Alien/Predator Franchises

[DestronMirage22]

These films have been around for years, have crossed paths on a few occasions, and have grown in popularity in the last few years. Because of this, along with the fact that each franchise is getting new entries in the near future, I thought it appropriate to make a thread discussing these franchises. What are your thoughts on these series'? Are you guys fans? Do you have any fond memories about these films?

[CyberCubed]

Alien 1 is a classic, Aliens is a fun action movie.

Alien 3 is OK, but it drags on too long and the CG is terrible. Alien Ressurrection is pretty awful, but fun to watch because of how stupid it is. Bringing back Weaver as a clone of herself and watching her play basketball is retarded. :lol:

Predator of course is amazing mainly because of Arnold and its a fun movie due to the mystery. Predator 2 is a step down, but a decent action movie and I like Danny Glover.

I've never seen any of the other movies, and from the reviews and what i heard online, I don't think I'm missing anything.

[DestronMirage22]

I agree with what you said about Alien(s) and Predator (2).
Alien 3 used rod puppets and costumes, no actual CGI was used in actuality.
I haven't seen AvP:R yet, but I hear it's on the same level as the 1st one: an ok movie that doesn't compare to other installments in eachs respective franchise. I haven't seen Predators or Prometheus yet, so I can't comment on either.

[CyberCubed]

Also killing off Newt and Kyle Reese off-screen was pretty bad, it retroactively ruined the ending of Aliens. But if you can look past that, Alien 3 on its own isn't too bad a movie. But I can understand why so many people don't like to acknowledge the films past the first two.

[Cure]

I like Predatorsss.

[Wildcat]

I like the Predator movies better and the predator monster too.

Aliens (part 2) was my favorite of that series. I liked Resurrection too. It was pretty cool.

[turtlefanforever]

They're good franchises. Actually "Alien vs Predator" has become like it's own franchise in a way with all the comics it has. If you havent seen AvP:R you arent missing much. It's a decent movie but it's basicially a superpowered predator coming to earth and killing f'n everyrhinggg!!! Thats essentially the plot of the movie. And he kills the girl before the nerdy guy gets laid. That was pretty lame too lol..

If you're a comic book guy predator has fought the likes of batman and many interesting people in crazy crossovers. (even archie!)

Theres no stop on site for these two franchises. I like most every movie. But prometheous and Predator 2 didn't do it for me.

On a side note i main Alien on Mortal Kombat XL. Unstoppable once you get his moveset down.

[The Deadman]

Predators was a pretty decent film for what it was worth.

[AT-Man]

Predators is good, not great. Predator 2 is great, and Predator is phenomenal.

Alien movies are alright.

[Andrew NDB]

Alien: *****
Aliens: *****
Alien 3: **1/2
Alien: Resurrection: **
Prometheus: ***

Predator: *****
Predator 2: ***
Predators: ***1/2

AVP: **
AVPR: *

Something like that.

[sdp]

As a kid I loved both franchises even if I hadn't seen any of the movies, I collected all the Kenner figures of Aliens and Predators and of course they fought and also dumped plenty of dollars to the AvP arcade game.

As a kid though I only got to watch most of Alien on TV, most of Predator 2 and I rented Alien 3 and watched like twice before returning it. Can't say I really liked 3, 1 was ok but probably not the best movie for a kid to appreciate and I remember really liking Predator 2 and its ending. You have to remember in the 90s it wasn't so easy to find movies like it is now. In my teens I got to see parts of Resurection on TV and eventually AvP and AvP2 on DVD. I actually think both AvP movies are pretty good, I don't know what people expected from them.

Now that I can watch all the movies without much problem I just don't feel like watching any of them. I still think the characters are cool but I can't even get excited to own any Aliens/Predators figures even for nostalgia purposes. I don't know why. Same with Jason/Freddy, I absolutely loved them but no nostalgia makes me want to get a figure or watch the movies. Rather odd since I can even feel nostalgia and want to watch stuff I never cared for much as a kid like say Biker Mice from Mars and yet these franchises I thought were awesome I can't be bothered. I wonder why that is.

[ProactiveMan]

I like the Alien movies, pretty-much in order of their release. I think I like Alien 3 more than a lot of people do, but I like the "director's" cut a lot more than the theatrical cut on that one. Conversely, the extended cut of Alien is pretty dumb, and the Aliens Director's Cut wrecks the tension and pacing of that movie. Alien Resurrection has an alternate cut as well, but it basically just changes the opening credits, and extends the ending by about a minute.

Predator is harder; I think Predator is better than Predator 2, but I like both of them a lot. Predators is alright, but I didn't think it was very cohesive or satisfying.

I really don't like AVP. The Predators look kind'a goofy, the characters are annoying beyond belief, and putting Aliens on Earth in the 2000s ***** up the timeline of Alien. I sort'a kind' like AVPR. It seems to be universally loathed, but I like it better than AVP, and it has some neat stuff in it. I especially like the opening on the Predator home-world, where the Predator version of Batman is watching the final scene of AVP in his hi-tech La-Z-Boy.

[Andrew NDB]

I think I like Alien 3 more than a lot of people do, but I like the "director's" cut a lot more than the theatrical cut

That's definitely not a director's cut. Fincher won't even talk about the movie, let alone would have had anything to do with their alternate cut. Though they reached out to him.

Conversely, the extended cut of Alien is pretty dumb

That one actually is a director's cut (and it's technically not extended... it's even shorter than the theatrical cut), though Ridley prefaces it by saying it's not his ideal version of the movie, his ideal version of the movie is the theatrical one. He approached it as "what if I were to approach it differently, made it leaner, used alternate material" and not "let's reexamine what my ideal cut would be."

I've seen it and I actually like the pacing. I'm not sure the "let's grow eggs out of Dallas' body" thing is really compatible with the other movies, though.

and the Aliens Director's Cut wrecks the tension and pacing of that movie.

You're technically right, though the movie is so good it's hard to not want more content.

Alien Resurrection has an alternate cut as well, but it basically just changes the opening credits, and extends the ending by about a minute.

It makes things a little bit more satisfying. A little. But it needs it. I wish they'd have put a bit more work into the opening animatics with the ship and the bug squishing and all that.

Predator is harder; I think Predator is better than Predator 2, but I like both of them a lot. Predators is alright, but I didn't think it was very cohesive or satisfying.

Agreed. Predators just needed a higher octane ending. Like I've said before, Predators is like Aliens... had Aliens ended with them escaping the planet, and no final showdown on the Sulaco with the Queen.

I really don't like AVP. The Predators look kind'a goofy, the characters are annoying beyond belief, and putting Aliens on Earth in the 2000s ***** up the timeline of Alien.

Not really. Though it's funny to see how closely the plots of AVP and Prometheus are. Both feature a dying Weyland commanding a mission with a ragtag group of people led to their destination -- both, basically pyamid-type structures, with statues and traps -- by coordinates derived from ancient pyramids on Earth. Literally. Think about it. The only difference is one is Antarctica and one is another planet but it's the same difference.

I sort'a kind' like AVPR. It seems to be universally loathed, but I like it better than AVP, and it has some neat stuff in it. I especially like the opening on the Predator home-world, where the Predator version of Batman is watching the final scene of AVP in his hi-tech La-Z-Boy.

If AVPR had the budget of AVP it would clearly be the better film. As is... it just seems so cheap. But yeah, neat to see the Predator homeworld.

[ProactiveMan]

The Alien Directors cut I've seen is the one in the Quadrilogy box set. It looks like the Dallas scene was rescued from under the carpet to me as the image looks a little crappier than the rest of the movie.

I knew Fincher had nothing to do with the Alien 3 cut - I heard that recording of him on set saying the studio was run by morons or whatever. Interestingly they didn't put that in the making of. I think the extended cut makes more sense than the theatrical, but it's plagued with technical issues. The sound is terrible - there is really noticeable noise gate effect, like a background hiss that stops when nobody is talking.

[Andrew NDB]

The Alien Directors cut I've seen is the one in the Quadrilogy box set. It looks like the Dallas scene was rescued from under the carpet to me as the image looks a little crappier than the rest of the movie.

I knew Fincher had nothing to do with the Alien 3 cut - I heard that recording of him on set saying the studio was run by morons or whatever. Interestingly they didn't put that in the making of. I think the extended cut makes more sense than the theatrical, but it's plagued with technical issues. The sound is terrible - there is really noticeable noise gate effect, like a background hiss that stops when nobody is talking.

I think I like the dog better than the ox, though.

[ProactiveMan]

I think I like the dog better than the ox, though.

Yeah, so do I. I don't really get how the Facehugger impregnated to ox undetected.

[joe-eyeball]

Alien: *****
Aliens: *****
Alien 3: **1/2
Alien: Resurrection: **
Prometheus: ***

Predator: *****
Predator 2: ***
Predators: ***1/2

AVP: **
AVPR: *

Something like that.

I agree with the rating you have for each of these films except I would add another 5 stars to Aliens! That movie is phenomenal and easily one of my top five favorite flicks Of all time!

[THGhost]

Alien: *****
Aliens: *****
Alien 3: **1/2
Alien: Resurrection: **
Prometheus: ***

Predator: *****
Predator 2: ***
Predators: ***1/2

AVP: **
AVPR: *

Something like that.

Yep, nailed it. I've always preferred Alien Resurrection over Alien 3 though, not sure why. Call it a guilty pleasure of mine.

I agree with what you said about Alien(s) and Predator (2).
Alien 3 used rod puppets and costumes, no actual CGI was used in actuality.
I haven't seen AvP:R yet, but I hear it's on the same level as the 1st one: an ok movie that doesn't compare to other installments in eachs respective franchise. I haven't seen Predators or Prometheus yet, so I can't comment on either.

The rod puppet for the Xenomorph was then poorly composited using green/blue screen, if that counts as CG.

[CyberCubed]

is Sigourney Weaver ever coming back? She might as well return as the grizzly old woman role similar to Harrison Ford and Sylvester Stallon reprising their old characters from old movies.

[DestronMirage22]

is Sigourney Weaver ever coming back? She might as well return as the grizzly old woman role similar to Harrison Ford and Sylvester Stallon reprising their old characters from old movies.

She will if Neill Blomkamp ever gets around to making his Alien 5 film.

[Andrew NDB]

She will if Neill Blomkamp ever gets around to making his Alien 5 film.

Ridley will bully him to not.

And what a precarious position Blomkamp's Alien 5 is in. Covenant does well, it means Ridley gets to do his imaginary "Prometheus 3" trilogy ender. Covenant does badly, it means Fox won't greenlight any more Alien movies for the foreseeable future... Blomkamp's Alien 5 included.

Lose, lose.

[ProactiveMan]

Fox may have let Blomkamp make an Alien movie before Elysium and Chappie; I'm not sure he is first on the list anymore.

[THGhost]

is Sigourney Weaver ever coming back? She might as well return as the grizzly old woman role similar to Harrison Ford and Sylvester Stallon reprising their old characters from old movies.

Yep, both her and Michael Biehn are meant to be reprising their roles.

Blomkamp's Alien got put on the back-burner due to Covenant. Like Andrew said, if it does badly then Blomkamp's Alien won't happen. :tsweatdr:

Also, it's supposed to be set after Aliens and ignores Alien 3/Resurrection. So calling it "Alien 5" is a mistake.

[Andrew NDB]

Yep, both her and Michael Biehn are meant to be reprising their roles.

Blomkamp's Alien got put on the back-burner due to Covenant. Like Andrew said, if it does badly then Blomkamp's Alien won't happen. :tsweatdr:

And if it does good, they'll want to make Prometheus 3 and not Blomkamp's Alien 5.

Best case scenario: Covenant does GREAT, so great that Fox isn't nervous about having two Alien-related movies in production at the same time (Prometheus 3 and Blomkamp's Alien 5). Probably most realistic positive expectation: Covenant does decently, but Blomkamp has to wait until Prometheus 3 comes out. If Prometheus 3 does well, Blomkamp is finally allowed to make his Alien 5... but by this point it's like 2021 and Sigourney Weaver is about 135 years old.

Also, it's supposed to be set after Aliens and ignores Alien 3/Resurrection. So calling it "Alien 5" is a mistake.

Well, he's been super coy about it. In some interviews, he's literally said Alien 3 and Resurrection still happen in the Alien 5 story, that literally there is some kind of in-story divergence... Alien 3 and 4 go this way, Alien 5 goes this other way. I'm just not sure how that's possible in any way that's not hackneyed.

[THGhost]

And if it does good, they'll want to make Prometheus 3 and not Blomkamp's Alien 5.

Exactly. :lol:

Well, he's been super coy about it. In some interviews, he's literally said Alien 3 and Resurrection still happen in the Alien 5 story, that literally there is some kind of in-story divergence... Alien 3 and 4 go this way, Alien 5 goes this other way. I'm just not sure how that's possible in any way that's not hackneyed.

I hadn't heard that, I only heard that it ignores Alien 3/Resurrection. I think that's the best option.

[DestronMirage22]

I hadn't heard that, I only heard that it ignores Alien 3/Resurrection. I think that's the best option.

If Alien 5 ever does become a thing, I really hope that those films aren't ignored. They might not be the best films in the series, but they've got some things going for them. They were fairly entertaining and continued Ripley's story in an interesting way. I also don't see how they'd be able to pull it off either way; how'd they be able to do it without Newt, (or possibly Hicks and Bishop)? I imagine there would be great difficulty trying to continue from Aliens, and not disappoint fans by any radical changes like in Alien 3.

[Andrew NDB]

If Alien 5 ever does become a thing, I really hope that those films aren't ignored. They might not be the best films in the series, but they've got some things going for them. They were fairly entertaining and continued Ripley's story in an interesting way. I also don't see how they'd be able to pull it off either way; how'd they be able to do it without Newt, (or possibly Hicks and Bishop)? I imagine there would be great difficulty trying to continue from Aliens, and not disappoint fans by any radical changes like in Alien 3.

I always thought that the best way to go about an Alien 5, before Prometheus came out, was to have Ripley 8 flying around the galaxy, perhaps finding the Alien homeworld, trying to unlock the origins of the Aliens and space jockeys with the aid of her quasi-Alien hivemind. You get one last ride with Ripley at the same time we would learn about the space jockeys and all that.

[THGhost]

If Alien 5 ever does become a thing, I really hope that those films aren't ignored. They might not be the best films in the series, but they've got some things going for them. They were fairly entertaining and continued Ripley's story in an interesting way. I also don't see how they'd be able to pull it off either way; how'd they be able to do it without Newt, (or possibly Hicks and Bishop)? I imagine there would be great difficulty trying to continue from Aliens, and not disappoint fans by any radical changes like in Alien 3.

But not ignoring Alien 3/Resurrection would mean that they would be doing "Alien 5" without Newt or Hicks since they both died in Alien 3. If Blomkamp wants to bring Alien back to its former glory, he should ignore 3 & Resurrection.

I always thought that the best way to go about an Alien 5, before Prometheus came out, was to have Ripley 8 flying around the galaxy, perhaps finding the Alien homeworld, trying to unlock the origins of the Aliens and space jockeys with the aid of her quasi-Alien hivemind. You get one last ride with Ripley at the same time we would learn about the space jockeys and all that.

While that would be cool to see, there's the slight problem with Winona Ryder's character Call. Synthetics in the Alien universe don't age, and Winona Ryder has definitely aged since 1997. They'd either have to say Call was deactivated years ago or cast somebody else/use CGI.

Come to think of it; there's Weaver and Biehn's age too. Ripley was in cryosleep along with Newt and Hicks at the end of Aliens, right? Then they crash landed on Fiorina 161 in Alien 3, with Newt and Hicks dying in the crash.
If "Alien 5" does ignore 3 & Resurrection, how will they explain Ripley and Hick's ages when they've meant to have been in cryosleep all these years? Start the film long after they woke up I guess, same goes for Newt who'd need to be recast.

This all depends on whether Blomkamp even does bring back Hicks and Newt. By the time the movie finally starts shooting, the script may have drastically changed. Is there even a script at this point?

[DestronMirage22]

Blomkamp confirms Alien 5 to be dead:
http://www.avpgalaxy.net/2017/06/03/neill-blomkamp-think-alien-5-totally-dead/

The direct interview here:
https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/3/15703414/neill-blomkamp-oats-studios-short-films-sci-fi-district-9-chappie-elysium-rakka
He talks about it at the end.

This is some disappointing news. :(

[NinjaPug]

Thanks for the clarity Blomkamp. I didn't believe it the first 50 times you or Ridley Scott or Sigourney Weaver said the project was dead. Seriously, how long are sites going to report that this project isn't moving forward?

[Andrew NDB]

Don't worry. Instead of Blomkamp's movie, we'll get to see what happens when David arrives at Origae-6. That will be exciting too, won't it?

http://www.betteridaho.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Facepalm-woman.png

[NinjaPug]

Think we'll even get a sequel to Covenant? The box office for Covenant has been pretty bad. The production budget was a good bit lower than Prometheus but not enough to offset the dwindling returns.

[Andrew NDB]

Think we'll even get a sequel to Covenant?

Hmm... production budget of 97 million, about 70 million in marketing... that's about 167 million to offset. It just passed its third weekend in theaters and is sitting at 67 domestic and 106 overseas. That means as of right now, Alien: Covenant has netted around 50 million here, and 53 million overseas... 103 million, 70 million in the hole.

Probably no sequel, unless it has serious legs overseas. It might. The overwhelming likelihood is that Ridley has successfully sent the Alien franchise back into the ice box.

[DestronMirage22]

Scott talks a bit about another movie:
http://www.avpgalaxy.net/2017/06/21/ridley-scott-talks-return-engineers-alien-covenant-sequel/
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Seems like he's determined to finish this trilogy despite all that happened with Covenant.
I'm relieved. We'll get some closure after all.

[NinjaPug]

With the box office performance of Covenant I'm not sure it's up to him to do another movie. Covenant left such a bad taste in my mouth I'm not sure I even want a follow-up.

[Andrew NDB]

Seems like he's determined to finish this trilogy despite all that happened with Covenant.
I'm relieved. We'll get some closure after all.

With the box office performance of Covenant I'm not sure it's up to him to do another movie. Covenant left such a bad taste in my mouth I'm not sure I even want a follow-up.

Yeah, Ridley Scott doesn't get to make these decisions.

[Andrew NDB]

Surprise, surprise:

http://heroichollywood.com/alien-covenant-sequel-uncertain/