What is the most scary moment from the franchise?

[solace97]

It's funny hearing that because I think the cocoon scene is brilliant and still horrifying. But hearing about how it's described in the book makes me wonder how much more intense it could've been!

[Elmazalman]

It's better in the book.

[BishopWantsIt]

For me the most terrifying scene is three persons descending onto an unknown, hostile planet, advancing through the unfathomable coldness and darkness of space towards their destiny, the ship emerging from the rocks, majestic and horrific with its obscure shape and openings, their courage and folly as they penetrate into it. They have never been so alone, and yet they are not.

[Neila]

I do like the thumping battle theme in the Hive and Operations from Alien but yer the rest is a bit ho-hum or recycled Wrath of Khan.

As far as I'm concerned, there are three things holding ALIENS back from true greatness: (almost) no Goldsmith, no Giger, and no aspect ratio to match ALIEN.

Nah, as much as I love Jerrys work and he is one of my favorite composers,  for me Ripleys Rescue/Futile Escape is a perfect, percussion driven piece for the adrenaline rush of the scenes it played in

Horner's score for Aliens is great.
When you consider the circumstances under which he delivered it, it's all the more remarkable.

It fits the mood of the film.
While Jerry's score puts a brilliantly eerie blanket over the images shown, Horner's contribution is a driving, action-heavy steam rammer, but also subtle and eerie when necessary.

Both scores match the images shown perfectly.

[SiL]

Dismissing Horner's work for recycling themes on a tight schedule when ALIEN just took Goldsmith music from other movies is a bit rich.

[BlueMarsalis79]

And a silly argument to artificially create when Elliot Goldenthal stomps both. 

[BigDaddyJohn]

I love all scores, but Goldenthal's one take me somewhere the other movies can't.

[Neila]

I love all scores, but Goldenthal's one take me somewhere the other movies can't.

also my favorite of all alien scores.
and it too had to struggle under difficult circumstances.

so far I like all alien scores. even though resurrection and prometheus are reminiscent of Star Trek-based themes.
they are all great compositions.

[Elmazalman]

And a silly argument to artificially create when Elliot Goldenthal stomps both. 

It's better than ALIENS, but ALIEN's score is still the best.

[StrangeShape]

I love all scores, but Goldenthal's one take me somewhere the other movies can't.

Yeah, that score is something else. It truly is exceptional and its one of those instances where the score makes the film. I think its one of the best, most dynamic and gripping soundtracks

[Local Trouble]

Dismissing Horner's work for recycling themes on a tight schedule when ALIEN just took Goldsmith music from other movies is a bit rich.

And as much as I like the Alien soundtrack, it wasn't even Goldsmith's best score of that year.  I'd give that award to his work for Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

[SiL]

Dismissing Horner's work for recycling themes on a tight schedule when ALIEN just took Goldsmith music from other movies is a bit rich.

And as much as I like the Alien soundtrack, it wasn't even Goldsmith's best score of that year.  I'd give that award to his work for Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

I only disagree because of how much I love the alien soundscapes he made with unconventional instruments.

[Local Trouble]

Like this?

[BeeHooKoo]

I see Jerry Goldsmith as a big, important part of the Alien movie's functionality. The Alien soundtrack is great, and the "Alien complete soundtrack" released in 2007 is really interesting in my opinion, it has tracks that Ridley Scott rejected from the movie due to their dynamics. I recommend listening to that through.

In terms of the functionality and atmosphere of the Alien movie, Jim Shields' contribution to the movie is often forgotten, or I think not everyone even knows about Jim's contribution to the movie. Shields made the background sounds for the scenes, what can hear in the movie; hums, beats, crunches, clicks, etc. Without these, the atmosphere of the movie would be something completely different.

[Acidforblood75]

Two scenes for me are the scariest and they are both from alien.

The first is when kane dies. I wasn't expecting it and was stunned. Took me a few minutes to recover. I had seen aliens before alien and there was nothing in aliens that was that griping.

The second was when Ash goes crazy. He just goes berserk attacking Ripley and having this glaze in his eyes. He's brilliant portrayed by sir Ian Holm here but that crazy angry behaviour shocked me. The music helps the scenes too.