Howdy,
Some of you will know that I run a blog on the Alien trilogy (that's right...) and lately, Prometheus. I've moved the blog from Blogger.com to WordPress (I find it far, far superior, and writing on it ain't a slog), and have just spruced an article on Hadley's Hope, which you can peruse here: http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2012/10/18/hadleys-hope/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2012/10/18/hadleys-hope/)
Lemme know what you think, about this article or any. I'm adding new and old articles as fast as I can. In seven weeks my daughter will be here and updates will likely, very likely, be minimal.
I've been waiting for an official thread about this!
And congratulations on your daughter, man. :)
Van Leuwen is ICC.
And I think you're robbing yourself by ignoring Resurrection.
But nice work as always.
(I got another one due in 7 weeks too).
Quote from: SM on Oct 19, 2012, 04:04:23 AM
And I think you're robbing yourself by ignoring Resurrection.
I really couldn't do justice to a film I'm not very fond of. It would feel like homework! Even out of the trilogy I think Alien is the best to write about, the other two can be tedious a times, but Alien has such lore behind it :D (I also corrected my mistake there with VL - thanks!)
Quote(I got another one due in 7 weeks too).
Congratulations! It's my first. I'm not nervous yet - is this normal? :P
Ditto on the thanks, MrSJ :)
EDIT: In addition, I think everyone should read Jon Sorenson's article: http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2012/10/19/jon-sorenson-alien-miniatures-experience/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2012/10/19/jon-sorenson-alien-miniatures-experience/)
If you feel you're ready, then there's no need to be nervous.
Nervousness comes later in the form of a breakdown when you haven't had a full nights sleep for months on end, and the bank balance is starting to look decidedly bare.
But other than that it's great!
QuoteI really couldn't do justice to a film I'm not very fond of. It would feel like homework!
I've done a bit of writing about Resurrection of late (more of the in-universe variety) and there's quite a bit there to be mined. Might even see the light of day, one day.
Quote from: SM on Oct 19, 2012, 04:24:43 AM
If you fell you're ready, then there's no need to be nervous.
Nervousness comes later in the form of a breakdown when you haven't had a full nights sleep for months on end, and the bank balance is starting to look decidedly bare.
But other than that it's great!
Oh, I'm used to being broke! The sleep thing ... I do get quite irate. I'm looking forward to the whole shebang though! Thank you :)
Quote
I've done a bit of writing about Resurrection of late (more of the in-universe variety) and there's quite a bit there to be mined. Might even see the light of day, one day.
Why don't you host it somewhere? You have a timeline on the internet, don't you?
It's all still in draft form at present, and not in any real rush.
Got to finish tweaking the timeline update anyway, then revise the encyclopedia...
Quote from: Valaquen on Oct 19, 2012, 04:21:28 AMIt's my first. I'm not nervous yet - is this normal?
I wasn't nervous at all, until I took her home. Then shit got amazing. :)
Congratulations!
Quote from: SM on Oct 19, 2012, 04:33:52 AM
It's all still in draft form at present, and not in any real rush.
Got to finish tweaking the timeline update anyway, then revise the encyclopedia...
Are you going to finally unify all the timelines into the definitive SM version? 8)
No.
In case you didn't get that RaisingCane, the answer was no.
noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Valaquen, your blog on Wordpress platform looks more clear and neat (that is the power of white backgrounds ;D kidding!..), it definitely looks more professional! I guess, it was a right move.
And early congratulations on your liitle one (with a wishing of oceans of patience ;))
The same goes on SM way :)
And may I ask, Valaquen, are you going to upload the article once I saw on your blogger source, the article critisising A^3? It read half-humorous, half-sad, and I liked it... Just asking! :)
SM, you have an army of parroting supporters! :D
Right.
Wow look at all the fcuks SM seems to give.
Now I know why no one every comes down here. It's you SM.
Ain't got no personality...
But he does have awesome shoes. holy shit man. Better than porn imo.
Quote from: aliennaire on Oct 20, 2012, 04:12:12 PM
Valaquen, your blog on Wordpress platform looks more clear and neat (that is the power of white backgrounds ;D kidding!..), it definitely looks more professional! I guess, it was a right move.
And early congratulations on your liitle one (with a wishing of oceans of patience ;))
The same goes on SM way :)
And may I ask, Valaquen, are you going to upload the article once I saw on your blogger source, the article critisising A^3? It read half-humorous, half-sad, and I liked it... Just asking! :)
Thanks very much :)
Yeah, I'll have it up there at some point. I'm putting stuff up every day. Just ported this baby: http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2012/10/21/the-eighth-passenger/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2012/10/21/the-eighth-passenger/)
Quote from: samoht on Oct 20, 2012, 11:04:33 AM
In case you didn't get that RaisingCane, the answer was no.
I don't understand.
Quote from: RaisingCane on Oct 21, 2012, 10:20:33 PM
Quote from: samoht on Oct 20, 2012, 11:04:33 AM
In case you didn't get that RaisingCane, the answer was no.
I don't understand.
Let me explain.
You asked SM for sex and he said no. Just remember that the best kind of sex is consensual.
Okay, that's what I thought.
I had a brainfart and wrote this: http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2012/10/22/aliens-fear-of-fire/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2012/10/22/aliens-fear-of-fire/)
I never found the idea that the Aliens are afraid of fire very convincing, so I wrote this up. Thoughts?
I think there's plenty of evidence that they're afraid of fire. The Queen cracking the shits when Ripley tries it on with the flamethrower, and then again when she torches the eggs. So it's with good reason that the Queen was afraid of fire.
Does one recoil in 'anger' as the Queen did from the failing flamethrower in the lift or the welding torch on the loader? I don't think so; you recoil because it hurts. Ergo you have a fear of the pain fire causes.
Fincher directed Woodruff in Alien3 to 'Get that bitch! You hate the fire!' or words to that affect, when Ripley's bashing it with the torch.
Will it kill them? I highly doubt it. The Queen sat on top of an inferno of napalm and explosives with nary a scratch. Doesn't mean it wouldn't sting a bit.
Quote from: SM on Oct 22, 2012, 06:10:06 AM
I think there's plenty of evidence that they're afraid of fire. The Queen cracking the shits when Ripley tries it on with the flamethrower, and then again when she torches the eggs. So it's with good reason that the Queen was afraid of fire.
I never saw, or see, her as afraid of the fire itself, but the consequences (her children will die).
QuoteDoes one recoil in 'anger' as the Queen did from the failing flamethrower in the lift or the welding torch on the loader? I don't think so; you recoil because it hurts. Ergo you have a fear of the pain fire causes.
I think it hurt. I don't necessarily think they're afraid. Like flicking a lighter under your finger - it hurts, but I'm not afraid. It annoys me (I have an annoying brother). Of course, if someone threatened me with a flamethrower ... then again I'm not an alien superfiend :P
QuoteFincher directed Woodruff in Alien3 to 'Get that bitch! You hate the fire!' or words to that affect, when Ripley's bashing it with the torch.
Wasn't it "you hate that bitch!" ?
QuoteWill it kill them? I highly doubt it. The Queen sat on top of an inferno of napalm and explosives with nary a scratch. Doesn't mean it wouldn't sting a bit.
I agree.
Thanks for the intelligent response, SM. I'm musing on it.
QuoteI never saw, or see, her as afraid of the fire itself, but the consequences (her children will die).
Fear of the consequences is still fear, thus making Ripley's statement correct to the best of her knowledge.
QuoteI think it hurt. I don't necessarily think they're afraid.
Yet the Queen recoils from it, thus making Ripley's statement correct again.
QuoteWasn't it "you hate that bitch!" ?
It might be - I don't have the exact quote, but I remember something mentioned about the torch.
PS- Junior sacrificed himself - not Jude.
Quote from: SM on Oct 22, 2012, 06:18:44 AM
Fear of the consequences is still fear, thus making Ripley's statement correct to the best of her knowledge.
So she's afraid her children will die, fire seems to be the secondary concern. If Ripley could destroy the hive with anything else (flooding it?) would she necessarily fear that other object? I'm not afraid of the ocean, but if my duaghter was playing in the surf, I'd feel an innate concern, even fear, for the consequences. None of the other Aliens seem significantly repelled by the flames.
QuoteIt might be - I don't have the exact quote, but I remember something mentioned about the torch.
PS- Junior sacrificed himself - not Jude.
I'm sure it is. Paraphrased from Sigourney.
Cheers, corrected! Shouldn't even be awake a this time...
Get used to it.
QuoteNone of the other Aliens seem significantly repelled by the flames.
None of them have to go through the flames either (in the nursery). Ripley shoots a couple off the walls, possibly indicating they're climbing around the inferno on the floor, rather than just walking through it.
Again, why does the Queen recoil from flame if not from the hurties it causes? It's right there in your sig picture, even.
Quote from: SM on Oct 22, 2012, 06:30:48 AM
Get used to it.
:laugh: I'll have no choice, will I?
Quote
None of them have to go through the flames either (in the nursery). Ripley shoots a couple off the walls, possibly indicating they're climbing around the inferno on the floor, rather than just walking through it.
What do you think of the Alien in the third movie, in the flaming tunnels?
QuoteAgain, why does the Queen recoil from flame if not from the hurties it causes? It's right there in your sig picture, even.
I should be clearer in my proposition: when the characters state that the Aliens are afraid of fire, I take it to mean that it repels them; they inherently fear the flames. When it comes to a pain response, recoiling seems natural, though not necessarily tied to a flat-out, tail-between-the-legs response to a stimulus. I definitely think the Aliens, all of them, feel pain, but not that fire is their one and only fear. Had Ripley stabbed the Queen and it recoiled, I'm not entirely sure we would say that the Aliens necessarily
fear sharp objects.
This reminds me of the 'do androids feel pain' debate (which I'll probably write an article on - a debate series would be good).
QuoteWhat do you think of the Alien in the third movie, in the flaming tunnels?
It doesn't actually come into contact with any flame. The flames are on the walls and it runs right down the middle of the corridor. Could even make a hypothetical argument that it came down out of the ducts because the fir in them.
QuoteWhen it comes to a pain response, recoiling seems natural, though not necessarily tied to a flat-out, tail-between-the-legs response to a stimulus.
I don't think it'd ever make them turn tail and run - but a flaming torch could be sufficient to hold it at bay, if only for short time.
QuoteI definitely think the Aliens, all of them, feel pain, but not that fire is their one and only fear.
Of course, but this whole debate it born out of Ripley's assertion that they're afraid of fire - which as far as she's experienced is true.
QuoteThis reminds me of the 'do androids feel pain' debate (which I'll probably write an article on - a debate series would be good).
They don't - but they can do a good job of faking it.
Quote from: Valaquen on Oct 22, 2012, 05:48:59 AM
I had a brainfart and wrote this: http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2012/10/22/aliens-fear-of-fire/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2012/10/22/aliens-fear-of-fire/)
I never found the idea that the Aliens are afraid of fire very convincing, so I wrote this up. Thoughts?
Like the new blog - been a reader for a while. As for fire I'd say the situation changes per film and that the answer should probably be no but Cameron changed that around. In Alien Ash (who we know is actually protecting the Alien) suggests fire because most creatures are afraid of fire. However the Alien no only doesn't seem put off by Dallas spraying fire around and in fact closes in towards him. It's also very unlikely Ash would suggest fire if it would really harm the Alien. So purely in terms of Alien I'd say that while it's never properly tested it's very likely fire would be an annoyance at best.
Cameron picked up on the fire/flamethrowers for Aliens however he clearly took Ash's words as gospel (his narrative required fire to be somewhat of a threat as well) and showed that the Alien's are at least wary of fire and that it can kill at least immature Alien forms (the chestburster in this case).
Poor Fincher - saddled with a muddled script from 13 different writers) has fire both seem to be a threat while also showing the Alien is fairly heat resistant (if it could take being heated by molten metal then the fire seen previously would be nothing to it).
So I'd say there's no clear evidence the Alien truly fears fire as an adult but they may show respect for it if embryonic Aliens are threatened (eggs and chestbursters).
I tend to take Alien as cannon above all sequels and personally I'd say the answer was certainly originally intended to be "no" on the basis of Ash only suggesting fire because it would prove useless (and this I'd argue was proven when the Alien nabbed Dallas) plus the fact at one point they planned to show the Alien in Alien rushing right through the fire completely untroubled by it - so basically Camerson retconned the context of Alien to suit his narrative needs.
If they never showed the Alien running untroubled through fire, then there was nothing for Cameron to retcon.
Quote(if it could take being heated by molten metal then the fire seen previously would be nothing to it).
We don't know what temperature QCT burns at, but if David is to be believed it's nasty stuff. If it's similar to gasoline then it combusts around 280C, and can heat up to over 1000C. Acetylene is up to 2300C. Napalm from a flamethrower is between 800C and 1200C.
Lead melts at a relatively cooler temp of 327C, and while the Alien withstood it, given a choice it wouldn't have gone swimming in it.
Valaquen - Your recent bit about Weyland/ Bishop. It was Charles Bishop Weyland;
Karl Bishop Weyland was in the last AvP video game. A trading card named the Alien3 Bishop as Michael Bishop. He pops up as the final boss in Alien3 - The Gun too.
Quote from: SM on Oct 22, 2012, 10:15:45 PM
Valaquen - Your recent bit about Weyland/ Bishop. It was Charles Bishop Weyland; Karl Bishop Weyland was in the last AvP video game. A trading card named the Alien3 Bishop as Michael Bishop. He pops up as the final boss in Alien3 - The Gun too.
Aye, I know - I mentioned Karl right after I mentioned the expanded universe, I meant to point to the AVP game, not Charles from the movie. I'll edit it to make that clearer.
EDIT: About Alien3 - The Gun, is he treated as human there? Thanks.
Quote from: SM on Oct 22, 2012, 10:15:45 PM
If they never showed the Alien running untroubled through fire, then there was nothing for Cameron to retcon.
Quote(if it could take being heated by molten metal then the fire seen previously would be nothing to it).
We don't know what temperature QCT burns at, but if David is to be believed it's nasty stuff. If it's similar to gasoline then it combusts around 280C, and can heat up to over 1000C. Acetylene is up to 2300C. Napalm from a flamethrower is between 800C and 1200C.
Lead melts at a relatively cooler temp of 327C, and while the Alien withstood it, given a choice it wouldn't have gone swimming in it.
Valaquen - Your recent bit about Weyland/ Bishop. It was Charles Bishop Weyland; Karl Bishop Weyland was in the last AvP video game. A trading card named the Alien3 Bishop as Michael Bishop. He pops up as the final boss in Alien3 - The Gun too.
The one thing I forgot to mention was that in Alien, not only did the creature show no fear of fire in attacking Dallas (if I remember while Dallas doesn't get to try and zap it the ignite flame is still going and visible in shot when it pounces) but the film clearly shows that when it climbs into the engine nacelle it is simply blown out and not actually destroyed - i.e. it survived being blasted by a spaceship engine and didn't even slow down when being shot. The fact Ash was happy to suggest fire makes it clear to me it was no threat to the alien - he would never have mentioned it otherwise.
TBH my view is that Ridely Scott had no issue with the idea of an almost indestructible Alien and played it that way - you never got the sense in Alien anything could stop or hurt it. Cameron is much more down to earth guy it seems to me and portrayed the creature much closer to an animal and, while deadly, ultimately not that durable and relatively easy to kill.
From that point the alien creature was handled very differently. To go with something like Aliens it had to be kill-able - but in Alien the opposite certainly felt true with the final resolution merely being the creature expelled from the ship into deep space rather than clearly and definitely killed.
Of course each film to an extent does its own thing so it's a moot point now in some ways - the creature changes shape and abilities to suit each film and there is no clear consistency overall I'd say.
Stepping on a Lego brick won't kill me. I won't run from a Lego brick. But I do avoid stepping on them if I can, because it still freakin' hurts.
Quote from: EGM1966 on Oct 23, 2012, 09:43:19 AM
[TBH my view is that Ridely Scott had no issue with the idea of an almost indestructible Alien and played it that way - you never got the sense in Alien anything could stop or hurt it. Cameron is much more down to earth guy it seems to me and portrayed the creature much closer to an animal and, while deadly, ultimately not that durable and relatively easy to kill.
From that point the alien creature was handled very differently. To go with something like Aliens it had to be kill-able - but in Alien the opposite certainly felt true with the final resolution merely being the creature expelled from the ship into deep space rather than clearly and definitely killed.
Of course each film to an extent does its own thing so it's a moot point now in some ways - the creature changes shape and abilities to suit each film and there is no clear consistency overall I'd say.
Everyone involved the film approached the Alien as something that
could be killed, but not something you wouldn't dare to. Scott said the Alien seemed indestructible
in relation to humans; it lived to reproduce and once this goal was attained it would die. They also scripted and storyboarded the thing being disintegrated in the jets, but as Scott said, they were "filming one-for-one" and couldn't really do it; the Narcissus was thrown together on a shoestring on the Nostromo bridge set, with one day to shoot everything, and was done essentially on a first shot basis.
I finally pulled my finger out and did this: http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2012/10/23/space-truckin-the-nostromo/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2012/10/23/space-truckin-the-nostromo/)
QuoteEDIT: About Alien3 - The Gun, is he treated as human there? Thanks.
Impossible to tell. When he gets shot it seems the blood splatter sprites from the Aliens are re-used so they're yellowy-green.
QuoteThe one thing I forgot to mention was that in Alien, not only did the creature show no fear of fire in attacking Dallas (if I remember while Dallas doesn't get to try and zap it the ignite flame is still going and visible in shot when it pounces)
The incinerator is lit, but pointing away from the Alien. And considering it's position, it's got nowhere to retreat to, so of course it's going to attack.
Yes..! More Alien stuff to read...awesome blog man...
I think it's wise to avoid assumptions of actual fear. I've often said that the Queen's aversion to fire might simply be due to sensory overload - sensitivity to thermal extremes could be used to supplement hunting techniques. Whether or not they'd literally see heat signatures is open to debate, but they might still sense the direction of where a slight difference in heat or cold could be coming from (here on Earth, rattlesnakes have heat-sensitive pits near their eyes to detect prey, but nobody knows if they somehow superimpose that data on their eyes or just sense the direction the heat's coming from).
A lot like if you're wearing night vision gear and a sudden flare of light would blind you. Doesn't mean it's in any way physically painful. Just that you have a reason to try and avoid it.
If so, then perhaps the Queen's reaction should be perceived as not fearful, but one of annoyance. She certainly seems angered when the welding torch is being used in her face.
I've speculated in the past that this line of reasoning might be why Newt's tracker was removed and discarded in the nest; it could have been sending out a signal the creatures were detecting and wanted rid of.
Could be a clue as to how they were able to sense where the Marines were residing, many miles away and on what level, at the film's start. Or how the original creature knew where Dallas was in the shafts, both horizontally and vertically.
Amusingly, this could also mean that things like motion trackers might actually be an Alien equivalent of holding up a big neon sign saying "FREE PREY HERE". :)
Out of interest, Val, I forget where, but isn't there an article you've penned where it references O'Bannon speculating the Aliens are meant to be stranded "blood relatives" of Cthulu's family tree?
Quote from: Xenomorphine on Oct 25, 2012, 05:14:50 AM
Out of interest, Val, I forget where, but isn't there an article you've penned where it references O'Bannon speculating the Aliens are meant to be stranded "blood relatives" of Cthulu's family tree?
Oh aye, he mentions it in his Something Perfectly Disgusting article. The article it was quoted in hasn't been restored yet, and I can't rummage for it at the moment. Will find it asap.
To add to the fire debate, in a scripted sequence where Dallas actually uses the flamethrower on the Alien ... the creature just waltzes through the flame. Image from the script has been added to the relevant article.
Thanks for the information about the move
Quote from: wmmvrrvrrmm on Oct 25, 2012, 10:03:47 AM
Thanks for the information about the move
I think wordpress is wonderful. Blogger was a nightmare most of the time. You should try it out! And xeno_alpha too.
Quote from: SM on Oct 23, 2012, 10:09:19 PM
QuoteEDIT: About Alien3 - The Gun, is he treated as human there? Thanks.
Impossible to tell. When he gets shot it seems the blood splatter sprites from the Aliens are re-used so they're yellowy-green.
QuoteThe one thing I forgot to mention was that in Alien, not only did the creature show no fear of fire in attacking Dallas (if I remember while Dallas doesn't get to try and zap it the ignite flame is still going and visible in shot when it pounces)
The incinerator is lit, but pointing away from the Alien. And considering it's position, it's got nowhere to retreat to, so of course it's going to attack.
What - it's in a position to retreat the very way it came. It had crept directly towards Dallas in the proceeding shots (shown by the tracker) and was waiting below him. If it didn't like fire all it had to do was retreat back the way it came - it's not backed into a corner and if it was then it would be a continuity error given the its movements shown on the tracker. Again I'd note that despite Dallas firing the flame thrower multiple times and clearly having it on him the alien wasn't in the least put off and it's clear that Ash wouldn't suggest anything that actually would hurt the alien - in context he throws the crew a bone of hope knowing in advance the flamethrowers will be ineffectual in deterring the alien which of course is what happens.
It's pretty clear to me that in Alien nothing is actually shown as bothering it that much and it even features Ash flat out telling the crew they can't kill it. The general tone of Alien is of an inability to destroy, hurt or outsmart the alien. Obviously when Cameron (with guidance from Hill, Giler, etc) took the franchise in the direction of combat the alien had to become kill-able and I always though it was cute of Cameron to have the flamethrowers and reference Alien as much as he did - but the reaction of the alien to anything is pretty inconsistent across the films and any fear or fire is one of those inconsistencies judging by Alien.
Quoteif it was then it would be a continuity error given the its movements shown on the tracker.
I always assumed it was moving in a tunnel below the location it got Dallas, then climbed up and waited for him there...
QuoteWhat - it's in a position to retreat the very way it came. It had crept directly towards Dallas in the proceeding shots (shown by the tracker) and was waiting below him. If it didn't like fire all it had to do was retreat back the way it came - it's not backed into a corner and if it was then it would be a continuity error given the its movements shown on the tracker.
If we accept that the tracker's representation makes sense - which it doesn't - what I was getting it is the Alien is just sitting there. If Dallas started flaming it, I think it would've attacked him as a quicker option rather than retreating and getting flamed over and over as it goes back the way it came.
It didn't have its back against a wall..?
I've always assumed it did, but it's impossible to tell.
The tracker shows it moving in a straight line shortly before Dallas is taken - which direction it was coming from though is also impossible to tell.
That tracker has always been suspect...you don't know whether to believe it's working properly, or if it was sabotaged from the get go...
f**king Ash... ::)
Facehugger/Chestburster a few days ago: http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2012/10/26/facehuggerchestburster/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2012/10/26/facehuggerchestburster/)
Today: http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2012/10/28/space-2122-2179/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2012/10/28/space-2122-2179/)
Quote from: SM on Oct 26, 2012, 12:11:05 AM
The tracker shows it moving in a straight line shortly before Dallas is taken - which direction it was coming from though is also impossible to tell.
The problem with the tracker is that is tries to show 3D movements on a 2D screen.
Once Lambert finds Dallas, it is able to locate him constantly but doesn't seem able to cope with both Dallas and the Alien movements simultaneously, especially if one goes straight and the other one up or down.
Maybe Ash knew it but didn't tell (just assuming).
From Facehugger/Chestbuster :
Quote from: Dan O'Bannon, Something Perfectly Disgusting
But the planetoid was now dead and this civilisation had been gone for a million years. All that remained of it was this pyramid and the spores – which can survive dormant for incredible lengths of time under even the most adverse conditions.
It's funny to see the contrast between facehugger and xeno short lifespan and the million-years (and probably more) lasting spores.
The parasitic wasp's larvas, once they are out of the caterpillar, are protected by it, it is a really disturbing thought.
In nature, cordyceps fungus are also disturbing things, maybe it could give an idea to some writers (or it already did?) :)
Quote from: PrimitifAlien on Oct 30, 2012, 10:39:18 AM
It's funny to see the contrast between facehugger and xeno short lifespan and the million-years (and probably more) lasting spores.
The parasitic wasp's larvas, once they are out of the caterpillar, are protected by it, it is a really disturbing thought.
In nature, cordyceps fungus are also disturbing things, maybe it could give an idea to some writers (or it already did?) :)
For O'Bannon the Alien lived for hundreds of years, and retired from its blood lust to become a scholarly creature. For Scott it was "like a butterfly" and only had a short burst of life. Then Cameron made 'em live for who knows how long.
Nice article on Weyland.
The Ultramorph/Alien background is quite brilliant. I see you're reaping in some great images from the Blu-ray.
Quote from: Valaquen on Oct 25, 2012, 03:21:50 PM
Quote from: wmmvrrvrrmm on Oct 25, 2012, 10:03:47 AM
Thanks for the information about the move
I think wordpress is wonderful. Blogger was a nightmare most of the time. You should try it out! And xeno_alpha too.
It could well be the next thing to do
Here's a new one, Colonial Marines: http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2012/11/10/i-love-the-corps/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2012/11/10/i-love-the-corps/)
Excellent, as usual.
Love learning new stuff about a movie I've known all my life.
Only you could do this to me Val.
Very nice article and I particulary liked the anecdote about Al Matthews' birthday :)
About Gorman being said by Vasquez 'you always were an asshole, Gorman', how can we interpret it ?
Does she complains that again he wasn't able to save her (and other people in the past) but still feel pleased he tried to rescue her ?
Or am I mistaken ?
Always saw it as a sort of backhanded... compliment? In a strange way. The way the Marines jostle and make fun of one another, there's a sort of familial kinship that Gorman was always excluded from. I don't think it was meant in a harsh way. The last shot of them both makes them look sort of resigned. It's a sad, heroic moment. Not entirely pyrrhic.
The line says "You shouldn't have come back for me, but I'm glad you did."
The "always" bit is a bit confusing (or interesting if you like). It implies Vasquez has known Gorman longer than we're lead to believe.
Thanks guys. Definitely a strong moment of the Saga. Especially the four hands wrapped around the bomb.
And it's good to have some mystery around their previous relationship.
I suspect it's a jesting 'always' - maybe they've been on one or two exercises before, but that'd be about it (the Marines don't seem to need an introduction to Gorman, indicating he's not as new as Ripley). She's as surprised as the rest when he mentions how many combat drops he's done.
Especially considering their respective conduct, indicating she's been in the business for a lot longer.
I just think their paths crossed at some point in the past.
That practically makes it canon then.
Or "always" just means "as long as I've known you".
Also she was about to explode. Maybe don't get too pedantic on her choice of words.
Boooooring!!!
Is Exploding Vasquez the Alien-verse equivalent of Tickle-Me Elmo?
Am I the only one who thinks Gorman and Vasquez were lovers?
... Yes.
Quote from: RaisingCane on Nov 16, 2012, 11:27:15 PM
Am I the only one who thinks Gorman and Vasquez were lovers?
You're alone, sorry :laugh:
Added an old article from Blogger about Newt & Hicks, and an interview with Alien 3's Clive Mantle. Slowly working on articles about the different Prometheus scripts just now.
Quote from: Valaquen on Nov 19, 2012, 10:33:39 PM
Slowly working on articles about the different Prometheus scripts just now.
GODDAMN IT IS HOT.
Eager to see this one.
Quote from: Space Sweeper on Nov 20, 2012, 12:01:32 AM
Quote from: Valaquen on Nov 19, 2012, 10:33:39 PM
Slowly working on articles about the different Prometheus scripts just now.
GODDAMN IT IS HOT.
Eager to see this one.
Believe it or not but that line is in the article :laugh: everything about it just "oozes SEX!"
Wrote this in a sort of rush, lemme know if there's any mistakes. Jon Spaihts' Alien prequel: http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2012/11/23/jon-spaihts-alien-prequel/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2012/11/23/jon-spaihts-alien-prequel/)
Haven't read the whole thing yet, but minor note about the dates and Amanda Ripley's photo - dates on that picture don't match the dialogue.
Quote from: SM on Nov 23, 2012, 02:15:37 AM
Haven't read the whole thing yet, but minor note about the dates and Amanda Ripley's photo - dates on that picture don't match the dialogue.
Thanks man :) I'll have a look at the dates again when I have time, up early for a funeral tomorrow.
EDIT: Aw hell, can't sleep with something on my mind. Right, I took a screencap of her photo:
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi104.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fm191%2FIzzys88%2FUntitled.png&hash=0800d7ee0672e03a38281ef23aaa614fbba2dcf9)
Her D.O.B. and D.O.D. are way out of whack. I never quite recalled how much.
She died "two years ago" according to Burke, so... 2177. Aged 66, so D.O.B. 2111, which would make her eleven in 2122, at the time of Alien. That part's right... it seems. "6/12/79" is the date of the directive sent by Burke.
Yup.
The dates on the screen in the inquest are all way out too, but I don't recall any of them being legible.
Dunno what that 'DB' on the photo is either. Dates generally only have 3 sets of numbers rather than 4, and none relate to 2054, 2154 or 2177.
Nice goof here. Nver noticed it before.
Who is the woman in the picture? It's an amazing family likeness... sexy thin lips. ;D
Quote from: ChrisPachi on Nov 23, 2012, 12:40:15 PM
Who is the woman in the picture? It's an amazing family likeness... sexy thin lips. ;D
Elizabeth Inglis, Sigourney's real life mother 8)
There's been a few new articles this week; here's the last: http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2012/12/03/alien-hierogylphs/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2012/12/03/alien-hierogylphs/)
We go to the hospital tomorrow to be induced, so nothing new for a while! Baby, university exams, xmas, the whole shebang!
Didn't consider those things to be pregnant bellies (speaking of which we're due Wednesday - best of luck). Always thought they were arses. But bellies works too.
Quote from: SM on Dec 03, 2012, 05:02:50 AM
Didn't consider those things to be pregnant bellies (speaking of which we're due Wednesday - best of luck). Always thought they were arses. But bellies works too.
I have a quote where Giger calls them pregnant bellies. I'll dig it up and add it.
Congrats and good luck ;D I know
I'll need it!
Just a note, but in the article about Hicks and Newt and their potential futures, it should be observed that an early (and, presumably, completely different) draft of Joss Whedon's 'Alien Resurrection' script dealt with a cloned version of Newt. Don't know if she would have been a teenager or young adult, but considering the time at which it would have been written, may have served as a template for the superior - and emotionally believable - TV version of Buffy (who, ironically, also turned out to be a long-haired blonde).
The script's never made it to the public domain, but would be interesting to see if it contains any of Buffy's later more memorable/poignant lines.
Possibly not a conscious one, however. I recall that he mentioned being surprised when a fan pointed out to him the obvious similarities between the Betty crew and the one from his much later 'Firefly' TV series.
Also, do you know where to find a larger version of this image from your site? Been searching for ages!
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dFJCjl_V27c/UCuUG5x6jJI/AAAAAAAADkI/c_z0HlbIoJA/s1600/sd.png (http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dFJCjl_V27c/UCuUG5x6jJI/AAAAAAAADkI/c_z0HlbIoJA/s1600/sd.png)
Quote from: Xenomorphine on Dec 03, 2012, 06:12:47 AM
Just a note, but in the article about Hicks and Newt and their potential futures, it should be observed that an early (and, presumably, completely different) draft of Joss Whedon's 'Alien Resurrection' script dealt with a cloned version of Newt. Don't know if she would have been a teenager or young adult, but considering the time at which it would have been written, may have served as a template for the superior - and emotionally believable - TV version of Buffy (who, ironically, also turned out to be a long-haired blonde).
The script's never made it to the public domain, but would be interesting to see if it contains any of Buffy's later more memorable/poignant lines.
Possibly not a conscious one, however. I recall that he mentioned being surprised when a fan pointed out to him the obvious similarities between the Betty crew and the one from his much later 'Firefly' TV series.
Aye, I know... I don't really deal with that film really, I don't like it at all. I may amend the article to mention Newt's return, though.
QuoteAlso, do you know where to find a larger version of this image from your site? Been searching for ages!
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dFJCjl_V27c/UCuUG5x6jJI/AAAAAAAADkI/c_z0HlbIoJA/s1600/sd.png (http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dFJCjl_V27c/UCuUG5x6jJI/AAAAAAAADkI/c_z0HlbIoJA/s1600/sd.png)
Sorry, that's the largest I have!
Just looking at your essay article about the Hieroglyphics. I think that the test footage with a torch light floating around Giger's artwork on the blu-ray must have been what was ultimately shot of the hieroglyphics. I doubt that anything more was done.
Quote from: wmmvrrvrrmm on Dec 03, 2012, 03:18:04 PM
Just looking at your essay article about the Hieroglyphics. I think that the test footage with a torch light floating around Giger's artwork on the blu-ray must have been what was ultimately shot of the hieroglyphics. I doubt that anything more was done.
I've never seen this... I'd better actually crack through the Bluray.
EDIT: Found it online: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAJAebEWeCc#ws (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAJAebEWeCc#ws)
Yes, we discussed it a few months back in this thread http://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/index.php?topic=45305.0, (http://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/index.php?topic=45305.0,) and I managed to get Lauzerika through Facebook to confirm his belief that it was the footage, as opposed to a recent shot of someone shining a torch at a poster
Quote from: Xenomorphine on Dec 03, 2012, 06:12:47 AM
Also, do you know where to find a larger version of this image from your site? Been searching for ages!
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dFJCjl_V27c/UCuUG5x6jJI/AAAAAAAADkI/c_z0HlbIoJA/s1600/sd.png (http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dFJCjl_V27c/UCuUG5x6jJI/AAAAAAAADkI/c_z0HlbIoJA/s1600/sd.png)
Is that a scan from the Ron Cobb artbook?
Possibly it's also on the BluRays? Would be very interested myself.
*edit*
Here ya go!
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.smh.com.au%2F2012%2F06%2F01%2F3340702%2Fport-Alien2.jpg&hash=e88eace2f2bb7a6457c1e1c6dba9706a9a578d4c)
Thank you! Always found that picture terribly inspiring!
I guess Cobb made it?
Quote from: Xenomorphine on Dec 03, 2012, 07:07:18 PM
I guess Cobb made it?
His signature in the picture is strongly implying that. ;)
Yeah, wasn't sure if that was something put on there by a site it was hosted on. Looks more like a logo.
well, we're used to seeing that picture a lot more faded and with the edges trimmed off. The detail in that image is quite stunning comparing to what we usually see.
Quote from: wmmvrrvrrmm on Dec 04, 2012, 03:57:06 PM
well, we're used to seeing that picture a lot more faded and with the edges trimmed off. The detail in that image is quite stunning comparing to what we usually see.
Yes, I am really happy about finding this.
Do you or somebody else happen to know if this is from Ron Cobb's
Colorvision?
And I wonder what the image quality is like on the BluRays, can somebody with the Anthology check on this?
whatever the origins, it wasn't until this June that it got onto the internet via Sydney Morning Herald (http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/space-invaders-20120531-1zjps.html (http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/space-invaders-20120531-1zjps.html)) and Brisbane Times going by Googlesearch, but the one we have here is a bigger sized file than the one on at the Australian newspaper sites
New, and quickly cobbled together: http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/01/31/gateway-station/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/01/31/gateway-station/)
Not too much, I think, is known about Gateway's ships. If anybody knows anything else, then chip in :)
I've always wondered about that ship... Great work.
I always figured it for a slightly modified dropship model, because it looked similar, but this is interesting.
I also updated/modified the Hadley's Hope article: http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2012/10/18/hadleys-hope/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2012/10/18/hadleys-hope/)
http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/02/05/dressing-the-future/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/02/05/dressing-the-future/)
Moebius' work on Alien, plus Cobb and Mollo's patches.
Jones was a UK kitten! Who'd have thought it?
Always fascinating stuff you put on there. :)
More information on the relationship between Cameron's unfilmed treatment, Mother, and Aliens:
QuoteMother & Aliens: Cameron's Mother concept originated many of his later Aliens tropes, including a company that funds inhabitation of hostile worlds, the term 'xenomorph', a powersuit/loader (inspired by a similar device in his short film Xenogenesis) a multi-limbed alien mother antagonist, and a final battle between the female hero and the aforementioned alien, with the hero encased in a robotic suit that augments her strength. "In 1980 or 1981," Cameron explained, "I wrote notes and an initial treatment for a science fiction story that I initially called E.T., meaning extraterrestrial, a commonly used term in science fiction literature. As I was writing it, I found out that Steven Spielberg was making a film called E.T. The Extraterrestrial, so I promptly changed the title of my story. I used Protein as an interim working title, but then switched the title to Mother, because the story concerned a female genetically engineered creature attempting to ensure the survival of its young ... In Mother, humans have plundered Earth and look to exploit another planet. As I wrote in 1980-81: 'It was a ... plan, born of desperation. For Earth was becoming hell too, crushed beneath a sea of homo-sapiens, and they needed new territory. Not simply a new continent: an entire world was required. And so they came...' This effort is spearheaded by an international and interplanetary consortium called Triworld Development Corporation, or 'the Company,' which sets up mines on another planet, possibly Venus or an extrasolar planet or moon such as Titan ... In Mother, in addition to mines on this planet, the Company sets up stations devoted to research and development. Because the planet's environment is dangerous to humans, a 'xenomorph,' my term for a genetically engineered alien creature, is created based on a local life form in order to serve the needs of the Company ... In the final confrontation in Mother, a human in a 'power suit' (a utility exoskeleton that is a sort of cross between a fork-lift and a robot) fights the alien creature that I called the "Skraath" or "Skraith," a black six-limbed panther that I had previously created for another project called Labyrinth." The similarity to Cameron's Avatar should also be obvious.
Info added to: http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2012/10/19/writing-aliens/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2012/10/19/writing-aliens/)
Blade Runner and the Alien series: http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/02/19/blade-runneralien/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/02/19/blade-runneralien/)
Interview with Mark Verheiden: http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/02/21/strange-shapes-interviews-mark-verheiden/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/02/21/strange-shapes-interviews-mark-verheiden/)
Excellent stuff Val. :)
Long time no post, such is life.
New short article on the translucent suit: http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/07/17/the-translucent-alien/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/07/17/the-translucent-alien/)
Quote from: Valaquen on Jul 16, 2013, 11:45:06 PM
Long time no post, such is life.
New short article on the translucent suit: http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/07/17/the-translucent-alien/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/07/17/the-translucent-alien/)
Thanks, I wonder how it looked before it turned yellow. At least we have a photograph of the head though before and now, in colour. I think without the suit from Propstore being identified as an attempt at a translucent suit it was hard to say what that was
Quote from: Valaquen on Jul 16, 2013, 11:45:06 PM
Long time no post, such is life.
New short article on the translucent suit: http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/07/17/the-translucent-alien/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/07/17/the-translucent-alien/)
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F25.media.tumblr.com%2Ftumblr_luxprc3bD21ql0l7mo1_r1_500.gif&hash=5eb6614dd5be818cb1d8c4df84b497fda8862d45)
Fantasic stuff as always Val mate. Your version is a lot better than my little pezzy article on the same subject a while ago. Keep it up mate.
Thanks to xeno_alpha, I transcribed an old Sigourney interview. The interviewer has some objections about Alien 3, it seems. Enjoy: http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/08/05/interview-with-sigourney-weaver-1992/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/08/05/interview-with-sigourney-weaver-1992/)
Cool interview coming soon(ish).
Quote from: Omegazilla on Aug 05, 2013, 10:37:55 PM
Quote from: Valaquen on Aug 05, 2013, 10:34:24 PM
Cool interview coming soon(ish).
:laugh: ;)
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi104.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fm191%2FIzzys88%2F1368223847368_zps2e962109.gif&hash=e67fe7fb2b097f48bbce80eea52b0a04ab3605e1)
Quote from: Valaquen on Aug 05, 2013, 10:34:24 PMThanks to xeno_alpha, I transcribed an old Sigourney interview. The interviewer has some objections about Alien 3, it seems. Enjoy: http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/08/05/interview-with-sigourney-weaver-1992/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/08/05/interview-with-sigourney-weaver-1992/)
Interesting interview, thanks.
Been a bit lax, but here's a few new ones.
The Android (Ash): http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/08/13/the-android/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/08/13/the-android/)
The Engineers (Parker and Brett): http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/08/15/the-engineers/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/08/15/the-engineers/)
Interesting reads both.
Exclusive for you all: http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/08/15/strange-shapes-interviews-ian-whyte/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/08/15/strange-shapes-interviews-ian-whyte/)
Absolutely fantastic.
Nice one.
Intresting comment about the Engineers serving a higher power.
Quote from: Valaquen on Aug 15, 2013, 03:21:05 PMThe Engineers (Parker and Brett): http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/08/15/the-engineers/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/08/15/the-engineers/)
Reminds me of the dialogue between Ash and Parker in the MAD Magazine parody:
Parker: Frett [sic] and I talked it over...and we've decided we want an
equal share of pay! After all, we
LOADED this space tug!
Ash: That's a big deal! This space tug has
"AUTOMATIC LOAD!"Parker: Yeah, but
WE were the ones who
PUSHED the
BUTTON!!
Love this keep up the good work, I check it ever few days. ;D
New post: Eric Red's Alien III: http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/08/23/animal-farm-eric-reds-alien-iii/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/08/23/animal-farm-eric-reds-alien-iii/)
I will never have to read that thing again, thank the Universe.
Valaquen I thank you because I'm sure it was painful to get through that one.
Though the way the structure and aliens and everything came together reminded me of Dead Space.
I seem to remember strangeshapes a lot different in format. I like this format a bit better and it's easy to navigate and I am really impressed with your writing. Do you write professionally for anything?
Quote from: saintssinphony on Aug 23, 2013, 02:26:18 PM
Valaquen I thank you because I'm sure it was painful to get through that one.
Though the way the structure and aliens and everything came together reminded me of Dead Space.
I seem to remember strangeshapes a lot different in format. I like this format a bit better and it's easy to navigate and I am really impressed with your writing. Do you write professionally for anything?
It was a complete slog. Luckily I'll never have to do it again.
The blog used to be at Blogger, but that site was sort of ugly and it kept messing up my formatting. Wordpress is infinitely better (and prettier). Thank you - but I'm only an English literature undergrad. Nothin' special!
Quote from: Valaquen on Aug 23, 2013, 04:00:09 PM
Quote from: saintssinphony on Aug 23, 2013, 02:26:18 PM
Valaquen I thank you because I'm sure it was painful to get through that one.
Though the way the structure and aliens and everything came together reminded me of Dead Space.
I seem to remember strangeshapes a lot different in format. I like this format a bit better and it's easy to navigate and I am really impressed with your writing. Do you write professionally for anything?
It was a complete slog. Luckily I'll never have to do it again.
The blog used to be at Blogger, but that site was sort of ugly and it kept messing up my formatting. Wordpress is infinitely better (and prettier). Thank you - but I'm only an English literature undergrad. Nothin' special!
Your educating yourself and using what you learn effectively and well and that is special. Keep up the good work, I'm trying to make it though the writings today and look forward to more.
What would you charge to ghost write a biography? PM me if it's something you would consider.
Quote from: saintssinphony on Aug 23, 2013, 04:26:09 PM
What would you charge to ghost write a biography? PM me if it's something you would consider.
Haha, I'd write my own if I could - I have two dissertations this year (joint degree) and a baby daughter to scrape cash for. Strange Shapes is my only real recreational moment, to be honest. The rest of my time is bought up by schooling or family. I also help edit a local magazine in my Sunday evenings. No rest. Sorry, man.
Yeah, tell me about it. That's why I need some help on this "project" I want to do. I got a 2 year old and 12 and I'm trying to do some catching on school myself, if I wasn't laid off from work at the moment I wouldn't have time to write this.
I'm actually doing a lot of posting of forums because I'm trying to get some rhythm down for writing. I'm good at laying out a story and editing but rhythm is a delicate thing. I also write music and I can come up with lots of song ideas and concepts and even sounds but sometimes just the way written word feels is as important as anything else. That's why I dig your strangeshapes because I don't feel like it's much of an effort to read your stuff, it flows well. Anyhow, good luck with it. I'm a fan now.
RE: The Eric Red script: The horror...the horror...
Quote from: maledoro on Aug 24, 2013, 12:53:34 AM
RE: The Eric Red script: The horror...the horror...
see we can agree on something can't we :laugh:
Dog catchers: http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/08/23/dog-catchers/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/08/23/dog-catchers/)
Quote from: maledoro on Aug 24, 2013, 12:53:34 AM
RE: The Eric Red script: The horror...the horror...
Refresh my memory.
And space station Aliens.
Quote from: SM on Aug 25, 2013, 11:57:27 PMAnd space station Aliens.
I was going to mention that, too, but I didn't want to relive the horror of reading that script.
Quote from: Valaquen on Aug 24, 2013, 02:25:20 PM
Dog catchers: http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/08/23/dog-catchers/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/08/23/dog-catchers/)
I think this needs a little more work (sorry, I probably sound like a teacher). Talk about the various versions that were filmed - eg. Aaron's 'You're going to need a bigger cage than that'. How Golic met the commandos instead of Aaron in another draft.
Quote from: SM on Aug 26, 2013, 01:49:14 AM
Quote from: Valaquen on Aug 24, 2013, 02:25:20 PM
Dog catchers: http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/08/23/dog-catchers/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/08/23/dog-catchers/)
I think this needs a little more work (sorry, I probably sound like a teacher).
You don't need to apologise, you're only wanting to see the best out of the article.
I do agree, and a lot of the time I go back and rework articles, add stuff, et cetera. I think I blew a fuse lately because I've been writing a lot of articles and doing some important research (related and not related to the site) so I didn't do my 100% there. But I will go back and add more. I'm finding out there's always more you can learn about these movies. Bloody always :laugh:
EDIT: And I've just noticed a few obvious spelling errors. That's what happens when you write between 1-5am, guys...
SM says if you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding.
How can you have any pudding, if you don't eat your meat?
Quote from: Local Trouble on Aug 26, 2013, 03:30:34 AMSM says if you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding.
Quote from: SM on Aug 26, 2013, 03:34:00 AMHow can you have any pudding, if you don't eat your meat?
:D
Great articles Valaquen, always enjoy reading the things you post!
Egg morphing and cocoons: http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/11/23/egg-morph/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/11/23/egg-morph/)
Great! Good to see new addition and on a very interesting subject.
Another great read, keep posting the articles!
Quote from: HuDaFuK on Nov 23, 2013, 09:16:13 PM
Another great read, keep posting the articles!
Well, if you insist: http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/11/24/rock-jockey/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/11/24/rock-jockey/)
Yeah, I spotted that this morning. Good stuff!
Good stuff, thanks!
Valaquen, do you plan to compose any articles on the films that inspired Alien, like IT! The Terror From Beyond Space?
Quote from: Kelgaard on Dec 10, 2013, 04:10:39 PM
Valaquen, do you plan to compose any articles on the films that inspired Alien, like IT! The Terror From Beyond Space?
I was thinking about looking at its antecedents and analogues. First I have two script articles to finish plus I've been working on another article that's taken a year and counting to research (that's right Oz, THAT article.)
New article: Wooden World: Vincent Ward's Alien III
http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/12/14/wooden-world-vincent-wards-alien-iii/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/12/14/wooden-world-vincent-wards-alien-iii/)
Nice, gonna read it ASAP.
Wonderful article! Tons of things i didnt know. :)
Quote from: Blacklabel on Dec 14, 2013, 11:46:02 PM
Wonderful article! Tons of things i didnt know. :)
That's what I'm here for :)
So the 'Cocoon' sequence was originally 11 minutes long?I wonder what the extra material was?
Quote from: Elmazalman on Dec 15, 2013, 07:39:38 AM
So the 'Cocoon' sequence was originally 11 minutes long?I wonder what the extra material was?
Ripley wandering around, really. I'm sure it's on YT in low quality somewhere.
Here's one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dS5MtzrW1vU# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dS5MtzrW1vU#)
The 'Cocoon' sequence,I think would have worked better if placed directly after the discovery of Parker and Lambert's remains instead of during the countdown,that way it could have been presented uncut with the complete dialogue instead of rushing the scene.
Wouldn't it be kind of weird though, for Ripley not to care that she just set part of the ship on fire if it were placed in that location?
Quote from: MrSpaceJockey on Dec 15, 2013, 10:29:42 PM
Wouldn't it be kind of weird though, for Ripley not to care that she just set part of the ship on fire if it were placed in that location?
Not really since the plan was to destroy the ship and escape in the shuttle.
I love the design of the Alien's resin and the cocoons but I honestly think the film works without it. Like Giger I never found the sequence to be so horrifying. The idea behind it was never fully explored: fans today still debate whether the hosts are transfigured into facehuggers or are merely a 'yolk' for the facehugger to feed on and grow (whats happens when the 'yolk' is devoured? Can the facehugger starve?) I still have to champion the Queen. I can't dislike it because O'Bannon/Scott/Giger never thought of it first.
Quote from: Valaquen on Dec 15, 2013, 11:21:39 PM
I love the design of the Alien's resin and the cocoons but I honestly think the film works without it. Like Giger I never found the sequence to be so horrifying. The idea behind it was never fully explored
Aye, I agree. Very interesting concept and a cool delete scene, but I feel like the concept could be executed in a much more horrifying manner. Prometheus 2, anybody? ;)
Also, started going through your new article a bit. Really cool stuff.
It's probably one of the more horrifying aspects of the film. To see how Dallas is gradually losing it, and contemplating what the process is doing to him, and how he's aware of it. That shit's nasty.
It would've been better if inserted prior to initiating the self destruct as per the script, but as it stands Riddles was correct to cut it because the film just comes to a screeching halt.
I still need to watch the extended cut and see how it feels right in the film. Only ever seen it as a a deleted scene.
The truncated cut you mean? ;D
If they moved the scene to it's original location and left in the shots of Ripley hearing Dallas weeping, and then picking up the manhole to go down to C deck, it might've worked.
Quote from: SM on Dec 15, 2013, 11:48:07 PM
The truncated cut you mean? ;D
Haha, forgot about that :D I was just trying to refrain from calling it a 'Director's Cut' :P
Well that's its proper name after all.
Yeah, I know, just feel a bit reluctant to do so with the theatrical cut being Ridley's preferred.
And the Special Edition of Aliens being Cameron's preferred and yet it's not called a Directors Cut.
Go figure. ;D
I think -and SM and SiL will definitely know- that a fan version of the film has the untruncated scene, as well as a ton of other cool shots.
I know of it, but have never watched it.
Pretty sure they used the full deleted scene that Xeno Alphe posted above. We'll never see an eleven minute version methinks. How they wrung that much footage out of a page and a half boggles the mind.
Quote from: Valaquen on Dec 15, 2013, 11:21:39 PM
I love the design of the Alien's resin and the cocoons but I honestly think the film works without it. Like Giger I never found the sequence to be so horrifying. The idea behind it was never fully explored: fans today still debate whether the hosts are transfigured into facehuggers or are merely a 'yolk' for the facehugger to feed on and grow (whats happens when the 'yolk' is devoured? Can the facehugger starve?) I still have to champion the Queen. I can't dislike it because O'Bannon/Scott/Giger never thought of it first.
Artistically speaking Giger was right when he said the scene doesn't fit because of the colour design.It sticks out like a sore thumb.I always thought as filmed,Dallas was kept alive as the host for the second generation of Alien,and not egg morphed or used as food.
Pretty sure the Virtual Workprint places the scene after the self destruct.
Quote from: Elmazalman on Dec 16, 2013, 12:08:04 AM
Quote from: Valaquen on Dec 15, 2013, 11:21:39 PM
I love the design of the Alien's resin and the cocoons but I honestly think the film works without it. Like Giger I never found the sequence to be so horrifying. The idea behind it was never fully explored: fans today still debate whether the hosts are transfigured into facehuggers or are merely a 'yolk' for the facehugger to feed on and grow (whats happens when the 'yolk' is devoured? Can the facehugger starve?) I still have to champion the Queen. I can't dislike it because O'Bannon/Scott/Giger never thought of it first.
Artistically speaking Giger was right when he said the scene doesn't fit because of the colour design.It sticks out like a sore thumb.I always thought as filmed,Dallas was kept alive as the host for the second generation of Alien,and not egg morphed or used as food.
As presented Dallas is being egg morphed (despite Riddles indicating on commentaries that he'll ned up like Kane). Although until late in the piece they still had the food locker scene, explaining how the Alien got so big so quick and the possibility that Dallas was being used a food source.
In the greater context of the sequels, it makes him being egg morphed more apparent.
Quote from: SM on Dec 16, 2013, 12:36:38 AM
Quote from: Elmazalman on Dec 16, 2013, 12:08:04 AM
Quote from: Valaquen on Dec 15, 2013, 11:21:39 PM
I love the design of the Alien's resin and the cocoons but I honestly think the film works without it. Like Giger I never found the sequence to be so horrifying. The idea behind it was never fully explored: fans today still debate whether the hosts are transfigured into facehuggers or are merely a 'yolk' for the facehugger to feed on and grow (whats happens when the 'yolk' is devoured? Can the facehugger starve?) I still have to champion the Queen. I can't dislike it because O'Bannon/Scott/Giger never thought of it first.
Artistically speaking Giger was right when he said the scene doesn't fit because of the colour design.It sticks out like a sore thumb.I always thought as filmed,Dallas was kept alive as the host for the second generation of Alien,and not egg morphed or used as food.
As presented Dallas is being egg morphed (despite Riddles indicating on commentaries that he'll ned up like Kane). Although until late in the piece they still had the food locker scene, explaining how the Alien got so big so quick and the possibility that Dallas was being used a food source.
In the greater context of the sequels, it makes him being egg morphed more apparent.
In one script Lambert had been eaten.
http://alienseries.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/sc.png (http://alienseries.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/sc.png)
Quote from: SM on Dec 16, 2013, 12:36:38 AM
Quote from: Elmazalman on Dec 16, 2013, 12:08:04 AM
Quote from: Valaquen on Dec 15, 2013, 11:21:39 PM
I love the design of the Alien's resin and the cocoons but I honestly think the film works without it. Like Giger I never found the sequence to be so horrifying. The idea behind it was never fully explored: fans today still debate whether the hosts are transfigured into facehuggers or are merely a 'yolk' for the facehugger to feed on and grow (whats happens when the 'yolk' is devoured? Can the facehugger starve?) I still have to champion the Queen. I can't dislike it because O'Bannon/Scott/Giger never thought of it first.
Artistically speaking Giger was right when he said the scene doesn't fit because of the colour design.It sticks out like a sore thumb.I always thought as filmed,Dallas was kept alive as the host for the second generation of Alien,and not egg morphed or used as food.
As presented Dallas is being egg morphed (despite Riddles indicating on commentaries that he'll ned up like Kane). Although until late in the piece they still had the food locker scene, explaining how the Alien got so big so quick and the possibility that Dallas was being used a food source.
In the greater context of the sequels, it makes him being egg morphed more apparent.
The way I read the scene,once the Brett/egg had been fully completed a face hugger would emerge from the egg and clamp onto Dallas and start the cycle all over again.Dallas would have put two and two together,which is why he begs Ripley to kill him.
If Dallas had really put two and two together, he would've said "Hell yes, get me out of here before he fully turns into an egg and a hugger jumps on me!!"
This was much more than simply sticking him to the wall to be a host.
Quote from: SM on Dec 16, 2013, 01:02:42 AM
If Dallas had really put two and two together, he would've said "Hell yes, get me out of here before he fully turns into an egg and a hugger jumps on me!!"
This was much more than simply sticking him to the wall to be a host.
That's where Ripley's missing piece of dialogue about getting him out of there would have fit in,and yes he did sound like he was in pain and not just glued to the wall.I still think he did have some idea as to what was happening.
I've always found it strange how the novels of Aliens and Alien 3 follow on from the film version of Alien (as opposed to its novelisation) and yet both mention the egg morphing scene.
Quote from: SM on Dec 16, 2013, 12:36:38 AM
I always thought as filmed,Dallas was kept alive as the host for the second generation of Alien,and not egg morphed or used as food.
Ridley certainly understood that he was half dead in the state of being eaten by the alien's young that would engulf him like Brett, soon growing into the egg. I suppose that still makes him a "host for the insect"
Meanwhile Lambert's body because she was raped when killed , possibly harboured a humanoid alien
It seemed to me that Dallas was being egg-morphed too. I figure the alien did an instinctive head count of the crew and figured there was no point in creating anything but eggs on off chance someone found them.
Quote from: Local Trouble on Dec 16, 2013, 04:50:21 PM
It seemed to me that Dallas was being egg-morphed too. I figure the alien did an instinctive head count of the crew and figured there was no point in creating anything but eggs on off chance someone found them.
What I find baffling is,from seeing the 'Cocoon' scene we now know the Alien had a purpose all along and wasn't just killing randomly.Brett was killed on the spot because the Alien needed the raw organic material to grow an egg.Dallas was preserved for some reason.Why?If Dallas was also going to be "egg morphed"why was he taken alive?I can think of two reasons,as host for a second generation of Alien or a fresh food source.
Or simply that egg morphing isn't dependent on whether the flesh is living or not.
Quote from: HuDaFuK on Dec 16, 2013, 08:41:23 AM
I've always found it strange how the novels of Aliens and Alien 3 follow on from the film version of Alien (as opposed to its novelisation) and yet both mention the egg morphing scene.
ADF trying to tie everything together. I don't remember Aliens mentioning egg morphing but Ripley does mention she's seen something similar to the hive.
Quote from: SM on Dec 16, 2013, 10:34:43 PM
Or simply that egg morphing isn't dependent on whether the flesh is living or not.
So why didn't it just kill him on the spot?It would be easier for the Alien to take a corpse back to it's nest than a live struggling human.
We don't know. It's an alien. We don't know how it thinks.
Pretty much. And I can't imagine a struggling Dallas would be too much of a burden.
It would still be a needless hassle.
So maybe it knocked him out. We don't really know.
Quote from: SM on Dec 16, 2013, 10:49:47 PM
So maybe it knocked him out. We don't really know.
A possibility.
Quote from: SM on Dec 16, 2013, 10:34:43 PM
Or simply that egg morphing isn't dependent on whether the flesh is living or not.
Quote from: HuDaFuK on Dec 16, 2013, 08:41:23 AM
I've always found it strange how the novels of Aliens and Alien 3 follow on from the film version of Alien (as opposed to its novelisation) and yet both mention the egg morphing scene.
ADF trying to tie everything together. I don't remember Aliens mentioning egg morphing but Ripley does mention she's seen something similar to the hive.
I've never been able to reconcile that with Ripley asking "so who's laying these eggs?" If she saw Brett and Dallas turning into eggs, she should already know the answer.
Quote from: Local Trouble on Dec 17, 2013, 02:38:30 AM
Quote from: SM on Dec 16, 2013, 10:34:43 PM
Or simply that egg morphing isn't dependent on whether the flesh is living or not.
Quote from: HuDaFuK on Dec 16, 2013, 08:41:23 AM
I've always found it strange how the novels of Aliens and Alien 3 follow on from the film version of Alien (as opposed to its novelisation) and yet both mention the egg morphing scene.
ADF trying to tie everything together. I don't remember Aliens mentioning egg morphing but Ripley does mention she's seen something similar to the hive.
I've never been able to reconcile that with Ripley asking "so who's laying these eggs?" If she saw Brett and Dallas turning into eggs, she should already know the answer.
Depends on whether you consider Alien:The Directors Cut canon or a curio.
Ripley's line made perfect sense in 1986.
It did before I got online and every Alien fan in the world browbeat the notion into me that James Cameron was the Antichrist for ignoring a deleted scene from the previous movie.
I'm sure there were plenty of casual viewers in the audience who didn't know about an obscure deleted scene from Alien so the reference would have passed them buy.Cameron wanted to make the sequel accessible to all viewers not just fans,so detailed knowledge of the original wasn't required to enjoy the film as a stand-alone piece of entertainment.
Tell that to the purists.
Let Cameron tell it to the purists, it was his idea to f$$k with the Alien's life cycle and invent the Queen.
Militant Alien purists are few.
And sad.
How was Cameron f**king with the lifecycle if the scene he ignored was deleted?
Quote from: SM on Dec 17, 2013, 03:17:06 AM
Militant Alien purists are few.
And sad.
Not militant,I don't mind the sequels,I just have a healthy respect for the original.
Quote from: Local Trouble on Dec 17, 2013, 03:18:48 AM
How was Cameron f**king with the lifecycle if the scene he ignored was deleted?
A purist would have noticed.
You're not a purist.
No more or less than you or any other poster on this forum.
Mostly.
I do often wonder how some people can get so in a twist over the sequel not conforming to a scene that wasn't even in the original film and wasn't actually officially released until 17 years
after the sequel was made.
In fact, spelling it out makes it seem even more strange.
Quote from: SM on Dec 16, 2013, 10:34:43 PMADF trying to tie everything together. I don't remember Aliens mentioning egg morphing but Ripley does mention she's seen something similar to the hive.
Yeah, it was the Hive reference. Something like she'd seen it before, obviously referring to the eggmorphing scene. The third book goes further, saying that both eggmorphing and Queen are viable means of reproduction.
I get that Foster was trying to tie it all together, I just find it odd that he'd feel the need to. The novelization of
Aliens clearly follows on from the film
Alien rather than the book (as the Alien's death is markedly different in the first book, but the novel
Aliens describes it as it was in the film). If the cocoon scene wasn't in the first movie, I find it odd Foster would mention it in the later books.
Again, these novels were written long before the Director's Cut. Was the eggmorphing scene really that well-known at the time?
It was in the novelisation and every making-of book or magazine back then. People were calling Cameron out about it back in '86.
Fair enough.
And I get the scene was in the first book, but like I said, the second novel clearly retcons the first by ignoring all the differences it contained. Aliens the novel instead follows on from the first film.
This new article took me so long to write and proof-read that I feel like Dallas in the cocoon: "Kill me!"
At almost 10,000 words, this is definitely my longest article yet.
Take a look at cyberpunk author William Gibson's Alien III script - BOTH drafts. The first is widely available over the internet; the second is quite rare and rarely seen, and shakes up the plot of the first draft significantly. In fact, it almost returns to the horror formula of the original Alien, unlike the first draft which apes the second movie.
Enjoy!
http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/12/18/cold-wars-william-gibsons-alien-iii/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/12/18/cold-wars-william-gibsons-alien-iii/)
Never read the second draft. And after the first, not terribly keen to - so this piece to suit nicely!
Quote from: SM on Dec 18, 2013, 10:08:48 PM
Never read the second draft. And after the first, not terribly keen to - so this piece to suit nicely!
It has problems, but is a definite improvement. I hope you enjoy the article if not the script :)
I prefer the second draft to the actual film we got.
What's Bishop doing with a Hyperdyne A/5 manual?Isn't he supposed to be a more advanced model?
Ash was an A2. So A5 would be more advanced - if only slightly.
Yes your right,my mistake I haven't seen Aliens in a long while.
Quote from: Valaquen on Dec 18, 2013, 09:04:38 PMTake a look at cyberpunk author William Gibson's Alien III script - BOTH drafts.
Wow, had no idea at all there was a revised version. Should be a fascinating read!
Can we see an actual copy of the second draft? I'd like to read it myself.
Yeah, having read the article, I'd like to track down a copy of the script, as it's so different.
Quote from: Valaquen on Dec 18, 2013, 10:41:12 PM
Quote from: SM on Dec 18, 2013, 10:08:48 PM
Never read the second draft. And after the first, not terribly keen to - so this piece to suit nicely!
It has problems, but is a definite improvement. I hope you enjoy the article if not the script :)
Not read this article yet but I've just been catching up on the other ones. Nice work, as always.
I prefer the 2nd draft, I really do. It's nowhere near as outrageous as the first one.
Same here, by a long way.
I still really dislike how the Xenomorphs are suddenly an airborne virus, but otherwise the second version's a pretty great script, and much improved from the first (which I admittedly still quite enjoy). I even like the idea of a fight between the classic alien and Gibson's new version - especially as Gibson has the new version get completely owned. I thought that was pretty interesting. He didn't make his version superior, or even comparable. It just gets annihilated.
I love these Blogs, much praise to Strange Shapes.
I have been interested in learning more about these scripts but haven't brought myself to do the leg work. So thanks for condensing them. I like many of the concepts in the William Gibson script.
Sulaco takes four years to reach Anchorpoint in the second draft too. I never understood why Gibson made her return voyage take so long.
A day to seriously get down to reading it, thanks Vala
Quote from: wmmvrrvrrmm on Dec 25, 2013, 01:22:48 PM
A day to seriously get down to reading it, thanks Vala
Enjoy my friend :)
Anyone remember my theory that the company diverted the Sulaco to Fury (http://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/index.php?topic=44709.msg1482317#msg1482317)? This second draft is the first evidence I've come across that something very similar was actually a plot point during the conceptual phase of the movie's development.
James Cameron's Alien III (or 'How it was Never Going to Happen')
http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2014/01/03/james-camerons-alien-iii-or-how-it-was-never-going-to-happen/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2014/01/03/james-camerons-alien-iii-or-how-it-was-never-going-to-happen/)
Ridley Scott's Alien II (or 'What He Wanted to Happen)
http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2014/01/07/ridley-scotts-alien-ii-or-what-he-wanted-to-happen/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2014/01/07/ridley-scotts-alien-ii-or-what-he-wanted-to-happen/)
I'll have a read a bit later. Keep them coming!
Hey Valaquen; a bit off topic, but while going through my facebook feed today, my cousin was posting random photos she'd snapped during walking her dogs the other day, and totally oblivious to the significance of the location, she'd managed to capture Fury 161 almost angle perfect to the shot in the assembly cut (she had no idea what i was talking about, but it stood out like a sore thumb to me on the news feed haha) And it reminded me that a LONG time ago, I'm sure i promised you some photos (it may have been on the blu-ray.com forums?) and it had completely slipped my mind!! *apologies for that* Anyway, I figured until i could go down there myself and snap some high res pics, I'd send this comparison pic i threw together using the snap from her dog walk to tide ya over (It's uncanny considering she wasn't even trying/ hasn't seen the movie haha) (https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FZBgjZXp.png&hash=5a6db9b709d3b36cc5627900ebc43789064d5d4f)
Where is that?
It's my hometown; Seaham, County Durham, North East England... and yes, that beach actually looks as filthy as it does in the movie haha (It used to be a coal mining town - that stretch of beach is known locally as 'The Blast') :)
Quote from: Its_Auto on Jan 09, 2014, 02:58:22 AM
Hey Valaquen; a bit off topic, but while going through my facebook feed today, my cousin was posting random photos she'd snapped during walking her dogs the other day, and totally oblivious to the significance of the location, she'd managed to capture Fury 161 almost angle perfect to the shot in the assembly cut (she had no idea what i was talking about, but it stood out like a sore thumb to me on the news feed haha) And it reminded me that a LONG time ago, I'm sure i promised you some photos (it may have been on the blu-ray.com forums?) and it had completely slipped my mind!! *apologies for that* Anyway, I figured until i could go down there myself and snap some high res pics, I'd send this comparison pic i threw together using the snap from her dog walk to tide ya over (It's uncanny considering she wasn't even trying/ hasn't seen the movie haha) (https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FZBgjZXp.png&hash=5a6db9b709d3b36cc5627900ebc43789064d5d4f)
That's amazing, thank you very much.
Aye I seem to recall your promise ;) ;D Thanks for sharing, I love this sort of thing, especially considering that these movies were largely filmed on stages. Seeing the outdoors then and now is fascinating.
Powerloader:
http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2014/01/09/powerloader/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2014/01/09/powerloader/)
If anyone's interested in 'Xenogenesis':
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KpZRJ4HE4Q# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KpZRJ4HE4Q#)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenogenesis_%28film%29 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenogenesis_%28film%29)
You'll notice some of the very same sound effects later used in the 'Terminator' films and 'Aliens', itself. Would be interesting to know how they were made, since he obviously liked them enough to archive for all that time.
Great article, as always. You always seem to find such intriguing quotes. Any chance of something dropship-centric or is there not enough material known about it?
Quote from: Xenomorphine on Jan 09, 2014, 08:40:25 PM
If anyone's interested in 'Xenogenesis':
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KpZRJ4HE4Q# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KpZRJ4HE4Q#)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenogenesis_%28film%29 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenogenesis_%28film%29)
You'll notice some of the very same sound effects later used in the 'Terminator' films and 'Aliens', itself. Would be interesting to know how they were made, since he obviously liked them enough to archive for all that time.
Great article, as always. You always seem to find such intriguing quotes. Any chance of something dropship-centric or is there not enough material known about it?
You'll also notice some art in the prologue that depicts scenes that Cameron later adapted into T2 and Avatar.
I'd do the dropship - I just haven't gotten around to it yet. But I think I certainly will, at some point. I'll do the Sulaco too. I should have an interview up next.
Happy Birthday Valaquen! :)
Quote from: Dowly on Jan 12, 2014, 09:41:28 AM
Happy Birthday Valaquen! :)
Why thank you very much ;D
Quote from: Its_Auto on Jan 09, 2014, 03:06:42 AMIt's my hometown; Seaham, County Durham, North East England... and yes, that beach actually looks as filthy as it does in the movie haha (It used to be a coal mining town - that stretch of beach is known locally as 'The Blast') :)
I love this fact, thanks for posting. ;D
Small correction to the article - in
Xenogenesis the woman breaks through the wall. Same gesture, just a bit more crazy. It takes her a while too, so it gets a little awkward. ;D
Quote from: ChrisPachi on Jan 12, 2014, 02:12:44 PM
Small correction to the article - in Xenogenesis the woman breaks through the wall. Same gesture, just a bit more crazy. It takes her a while too, so it gets a little awkward. ;D
Cheers, I should have double checked ;D
Interview with Tom Woodruff:
http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2014/01/16/strange-shapesmonster-legacy-interviews-tom-woodruff-jnr/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2014/01/16/strange-shapesmonster-legacy-interviews-tom-woodruff-jnr/)
There's my reading for the train.
Pretty sure that's not Gino Acevedo though.
QuoteQ: What were the design inputs when conceiving the alien mutations in The Thing, especially in relation to Rob Bottin's original work? (Was there a 'Bottin style' you adhered to?)
A: We designed the Thing creatures and effects, working with the director and producers. We had a lot of latitude in envisioning the look of the new creatures with variations as directed from above during the design and build. The goal was never to try to copy any particular Bottin creature but definitely to speak "in the same language". That might be a pretty narrow line to imagine but a lot of that language was created in how the creatures were performed – live on set with the actors and sharing that environment. When you read about the creative freedom that Bottin held the biggest obstruction was not "what" the creatures were but "how" they would be articulated. Luckily, no one else knew how to do it and there wasn't a big digital paintbrush waiting in post to taint his vision.
Had this been a video interview, I like to imagine this is where he'd turn to camera and glower for a full five seconds before turning his attention back to you.
Quote from: Valaquen on Jan 16, 2014, 04:19:06 AMInterview with Tom Woodruff:
http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2014/01/16/strange-shapesmonster-legacy-interviews-tom-woodruff-jnr/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2014/01/16/strange-shapesmonster-legacy-interviews-tom-woodruff-jnr/)
Yet another great piece. Also I'd never come across the Monster Legacy site before, having a good look now!
I had no idea Woodruff was the Gill Man in
Monster Squad. I only saw that film recently, and my God was the Gill Man suit incredible. That thing deserved a movie all of its own.
Quote from: SM on Jan 16, 2014, 05:21:24 AM
There's my reading for the train.
Pretty sure that's not Gino Acevedo though.
You're right, it's Yuri Everson.
And that's why you shouldn't be editing an article at 5am, guys :D
Thanks for the correction.
Quote from: SiL on Jan 16, 2014, 05:59:33 AM
QuoteQ: What were the design inputs when conceiving the alien mutations in The Thing, especially in relation to Rob Bottin's original work? (Was there a 'Bottin style' you adhered to?)
A: We designed the Thing creatures and effects, working with the director and producers. We had a lot of latitude in envisioning the look of the new creatures with variations as directed from above during the design and build. The goal was never to try to copy any particular Bottin creature but definitely to speak "in the same language". That might be a pretty narrow line to imagine but a lot of that language was created in how the creatures were performed – live on set with the actors and sharing that environment. When you read about the creative freedom that Bottin held the biggest obstruction was not "what" the creatures were but "how" they would be articulated. Luckily, no one else knew how to do it and there wasn't a big digital paintbrush waiting in post to taint his vision.
Had this been a video interview, I like to imagine this is where he'd turn to camera and glower for a full five seconds before turning his attention back to you.
Haha, yes, you can really se his bitterness at the CG that replaced his work (understandably).
Quote from: Valaquen on Jan 16, 2014, 02:01:38 PM
And that's why you shouldn't be editing an article at 5am, guys :D
-Coughs- yeah, you're absolutely right.
Spoiler
-Coughs again, trying to look somewhere else-
Quote from: Omegazilla on Jan 16, 2014, 03:01:19 PM
Quote from: Valaquen on Jan 16, 2014, 02:01:38 PM
And that's why you shouldn't be editing an article at 5am, guys :D
-Coughs- yeah, you're absolutely right.
Spoiler
-Coughs again, trying to look somewhere else-
Sorry, did I wake you up? :D
Toom Woodruff said "Luckily, no one else knew how to do it and there wasn't a big digital paintbrush waiting in post to taint his vision."
Quite amazing to see him actually say that.
Thanks for the interview, Valaquen. Shame he wasn't able to say something more about the Alien 5 pitch but it wouldn't have been his information to talk about indeed
I see the ADI guys still don't get what biomechanical is,and don't realize its not the fans, and not Giger, but THEY who misunderstood the meaning behind the word. We WANT those plumbing valves to be just plumbing valves attached to the body, along with pins and water hoses. That's Gigers unique and surreal art, a machine or industrial parts attached or almost if surgically like connected with a live body or a decaying body to be more specific, and that's what the original alien was. I love those mechanical pieces and hoses and cables and pieces attached to the head that look like an extension cord. Oh well
Kind of off the current topic, but speaking of ADI, do you think they still have photos of the Sulaco model they built for the destruction scene that was supposed to be in Alien 3 (or has anyone seen photos)?
I wonder what part of the ship they built and what they were going to do.
I've always been curious about that too.
Quote from: Snark on Jan 17, 2014, 08:15:40 AM
Kind of off the current topic, but speaking of ADI, do you think they still have photos of the Sulaco model they built for the destruction scene that was supposed to be in Alien 3 (or has anyone seen photos)?
I wonder what part of the ship they built and what they were going to do.
Never seen photos and only heard of it mentioned once in the UK Alien 3 movie adaption comic.
Quote from: HuDaFuK on Jan 17, 2014, 08:39:07 AM
I've always been curious about that too.
Me to.
(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcShDdP2LtIf7tSTy3pcTCKhHPviGFPgQxOySm79a6dBgeb_l6pp)
I've always assumed it was the main fonrt part of the ship that they built for destruction. But I could be wrong.
Quote from: xeno_alpha_07 on Jan 17, 2014, 09:44:02 AMNever seen photos and only heard of it mentioned once in the UK Alien 3 movie adaption comic.
The novelization also talks about the ship partially exploding.
Quote from: xeno_alpha_07 on Jan 17, 2014, 09:44:02 AMhttps://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcShDdP2LtIf7tSTy3pcTCKhHPviGFPgQxOySm79a6dBgeb_l6pp
I've always assumed it was the main fonrt part of the ship that they built for destruction. But I could be wrong.
I believe that bit in the image was filmed using the original model from
Aliens - I remember hearing a story that they had to paint the name on backwards because only the starboard side was ever finished for the second film (as that's the only side you ever see), but Fincher was adamant that he wanted to see the port side. So they filmed it with a backwards name and flipped the image. Presto - port side.
I can't think they'd ever consider blowing the
Aliens hero model up (and they didn't, Bob Burns has it, repainted grey again).
Boss Film did the Sulaco rather than ADI.
QuoteThe novelization also talks about the ship partially exploding.
I meant to say I've only heard about the model being built for destruction once in the Alien 3 UK comic.
Novel Excerpt:
QuoteAt zero two things happened with inimical simultaneity: ten EEV's, nine of them empty, were ejected from the ship, and the proportion of escaping gases within the damaged cryogenic chamber interacted critically with the flames that were emerging from the acid-leached hole in the floor. For a brief eruptive instant the entire fore port side of the Sulaco blazed in fiery imitation of the distant stars.
Half the fleeing EEV's were severely jolted by the explosion. Two began tumbling, completely out of control. One embarked upon a short, curving path which brought it back in a wide arc to the ship from, which it had been ejected. It did not slow as it neared it's storage pod. Instead it slammed at full acceleration into the side of the transport.
Quote from: xeno_alpha_07 on Jan 17, 2014, 10:33:22 AMI meant to say I've only heard about the model being built for destruction once in the Alien 3 UK comic.
Ah, OK.
Aw... Would have liked to know if any practical work had been done on the third film's cocoon sequence.
One cocoon was made.
Did we have any pictures?
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Jan 18, 2014, 08:43:46 PM
Did we have any pictures?
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ujkmGszIb4o/UPKIaV_kayI/AAAAAAAAEFE/kghI2_lfPws/s320/ALIEN3_DISC2-2.bmp (http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ujkmGszIb4o/UPKIaV_kayI/AAAAAAAAEFE/kghI2_lfPws/s320/ALIEN3_DISC2-2.bmp)
Very interesting,too bad it was never filmed.
Valaquen, something I've been meaning to ask for a while - you've done some interesting articles on the unmade Alien 3 scripts, but you skipped over Twohy's prison station story. Any reason for that? Or do you intend to get around to it at some point?
Quote from: HuDaFuK on Jan 28, 2014, 12:14:24 PM
Valaquen, something I've been meaning to ask for a while - you've done some interesting articles on the unmade Alien 3 scripts, but you skipped over Twohy's prison station story. Any reason for that? Or do you intend to get around to it at some point?
I'm already writing it and even contacted Twohy for clarification on some things, but I just got back to university and it's my last every semester. I'm on track for a 1:1 so all of my time has been focused there the last few weeks. The family's also been ill. But it'll get done :)
Quote from: Valaquen on Jan 28, 2014, 12:22:15 PMI'm already writing it and even contacted Twohy for clarification on some things, but I just got back to university and it's my last every semester. I'm on track for a 1:1 so all of my time has been focused there the last few weeks. The family's also been ill. But it'll get done :)
Ah no problem. Take your time of course, just wondered if it was on the cards at all!
And good luck with the degree.
Interesting article on the "Box Alien".
Just read the aritcle on similarities between Blade Runner and Alien/Prometheus.
Very interesting and will written.
Looking forward to the David Twohy ALien 3 article currently being worked on.
Just some trivia :)
http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2014/03/29/did-you-know/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2014/03/29/did-you-know/)
Glad to see an article from yours sometimes. Best of luck with all your University duties, go and come out on top!
Probably the best website ever.
Fantastic blog. Great work.
Alien Ads from Yesteryear...
http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2014/04/02/alien-ads-from-yesteryear/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2014/04/02/alien-ads-from-yesteryear/)
"In space anyone can wear a cap."
:D That's simultaneously the best and worst rip-off of that tagline I've ever heard.
That B/W ad for the ABC TV premiere of Alien,Ripley looks like Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Kane looks like Sulu from Star Trek!
"When you've got nothing to lose, there's nothing you won't try", with that image, makes Alien sound like a teen sex comedy.
I love it.
That's a good picture of Brett, don't think I've seen it before. Shame it's so bleached out.
Quote from: Gash on Apr 02, 2014, 09:50:43 PM
That's a good picture of Brett, don't think I've seen it before. Shame it's so bleached out.
That photo of Brett wearing a scarf is reproduced in the Starlog 1990 yearbook,( interview with all 7 actors from Alien ).
You've all seen this before, I hope, but here it is anyway: http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2014/04/03/james-cameron-responds-to-aliens-critics/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2014/04/03/james-cameron-responds-to-aliens-critics/)
The top image should be a laugh :laugh:
One reader complained about Dallas leaving behind tools that would have alerted the Jordan's of earlier human contact with the Derelict.I don't think the Nostromo crew left anything behind,the tripod and winch would have been used to make a make-shift stretcher to carry Kane back to Nostromo.Interesting to read the comments of another about the missing dome of the Warriors.
And that's the Peter Briggs if I remember rightly?
I'd be surprised if it wasn't.
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Apr 03, 2014, 10:31:41 PMAnd that's the Peter Briggs if I remember rightly?
I posted a comment about that on the article. I assumed it had to be a coincidence!
I always thought wmmvrrvrrmm was from somewhere far more exotic. He's so delightfully bizarre. :)
Transcribed an interview with O'Bannon: http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2014/04/10/interview-with-dan-obannon/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2014/04/10/interview-with-dan-obannon/)
Excellent!
Good to see another O'Bannon interview, Valaquen!
I've always wanted to ask: is wmmvrrvrrmm derived from Star Control?
Quote from: Local Trouble on Apr 11, 2014, 06:05:52 PM
I've always wanted to ask: is wmmvrrvrrmm derived from Star Control?
No. However I'm just looking up Star Control and seeing the wonderful names Mmrnmhrm and Mmmmhm and I wonder if the names do have a similar sort of origin. Mine user name is a sort of a muffled mumble turning into a vibrational utterance that might turn out to be a car or motorbike engine to some
Another vintage interview, this time with Ron Cobb.
http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2014/04/12/vintage-interview-with-ron-cobb/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2014/04/12/vintage-interview-with-ron-cobb/)
Cobb, tsk tsk...
Spoiler
;)
Quote from: Omegazilla on Apr 12, 2014, 01:41:19 PM
Cobb, tsk tsk...
Spoiler
;)
Too bad it's vintage, eh. Like I said, I think his head exploded when I sent him my questions :laugh:
Cobb is very supportive of O'Bannon's script.
Quote from: Valaquen on Apr 12, 2014, 01:42:36 PM
Too bad it's vintage, eh. Like I said, I think his head exploded when I sent him my questions :laugh:
The way he has been in the past, I think he was more likely to make people's heads explodes with his answers
Quote from: Elmazalman on Apr 12, 2014, 10:40:43 PM
Cobb is very supportive of O'Bannon's script.
He was likely privy to some of the more horrendous stages of the rewrites (Genghis Khan, Cylinder, etc.).
Quote from: Valaquen on Apr 12, 2014, 11:55:01 PM
Quote from: Elmazalman on Apr 12, 2014, 10:40:43 PM
Cobb is very supportive of O'Bannon's script.
He was likely privy to some of the more horrendous stages of the rewrites (Genghis Khan, Cylinder, etc.).
I'm glad the Cylinder script wasn't the final script,
but I do enjoy it as a read.
The Cylinder script vs. Star Beast = pretty much Alien.
Sure would be cool to get hands on some of Hill/Gilers desperately misdirecting stinkers.
Kinda of like a certain movie that I wont mention,
they may have been kinda cool as a non-Alien movie.
I cant find the friggen address right now,
but I had the address for a website of a mail order warehouse in LA where they had PDF's of all kinds of unproduced scripts that you could buy for 10-20 bucks.
They had some great stuff,
I didn't see any Alien scripts that we dont already have.
But its always worth asking.
Here's that website I was talking about earlier that has the rare hardcopy scripts for sale:
http://hollywoodscriptfinder.com (http://hollywoodscriptfinder.com)
There is some neat stuff on there that I've never seen on the web like the original Mutrux version of American Me.
I didn't see any unusual Alien Stuff but you could ask.
There's a lot of stuff on there I'd like to get when I get some money together.
Allegedly they've got the Escape from NY script.
I dont think I've seen that on the web.
And being in the vicinity,
they might be effective hunt downs for a price?
I would pay a smidgen up front.
QuoteBasically the only real difference between gearbox and avp galaxy is that at least the people on avp galaxy WATCHED Alien 3 at least once. Other than that they're the same species of angry, spiteful monsters, just in different clothes. Although, I would be lying if I said I didn't derive some form of pleasure from watching the "fanbase" eat itself because of the plot of my personal favroite entry by an enormous margin.
http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/07/24/stasis-interrupted/#comment-3188 (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/07/24/stasis-interrupted/#comment-3188)
QuoteI honestly just need to tell you straight up that if you don't understand why ending an alien movie like it's some sort of f**king fairy tale is a bad thing... you really need to find a hobby. I mean, let's just be honest here, you don't seem to get it ... I think I'm going to have to suggest that if you write a blog about, you know, Alien movies, you should probably actually watch the Alien movies once or twice. I mean, let me know if that's expecting too much, but I just really think your commentary could benefit a great deal from having any sort of idea about what actually happens in the actual films instead of the things that you make up in your own head. Just a thought.
http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/12/14/wooden-world-vincent-wards-alien-iii/#comment-3190 (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/12/14/wooden-world-vincent-wards-alien-iii/#comment-3190)
:laugh:
Well, I think that's the most misplaced vitriol I've seen thrown my way in some time.
Quote from: Valaquen on Sep 07, 2014, 10:31:05 AMWell, I think that's the most misplaced vitriol I've seen thrown my way in some time.
:)
Haven't had a chance to read the new cocooning article yet, but I'm looking forward to it.
Quote from: HuDaFuK on Sep 07, 2014, 10:43:02 AM
Haven't had a chance to read the new cocooning article yet, but I'm looking forward to it.
It's fairly short, hopefully you like it :)
The removal of a hive/cocoon from Alien 3 was always my biggest disappointment. I would have loved to have seen it again - it was a shame I had to wait until AvP/R to see anything resembling the Aliens hive again. I hated the way it was re-envisioning for AR. Good article, as always, Val.
And not a clue where they hate came from. :-\
Quote from: Valaquen on Sep 07, 2014, 10:31:05 AM
QuoteI honestly just need to tell you straight up that if you don't understand why ending an alien movie like it's some sort of f**king fairy tale is a bad thing... you really need to find a hobby. I mean, let's just be honest here, you don't seem to get it ... I think I'm going to have to suggest that if you write a blog about, you know, Alien movies, you should probably actually watch the Alien movies once or twice. I mean, let me know if that's expecting too much, but I just really think your commentary could benefit a great deal from having any sort of idea about what actually happens in the actual films instead of the things that you make up in your own head. Just a thought.
http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/12/14/wooden-world-vincent-wards-alien-iii/#comment-3190 (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/12/14/wooden-world-vincent-wards-alien-iii/#comment-3190)
:laugh:
Well, I think that's the most misplaced vitriol I've seen thrown my way in some time.
Love your reply to Mal, Valaquen! :laugh: ;)
Quote from: Valaquen on Sep 07, 2014, 10:31:05 AM
QuoteBasically the only real difference between gearbox and avp galaxy is that at least the people on avp galaxy WATCHED Alien 3 at least once. Other than that they're the same species of angry, spiteful monsters, just in different clothes. Although, I would be lying if I said I didn't derive some form of pleasure from watching the "fanbase" eat itself because of the plot of my personal favroite entry by an enormous margin.
http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/07/24/stasis-interrupted/#comment-3188 (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/07/24/stasis-interrupted/#comment-3188)
QuoteI honestly just need to tell you straight up that if you don't understand why ending an alien movie like it's some sort of f**king fairy tale is a bad thing... you really need to find a hobby. I mean, let's just be honest here, you don't seem to get it ... I think I'm going to have to suggest that if you write a blog about, you know, Alien movies, you should probably actually watch the Alien movies once or twice. I mean, let me know if that's expecting too much, but I just really think your commentary could benefit a great deal from having any sort of idea about what actually happens in the actual films instead of the things that you make up in your own head. Just a thought.
http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/12/14/wooden-world-vincent-wards-alien-iii/#comment-3190 (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/12/14/wooden-world-vincent-wards-alien-iii/#comment-3190)
:laugh:
Well, I think that's the most misplaced vitriol I've seen thrown my way in some time.
Eh, angry 5 year olds are all over the internet. When I used to do my , very popular at the time Batman blog, I really put months of very extensive research on every subject. The site got very popular, cited and linked to in many, many sites, got praises from certain DC artists, but I really put my heart, sweat and time to do the research. It literally took months of reading and researching for nearly every subject. But I also had occasional 7 year olds who, after reading certain facts going against their "everybody likes this movie and its considered a classic so I hate it because its stupid and youre all stupid and Im here to tell everyone how stupid it is" agenda they would go bonkers. And like you werent slamming Alien 3, I in no way slammed any of the movies and barely even used my own words, just quoted facts and gave scans and examples and interviews. But those kinds of people gonna go "oh noo, no no no, there is nothing wrong with my movie, its perfect and youre stupid because you said it has some faults, its perfect, and you cant say its not and the stupid movies that you like and everyone else are so stupid im gonna tell you again how stoooopid it is because i dont like you and i hate everyone because you dared to say its not perfect, oh look at your favorite movie how stoopid it is, i hate you, i hate everyone, whaaaa, mommy, i hate everyone"....
You get the picture. I feel sorry for those people, I realy do. Stuff like this makes me appreciate intelligence and maturity that much more
oh, and btw, the Bat blog was http://gothamalleys.blogspot.com/. (http://gothamalleys.blogspot.com/.) I dropped it because Terminator and Alien is my main interest, it was something I got sucked into for a period of two years or so
Quote from: Valaquen on Sep 07, 2014, 10:31:05 AM
QuoteBasically the only real difference between gearbox and avp galaxy is that at least the people on avp galaxy WATCHED Alien 3 at least once. Other than that they're the same species of angry, spiteful monsters, just in different clothes. Although, I would be lying if I said I didn't derive some form of pleasure from watching the "fanbase" eat itself because of the plot of my personal favroite entry by an enormous margin.
http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/07/24/stasis-interrupted/#comment-3188 (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/07/24/stasis-interrupted/#comment-3188)
QuoteI honestly just need to tell you straight up that if you don't understand why ending an alien movie like it's some sort of f**king fairy tale is a bad thing... you really need to find a hobby. I mean, let's just be honest here, you don't seem to get it ... I think I'm going to have to suggest that if you write a blog about, you know, Alien movies, you should probably actually watch the Alien movies once or twice. I mean, let me know if that's expecting too much, but I just really think your commentary could benefit a great deal from having any sort of idea about what actually happens in the actual films instead of the things that you make up in your own head. Just a thought.
http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/12/14/wooden-world-vincent-wards-alien-iii/#comment-3190 (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/12/14/wooden-world-vincent-wards-alien-iii/#comment-3190)
:laugh:
Well, I think that's the most misplaced vitriol I've seen thrown my way in some time.
Wow, he mad.
In regards to the Stasis Interrupted piece, here's a couple of additions.
- The door that Hicks and the other guy run through in the leadworks on Fiorina isn't in the film.
- The mesh fence between that area and the spiral staircase has disappeared.
- Morse is absent from the gantry.
There's also the fact all those badass-looking commandos with the epic helmets have suddenly had a costume change and become generic W-Y PMCs in the game.
Quote from: Valaquen on Sep 07, 2014, 10:31:05 AMWell, I think that's the most misplaced vitriol I've seen thrown my way in some time.
I think I remember that guy from a debate on Prodigy back in 1992. I figured he would have grown up by now, but then I remembered that such people tend to breed and pass on their idiocy to the next generation...
New(t)!
http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2014/09/10/newts-chestburster/ (http://alienseries.wordpress.com/2014/09/10/newts-chestburster/)
I'm glad that was never included - I find it hard to envision how that could work "realistically". It wouldn't have time(I imagine) to gestate to something resembling a burster before crashing. Unless they changed the timeframe, I suppose.
Quote from: Valaquen on Sep 10, 2014, 12:36:28 AMNew(t)!
Ba-dum tish.
Another good read, as usual. I'm with Hicks on the fact it probably wouldn't have worked.
Are you still working on that David Twohy
Alien 3 article? I've been waiting patiently for that ever since you said it was on the cards :)
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Sep 10, 2014, 07:35:31 AM
I'm glad that was never included - I find it hard to envision how that could work "realistically". It wouldn't have time(I imagine) to gestate to something resembling a burster before crashing. Unless they changed the timeframe, I suppose.
That and it would've given away the big reveal in the opening minutes.
Quote from: HuDaFuK on Sep 10, 2014, 07:38:36 AM
Are you still working on that David Twohy Alien 3 article? I've been waiting patiently for that ever since you said it was on the cards :)
Horrifically slowly, I'm afraid. There is a draft but it's not finished and I go back to university in a matter of days. I'm not sure when I can have articles like that done. There are maybe four or five different articles from across the series that I'm working on at any given time. Sorry dude, but you'll need to continue to be patient. I'll only publish when I think I've done a good job.
Quote from: Valaquen on Sep 10, 2014, 05:03:27 PMSorry dude, but you'll need to continue to be patient. I'll only publish when I think I've done a good job.
That's absolutely fine, take your time with it. I just wondered if it was still being worked on!
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Sep 10, 2014, 07:35:31 AM
I'm glad that was never included - I find it hard to envision how that could work "realistically". It wouldn't have time(I imagine) to gestate to something resembling a burster before crashing. Unless they changed the timeframe, I suppose.
And.,,
Quote from: SM on Sep 24, 2012, 01:52:19 AM
If you take the events as literal, then it can only be Hicks.
Vintage Weaver interview: https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2014/10/31/interview-with-sigourney-weaver/
Quote from: Valaquen on Oct 31, 2014, 05:04:07 PM
Vintage Weaver interview: https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2014/10/31/interview-with-sigourney-weaver/
Are you going to do a review of the Alien Isolation? as you did with the Colonial Marines?
Quote from: aliens13 on Oct 31, 2014, 09:50:14 PM
Quote from: Valaquen on Oct 31, 2014, 05:04:07 PM
Vintage Weaver interview: https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2014/10/31/interview-with-sigourney-weaver/
Are you going to do a review of the Alien Isolation? as you did with the Colonial Marines?
Putting it together now, but it won't be as extensive as the Colonial Marines one; I just don't have that much time anymore. I've still to finish the game but I've been writing down my thoughts. Give it a week or two.
I look forward to seeing your thoughts. I've not really seen many comments from you about the game.
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Nov 04, 2014, 09:52:51 PM
I look forward to seeing your thoughts. I've not really seen many comments from you about the game.
I'm on the last mission now. I have a literature review to hand in for Friday, so I'll probably finish the article at the weekend :)
Just reading your résumé of Isolation now.
As usual, a great, well thought-out article, and you echo a lot of my own feelings on the game.
Walter Hill interview transcription: https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2014/11/22/interview-with-walter-hill-2004/
I've always loved his bluntness. I do agree that the original script is pretty terrible but I've always had the impression that he really thinks that it was him and Giler that made it the success. It truly was a collaborative effort that made Alien so amazing.
I always wondered why Walter Hill never directed one of the films. I've always enjoyed his stuff.
Alien vs. Extreme Prejudice.
The whole of the interview is still available as a PDF at the Film International website but of course it can not be copied and pasted, so even a transcription of the Alien related part of it is a good thing for those who want to copy and paste bits of it again elsewhere.
This caught my eye: "That's why maybe the ultimate good guy was Laddie – and he said yes."
If it wasn't for Alan Ladd Jr., we wouldn't have had Star Wars or Alien. Goddamn, that man was the unsung hero of my childhood.
QuoteIf it wasn't for Alan Ladd Jr., we wouldn't have had Star Wars or Alien.
Or Blade Runner.
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Nov 24, 2014, 12:30:35 PM
I've always loved his bluntness. I do agree that the original script is pretty terrible but I've always had the impression that he really thinks that it was him and Giler that made it the success. It truly was a collaborative effort that made Alien so amazing.
Giler and Hill's intended storyline was pretty terrible. It took O'Bannon and Shusett's intervention to bring us many of the elements we love about the film, since Hill and Giler wanted rid of everything in the film that was extraterrestrial. Their Space Jockey was a human being and their derelict and silo were secret government constructs. If there's anything more palatable about their writing it's the prose (and the character names are more digestible), not anything they actually introduced to the story (save for Ash. Brilliant addition.)
Yet another film that became great as a result of collaboration. (http://secrethistoryofstarwars.com/natureofthebeast1.html)
Nostromo crewmembers named after athletes and AR-a lousy movie,good interview.
Quote from: Valaquen on Nov 24, 2014, 05:08:09 PM
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Nov 24, 2014, 12:30:35 PM
I've always loved his bluntness. I do agree that the original script is pretty terrible but I've always had the impression that he really thinks that it was him and Giler that made it the success. It truly was a collaborative effort that made Alien so amazing.
Giler and Hill's intended storyline was pretty terrible. It took O'Bannon and Shusett's intervention to bring us many of the elements we love about the film, since Hill and Giler wanted rid of everything in the film that was extraterrestrial. Their Space Jockey was a human being and their derelict and silo were secret government constructs. If there's anything more palatable about their writing it's the prose (and the character names are more digestible), not anything they actually introduced to the story (save for Ash. Brilliant addition.)
I've yet to read all of the cylinder script and it's been many moons since I read the original but I distinctly remember them improved dialogue.
I'm just re-readng some of the older articles: https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2012/10/29/the-engineer-mythos/
Very interesting thoughts. I'm going to have to go rooting for your review of Prometheus, in fact. I can't remember what you thought of it.
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Dec 02, 2014, 09:51:53 AM
I'm just re-readng some of the older articles: https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2012/10/29/the-engineer-mythos/
Very interesting thoughts. I'm going to have to go rooting for your review of Prometheus, in fact. I can't remember what you thought of it.
Cheers, I'm very fond of that article.
I wrote a review over at Blogger, but it's no longer around. I liked the ideas in Prometheus but not so much the execution. I was going to write a review of Alien 3 and Prometheus at some point for the Wordpress site.
https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2012/12/30/marginalia-alien-gas-attack/
Thanks for this one. Another interesting read.
Quote from: Valaquen on Dec 02, 2014, 01:04:50 PM
I wrote a review over at Blogger, but it's no longer around. I liked the ideas in Prometheus but not so much the execution. I was going to write a review of Alien 3 and Prometheus at some point for the Wordpress site.
I look forward to seeing them.
It's been a while: https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2015/02/11/comic-jockey-warfaring-terraforming/
Excellent. My favourite is, of course, the Destroying Angels variation -- both in design (not the best outcome based on Giger's art but better than the others) and context.
Also I would love to see all the funky Alien hybrids in an article too. Maybe I missed some.
As always, another fun read.
Destroying Angels is one of my favourite Alien comics and it holds a place in my heart. I loved almost everything about that book.
I'll be honest, I've never been keen on the elephant-nosed Engineers, I find them kind of daft. I didn't necessarily prefer what Prometheus did, but I liked that it explained away the snout look.
I liked the Engineers. Yes, it was less "alien" and I would have preferred a better Lovecraftian approach to them but I liked the idea behind the Titans. I thought there were times when the Engineer looked pretty creepy in the film. And the suit idea might allow them to go crazy when creating other forms...maybe a combat suit, etc.
Excellent Val, the article made my day. My favorite depiction and story about the Jockey is the Angels by far
I've set up a Patreon (support: $1) to help with the blog: https://www.patreon.com/StrangeShapes (https://www.patreon.com/StrangeShapes)
How does it charge you? Is it as and when you post articles it just takes the mullah?
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Feb 25, 2015, 11:21:22 AM
How does it charge you? Is it as and when you post articles it just takes the mullah?
No, no, it pays out once a month, provided I do some work!
Do we set the date?
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Feb 25, 2015, 11:36:21 AM
Do we set the date?
According to the FAQ, the payment is taken on the 1st of every month.
New article: https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2015/02/26/alien-and-its-antecedents/
Good article,I've never regretted the android Ash sub-plot to occupy audiences between Alien attacks.
Quote from: Valaquen on Feb 25, 2015, 02:24:06 PM
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Feb 25, 2015, 11:36:21 AM
Do we set the date?
According to the FAQ, the payment is taken on the 1st of every month.
Coolio. I've signed up for you.
Will read the new article later. :)
New article, Alien "funnies": https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2015/03/02/alien-funnies/
Only had a scan of the pictures so far, but I look forward to reading that more thoroughly later.
Quote from: Valaquen on Feb 26, 2015, 02:00:33 AM
New article: https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2015/02/26/alien-and-its-antecedents/
Just finished this one. As usual, an interesting read. I completely agree about A.E. van Vogt and O'Bannon. Considering Dan's frankness when it came to discussing Alien, I would find it surprising if he had been lying about the influence.
Have you seen all those films yourself?
Quote from: Valaquen on Mar 02, 2015, 01:08:15 PM
New article, Alien "funnies": https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2015/03/02/alien-funnies/
(https://alienseries.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/starlog-183.png)
I dunno why but I read this one with Liam Neeson's voice. xD
Ridley Scott and James Cameron's Alien 5: https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2015/03/05/ridley-scott-and-james-camerons-alien-5/
As per usual, good read. It's a damn shame we haven't really seen any further info about that - full story synopsis' or scripts. It's like we were talking on Facebook, they've got to keep all those pitches and drafts somewhere.
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Mar 05, 2015, 02:27:11 PM
As per usual, good read. It's a damn shame we haven't really seen any further info about that - full story synopsis' or scripts. It's like we were talking on Facebook, they've got to keep all those pitches and drafts somewhere.
We'll work out that raid on the Fox archive one day :laugh:
Damn, that version of Alien 5 sounds like it would have been something worth seeing, maybe even something great. I think I like AVP quite a bit less now. Great article, great blog. I've read a bunch of articles already, just haven't posted here yet. :)
I interviewed the writers of Alien: Isolation: https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2015/05/06/alien-isolation-interview-with-dion-lay-and-will-porter/
Great read, as ever.
Obviously I shall infer from their "no comment" on sequel ideas that they're working on one right this moment :)
Quote from: HuDaFuK on May 07, 2015, 07:42:29 AM
Great read, as ever.
Obviously I shall infer from their "no comment" on sequel ideas that they're working on one right this moment :)
That's what I thought, smells like an NDA :laugh: I'd be really happy with Dion and Will working on another game because I thought they were truly genuine about loving the series and they really seem to get it.
Great interview, Val. They're an absolutely fantastic bunch to talk to. They really get the franchise and helped contribute to a game that also did.
Things like this
QuoteIn terms of backstory and world-building the original Alien never plays its entire hand, whereas modern movies generally feel compelled to spell out absolutely everything (often poorly) to cater for some unknowable lowest common denominator punter who's somehow found their way to the multiplex. Games can be like that too, and I think that – as in Alien – with world-building in Alien: Isolation we left a lot of details about Sevastopol, Seegson and Weyland-Yutani hanging for much of the game. The intrigue comes when the player is encouraged to imagine what life used to be like on Sevastopol, and what happened to it.
really make me smile.
It's a shame they can't talk about the sequels. We know they've been thinking about sequels for a while - Gary Napper said as much - but it'd be nice if they just let a little bit of their mentality out. :P
From this article you wrote:
https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2012/10/19/path-to-prometheus/?_e_pi_=7%2CPAGE_ID10%2C4843719672
Quote:
I took a stab at the story and came up with something they really liked, and Ridley got so excited he decided to direct it himself
End quote
Who were "they" ? Scotfree or Scotfree and Fox ??
Why was Ridley so excited ?? What was it about Spaihts idea that made him change his mind about producing to directing ??
Quote
From the get-go," said Spaihts, "the studio made it plain that they were interested in not just a new film but a new limb for a new franchise altogether
End quote
Was this before or after the meeting with Ridley ??
Quote from: oduodu on Sep 12, 2015, 03:21:38 PM
Why was Ridley so excited ?? What was it about Spaihts idea that made him change his mind about producing to directing ??
I think unfortunately it was probably the altering of the space jockeys into pale humanoids.
Quote from: tmjhur on Sep 12, 2015, 07:05:07 PM
Quote from: oduodu on Sep 12, 2015, 03:21:38 PM
Why was Ridley so excited ?? What was it about Spaihts idea that made him change his mind about producing to directing ??
I think unfortunately it was probably the altering of the space jockeys into pale humanoids.
Allrighty then.
So I guess Ridley by and large is to blame for that then.
Why Ridley why ??
What a brilliant article. So well written. My compliments Valaquen. Everyone needs to read this. It should be required reading damn it !!
A new article touching on the similarities between ALIEN and OUTLAND: https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2015/10/02/outland-alien/
Quote from: Valaquen on Mar 05, 2015, 01:27:15 PM
Ridley Scott and James Cameron's Alien 5: https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2015/03/05/ridley-scott-and-james-camerons-alien-5/
I'm glad that never happened. The suggestions of involving Nicholas Cage or Arnold Schwarzenegger are pretty far removed from what you'd hope of an Alien film. All in all I'm happier in turned out as it did - ancient bio-weapons and the ambiguous motivations of an android. Alien 5 looks like it would have been a militaristic battle royal on Earth.
Quote from: Gash on Oct 02, 2015, 05:59:34 PM
Quote from: Valaquen on Mar 05, 2015, 01:27:15 PM
Ridley Scott and James Cameron's Alien 5: https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2015/03/05/ridley-scott-and-james-camerons-alien-5/
I'm glad that never happened. The suggestions of involving Nicholas Cage or Arnold Schwarzenegger are pretty far removed from what you'd hope of an Alien film. All in all I'm happier in turned out as it did - ancient bio-weapons and the ambiguous motivations of an android. Alien 5 looks like it would have been a militaristic battle royal on Earth.
Yeah. I can't imagine adding in Schwarzenegger would work unless they were going for a The Terminator sort of performance from him. And Cage can be excellent, really excellent, but 9/10 you're going to get the hypermanic Cage rather than a great performance. Though if they had made it, and had Arnie die first, that would've been unnverving in its own way for people :laugh:
Quote from: Valaquen on Oct 02, 2015, 12:19:32 PM
A new article touching on the similarities between ALIEN and OUTLAND: https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2015/10/02/outland-alien/
I've been meaning to watch this actually. Pete on Perfect Organism has brought it up a few times. Thanks for the article. I may go hunt this down tonight.
I saw Outland years ago and remember quite enjoying it. I've been wanting to watch it again for some time but the DVD is unusually expensive for some reason.
The DVD transfer is quite bad. Rather go for the remastered Blu-Ray. It will probably be cheaper as well.
It's not even on Blu-ray in the UK. Do you know if the US disc is region-free?
It is region free.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Outland-Blu-ray-US-Import/dp/B007NR93KG (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Outland-Blu-ray-US-Import/dp/B007NR93KG)
Ah, awesome, thanks a bunch!
I see there's also a French region-B version with a English language option. Slightly more expensive than the US version though.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Outland-Blu-ray-French-Region-B/dp/B008H3BVXC/ref=sr_1_5?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1444051659&sr=1-5&keywords=outland (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Outland-Blu-ray-French-Region-B/dp/B008H3BVXC/ref=sr_1_5?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1444051659&sr=1-5&keywords=outland)
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Oct 05, 2015, 12:47:36 PM
Quote from: Valaquen on Oct 02, 2015, 12:19:32 PM
A new article touching on the similarities between ALIEN and OUTLAND: https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2015/10/02/outland-alien/
I've been meaning to watch this actually. Pete on Perfect Organism has brought it up a few times. Thanks for the article. I may go hunt this down tonight.
I watched the whole thing on YT not long ago :laugh:
For anyone on the fence, Outland looks stellar on blu-ray, and I think I got mine for $10 Canadian on Amazon.
It's a better film than you'd expect, and it's really easy to imagine it taking place in the same world as Alien.
Quote from: Mr. Clemens on Oct 24, 2015, 07:12:16 PM
For anyone on the fence, Outland looks stellar on blu-ray, and I think I got mine for $10 Canadian on Amazon.
It's a better film than you'd expect, and it's really easy to imagine it taking place in the same world as Alien.
Great, I think I'll invest in a copy. It's a good 2am movie :)
New article -- Alien Seed: Event Horizon.
https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2015/11/27/alien-seed-event-horizon/
Quote from: Valaquen on Nov 28, 2015, 12:11:24 AMNew article -- Alien Seed: Event Horizon.
Ooh, excellent, I love that film. Probably won't have a chance to read today but I definitely will at some point this weekend!
Quote from: HuDaFuK on Nov 28, 2015, 01:10:25 PM
Quote from: Valaquen on Nov 28, 2015, 12:11:24 AMNew article -- Alien Seed: Event Horizon.
Ooh, excellent, I love that film. Probably won't have a chance to read today but I definitely will at some point this weekend!
Just a heads up: I don't love the movie and am a bit critical of it, but don't let that put you off :)
Good article as usual, Val. I only recently saw Event Horizon all the way through (the last few years, I think) and I did enjoy it. It's not a solid all around film but there's a lot of concepts in there that I really loved - especially with the Gravity Drive and the hell dimension.
Yeah, I really like
Event Horizon. It's certainly flawed but despite being such a mish-mash of blatant rip-offs, it somehow still manages to feel unique. Plus it has my favourite ever sci-fi anti-technobabble explanation scene ever, when Sam Neill explains the gravity drive by poking a pen through a Playboy centrefold. That's such a wonderful scene on so many levels.
Quote"[Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem] showed what a good job we'd done with the first movie," Anderson told Grantland in 2014. "It's like, OK, you can pick apart my AVP, but take a look at that one and then maybe watch my movie again and you'll have a new appreciation for it."
:laugh: He's actually spot on.
Great article as usual, Valaquen. And your criticism was never anything other than fair.
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Nov 30, 2015, 08:32:26 AM
but there's a lot of concepts in there that I really loved - especially with the Gravity Drive and the hell dimension.
Same! Then I saw them in other, older movies :laugh:
Quote from: HuDaFuK on Nov 30, 2015, 08:54:11 AM
Yeah, I really like Event Horizon. It's certainly flawed but despite being such a mish-mash of blatant rip-offs, it somehow still manages to feel unique. Plus it has my favourite ever sci-fi anti-technobabble explanation scene ever, when Sam Neill explains the gravity drive by poking a pen through a Playboy centrefold. That's such a wonderful scene on so many levels.
Quote"[Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem] showed what a good job we'd done with the first movie," Anderson told Grantland in 2014. "It's like, OK, you can pick apart my AVP, but take a look at that one and then maybe watch my movie again and you'll have a new appreciation for it."
:laugh: He's actually spot on.
Great article as usual, Valaquen. And your criticism was never anything other than fair.
Cheers :) I think I'll be doing more 'Alien Seed' articles that relate Alien to other movies, as well as a 'Crew Logs' series all about the filmmakers (like the Bolaji article.) And I've been transcribing another article for months now but it's so menial...
By the way, I like that quote from Anderson saying AVP is separate from Alien and Predator.
Quote from: Valaquen on Nov 30, 2015, 06:38:12 PMCheers :) I think I'll be doing more 'Alien Seed' articles that relate Alien to other movies, as well as a 'Crew Logs' series all about the filmmakers (like the Bolaji article.) And I've been transcribing another article for months now but it's so menial...
Sounds good!
Personally, I'd still love to see that article on Twohy's
Alien 3... :)
I remember enjoying Twohy's the most out of the Alien 3s (except maybe Gibson's 2nd go).
We park our cars in the same garage.
Quote from: HuDaFuK on Dec 01, 2015, 09:03:00 AM
Quote from: Valaquen on Nov 30, 2015, 06:38:12 PMCheers :) I think I'll be doing more 'Alien Seed' articles that relate Alien to other movies, as well as a 'Crew Logs' series all about the filmmakers (like the Bolaji article.) And I've been transcribing another article for months now but it's so menial...
Sounds good!
Personally, I'd still love to see that article on Twohy's Alien 3... :)
Yeah, definitely my bad. It's been on the backburner so long and I got caught up in other articles, real-life lesson plannng, and a whole load of stuff. I was considering reaching out to Twohy again before approaching that article to finish it. I still have an 8,000 word article on Alien 3 that I promised in 2014 and have to finish :laugh: I started writing another article yesterday and am 4,000 words deep and may very well publish it in a few days; I've just been on fire with it (and actually have some free time!)
Quote from: Valaquen on Dec 01, 2015, 05:38:05 PMYeah, definitely my bad. It's been on the backburner so long and I got caught up in other articles, real-life lesson plannng, and a whole load of stuff. I was considering reaching out to Twohy again before approaching that article to finish it. I still have an 8,000 word article on Alien 3 that I promised in 2014 and have to finish :laugh: I started writing another article yesterday and am 4,000 words deep and may very well publish it in a few days; I've just been on fire with it (and actually have some free time!)
Hah that's fine, I know you've said you're working on it, take your time.
You just might have to expect the odd prod from me now and then... I loved your other articles on the unused
Alien 3 scripts, and given how much I enjoyed Twohy's effort I'm really looking forward to the one on his!
Aw, go on, have another new article:
Crew Logs: Dan O'Bannon: https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2015/12/02/crew-logs-dan-obannon/
It must be Xmas 8)
Just reading now.
It always amuses me when I hear people talking candidly about LSD trips and etc. It's just not something you expect to hear admitted.
I thoroughly enjoyed that. It was immensely informative, reminding me of things I'd forgotten and telling me plenty I didn't. I had never known what killed him (for some reason, I've never looked that up) and it was fascinating to read how it effected him like that.
I would love to read more Crew Logs like this. I've really enjoyed this and your Bolaji one.
Wow I never knew the man was so talented. Artist scriptwriter actor director. Sounds similar to Cameron.
Great article as always.
Quote from: StrangeshapesJodorowsky's Dune fell apart before production could begin, with Jodorowsky blaming American theatre managers who balked at the thought of a European film sharing as many screens as an American one, and Chris Foss elaborating that the French production company pulled funding after it became apparent that American co-financers were not likely to be found after failed attempts by Jodorowsky to procure them.
Dune would later find its way to the screens in 1984 under the auspices of David Lynch; though he succeeded in making the movie, Lynch would write it off as a failure, as did audiences and critics.
Interestingly, between Jodorowsky and Lynch, Ridley Scott was also contracted to direct Dune. I think he spent about 6 months working on it but dropped out after his brother's untimely death and went on to direct Blade Runner instead which was basically ready to go. Small world back then.
Now imagine an early 80's Ridley Scott directed Dune with talent like Giger, Moebius and Foss onboard!
I believe it was Ridley Scott's version where Paul and Jessica had an incestuous relationship and that was how Alia was conceived. Ick.
Oh yes the other thing that was so amazing is all the guys who became directors all being together at the same time when they studied. Must have been a golden era.
Quote from: The Eighth Passenger on Dec 02, 2015, 05:36:36 PM
Quote from: StrangeshapesJodorowsky's Dune fell apart before production could begin, with Jodorowsky blaming American theatre managers who balked at the thought of a European film sharing as many screens as an American one, and Chris Foss elaborating that the French production company pulled funding after it became apparent that American co-financers were not likely to be found after failed attempts by Jodorowsky to procure them.
Dune would later find its way to the screens in 1984 under the auspices of David Lynch; though he succeeded in making the movie, Lynch would write it off as a failure, as did audiences and critics.
Interestingly, between Jodorowsky and Lynch, Ridley Scott was also contracted to direct Dune. I think he spent about 6 months working on it but dropped out after his brother's untimely death and went on to direct Blade Runner instead which was basically ready to go. Small world back then.
Now imagine an early 80's Ridley Scott directed Dune with talent like Giger, Moebius and Foss onboard!
Oh yeah, I'd read about it in Future Noir and gathered some stuff about it for the Ridley Scott article. That would have been pretty amazing. Ridley's hopes and plans for a medieval-inspired fantasy never panned out to its full potential, even with Legend. I still want to see his Tristan and Isolde.
Quote from: The Eighth Passenger on Dec 02, 2015, 05:36:36 PMInterestingly, between Jodorowsky and Lynch, Ridley Scott was also contracted to direct Dune. I think he spent about 6 months working on it but dropped out after his brother's untimely death and went on to direct Blade Runner instead which was basically ready to go.
Huh, I had no idea Ridley had a second brother.
Quote from: HuDaFuK on Dec 03, 2015, 08:48:34 AM
Quote from: The Eighth Passenger on Dec 02, 2015, 05:36:36 PMInterestingly, between Jodorowsky and Lynch, Ridley Scott was also contracted to direct Dune. I think he spent about 6 months working on it but dropped out after his brother's untimely death and went on to direct Blade Runner instead which was basically ready to go.
Huh, I had no idea Ridley had a second brother.
Older brother, Frank. Died from skin cancer after Alien's release.
And Tony Scott killed himself. :-\
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Dec 03, 2015, 02:33:06 PMAnd Tony Scott killed himself. :-\
Yeah, that I did know, I remember it happening. He may not have been as high-profile as Ridley, but he made some wonderful films, including
True Romance which is one of my all-time favourites.
Quote from: Valaquen on Dec 03, 2015, 02:31:16 PMOlder brother, Frank. Died from skin cancer after Alien's release.
Thanks. Like I said, news to me!
Quote from: HuDaFuK on Dec 03, 2015, 02:39:16 PM
Quote from: Valaquen on Dec 03, 2015, 02:31:16 PMOlder brother, Frank. Died from skin cancer after Alien's release.
Thanks. Like I said, news to me!
The Ridley Crew Logs should be a delight :laugh:
Wrapped in Plastic: Kenner's Alien Toys:
https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2016/01/24/wrapped-in-plastic-kenners-alien-toys/
Too awesome! There appears to be quite the re-emergence of interest in ye olde vintage Kenner Products Alien of late. It's an amazing old action figure.
-Windebieste.
Quote from: Valaquen on Jan 24, 2016, 08:06:45 PMWrapped in Plastic: Kenner's Alien Toys:
https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2016/01/24/wrapped-in-plastic-kenners-alien-toys/
:) Awesome, I'll give that a read for sure.
New! Enjoy!
Crew Logs: Ron Cobb
https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2016/01/31/crew-logs-ron-cobb/
Again I am amazed at the level of talent these guys have. Great read.
Cobb is just disgustingly talented. It sickens me to think a man with his skill exists when I look at the pictures of spaceships I used to draw when I was a kid.
One of the things I loved most about Isolation was just how well they captured his style.
It pretty redundant of me to say but fantastic work. As always. So in-depth and interesting. It's moments like hearing about all the artists arguing sensibilities and finding the right balance - and standing up to the director that really show what made that film work so well.
Yeah, I don't know where Valaquen digs up all that information. Didn't even know Cobb worked on D9 as well as not directing E.T.
It's funny how Ron Cobb wanted an ultra realistic Nostromo complete with NASA style ablative heatshields and the works while Ridley Scott wanted it covered and chocked-up with space barnacles and space seaweed. I think we got a nice balance in the end between fantasy and hard science.
Quote from: The Eighth Passenger on Feb 02, 2016, 01:10:35 PM
Yeah, I don't know where Valaquen digs up all that information. Didn't even know Cobb worked on D9 as well as not directing E.T.
If you're nterested here's his early concept piece for one of District 9's Prawns:
Spoiler
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FVCuE35l.jpg&hash=f48d5178d247f9a57ec0bb9f39a588d4ce003fcc)
Kind of looks like a crocodile crossed with a shrimp/prawn or armadillo.
I know Blomkamp had Syd Mead onboard for Elysium but wasn't aware of Cobb working on D9. I wouldn't be surprised if he hired them again for his Alien film if it ever gets off the ground.
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Feb 02, 2016, 11:00:12 AM
It's moments like hearing about all the artists arguing sensibilities and finding the right balance
Oh, man. Wait until the Giger Crew Logs :laugh:
I'm sure that one will be full of interesting stuff!
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Feb 03, 2016, 06:20:44 PM
I'm sure that one will be full of interesting stuff!
If things go well then I may have that one and Ridley's Crew Logs done this month. After that... I should write a book :laugh:
Would you really like to? I was going to suggest to someone who works with merchandising they contact you about doing such a thing.
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Feb 04, 2016, 08:10:21 AM
Would you really like to? I was going to suggest to someone who works with merchandising they contact you about doing such a thing.
Yeah. I was using the Crew Logs as a warm up. I don't have any academic work to consider for some time now.
In that case I'll make the suggestion next time I speak to him.
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Feb 04, 2016, 12:19:49 PM
In that case I'll make the suggestion next time I speak to him.
Awesome 8)
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Feb 04, 2016, 08:10:21 AM
Would you really like to? I was going to suggest to someone who works with merchandising they contact you about doing such a thing.
I'd advise him to publish it independently. Basically do an Alien "Future Noir".
An officially licensed publication means Fox will have final say on what he may or may not include in the book not to mention taking a big chunk of the profits. He might have problems including certain images in the book since Fox retains copyright on most production photographs but there are always ways around that.
Quote from: The Eighth Passenger on Feb 04, 2016, 02:56:00 PM
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Feb 04, 2016, 08:10:21 AM
Would you really like to? I was going to suggest to someone who works with merchandising they contact you about doing such a thing.
I'd advise him to publish it independently. Basically do an Alien "Future Noir".
That's always been the dream. That book is the
Blade Runner Bible.
I think you'll find a lot of people would support you if you plan to release such a book. So many people still love books. Don't even think for a second that duplicating stuff that you've already posted online for free will reduce sales. 'Strange Shapes' long established quality will only serve to generate more interest in the book.
What's more, the site's a great resource; but a book is permanent. Fans love that about media that they can actually hold.
I'd buy it. That's for sure.
-Windebieste.
Quote from: Valaquen on Feb 03, 2016, 08:03:08 PM
After that... I should write a book :laugh:
Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan, you should so write a book! Seriously mate, that would be awesome :D
Quote from: windebieste on Feb 04, 2016, 08:42:37 PM
I think you'll find a lot of people would support you if you plan to release such a book. So many people still love books. Don't even think for a second that duplicating stuff that you've already posted online for free will reduce sales. 'Strange Shapes' long established quality will only serve to generate more interest in the book.
What's more, the site's a great resource; but a book is permanent. Fans love that about media that they can actually hold.
I'd buy it. That's for sure.
-Windebieste.
Honestly, I could probably double the length and information in some of the articles if I had the time to fiddle with them all (especially the O'Bannon article), so I'd probably just put all of that into a book format without too many worries.
Quote from: xeno_alpha_07 on Feb 05, 2016, 04:57:25 PM
Quote from: Valaquen on Feb 03, 2016, 08:03:08 PM
After that... I should write a book :laugh:
Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan, you should so write a book! Seriously mate, that would be awesome :D
The challenge is learning to type long form with a toddler bouncing on my knee :laugh: That's how I wrote my dissertation and man... :P But I think I will sit and start writing. I finally have no more academic responsibilities so it's a matter of will.
I wasn't aware of this thread until now, so I'm finally taking the oportunity to thank you for your impressive work! As an 'Alien' fan, 'Strange Shapes' has been present in my life for quite some years.
I am very happy with that book project and the site seems to have amassed a large enough fanbase to support it. It has become a reference and the information is on par with dedicated journalistic work (Bolaji Badejo's article, in particular).
Thanks again and good luck!
Great stuff! Kudos!
https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2016/02/14/1992-fan-response-to-alien%C2%B3/
Interestingly not one of those letters mentioned the effects or the creature design. As you said in the intro, there's a lot in there that are deserved criticisms, and some that aren't so much (the complaint about Ripley's chestbursters taking so long to gestate).
I can't say I was around for the outrage of Alien 3 (little too young for that), it does feel a lot like the outrage towards AvPR. There is absolutely no surprise Fincher has distanced himself so much from this film.
It's also really interesting to see how the subsequent documentaries have shed more light on the problems the film faced.
Alien II, or is it Aliens? :D
https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2016/02/17/writing-aliens/
Another great (re-)read!
I especially loved the "barely a step above pornography" quote, don't remember that from before :)
QuoteTo aid him with the story, Giler and Hill pointed Cameron in the direction they thought it should take. "All they said was, 'Ripley and soldiers,'" Cameron explained. "They didn't give me anything specific, just this idea of her getting together with some military types and having them all go back to the planet." The producers also imparted Cameron with their notes and story ideas. "I'll never forget this," commented Cameron, "The outline concluded with this sentence: 'and then some other bullshit happens.' Which I thought trivialised the entire process of figuring out what the story should be."
This always gets me. Hill and Giler just didn't appreciate the property.
Great read!
Hill and Giler are a couple of shady dudes, it seems not many of behind the scenes folks liked them much.
https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2016/04/29/alien-resurrection-hybrid-theory/
Val's ashamed he wrote about Resurrection! How much did you hate reading the scripts?
Another informative and entertaining read (that I always find a new word in - albinoid this time). Resurrection is one I don't really retain a lot of knowledge of or research a lot (not that it gets covered in much depth in the various Alien books) so I enjoyed the reminder.
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on May 11, 2016, 12:26:37 PMVal's ashamed he wrote about Resurrection!
Refreshing to see such an unbiased account from someone who dislikes the film! Kudos for that. Good read as always. I really do wish they'd kept the cocooned hive scene in the third movie, it really would've been so much better for it.
That Giger quote still cracks me up. "I mean literally, it looks like a turd." :laugh:
Quote from: HuDaFuK on May 11, 2016, 12:46:21 PM
Refreshing to see such an unbiased account from someone who dislikes the film! Kudos for that. Good read as always. I really do wish they'd kept the cocooned hive scene in the third movie, it really would've been so much better for it.
That Giger quote still cracks me up. "I mean literally, it looks like a turd." :laugh:
Same. On pretty much everything you just wrote. :laugh: Whilst I may not like a film 100%, I might still enjoy reading about it and I prefer to do so without disdain leaking it's way into it. I appreciate the unbiased articles.
Something I plan on doing eventually is to rewrite Alien 3 and reintroduce stuff like the cocoons and the concept of the Runner capturing people. It's a shame they never got very far with the effects.
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on May 11, 2016, 12:57:13 PMSomething I plan on doing eventually is to rewrite Alien 3 and reintroduce stuff like the cocoons and the concept of the Runner capturing people.
And explain where the f*cking egg comes from :laugh:
There will be no egg in my version. :laugh:
Brilliant as usual.
Thanks
Quote...he wrote about Resurrection!
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alansjourney.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F11%2Fburning-pitchforks.jpg&hash=ddceeaf0096fb74015aedadbf5569aebc25790da)
:D :D :D
Admittedly I was going to write a piece about the A:R drafts. Mainly about the action scenes and characters that were dropped. In the end I changed my mind. Reading the drafts, for me, feels like I'm reading a comic than a screenplay for a film.
I've not had the chance or the time to read a lot of Val's recent articles :( I'm hoping in the coming months I'll finally get that chance!
QuoteA campaign called 'Alien Insurrection' lobbied Fox to restore Giger's credit...
While the name made me chuckle, I can only agree with the willingness to have tried to restore some credit to Giger... which he got, it is the least Fox could have done (although his later comment about how his alien became is more questionable :D).
Poor man, I'm under the impression that he wanted a bigger role on this franchise rather than what he actually got. Ironically, when given a possible (?) opportunity on '
Prometheus', it seemed he couldn't cope with the rythm of work, things had changed since he worked on '
Alien' and Scott said something like they had to move on (without him).
Nice concept art showed in your article. The brown colour for this quite flexible alien as well as some proportion issues, may not elevate it to the perfect design but there is definitely something coming out from this piece of work.
I completely agree with Giger about the ADI aliens being like a mud or pile of crap/ Its a travesty what they did to that beautiful, surreal design. Gigers alien was a charred skeleton with pieces of machinery attached to it, and thats what made it so great, so unique , so artistically beautiful. They meshed all these elements into muscles and warts and slime. I mean, look at the examples.
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi13.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa277%2Flovegunner%2FAVP%2Fphoto-8.jpg&hash=ce11e77f334be496db58cde4dbcdc972cb872221)
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi13.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa277%2Flovegunner%2FAVP%2Fadiflesh.jpg&hash=2280240de3805c1a1b3e83b94de9ea83b3c2b2a3)
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi13.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa277%2Flovegunner%2FAVP%2Fresshoulder.jpg&hash=d4b73f1fb6ff1dffcd71dbf9e8a063b88de32154)
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamescamerononline.com%2Fkanessonarm.png&hash=aafb87034edda01afa283491737c3a11ec790a9b)
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi13.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa277%2Flovegunner%2FAVP%2Fresneck.jpg&hash=70dbb07bfeeb08b0b7773fa380162f586aeacb80)
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jamescamerononline.com%2Fneck1979.jpg&hash=272c2fec85fc1423f14c7b444bc1373fd98bec61)
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi13.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa277%2Flovegunner%2FAVP%2FCOMPCHART_zps47a5cb7f.png&hash=f9f3201e656933f46b00e25692997d7f85a16b86)
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi13.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa277%2Flovegunner%2FAVP%2Fpumpkin.jpg&hash=724dfd5c9759f81650077aecacb5001898a007b6)
What also gets me is how ADI doesnt get what they did wrong. They think Giger sculpted the alien the way he did cause he didnt have funds or materials. No, he incorporated industrail parts into his skeleton because thats what makes his characters so unique and stunning, THATS biomechanicality - live thing with robot parts
They not only took out the biomechanicality, but the sexual overtones as well, removed all sexually suggestive designs from the abdomen and redid the shape of the head which I hated
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi13.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa277%2Flovegunner%2FAVP%2Falienshapesmall.jpg&hash=079a21ab8f5810430a8313132b40018dc3474a1e)
Yes, it was basically Pumpkinhead. Lame-o-rama.
People always jump to defend adi but tom Woodruffs own words show that he has no idea why gigers alien is an amazing design. They just don't get it and IMO I wouldn't want them working on any more aliens.
Sure they can do some good work but they obviously don't understand Gigers art.
I also believe it's one of the great features that makes 'ALIEN: Isolation' work so well. Just a few necessary revisions didn't hurt Creative Assembly's interpretation of Giger's original design. I do wonder, though, if the impact of that game had been lessened if the Creature design was closer to more current interpretations. Say, would the game be equally intense if they had used 'AvP' designs instead?
I think the design choice to embrace the original Alien was a wise move. Giger's original design hits all the right notes in terms of its exquisite and erotic presentation of the monstrous form that no one has been able to match since. Movies and other media just take the general morphology and disregard all the subtleties that Giger, Scott and his crew infused the Alien with in the first place.
CA managed to harness that ambiance in ways that others have failed to do so. 'ALIEN: Isolation' is arguably the next best thing to the original 1979 experience since the first movie was released. We need to see a return to this approach in upcoming movies (and games, other media, too, I guess.)
As for 'eggmorphing' goes, it's been a part of the series since the first movie - and it has been shunted aside in favour of the Queen since, well, 3 decades now. Since then, the Queen has appeared everywhere. She's getting tired and old as a concept. "Oh, it's the obligatory Queen Boss fight at the end, again! Exciting, isn't it?" approach has become lame and cliched. YAWWWWWNN!!!
Once again, Cameron's use of the Queen remains the essential 'Go To' experience for what has become a tired staple of the series. No one has bettered it since and yet we get the same old thing, ad infinitum, in games, movies, comics.
I have to say HRH's absence from 'ALIEN: Isolation' was refreshing and welcome.
There's need for this series to embrace a fresh approach and eggmorphing would be the ideal candidate to start with. This series has collapsed into so many ruts it's become stagnant and underwhelming. It needs to shake off the comfortable mantle of nostalgia that has slowly been choking this series to death for the past decade or so. 'ALIEN: Isolation' is giving pointers on how to refresh this series. Oddly enough, part of that process involves going right back to the first movie and revisiting what it has to offer. Let's commence with the original Giger design of the Alien. Bring that back for a start.
-Windebieste.
I agree mostly except for the queen being worn out. I don't think she's any more tired and worn out than the creature itself. As long as its approached in a fresh and quality way the queen is as powerful and awesome a creature as big chap is. I love the queen and I think if CA had included her they would have done just as great a job as they did with stompy.
The queen was all kinds of wrong in AvP and was only glimpsed in resurrection, thats the only involvement she's had in the filma since here debut in aliens.
Quote from: StrangeShape on May 11, 2016, 09:43:04 PM
I completely agree with Giger about the ADI aliens being like a mud or pile of crap/ Its a travesty what they did to that beautiful, surreal design. Gigers alien was a charred skeleton with pieces of machinery attached to it, and thats what made it so great, so unique , so artistically beautiful. They meshed all these elements into muscles and warts and slime. I mean, look at the examples.
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/lovegunner/AVP/photo-8.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/lovegunner/AVP/adiflesh.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/lovegunner/AVP/resshoulder.jpg
http://www.jamescamerononline.com/kanessonarm.png
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/lovegunner/AVP/resneck.jpg
http://www.jamescamerononline.com/neck1979.jpg
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi13.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa277%2Flovegunner%2FAVP%2FCOMPCHART_zps47a5cb7f.png&hash=f9f3201e656933f46b00e25692997d7f85a16b86)
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/lovegunner/AVP/pumpkin.jpg
What also gets me is how ADI doesnt get what they did wrong. They think Giger sculpted the alien the way he did cause he didnt have funds or materials. No, he incorporated industrail parts into his skeleton because thats what makes his characters so unique and stunning, THATS biomechanicality - live thing with robot parts
They not only took out the biomechanicality, but the sexual overtones as well, removed all sexually suggestive designs from the abdomen and redid the shape of the head which I hated
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a277/lovegunner/AVP/alienshapesmall.jpg
In substance, I'm with you, I also prefer the original.
But in form, stating "
something like sh*t" is harsh, especially coming from the master himself, hence the term 'questionable'. I was expecting a more polished complaint ; well, on the bright side, at least what he said comes from the bottom of his heart !
Anyway, about the aesthetics, they can always 'hide' behind the in-universe explanation of the alien-human DNA. Which was too much blended imo, both for the alien and for Ripley. I would have prefered a more human clone... threatened by the aliens instead of almost becoming one of them.
Quote from: Primordial on May 12, 2016, 05:00:45 AM
Anyway, about the aesthetics, they can always 'hide' behind the in-universe explanation of the alien-human DNA.
Not really, because the runner, which was the only design of theirs I like, already lost the mechanical parts and was more flesh/muscle oriented, same with Predalien
Didn't know they were also behind the runner and the Predalien, in that case that would weaken the DNA argument, yea.
Quote from: StrangeShape on May 13, 2016, 02:08:26 AM
Not really, because the runner, which was the only design of theirs I like, already lost the mechanical parts and was more flesh/muscle oriented, same with Predalien
Scott mentioned at some point in the past that his thinking was that Alien accumulates traits from all previous hosts, not just the current one -- the Alien in
Alien is Alien, human, and Jockey. If you go by that thinking it actually explains the loss of mechanical elements perfectly: Assuming the biomech detail comes from the Jockey, each movie after
Aliens puts the Aliens further and further away from their influence.
The alien accumulating traits from previous hosts is really 'how it should be' 8)
But isn't the Sulaco egg and the other eggs seen in 'Aliens' at the same generational level ? Meaning that most of the aliens we see in Hadley's Hope and the runner have a 'brother to brother' relation so to speak rather than a 'uncle to nephew' one ? Most of the colonists must have been impregnated by the Queen's eggs rather than the Derelict's eggs.
Another far fetched theory for the Sulaco egg would be that the Queen made it during the trip to the Sulaco with a human limb (don't tell me from where and how did she hide it :D), she eggmorphed it if you want. That would also assume an egg from her eggsac is different from an eggmorphed egg. In that case, it could explain the more fleshy aspect of the runner. Again, far fetched.
Quote from: SiL on May 13, 2016, 06:05:13 AM
Quote from: StrangeShape on May 13, 2016, 02:08:26 AM
Not really, because the runner, which was the only design of theirs I like, already lost the mechanical parts and was more flesh/muscle oriented, same with Predalien
Scott mentioned at some point in the past that his thinking was that Alien accumulates traits from all previous hosts, not just the current one -- the Alien in Alien is Alien, human, and Jockey. If you go by that thinking it actually explains the loss of mechanical elements perfectly: Assuming the biomech detail comes from the Jockey, each movie after Aliens puts the Aliens further and further away from their influence.
Do you remember where that came from?
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on May 13, 2016, 08:36:44 AM
Quote from: SiL on May 13, 2016, 06:05:13 AM
Quote from: StrangeShape on May 13, 2016, 02:08:26 AM
Not really, because the runner, which was the only design of theirs I like, already lost the mechanical parts and was more flesh/muscle oriented, same with Predalien
Scott mentioned at some point in the past that his thinking was that Alien accumulates traits from all previous hosts, not just the current one -- the Alien in Alien is Alien, human, and Jockey. If you go by that thinking it actually explains the loss of mechanical elements perfectly: Assuming the biomech detail comes from the Jockey, each movie after Aliens puts the Aliens further and further away from their influence.
Do you remember where that came from?
I have it somewhere, from my research; it was one of those nebulous ideas that derived from the eggs being egg-morphed from Space Jockey crew bodies, or because the eggs derived from the Space Jockey Alien that we never saw. Like much of the backstory, it was up in the air and evolved week by week during the production.
Quote from: Primordial on May 13, 2016, 07:59:25 AM
But isn't the Sulaco egg and the other eggs seen in 'Aliens' at the same generational level ? Meaning that most of the aliens we see in Hadley's Hope and the runner have a 'brother to brother' relation so to speak rather than a 'uncle to nephew' one ? Most of the colonists must have been impregnated by the Queen's eggs rather than the Derelict's eggs.
Then say it doesn't build up per generation of the
same host. So Alien - Jockey - Human and Alien - Jockey - Human - Human would be the same, but when it becomes Alien - Jockey - Human - Dog you start seeing the effect watered down.
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on May 13, 2016, 08:36:44 AM
Do you remember where that came from?
That was the Fantastic Films interview
Is that available online in full do you know?
Well, here's the full quote from my blog page about the Alien life cycle, I know it's in the Ridley Scott book of interviews that's in the Google Books
Ridley Scott: The thing that I was always frustrated about was the absence of sense of smell with the beast. It's a real element with him, because his odor must have been incredibly powerful. I wanted a sense of a timeless, slightly decaying creature that, maybe, only has a limited life cycle of, maybe, four days like an insect. The alien life form lived to reproduce and in reproducing took on the characteristics of its last inhabitant and its new host. Thus the alien on board the Nostromo had the characteristics of the space jockey on the derelict and Kane. If the facehugger had hit the cat, it could have been a hybrid of the space jockey and the cat. When Ripley blasts off from the Nostromo with the alien aboard, it's dying which is why it moves so slowly. She kills it, but it would have died soon anyway. It's like a butterfly (Fantastic Films #12, "Alien from the inside out", An exclusive interview with the Director of Alien, Ridley Scott, part two by James Delson p30)
Quote from: SiL on May 13, 2016, 10:12:48 PM
Then say it doesn't build up per generation of the same host. So Alien - Jockey - Human and Alien - Jockey - Human - Human would be the same, but when it becomes Alien - Jockey - Human - Dog you start seeing the effect watered down.
That figures ;)
It is even more subtle than the generational thing.
Sneak peek at something I'm working on ('cause it's been a while). Early draft.
Spoiler
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FzvxK3g4.png&hash=ce6ceae1296e84236bec0dba319de50d73f76cb9) (http://imgur.com/zvxK3g4)
Thanks Valaqueen! Can't wait to read the finished article. ;D
58 pages... that's going to be quite an article!
Quote from: Local Trouble on Jul 21, 2016, 09:01:55 PM
Thanks Valaqueen! Can't wait to read the finished article. ;D
Now, now Mr. Trouble.
Book. Make it a book. Please.... a book. You'll get so much joy out of writing a book.
-Windebieste.
Quote from: windebieste on Jul 21, 2016, 10:14:34 PM
Book. Make it a book. Please.... a book. You'll get so much joy out of writing a book.
-Windebieste.
Indeed. He could be the Michael Kaminski (https://www.amazon.com/Secret-History-Star-Wars/dp/0978465237) of the Alien films.
Yeah! Just like that.
NOW HURRY UP WITH YER DAMNED BOOK, ALREADY! >:( C'MON! YOU ALREADY KNOW
WE ALL GON BUY IT!!11!!!!
(Just kidding. It's relatively easy to write a book within an intellectual property like this. That's not the problem. Whether it be fiction or non-fiction - writing the book is only half the effort. The other half -
the hard part - is getting it through the legal process. Once that morass is out of your hair, though, publishing and distribution is relatively easy once the ball has started rolling. Even if you have to do it yourself.)
Good Luck on what path you choose to take on this effort. We're behind you. All the way.
-Windebieste.
It would be an excellent companion to the SMTM.
Must haz buk. ;D
-Windebieste.
Maybe a chapter of the book can be that long missing Twohy script review. ;)
Quote from: windebieste on Jul 21, 2016, 10:14:34 PMYou'll get so much joy out of writing a book.
I'm sure the joy you'd get out of reading it doesn't factor into that comment at all... :P
Quote from: KiramidHead on Jul 21, 2016, 11:03:43 PM
Maybe a chapter of the book can be that long missing Twohy script review. ;)
Like I said, the writing is the easy part but (unless he wrote the review himself) avoiding accusations of plagiarism is another issue. Personally I think Mr. Shapes has written enough content - good content at that - on his site to easily justify writing a book.
Quote from: HuDaFuK on Jul 21, 2016, 11:15:14 PM
Quote from: windebieste on Jul 21, 2016, 10:14:34 PMYou'll get so much joy out of writing a book.
I'm sure the joy you'd get out of reading it doesn't factor into that comment at all... :P
BOOOOook... *swoon*
-Windebieste.
;D
But yeah, a book would be a great thing to have. Mr. Queen's articles are consistently well-written and very informative.
For sure. Just take the entire content of the site and dump it between a pair of covers. Sounds like a done deal to me! Most of it's his own work, anyway. Research will need to be credited, a bibliography is useful. Getting the permission to use any images is where the work lies. There's only so far you can take the 'fair use' argument before you cross over into copyright infringement territory.
He'd have to seek legal advice from a professional Intellectual Property Consultant and possibly permissions from Fox for any graphic content that he hasn't generated himself that is either owned by Fox or other third parties. This is where the real work starts and the bills start to mount up.
-Windebieste.
Who could he hire as a fact checker?
As of June 2015 I've been writing my own book and it's been nothing less than an engaging process. During the planning stage I identified 3 critical hurdles that need to be crossed:
PHASE 1: ADEQUATE CONTENT.
It's all very nice to say "I'm writing a book and it's going to be fantastic. You'll love it!" but if there isn't adequate content, then forget it. Your work will just be worthy of an article or two online. Now, I'm going to use my personal situation as a template here because I can see Velaquen is in a similar position as myself. At 58 pages his book is already beginning to head the direction of becoming a book. Especially considering it's non-fiction and a block of text that size can easily double in size once images have been introduced. Plus we know Velaquen has a huge archive of worthy material we would all like to see in print form.
So as far as content goes, we already know he's got that covered.
PHASE 2: GET IT LEGAL.
By Dec. 2015, I had my book at a point where it was ready to present to an Intellectual Property Consultant.
This is a critical stage of play because you don't want to release a book that will end up biting you on the arse. Its got to be legal. As the book I am currently involved in is non-fiction it needs to be made adequately correct in terms of avoiding copyright infringement. Currently the book has been submitted to an important Third Party and it's in their hands right now. I'm awaiting a response from them - it's been 7 months since this process started. The bills come in from my own Consultant but I'm expecting to hear Good News soon. (The fact that the Third Party hasn't said 'No.' is encouraging and I believe they are currently evaluating the work.)
In the meantime, I've been given enough information by my IP Consultant to write a 2nd version of the book. The consultant identified 10 percent of content that may be sensitive and subject to copyright infringement. This information has been absolutely invaluable because 10% of potentially sensitive content has since been edited/removed/replaced as appropriate. As the book currently stands at 230 pages, modifying that content means I still have a book that is over 200 pages long. With more content being added anyway, that page count will be restored, anyway.
In which case, if the Third Party says "Yes. This is OK by us", I can publish the book the way it's intended. On the other hand, if they say "No. We'd like no part of this.", then 'Plan B' comes into effect and I complete the book anyway and it's perfectly legal. Either way, I am going to finish this book. That's 100% guaranteed, the only difference is I would love the support of the Third Party as their involvement - even at the most minimal level of a 'head nod' - would lend much needed legitimacy to this Project. If not, I can make it happen on my own, anyway.
This where I am currently at and I suggest Velaquen adopts this strategy.
(At this stage, due to the Non-fiction nature of the book I am currently engaged in, my IP Consultant has advised me not to discuss it with anyone until this process is complete. So please don't ask. I will not respond.)
3. PUBLISHING AND MARKETING.
Writing the book itself is relativley easy because you are in total control of it at that stage and content is determined by you, The Author. Then the legal foot work has to be done - and that's hard because it's completely out of your control and you're relying on processes that are established and legally binding. Thankfully in today's publishing environment getting your book into your customers hands is relatively easy to achieve.
Obviously KickStarter is the way to go if you have to go it alone. Not only will it raise all the funds needed to print and post the item, but it also lends itself well as a marketing tool. Printing the book is one thing - but it's near on folly to do so without a customer base who is prepared to buy it. KickStarter is an ideal way to self publish and reach a potential customer base. I'll most likely end up using it to this end.
Plus there are other sites that will gladly promote Velaquen's book. He'll be promoting it on his own site, for sure. AVPG is another obvious place... he'll have other ideas how he wants to promote it. News sites like io9 would be interested in it, too.
As for the KickStarter campaign, he can determine the Reward Tiers himself. For the sake of covering all costs, packaging, posting, editing, book design, proofreading, fact checking and other miscellaneous costs these should all be factored into the KickStarter campaign. All this stuff is necessary and needs to be paid for. If he's lucky, he may even be able to defer the legal costs accrued in 'PHASE 2' above and arrange for it to be included in the (successful) KickStarter without himself being out of pocket himself during that stage of the process.
Velaquen has Great standing in this Community and with that comes a fantastic reputation that can only work in his favor. Reputation is a major asset to him if he chooses to write a book. I for one would be more than prepared to pledge my support for his endeavour should he choose to pursue it.
-Windebieste.
Thanks for the support, everyone. Winde, a lot to think about there. Thank you, I'm looking forward to seeing how your project unfolds!
Its not really an option to simply copy from the blog and transpose it into Word. When I write an article I can't assume that anyone has read any of the other articles, so I can't take what they know for granted -- this means I have to reiterate information a lot, but it's good for accessibility (no one has to read the articles in order of publication, etc.) A book is a different thing: I can write chronologically, and not have to recap all the time. So I'm writing from scratch (and also fully referencing the entire thing). It's a different challenge, but I love the process. I remember saying the same thing when I was writing my Masters dissertation and even my tutor looked at me like I was crazy. But I love it.
For sure, the blog is a great source of information - but it's certainly not formatted to be read as a book, though. Writing online is very different to writing for hard copy publication. You won't be able to grossly transfer the site onto the printed page wholesale without substantial editing to fit the different medium. No one expects the book to be a print form of the blog in it's most literal form, anyway. lol.
What people will expect is the same level of detail and fidelity to factual content that you've already proven yourself to be capable of; and tirelessly provided without fail.
You got that part down pat, already; and while it's a tall order with quite the expectation associated with it, nonetheless, you've done it already. The rest is good planning, a lot of work and commitment.
Ah... you got this covered*. ;D
-Windebieste.
*Pun intended.
Quote from: windebieste on Jul 23, 2016, 01:43:29 AM
For sure, the blog is a great source of information - but it's certainly not formatted to be read as a book, though. Writing online is very different to writing for hard copy publication. You won't be able to grossly transfer the site onto the printed page wholesale without substantial editing to fit the different medium. No one expects the book to be a print form of the blog in it's most literal form, anyway. lol.
What people will expect is the same level of detail and fidelity to factual content that you've already proven yourself to be capable of; and tirelessly provided without fail.
You got that part down pat, already; and while it's a tall order with quite the expectation associated with it, nonetheless, you've done it already. The rest is good planning, a lot of work and commitment.
Ah... you got this covered*. ;D
-Windebieste.
*Pun intended.
To quote Sigourney Weaver somewhat, "The book will make the blog look like a cucumber sandwich" :laugh: There is far more detail and information in it already. It's just the months of typing and editing and typing and editing to go 8)
Help?
https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2016/07/27/alien-the-1978-scripts/
:-*
Perhaps xeno alpha 07 might be in possession of them?
Nice article .
Winde
Have you ever published articles online that I could read? I am very interested to read some of your work.
Always a good read. Enjoyed that article as usual
Quote from: Valaquen on Jul 23, 2016, 03:57:50 PM
To quote Sigourney Weaver somewhat, "The book will make the blog look like a cucumber sandwich" :laugh: There is far more detail and information in it already. It's just the months of typing and editing and typing and editing to go 8)
I get the typing and editing... typing and editing... typing and editing. Rinse and repeat the endless cycle. I totally understand it all. Once you think it's perfect, hand the manuscript over to a professional editor. You'll be surprised how much of a
real improvement that action makes. Factor it into your costs/KickStarter while you're at it.
Quote from: oduodu on Jul 28, 2016, 08:15:16 PM
Winde
Have you ever published articles online that I could read? I am very interested to read some of your work.
Sure. You'll find some of my 'practice writing exercises' right here (http://www.avpgalaxy.net/website/articles/neca-14-scale-alien-figure-review/). Here (http://www.avpgalaxy.net/website/articles/alien-project-review/). ...and here (http://www.avpgalaxy.net/literature/reviews/super-7s-alien-carry-case/). You'll find some more under 'Other' (http://www.avpgalaxy.net/website/articles/#tab6) as well, right under your nose. Hope you enjoy 'em. Was fun to do!
;D
-Windebieste.
Ty winde.
Fan Reaction to Alien, 1979:
https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2016/08/07/fan-reaction-to-alien-1979/
:)
Interesting as always. I couldn't imagine ever thinking that Alien was cut up to much.
Hey Valaquen,
What happened to the egg morphing article?
https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/11/23/egg-morph/
Also, I hope your book Project is coming along fine. It's a ton of work - it's surprising how much, actually. I thought I'd be finished mine by now when I first set out to write it in June, 2015 - but nope. Turns out, it's a lot more work than I originally anticipated; and 12 months went by like it was no time at all. I'm still not even in a position where I can announce it. Final legal meeting is in October. lol. ;D
I guess you're finding the same happening? Anyway, it just takes time. Keep it up! We all want to see your book get released!
-Windebieste.
Quote from: windebieste on Sep 24, 2016, 12:48:38 PMI'm still not even in a position where I can announce it. Final legal meeting is in October. lol. ;D
Can you tell us what it's about?
Not yet. I've been advised by my Intellectual Property Consultant to not discuss it at any length with anyone until the legal situation is fully settled. At the moment it's looking very promising. One more meeting to go.
Besides, this isn't the thread to talk about it. I'll be more than happy to discuss it once October is done, elsewhere.
-Windebieste.
Quote from: Dowly on Sep 24, 2016, 11:46:04 AM
Hey Valaquen,
What happened to the egg morphing article?
https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/11/23/egg-morph/
I found out so much new stuff about it when researching the book that I took the original article down, pending a new one.
Quote from: windebieste on Sep 24, 2016, 12:48:38 PM
Also, I hope your book Project is coming along fine. It's a ton of work - it's surprising how much, actually. I thought I'd be finished mine by now when I first set out to write it in June, 2015 - but nope. Turns out, it's a lot more work than I originally anticipated; and 12 months went by like it was no time at all. I'm still not even in a position where I can announce it. Final legal meeting is in October. lol. ;D
I guess you're finding the same happening? Anyway, it just takes time. Keep it up! We all want to see your book get released!
-Windebieste.
Yeah man, essentially still writing whenever I can. I've written about a hundred pages. I care for my daughter most of the time (she's autistic) so I don't get to write and research as much as I'd like, but it's coming along.
Be sure there's a Kindle edition for the likes of me.
Quote from: Valaquen on Sep 25, 2016, 07:31:06 PM
Quote from: Dowly on Sep 24, 2016, 11:46:04 AM
Hey Valaquen,
What happened to the egg morphing article?
https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/11/23/egg-morph/ (https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2013/11/23/egg-morph/)
I found out so much new stuff about it when researching the book that I took the original article down, pending a new one.
Gotcha. Thanks.
Full time care for you your daughter. Damn... Everyone has their personal challenges. Sounds like you got it all together, though.
Have you contacted 20th Century Fox or a publisher for the book, yet? I am guessing all your text is written by yourself, so you should be fine with that, quoting where necessary. You may end up with occasional footnoting here and there and a bibliography but I'm sure you can cope with that.
I'm guessing you'll be using images as well(?) Once again, if you generate them yourself, you should be OK. Copyright laws tend to favour image content you generate yourself, but there are definite caveats, as I have discovered. I suspect you'll be using photgraphic content that was generated by others, though. You may require permission from 20th Century Fox if you're using copyright material - or can get permission from the Authors of such images (if they own them).
All the same, I imagine you have a good contact list so it should pan out OK. I envy you in this regard.
Either way, get professional legal advice on all content you intend to include. Do it as soon as you can (afford to).
Good luck with everything. So glad to see you doing this! It's a lot of work and dedication on your part but your great reputation and standing will see you through to the end. We believe in you. ;D
-Windebieste.
Quote from: windebieste on Sep 25, 2016, 08:51:26 PM
Full time care for you your daughter. Damn... Everyone has their personal challenges. Sounds like you got it all together, though.
Have you contacted 20th Century Fox or a publisher for the book, yet? I am guessing all your text is written by yourself, so you should be fine with that, quoting where necessary.
I haven't spoken to anyone. I'm just focused on finishing it first, so I can show myself it can be done.
QuoteYou may end up with occasional footnoting here and there and a bibliography but I'm sure you can cope with that.
Oh, not a problem. It's fully annotated, sourced, etc. My Masters dissertation was a good practice run for that!
QuoteI'm guessing you'll be using images as well(?) Once again, if you generate them yourself, you should be OK. Copyright laws tend to favour image content you generate yourself, but there are definite caveats, as I have discovered. I suspect you'll be using photgraphic content that was generated by others, though. You may require permission from 20th Century Fox if you're using copyright material - or can get permission from the Authors of such images (if they own them).
I've given some thought to images. I have a few that were given to me by Bolaji's family and his brother actually encouraged me to write a book years ago when we were collating for the Bolaji article. I'm hoping the family will want to publish some pictures they have.
QuoteGood luck with everything. So glad to see you doing this! It's a lot of work and dedication on your part but your great reputation and standing will see you through to the end. We believe in you. ;D
-Windebieste.
Thank you, my friend :) I'm working hard to get that first draft done, then the fun begins... :laugh:
Quote from: Valaquen on Sep 25, 2016, 08:58:10 PM
I haven't spoken to anyone. I'm just focused on finishing it first, so I can show myself it can be done.
^
THIS... This is what I found to be the hardest part. Proving to myself it could be done. That was the first of several hurdles I identified and needed to successfully vault over: 'Is there enough content to write about this topic?', 'Was it worth the effort?' and 'Can I actually do this?
REALLY?' were all questions I had to have answered first and had to invest all of my time effort and confidence upfront. After six months of gathering information, collating, experimentation and feverishly belting it all down into the document, I found the answers to all of these questions was 'YES!'.
Getting past that first stage was hard. I knew I wanted to write a book. I just didn't know if the content was adequate. I didn't want to reach, say, 'page 48' and start struggling with it. I didn't want to produce a pamphlet. lol. The page count had to be there. Once I had the page count up around the 130 mark, yes. It was then I was convinced I had a book and the effort was going to lead to a worthwhile result. (Of course, the book is larger now and sitting around the 240 page mark.) so yes. I have a book.
Now, I'm at hurdle No.2. Getting the legal situation under control. At this point, this part of the whole process is almost done. (The good thing about this exercise is
someone else is putting in the mileage to address these issues, while you can work on the book. Keep that in mind, it will help to empower you. ;D)
I imagine these will be the things going through your mind as well. Value adding to the Project, ensuring its worthy of the effort and ensuring the eventual goal of satisfying your readership is achieved. Yeah. That's the hardest part of the whole process - and the first hurdle to cross.
I am confident you won't have any problem in that regard. You got this.
-Windebieste.
So you were just reading the newspaper during breakfast one day and this happened?
(https://i.imgflip.com/1b96ak.jpg)
Does this book involve artificial gravity? ;D
Cheers Winde, for spurring me on! Looking forward to you unveiling all of your hard work!
Quote from: Local Trouble on Sep 25, 2016, 09:48:31 PM
So you were just reading the newspaper during breakfast one day and this happened?
https://i.imgflip.com/1b96ak.jpg
It took several breakfasts but yes :laugh:
QuoteDoes this book involve artificial gravity? ;D
Well, that's brought up in some early scripts for ALIEN, so... yes :P
Do you have anyone collaborating with you as a fact-checker? 8)
Quote from: Local Trouble on Sep 25, 2016, 10:17:21 PM
Do you have anyone collaborating with you as a fact-checker? 8)
Naw, I spent four years doing that myself, so I'm pretty adept and comfortable. And it's part of the fun for me (during my Masters other people looked at me like I was crazy because I
loved researching.) If the project goes anywhere serious no doubt it'll have to be fact-checked professionally.
Quote from: Local Trouble on Sep 25, 2016, 10:17:21 PM
Do you have anyone collaborating with you as a fact-checker? 8)
I hope that isn't an offer from you. :P
Quote from: The Eighth Passenger on Sep 26, 2016, 04:31:14 PM
Quote from: Local Trouble on Sep 25, 2016, 10:17:21 PM
Do you have anyone collaborating with you as a fact-checker? 8)
I hope that isn't an offer from you. :P
Nah, I'm more of an opinion-checker. ;D
Quote from: Valaquen on Sep 25, 2016, 09:56:56 PM
QuoteDoes this book involve artificial gravity? ;D
Well, that's brought up in some early scripts for ALIEN, so... yes :P
Does that explain how the alien was able to suspend itself in mid-air when Brett stumbled upon its lair?
Fact checking is critical, and I'm sure Valaquen is more than well acquainted with how essential this practice is. At some point or another, yes. Someone holding credentials of some description (Either of professional or of other respected note*.) should look over the manuscript. Fact checking and accuracy of content is important and should be done by a third party.
The trick is finding the right people to approach in this regard. Contacts are great and I'm sure Mr. V will have more than enough interested people wanting to participate in the process. The trick is to sort out who's a genuine source of information, capable of providing accurate input; and who is just 'offering opinions' to suit their own agenda.
Fact checking can be tricky; and it can be embarrassing if Professionals make errors. While some errors can be negotiated around (let's say, the egg in 'ALIEN 3' simply because it's fiction) as opposed to non-negotiable errors that are beyond clumsy and should never have entered the work (Such as as the line, "Nothing existed in Sector 14, unless you counted polar bears and penquins", Marc Cerasini, AvP novelisation, 2004, page 24.) in the first place as they breach real world facts. While the book itself is a work of fiction, such an error as this should have been identified and corrected, either by the Author, the Editor or Proof Reader(s) or other third party inspecting the ms. This kind of mistake can really hurt your credibility. Especially if your producing a work of non-fiction.
So yes. Fact (and figure) checking is critical. I'll be doing it once my book is announced. The process is already set up to do so - and I've set aside about 6 months to complete this task alone. It's probably even more important than Editing. At least a book can be forgiven for minor grammatical anomalies as English is very flexible in this regard - but polar bears at the South Pole..? C'mon! This shouldn't happen! lol.
If I had to choose between professional editor or professional fact checking, I'd go for factual accuracy first. I wouldn't even think twice about it.
-Windebieste.
*Simply because there are many areas of expertise in the World where experienced individuals may not possess professionally recognised qualifications but are simply the best people in those fields to ask.
Quote from: Local Trouble on Sep 26, 2016, 06:52:10 PM
Does that explain how the alien was able to suspend itself in mid-air when Brett stumbled upon its lair?
No, it's dropped to explain how the crew can walk around.
Stuff like the Alien 'floating' is not meant to ever be made sense of.
Quote from: Valaquen on Sep 27, 2016, 03:22:39 PM
Quote from: Local Trouble on Sep 26, 2016, 06:52:10 PM
Does that explain how the alien was able to suspend itself in mid-air when Brett stumbled upon its lair?
No, it's dropped to explain how the crew can walk around.
Stuff like the Alien 'floating' is not meant to ever be made sense of.
But it confuses me. ???
I thought it was swinging on a chain.
Standing on the landing leg perpendicular to the floor.
Quote from: SM on Sep 27, 2016, 10:46:19 PM
Standing on the landing leg perpendicular to the floor.
In zero-G?
With Alien grade sticky soles.
QuoteWell, that's brought up in some early scripts for ALIEN, so... yes
They also mention it in the film as they're taking off.
The alien that nabs Dietrich in Aliens also floats. Maybe the effects at the time couldn't make it look plausible, but we are meant to infer that they can manoeuvre on any surface, and it does look cool regardless. I think Alien 3 tried to absolve it somewhat, too, by showing the alien sticking on all surfaces.
How was it floating?
Quote from: SM on Sep 28, 2016, 12:28:24 AM
How was it floating?
The Dietrich one? When it lifts her up it looks like it levitates.
It may look like that, but it's moving it's arms and legs to show it's climbing up the wall.
Does the same procedures apply when making a documentary TV program ? Does someone sit around to check facts ?
Wow
Writing is hard work.
Who does the fact checking and against what do they compare the facts? There is no body of work that can compare to a book like this as an 'alien bible'.
I guess this boils down to someone doing the groundwork - the hard graft that only someone with a passion for doing so will persevere in.
Hats off.
Quote from: PsyKore on Sep 28, 2016, 12:48:51 AMThe Dietrich one? When it lifts her up it looks like it levitates.
If you look very carefully, it's propelling itself up the wall behind it with its legs, but the shot is so very brief it's easy to miss. I did for years.
Quote from: SM on Sep 28, 2016, 01:07:58 AM
It may look like that, but it's moving it's arms and legs to show it's climbing up the wall.
Quote from: HuDaFuK on Sep 28, 2016, 09:23:29 AM
Quote from: PsyKore on Sep 28, 2016, 12:48:51 AMThe Dietrich one? When it lifts her up it looks like it levitates.
If you look very carefully, it's propelling itself up the wall behind it with its legs, but the shot is so very brief it's easy to miss. I did for years.
That's interesting! I'll have to look out for that next time I watch it. I can't believe after 20+ years of watching that movie I bloody missed it.
Hey guys new article about the problematic production of alien 3!
https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2016/12/02/alien-3-i-was-there/
Quote(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi13.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa277%2Flovegunner%2FAVP%2FCOMPCHART_zps47a5cb7f.png&hash=f9f3201e656933f46b00e25692997d7f85a16b86)
Has anyone ever updated this with the AVPs and Prometheus? I know Covenant is out soon but comparison shots like these are always interesting to me.
Quote from: Local Trouble on Jul 21, 2016, 10:48:32 PMIt would be an excellent companion to the SMTM.
Dumb question but what is this?
IIRC it's what Trouble refers to the Weyland-Yutani Report as.
Always happy to see another article from Val! Will get to it! :)
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Dec 05, 2016, 11:01:19 AM
IIRC it's what Trouble refers to the Weyland-Yutani Report as.
Not any more. The WYR doesn't represent SM's uncompromised and undiluted vision. I'm holding out for a
true SMTM.
I forgot to post the link to the last article (thanks for picking up my slack!) so I'm making sure I post the newest one: https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2016/12/12/alien-reviews-from-yesteryear/
Enjoy!
QuoteNow, what form does The Alien take? Let's say that, initially, it looks like a big chicken liver with tentacles, and the poor sap is wearing this thing like a helmet.
A big chicken liver with tentacles, you say.
I do enjoy reading this old reviews.
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Dec 13, 2016, 11:03:11 AM
QuoteNow, what form does The Alien take? Let's say that, initially, it looks like a big chicken liver with tentacles, and the poor sap is wearing this thing like a helmet.
A big chicken liver with tentacles, you say.
I do enjoy reading this old reviews.
There are some crackers. I have a few more with people calling the film evil. Like, literally evil :laugh:
I got a good laugh out of Gene Siskel saying that it took place "a decade from now." :laugh:
Pretty funny reviews lol I did catch that one from Siskel, funny how after watching a film your mind can change so much of the little details.
These are a really interesting read, I amazed at the amount of negative reviews actually.
It's funny as well about the comments about why the hell did O'Bannon have Ash in, there's no depth or subtext to it, that kind of thing.
Here's a bonus for you guys, a letters page response to a more positive review of the film:
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fg08gIDH.jpg&hash=3fa981275a93f4257ae279906fd09573c274b8c7)
::) :laugh:
Hey Vala, why don't you change your avatar to a queen?
Quote from: Local Trouble on Dec 05, 2016, 07:35:31 PM
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Dec 05, 2016, 11:01:19 AM
IIRC it's what Trouble refers to the Weyland-Yutani Report as.
Not any more. The WYR doesn't represent SM's uncompromised and undiluted vision. I'm holding out for a true SMTM.
Oh alright thanks. There are so many Alien books and guides out now it's hard to keep up.
Casting Ripley: https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2016/12/15/casting-ripley/
A long article; and a good read, at that.
When is the book coming out?
-Windebieste.
Great read! I laughed at ridleys reactions meeting Sigourney.
Im always excited for a new strange shapes article.
Quote from: 426Buddy on Dec 16, 2016, 03:42:57 AM
Great read! I laughed at ridleys reactions meeting Sigourney.
Im always excited for a new strange shapes article.
Same. The email notification is always a nice surprise.
I read some of those 1979 alien reviews. I love how harsh they are and these days every review is positive!
It's constantly compared to Jaws and Star Wars and clearly viewed to be inferior.
To be fair those reviews aren't even unfair, just think about those when you're about to hate Covenant even Alien wasn't seen as an original film back in it's day...
I also like how blockbuster summer films already got mocked in the seventies ;D
Times aren't a changing Bob Dylan!
It's a great blog and i really like it for years now. What i would like to see would be some more information about the development of the various DC and other versions of the Alien Movies.
Quote from: Doctor Ash on Dec 20, 2016, 11:12:42 AM
It's a great blog and i really like it for years now. What i would like to see would be some more information about the development of the various DC and other versions of the Alien Movies.
I did archive this article by Charles de Lauzirika concerning the Alien 3 assembly cut: https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2012/10/21/finding-fincher/
Quote from: Valaquen on Dec 20, 2016, 02:03:26 PM
Quote from: Doctor Ash on Dec 20, 2016, 11:12:42 AM
It's a great blog and i really like it for years now. What i would like to see would be some more information about the development of the various DC and other versions of the Alien Movies.
I did archive this article by Charles de Lauzirika concerning the Alien 3 assembly cut: https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2012/10/21/finding-fincher/
Thank you. A very interesting article!
https://magicmenagerie.wordpress.com/2016/10/12/my-pop-life-171-praying-for-time-george-michael/?_e_pi_=7%2CPAGE_ID10%2C5929978005
This article also tells of the alien 3 problems. Is it legit?
Sorry there is a thread for that article ! How did I miss it. Sorry anyway.
Quote from: oduodu on Dec 21, 2016, 09:21:18 PM
https://magicmenagerie.wordpress.com/2016/10/12/my-pop-life-171-praying-for-time-george-michael/?_e_pi_=7%2CPAGE_ID10%2C5929978005
This article also tells of the alien 3 problems. Is it legit?
Sorry there is a thread for that article ! How did I miss it. Sorry anyway.
That is Ralph Brown: Legit!
Here's a wee article I wrote on an annoying little legend: https://alienseries.wordpress.com/2017/04/22/alien/
:laugh: Never heard that one before.
Me either! That's just hilarious! :laugh:
It did the rounds after Avatar and again in 2015. Hopefully this will pre-empt another reccurence :P
Be nice but I doubt it.
If I had a dollar for every time people moan about 'Cameron turned them into bugs' and I direct them to The Insect Influence for a bit of perspective, I'd have, well, a few dollars.
Quote from: SM on Apr 28, 2017, 01:07:37 AM
Be nice but I doubt it.
If I had a dollar for every time people moan about 'Cameron turned them into bugs' and I direct them to The Insect Influence for a bit of perspective, I'd have, well, a few dollars.
Yeah, someone on Reddit was arguing this point with me today. They always come back with some rubbish, I usually end up having to ignore them. When people are adamant that Cameron ruined Alien for them then they tend to stick to it no matter what. Ridley's quotes about it being based directly on insects has them coming back with all sorts of logical gymnastics. One I got today was "But he nowhere said it FULLY imitated [insects, whereas] In Aliens everything was FULLY grounded in real life social insect biology."
Insects clearly can cut the power of your households people RUN!!!
And you gotta love the arguments about xeno intelligence. Because I totally buy that the horde that cut the power and circumvented the Ops perimeter is dumber than the single alien that got itself stuck in a wall. :laugh:
Quote from: Valaquen on Apr 28, 2017, 03:14:10 PM
Quote from: SM on Apr 28, 2017, 01:07:37 AM
Be nice but I doubt it.
If I had a dollar for every time people moan about 'Cameron turned them into bugs' and I direct them to The Insect Influence for a bit of perspective, I'd have, well, a few dollars.
Yeah, someone on Reddit was arguing this point with me today. They always come back with some rubbish, I usually end up having to ignore them. When people are adamant that Cameron ruined Alien for them then they tend to stick to it no matter what. Ridley's quotes about it being based directly on insects has them coming back with all sorts of logical gymnastics. One I got today was "But he nowhere said it FULLY imitated [insects, whereas] In Aliens everything was FULLY grounded in real life social insect biology."
Yep, some people just have their minds set no matter what. Scott can say he wanted the Alien to be like an ant , but those type of people will stills cream "aliens are not TEH bugz". Obannon calls it a natural animal, Scott an insect. In the script/novelization it get fascinated by the light, but no, it has to be a philosophical space rapist no matter what anybody who created it said
"Lovecraft, dammit! >:("
Quote from: StrangeShape on Apr 29, 2017, 04:03:35 PM
In the script/novelization it gets fascinated by the light...
I would have loved it had the aborted airlock-jettison scene been filmed! Each time I read it in the novelization, it occurs to me that Parker's getting sideswiped by the fleeing creature was a foreshadowing of his final confrontation with the thing and Lambert. (Of course, assuming that latter scene would not have been cut back to allow for the former.)
The way ADF describes the insectoid parasitism that is taking place still mesmerizes me. So much different from aliens that munch and crunch their victims.
That Alien$ article is gold. What a story, Gordon!
Quote from: Strange Shapes
The situation brings to mind an old joke from the Alien Experience boards, where one member concocted a humorous story from the POV of James Remar witnessing Cameron, in a London nightclub in 1985, declaring that he was 'King of the World' as he displayed his disco moves.
I will always believe this to be true, no matter how much completely legitimate evidence to the contrary there is, ever.
We are back on FB, after deleting all of my social media a couple of years ago. I will have to rebuild from the ground up (the old page had over 3000 people subscribed) but you've got to start somewhere. The link is here, if anyone is interested: https://www.facebook.com/StrangeShapesBlog
Subd.
Mr. Trouble and I are still pining for that Strange Shapes YouTube channel.
Quote from: The Eighth Passenger on Sep 15, 2019, 06:40:17 PM
Mr. Trouble and I are still pining for that Strange Shapes YouTube channel.
Me too, but my PC can't render video without sputtering and crashing. I did try. Something I'd have to save up for.
Your blog is definitely the best Alien centric one I must say.
Quote from: The Eighth Passenger on Sep 15, 2019, 06:40:17 PM
Mr. Trouble and I are still pining for that Strange Shapes YouTube channel.
Indeed. Until then, I have to make do with Critical Drinker's videos.
Resurrection, AVP or AVP: R didn't kill the franchise, neither did Prometheus.