just lucky. 

Honestly, I've never been bothered by this. The film has plenty of other illogical things to keep me scratching my head. And I'm not even talking about the magic egg.  :)
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: Nightmare Asylum on Apr 18, 2012, 01:04:26 PM
Well, in the Assembly Cut she was thrown from the EEV and found on the beach rather than in the cryo tube.
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: Jermzzzy on Apr 18, 2012, 01:21:57 PM
Quote from: 8thPassenger on Apr 18, 2012, 12:55:57 PM
I guess she was just lucky. 

Honestly, I've never been bothered by this. The film has plenty of other illogical things to keep me scratching my head. And I'm not even talking about the magic egg.  :)

I always found the explanation that the Queen could lay an emergency egg, and placed it in the cargo hold while Ripley and Bishop were tending to Hicks' injuries, quite plausible. Plus there's always the alternate explanation that Bishop was ordered by the company to collect an egg and stow it on the Sulaco while Ripley was rescuing Newt or beforehand (although I like the idea of Bishop being an entirely good guy who truly proves Ripley wrong).

On the other hand, staying concsious when immersed in an almost fully sealed container of water while sleeping is just impossible. Not to mention it would have been for a good while she was submerged as the prisoners needed to locate the EEV, attach cables to it underwater and hoist it out (possibly using oxes). I guess I'll just have to accept the AC as canon, even though I like the dog-burster and Ripley bursting at the end  :-\
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: Kol on Apr 18, 2012, 01:41:30 PM
Quote from: Jermzzzy on Apr 18, 2012, 09:51:01 AM
Any explanations? ???

maybe she was secured by the facehugger, that impregnate her & hold her alive with oxygen? like the hugger did to kane.
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: Snowdog on Apr 18, 2012, 02:24:50 PM
Quote from: Kol on Apr 18, 2012, 01:41:30 PM
Quote from: Jermzzzy on Apr 18, 2012, 09:51:01 AM
Any explanations? ???

maybe she was secured by the facehugger, that impregnate her & hold her alive with oxygen? like the hugger did to kane.

And there we have an explanation i can live with ;D
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: OpenMaw on Apr 18, 2012, 09:03:57 PM
Quote from: Snowdog on Apr 18, 2012, 02:24:50 PM
Quote from: Kol on Apr 18, 2012, 01:41:30 PM
Quote from: Jermzzzy on Apr 18, 2012, 09:51:01 AM
Any explanations? ???

maybe she was secured by the facehugger, that impregnate her & hold her alive with oxygen? like the hugger did to kane.

And there we have an explanation i can live with ;D

Minus one issue I see. Why exactly would the facehugger detach itself?

Quote from: Jermzzzy on Apr 18, 2012, 01:21:57 PM
On the other hand, staying concsious when immersed in an almost fully sealed container of water while sleeping is just impossible.

Well, yeah, you have to be awake to be conscious.  :)


See, the problem with the TC of Alien 3 is the intro has literally dozens of continuity issues between shots. The glass cracks, then it's not cracked, then it is, then the cryo tubes change shape completely, blah blah blah.  The burns appear and dissappear. It's a mess. There's no real way to know what happened. ALso, it's possible the EEV when it took on water only partially filled her tube, while fully submerging Newt's. If it hit at an angle that is.
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: SM on Apr 18, 2012, 11:41:33 PM
QuoteWhat I don't understand is why the same doesn't happen to Ripley as there is clearly a hole in hers too.

Ripley's had a bigger hole meaning any water would go in quicker, but also drain quicker.  Newt's tube had cracks, meaning slower intake, but also slower drainage.
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: StrangeShape on Apr 19, 2012, 12:36:28 AM
Quote from: SM on Apr 18, 2012, 11:41:33 PM
QuoteWhat I don't understand is why the same doesn't happen to Ripley as there is clearly a hole in hers too.

Ripley's had a bigger hole meaning any water would go in quicker, but also drain quicker.  Newt's tube had cracks, meaning slower intake, but also slower drainage.

Ten again, there are no holes in Newts tube later on

(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.joshgulch.com%2Fmovies%2Fimages%2Fmisc%2Falien3%2Falien3bg.png&hash=a0fefde8db6d3114f8f211ab138884a0e278f459)
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: avpfan101 on Sep 21, 2012, 01:17:11 AM
bthis is because the facehugger provides oxygen to its host
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: Local Trouble on Sep 21, 2012, 02:10:18 AM
Only part of the EEV remained submerged after the crash.

(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi48.tinypic.com%2F162usl.jpg&hash=855237e5050b48b76ec112f42498fbe53860dc64)

Quote from: avpfan101 on Sep 21, 2012, 01:17:11 AM
bthis is because the facehugger provides oxygen to its host
It was never shown, but the script says the queen swam out of Newt's mouth and into Ripley's after the crash.
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: Salt The Fries on Sep 21, 2012, 08:34:51 PM
Quote from: RaisingCane on Sep 21, 2012, 02:10:18 AM
Only part of the EEV remained submerged after the crash.

(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi48.tinypic.com%2F162usl.jpg&hash=855237e5050b48b76ec112f42498fbe53860dc64)

Quote from: avpfan101 on Sep 21, 2012, 01:17:11 AM
bthis is because the facehugger provides oxygen to its host
It was never shown, but the script says the queen swam out of Newt's mouth and into Ripley's after the crash.

Yep!
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: Valaquen on Sep 21, 2012, 08:54:40 PM
Really, pure plot necessity.
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: Mr. Clemens on Sep 23, 2012, 01:20:56 PM
Quote from: RaisingCane on Sep 21, 2012, 02:10:18 AMIt was never shown, but the script says the queen swam out of Newt's mouth and into Ripley's after the crash.

Oh yeah, I remember that from the comic, too. Glad they didn't do that bit - it would sure have taken the wind out of the big reveal later on...
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: Local Trouble on Sep 23, 2012, 05:20:52 PM
If one pays close enough attention to the opening sequence, it's obvious that Newt was the one who was initially facehuggered anyway.
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: StrangeShape on Sep 23, 2012, 06:11:55 PM
In the novelization there are two facehuggers on Sulaco, and the one that cracked Newts tube died, hurting itself fatally with the glass
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: Local Trouble on Sep 23, 2012, 06:31:27 PM
I know, but that was Alan Dean Foster simply adapting an ambigious script the best he could.  In the actual film, the canopy of Newt's tube was cracked, but not shattered.  Then we saw a massive hole in the side of the cryotube surrounded by acid burns.

(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi50.tinypic.com%2F1q65p2.jpg&hash=6a51783a78dd3522acae3b2eb8b59709de562f85)

My guess is that the facehugger burned its way into her tube the same way the original one burned its way into Kane's helmet.  Subsequently, the acid spillage from this is what caused the fire, not the death of some unseen second facehugger.

IMO, of course.
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: Gilfryd on Sep 23, 2012, 08:06:46 PM
The opening credits make no goddamn sense.
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: Local Trouble on Sep 23, 2012, 10:34:19 PM
True.  It was a joke.  Sometimes you just have to accept that something is irreconcilably absurd.

I once saw someone go so far as to suggest that the company transferred Ripley and others into a Sulaco-lookalike (complete with Nostromo-style cryotubes and "USS Sulaco" painted in white on the hull) to explain the differences between the ship in Aliens and the one in Alien 3.
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: Sgt. Apone on Sep 24, 2012, 01:14:58 AM
Quote from: Gilfryd on Sep 23, 2012, 08:06:46 PM
The opening credits make no goddamn sense.

Well wasn't it supposed to be dream like? Dreams don't always make sense.
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: SM on Sep 24, 2012, 01:36:41 AM
Quote from: RaisingCane on Sep 23, 2012, 06:31:27 PM
I know, but that was Alan Dean Foster simply adapting an ambigious script the best he could.  In the actual film, the canopy of Newt's tube was cracked, but not shattered.  Then we saw a massive hole in the side of the cryotube surrounded by acid burns.

(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi50.tinypic.com%2F1q65p2.jpg&hash=6a51783a78dd3522acae3b2eb8b59709de562f85)

My guess is that the facehugger burned its way into her tube the same way the original one burned its way into Kane's helmet.  Subsequently, the acid spillage from this is what caused the fire, not the death of some unseen second facehugger.

IMO, of course.

Newt is never seen with a hugger attached.
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: Local Trouble on Sep 24, 2012, 01:45:11 AM
Who do you suppose this is?

(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi45.tinypic.com%2F2mxps0j.jpg&hash=e965024b7b8d56122625a32a9d308d14677462cf)
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: SM on Sep 24, 2012, 01:48:39 AM
Don't know - but Newt is shown seconds later being loaded into the EEV sans hugger.

QuoteWell wasn't it supposed to be dream like? Dreams don't always make sense.

This is the simplest solution.  Real life events disjointedly impinging on Ripley's subconscious.
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: Local Trouble on Sep 24, 2012, 01:50:49 AM
We also saw Ripley.  I guess it could be Hicks.
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: SM on Sep 24, 2012, 01:52:19 AM
If you take the events as literal, then it can only be Hicks.
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: Local Trouble on Sep 24, 2012, 01:55:46 AM
Getting impaled on the safety support would also camouflage any evidence of his tube having been breached by the facehugger.

However, didn't Alien 3 establish that the facehugger can impregnate a host in a short time?  It couldn't have been attached to the ox/dog for very long either.
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: SM on Sep 24, 2012, 02:00:24 AM
The EEV crashed at 0600 and Spike got hugged shortly after. The cremation and birth of the Alien happen around 2100 hours or so.  Which sounds in keeping with the timeframes in Alien (give or take).

Ripley's impregnation is a little more clouded.
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: Local Trouble on Sep 24, 2012, 02:14:08 AM
For the theatrical cut, maybe the queen embryo was forcibly ejected from Hicks' body during his impalement, ricocheted off the ceiling of the EEV and into Ripley's mouth through the broken glass of her tube.
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: Gilfryd on Sep 24, 2012, 02:19:12 AM
Quote from: Sgt. Apone on Sep 24, 2012, 01:14:58 AMWell wasn't it supposed to be dream like? Dreams don't always make sense.

True but I think Fincher could have done that without redesigning the interior of the Sulaco and throwing an egg out of nowhere and so on.

Especially after Cameron meticulously recreated the Narcissus for his film.

Not to go on an angry rant, but remember the nightmare Ripley has in Aliens on the space station? What if that really happened? What if an Alien came out of nowhere, killed a character we grew to like in the last film, and the rest of the movie was basically a repeat of the first movie... that's what Alien 3 feels like to me.

Cameron did his own thing and I felt it worked creatively. He built on what Scott did. Fincher however threw what Cameron did away and tried to do his best Scott impression. Even if Fox hadn't given him crap I still think he was inexperienced for the job.
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: Local Trouble on Sep 24, 2012, 02:21:25 AM
Quote from: Gilfryd on Sep 24, 2012, 02:19:12 AMTrue but I think Fincher could have done that without redesigning the interior of the Sulaco and throwing an egg out of nowhere and so on.

I don't know if Fincher put the egg there or not, but I do know that simply cutting the egg out entirely would have solved a lot of problems.  It's far easier to explain a stowaway facehugger than it is to explain a whole egg.
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: Mr. Clemens on Sep 24, 2012, 05:06:13 PM
It'll be interesting to see how Colonial Marines smooths these details over. They've said the game will explain the oddities at the beginning of A3, and Fox has said the story will be canon (for those who care about such things)...
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: Local Trouble on Sep 24, 2012, 05:07:14 PM
I can't wait to see what thoroughly researched explanation they come up with...
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: SM on Sep 24, 2012, 08:48:18 PM
Preapre for a potentially endless wait.
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: OmegaZilla on Sep 24, 2012, 08:50:47 PM
Quote from: RaisingCane on Sep 24, 2012, 05:07:14 PM
I can't wait to see what thoroughly researched explanation they come up with...
Wait until it loads:
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.colnago.com%2Fwp-content%2Fplugins%2Fsimplemap%2Finc%2Fimages%2Floading.gif&hash=21c9870c33dc39a37a13dac78a7b2c99e996f73f)
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: Local Trouble on Sep 24, 2012, 08:54:53 PM
It's still loading.  I'll keep waiting.
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: stephen on Sep 25, 2012, 02:18:25 AM
Quote from: RaisingCane on Sep 24, 2012, 02:21:25 AM
I don't know if Fincher put the egg there or not, but I do know that simply cutting the egg out entirely would have solved a lot of problems.  It's far easier to explain a stowaway facehugger than it is to explain a whole egg.

Very true.  I've always said that the problem with the egg is the location.

If we never see the egg then it's much easier to accept.
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: Local Trouble on Sep 25, 2012, 02:21:49 AM
Or one could even theorize that a facehugger simply hitched a ride on the queen's back.  That I can buy.
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: stephen on Sep 25, 2012, 02:23:19 AM
Quote from: RaisingCane on Sep 25, 2012, 02:21:49 AM
Or one could even theorize that a facehugger simply hitched a ride on the queen's back.  That I can buy.

I can buy that.  It's even a part of my "egg on the sulaco" theory.
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: Gilfryd on Sep 25, 2012, 08:07:01 PM
Quote from: RaisingCane on Sep 24, 2012, 02:21:25 AMIt's far easier to explain a stowaway facehugger than it is to explain a whole egg.

True.

But back to the egg.  :D They even got the design wrong. It's got too many petals..
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-CT1hk7dGjKU%2FTbC7SPF_jjI%2FAAAAAAAAACI%2Fnln3yYhnaOU%2Fs1600%2Falien%2B3%2Begg.bmp&hash=542a831b1358c514b09612631338109e63779559)

I know it was supposed to house a super facehugger or whatever but when they did reshoots it's like they just didn't care...
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages1.wikia.nocookie.net%2F__cb20120118104305%2Favp%2Fimages%2F3%2F39%2FVlcsnap-2012-01-17-21h50m08s67_copie.jpg&hash=b5d49f761aaaabd1c252aad9ad9b52adc9ca6ee8)

Alien 3 was basically doomed the moment Fox decided to make a release date and not a movie.  :(
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: SM on Sep 25, 2012, 08:31:08 PM
QuoteThey even got the design wrong. It's got too many petals..

Since when is four too many?
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: Local Trouble on Sep 26, 2012, 12:45:39 AM
I forgot how ridiculous that super facehugger looked.  It's like Rob Liefeld designed it, but added webbing and spikes instead of pouches just to make it look more "extreme."
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: SM on Sep 26, 2012, 12:55:57 AM
"Pouches"?
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: Local Trouble on Sep 26, 2012, 01:12:00 AM
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg13.imageshack.us%2Fimg13%2F2329%2Fbloodpouch.jpg&hash=70f98e737c7882c28c793ae7c58d47506f075b3a)
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: SM on Sep 26, 2012, 01:44:59 AM
Ah.

:D
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: Gilfryd on Sep 26, 2012, 02:20:22 AM
Quote from: SM on Sep 25, 2012, 08:31:08 PMSince when is four too many?

It's got five. Right?
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: Local Trouble on Sep 26, 2012, 02:23:32 AM
I see four.
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: SM on Sep 26, 2012, 02:25:36 AM
Where?  Looks like the normal four.
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: Gates on Sep 26, 2012, 02:27:48 AM
It's a deceptive picture is all, it has four...

And anyway, even if it was wrong, it would be the least of the problems with that opening...
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: Local Trouble on Sep 26, 2012, 06:17:13 AM
Quote from: Gilfryd on Sep 26, 2012, 02:20:22 AM
Quote from: SM on Sep 25, 2012, 08:31:08 PMSince when is four too many?

It's got five. Right?
Wait a minute.  Are you trying to brainwash us?

http://youtu.be/lR_fkXB86kg (http://youtu.be/lR_fkXB86kg)
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: Inverse Effect on Sep 26, 2012, 09:27:30 PM
Quote from: Snowdog on Apr 18, 2012, 02:24:50 PM
Quote from: Kol on Apr 18, 2012, 01:41:30 PM
Quote from: Jermzzzy on Apr 18, 2012, 09:51:01 AM
Any explanations? ???

maybe she was secured by the facehugger, that impregnate her & hold her alive with oxygen? like the hugger did to kane.

And there we have an explanation i can live with ;D

Thats what i believed to begin with.
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: Gilfryd on Sep 26, 2012, 11:48:00 PM
Quote from: RaisingCane on Sep 26, 2012, 06:17:13 AMWait a minute.  Are you trying to brainwash us?

Maybe.  :laugh:

I remember reading an article where the author said the egg had a slightly different design... can't find it though. So I guess I'm not the only crazy person. And to illustrate my point...

(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1108.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fh415%2Feightyearoldsdude%2Fmagicegg.jpg&hash=bd4c200a4186f80e21a9585d3f1d47e3108ba1dd)

I see why there would be four, but like Gates said it is a funny angle. So you can't blame me.

I also like how they had to stamp SULACO right next to the thing. Come on..
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: SM on Sep 27, 2012, 01:36:43 AM
The lips are the uppermost two and lowermost two.


(And the big SULACO on the sde of the ship was too subtle...)
Title: Re: How did Ripley survive drowning in Alien 3?
Post by: Local Trouble on Sep 27, 2012, 06:38:21 AM
SM is right.  I don't know what the middle two circles are supposed to be pointing out to us.