Chest Fever

There is, of course, no previously mapped lead-in to a story involving humans in Ridley Scott's just-announced Alien prequel. The only back-story alluded to in Scott's 30-year-old original came when mining-cargo voyagers John Hurt and Veronica Cartwright explored that huge abandoned spacecraft resting on that dark, howling planetoid and came upon that skeletal carcass of a gargantuan creature with an elephant trunk whose rib cage apparently been penetrated from within.


Honestly? I would love to see a subtitled film about a crew of 30-foot-tall life forms with elephant trunks dealing with an alien invasion. No humans, I mean. That would be very cool, very avant-garde. Joe Popcorn wouldn't like it, of course, but a studio chief who looks to Joe's wants and needs for movie inspiration needs to go on a sabbatical.

Screenwriter Jon Spaihts will write the prequel screenplay (his pitch to 20th Century Fox and Scott Free having triggered the project). And we're all presuming that Scott will deliver a class-act feature but c'mon...this is just another lazy greed move-slash-brand reboot. The franchise has been re-thought, re-vamped, re-mined, re-action-figured (I own two black queens from the mid '90s) and DVD box-setted to death.

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on July 31, 2009 at 8:53 AM

comment #1

actionman Author Profile Page says ...

If you HAD to do a prequel, getting Ridley (as opposed to, say, Ratner) is a good start for the project...

Posted by actionman Author Profile Page at July 31, 2009 9:25 AM

comment #2

Ponderer Author Profile Page says ...

Joe Popcorn wouldn't like a film about 30-foot-life forms and rampaging aliens? WTF? As long as they're not sitting at a table with a giant Andre Gregory, I think the general moviegoing fanboy legions would sprout tiny woodies for that.

Posted by Ponderer Author Profile Page at July 31, 2009 9:30 AM

comment #3

Sabina E Author Profile Page says ...

For the love of god, why are they doing this to us? Alien is a classic franchise and should be left alone.

No more bloody remakes, reboots, prequels or sequels, PLEASE!

Posted by Sabina E Author Profile Page at July 31, 2009 9:32 AM

comment #4

Movie Watcher Author Profile Page says ...

The main thing is where did the Alien come from? It should be interesting to see, and Scott's name adds to the project. Other than that,how much time will be spent on Ripleys' and the crews backgrounds? Not much, I think, except for putting the robot on board.

Posted by Movie Watcher Author Profile Page at July 31, 2009 9:37 AM

comment #5

Chase Kahn Author Profile Page says ...

Yeah, I think Joe Popcorn would eat that shit up that you're describing, but this actually may not be a horrible idea -- at least it's not Snyder or Ratner or Paul W.S. Anderson or some hack like that -- Ridley's film is still the best of the bunch in my eyes.

Posted by Chase Kahn Author Profile Page at July 31, 2009 9:49 AM

comment #6

Aris P Author Profile Page says ...

Scott's name adds very little. You think the suits won't have 1000 marketing ideas, script notes, tie-in ideas etc etc etc? Too much money rides on this these days. Ridley's name will be added for the fan boy base (and I, being from that base, will not likely see this). I don't want to see any CGI aliens, CGI ships or CGI planets. I don't care what the origin of the alien is, or what that elephant alien was. Part of the magic and brilliance of the first film, and its enduring legacy, is exactly BECAUSE we don't know those back stories.

HEY HOLLYWOOD -- WE DON'T NEED ANY EXPLANATIONS. WE DON'T NEED TO BE SPOON-FED BACK STORY. LEAVE IT ALONE.

And fuck you.

Posted by Aris P Author Profile Page at July 31, 2009 9:53 AM

comment #7

Devin Faraci Author Profile Page says ...

Brilliant The Band reference.

Posted by Devin Faraci Author Profile Page at July 31, 2009 9:56 AM

comment #8

actionman Author Profile Page says ...

Snyder is leaps-and-bounds more talented than Ratner or P.W.S.A.

Posted by actionman Author Profile Page at July 31, 2009 9:58 AM

comment #9

Rich S. Author Profile Page says ...

I think Patton Oswalt needs to do another rant.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDCjIjsZp_Y

Posted by Rich S. Author Profile Page at July 31, 2009 10:02 AM

comment #10

Chase Kahn Author Profile Page says ...

Yeah, but I still hate him and he would still butcher an "Alien" movie.

Posted by Chase Kahn Author Profile Page at July 31, 2009 10:03 AM

comment #11

the sordid sentinel Author Profile Page says ...

Well said Aris P.

I watched the original for about the 100th time last week, and it is so far and beyond reach of anything that came after it in this franchise. R. Scott, as talented as he is, needs to leave this alone. That type of magic can not be recaptured.

Posted by the sordid sentinel Author Profile Page at July 31, 2009 10:08 AM

comment #12

George Prager Author Profile Page says ...

Awesome. And let's get cracking on a LEVIATHAN prequel.

Posted by George Prager Author Profile Page at July 31, 2009 10:11 AM

comment #13

markj Author Profile Page says ...

This could go either way. But, as others have said, if it has to be made thank god it's Ridley that's doing it.

Posted by markj Author Profile Page at July 31, 2009 10:23 AM

comment #14

shermy Author Profile Page says ...

Scott already explored- and revealed- what happened to that ancient crew in Alien.

Prequels aren't necessarily a bad thing. The problem is that no one really understands how to make one anymore. Today's prequels are constructed more like sequels, with frequent winks and cutesy nods to the previous films.

They also typically have a familiar character(s) shoehorned in- as opposed to creating something entirely new- which simply adds to the feeling of sequelitis.

Posted by shermy Author Profile Page at July 31, 2009 10:25 AM

comment #15

p.Vice Author Profile Page says ...

Today marks perhaps the first time I'm in total agreement with TrashPunk. Aris is quite on top as well.

FUCK

THIS

SHIT

Posted by p.Vice Author Profile Page at July 31, 2009 10:27 AM

comment #16

Krazy Eyes Author Profile Page says ...

I haven't read the pitch details but I'm guessing there's no role for the Ripley character (or the rest of the Nostromo crew) since they would never meet the Aliens. Maybe a CGI de-aged Ian Holm could make sense but that's a really horrible idea?

This could be cool but really only if they do something 95% new and that 5% is purely what we already know about the Aliens.

Posted by Krazy Eyes Author Profile Page at July 31, 2009 10:32 AM

comment #17

Ponderer Author Profile Page says ...

Overall, I would be a lot more enthusiastic for this if it wasn't being done for the current regime at Fox. Didn't they already fuck Scott over enough with Kingdom of Heaven?

I remember in the late 80s, there was an interview with Cameron where he said that he and Ridley Scott had talked about finishing up the series themselves. Alien 4 would've been Cameron's movie, dealing with the aliens on Earth, and then Alien 5 would've been the finale, with Scott finishing up the series on the alien homeworld. I would've enjoyed that two-fer.

Posted by Ponderer Author Profile Page at July 31, 2009 10:35 AM

comment #18

hunterd Author Profile Page says ...

My Alien "Quadrilogy" box set is my favorite DVD.

Posted by hunterd Author Profile Page at July 31, 2009 10:49 AM

comment #19

Josh Massey Author Profile Page says ...

Ok, I'm in the minority I guess, because I'm jazzed about this to no end. Instead of seeing yet another Alien vs. Predator film, or Alien vs. Commando or Alien vs. Jack Sparrow or whatever the hell, they've actually done something right.

Seeing Scott reexplore that world COULD suck, yes, but he's a helluva lot more likely to get it right than Stephen Sommers or the latest batch of hip music video-making triplets from Sweden.

Of course, I liked Alien 3, so what do I know?

Posted by Josh Massey Author Profile Page at July 31, 2009 11:00 AM

comment #20

NotImpressed1Yet Author Profile Page says ...

Alien 3 gets a bad rap.

I'd rather see Ridley Scott do something else, but if this movie is going to be made, there are few others I'd rather see at the helm.

Posted by NotImpressed1Yet Author Profile Page at July 31, 2009 11:06 AM

comment #21

Gnome de Guerre Author Profile Page says ...

Why stop at alienating Joe Poporn, Jo Hotdog, and Giuseppe Nacho? Why not alienate the fanboys too? Alienate, from the root "alien" after all.

So the prequel should be a movie about the Nostromo crew before they ever met the Alien. In fact, before they were ever on the Nostromo. Their hopes, their fears, their loves, their losses. That one great romance that got away. Kane's earlier life as a stock broker, before the Great Collapse. Parker's efforts to run a vintage flight school off a two bit airfield in Kansas. Maybe have him mentor a young blond kid that becomes a slightly older blond guy as the movie goes on. I dunno. I see possibilities, not boxes.

Posted by Gnome de Guerre Author Profile Page at July 31, 2009 11:06 AM

comment #22

Gnome de Guerre Author Profile Page says ...

Wait, let me put in my movie exec hat for a second. "Ridley, can we make the flight instructor Dallas instead of Parker? You know, so we don't confuse the audience? Thanks kid."

Posted by Gnome de Guerre Author Profile Page at July 31, 2009 11:10 AM

comment #23

actionmam Author Profile Page says ...

would love to see Bay get a hold of this prequel and just light it up with 30-foot high aliens, huge blasters and crazy space fires!

Posted by actionmam Author Profile Page at July 31, 2009 11:13 AM

comment #24

actionman Author Profile Page says ...

no, actually, bay is all wrong for this movie, but thanks for playing.

In other news, and sorry for veering off topic, but Disney and JBF are close to a deal with Rob Marshall to direct Pirates 4. Rob Marshall -- never would have thought of him for a movie like this.

Posted by actionman Author Profile Page at July 31, 2009 11:14 AM

comment #25

Luke Y. Thompson Author Profile Page says ...

So I guess Russell Crowe will be fighting aliens then.

Posted by Luke Y. Thompson Author Profile Page at July 31, 2009 11:17 AM

comment #26

Aris P Author Profile Page says ...

Dear Sir Ridley,

Upon completion of the Alien Prequel, please tackle the BLADE RUNNER sequel we all are dying to see. The countless questions that have hounded us for almost 30 years need resolution! Please address the following:

1. An exploration of other "pleasure models" -- who they serviced, how much they charged, and why was Pris labelled a "basic" pleasure model... are there "Special" models?

2. A detailed exploration of that rascal Gaff -- his backstory, the origins of his language, his future ascension in the police ranks...

3. WHO was Abdul ben Hasann REALLY? What made him go from starry-eyed engineer in Lebanon to snake charmer on the gritty streets of LA?

4. Will there be a cure for Sebastian's unfortunate accelerated decrepitude?? How did he contract it in the first place?

5. And please, once and for all, what happened to Holden?? We need to know!

Respectfully,

Aris

PS - No need to find out whether Deckerd was a replicant or not... As you yourself mentioned in the Final Cut Supplement DVD -- "You've got to be a moron to not get it".

Posted by Aris P Author Profile Page at July 31, 2009 11:23 AM

comment #27

actionman Author Profile Page says ...

LYT -- makes sense as Russell is always fightin' around the world!

Posted by actionman Author Profile Page at July 31, 2009 11:24 AM

comment #28

frank_delsa Author Profile Page says ...

Katrhyn Bigelow. It would be awesome to see her direct something like this.
But, yeah, I'm O.K. with Ridley.

Posted by frank_delsa Author Profile Page at July 31, 2009 11:27 AM

comment #29

Geoff Author Profile Page says ...

What went on in that original alien ship? I've heard conflicting theories from many people.

Was the alien a biological weapon that somehow got out and infected the pilot?

Posted by Geoff Author Profile Page at July 31, 2009 11:31 AM

comment #30

matt cousens Author Profile Page says ...

@actionman: Ratner etc shouldn't be brought up at all, seeing as this was supposed to be directed by Scott's protege, Carl Rinsch. He's directed some fantastic commercials. Looks as if the studios didn't trust the rookie...

Posted by matt cousens Author Profile Page at July 31, 2009 11:39 AM

comment #31

DavidF Author Profile Page says ...

This will probably stink but the idea that Scott is attached offers a glimmer of hope.

I think they should be all trippy and do it in 3D CGI with all the original actors (I mean, Weaver, Skerrit, Hurt, Biehn, Henriksen etc) doing to mocap. Yeah...that's the ticket.

If Russell Crowe is gonna be in it I think you have to bring back the Ridley Scott Snow which performed so effectively with Crowe in Gladiator's opening, and (to a lesser extent) with Orlando Bloom in Kingdom of Heaven. It swirls ever so nicely.

Posted by DavidF Author Profile Page at July 31, 2009 12:17 PM

comment #32

Scott Mendelson Author Profile Page says ...

Great... Fox is going to spend $150 million to continue a franchise that has never topped $85 million domestic. At least with Star Trek (similar situation, lucky break) Paramount had tons of Star Trek-related properties that they could re release and cash in on. The Alien series just has the six Alien movies and that's it. Speaking of which, aren't the Alien Vs. Predator films defacto Alien prequels?

Posted by Scott Mendelson Author Profile Page at July 31, 2009 12:33 PM

comment #33

nemo Author Profile Page says ...

"I would love to see a subtitled film about a crew of 30-foot-tall life forms with elephant trunks dealing with an alien invasion. No humans, I mean."

Wasn't that Battlefield Earth?

Posted by nemo Author Profile Page at July 31, 2009 12:35 PM

comment #34

Gordon27 Author Profile Page says ...

"No need to find out whether Deckerd was a replicant or not... As you yourself mentioned in the Final Cut Supplement DVD -- "You've got to be a moron to not get it"."

Well, yes, he did ruin all the subtlety of the (Deckard, BTW) replicant question with the Final Cut, but I'm amazed to see somebody refer to that as a positive.

Posted by Gordon27 Author Profile Page at July 31, 2009 1:40 PM

comment #35

Gordon27 Author Profile Page says ...

Director returns to franchise after more than 20 years; fanboys willfully ignore the fact that this has proven to have bad film results roughly 100% of the times it has been tried and get themselves excited anyway.

Posted by Gordon27 Author Profile Page at July 31, 2009 1:41 PM

comment #36

Joe Popcorn Author Profile Page says ...

Hell, son, I'd see a subtitled film about a crew of 30-foot-tall life forms with elephant trunks dealing with an alien invasion. Just show me a coupla those chestburstin' critters and I'll be in the front row quick as lightin'.

Need to see something other than Transformers 2 anyways. That robot shit sure gets old after you've seen the movie twenty times.

Posted by Joe Popcorn Author Profile Page at July 31, 2009 2:16 PM

comment #37

fattyhadaparty Author Profile Page says ...

"(I own two black queens from the mid '90s)"

I'm gonna go with Ru Paul and Little Richard. Judges?

Posted by fattyhadaparty Author Profile Page at July 31, 2009 2:49 PM

comment #38

crazynine Author Profile Page says ...

"Great... Fox is going to spend $150 million to continue a franchise that has never topped $85 million domestic. "

You're kidding, right? Please tell me you're kidding.

Box office isn't everything. In this case, it's nothing-- the DVD, television rights, toy marketing, pop and film culture influence, and the fact that you got two outright classic films, one interesting one, and one bizarre one (the AVP films never happened). . . who cares what the box office gross was on these films.

May we get more "flops" like Alien and Aliens, please.

Posted by crazynine Author Profile Page at July 31, 2009 7:59 PM

comment #39

kamichojin Author Profile Page says ...

Gordon27 says ...

Director returns to franchise after more than 20 years; fanboys willfully ignore the fact that this has proven to have bad film results roughly 100% of the times it has been tried and get themselves excited anyway.

Jose Mojica Marins did an excellent job of wrapping up his Coffin Joe trilogy last year with Embodiment of Evil after a 40 year gap.

Posted by kamichojin Author Profile Page at August 2, 2009 10:25 AM

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