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Ok, The scribbling Man said it already but since I wrote a shit load of things I'm gonna post them too, lol.
Alien is great:
Because it was amazing in 1979 and the fact that you still can somehow enjoy it in 2019 is a testimony to its power.
Because back in 1979 (and to an extend up until Aliens was released) no one really knew the look of the creature unless they saw the movie or a picture in a magazine and that's a big part of the thrill. When I first saw it I didn't even know the creature was going to grow. It was totaly part of what made the scenario super interesting and frightening.
Because the music is amazing.
Because Sigourney Weaver.
Remember that at the beginning of the movie it's the character of Dallas that is proposed to the audience as the leader. People didn't know Sigourney as an actress and it was a shock when Dallas died and that Ripley became the main character. So the "They all die one by one" story was well done from this point of view. First the shock at the dinner table. Then the characters think the "little" creature is not a huge threat (big mistake!) then they take the thing seriously but their first attempt to kill it failed, then they are not enough to really make anything against the monster plus one of them is a traitor, then Ripley (a woman!) face the thing alone at the end (even Laurie strode in Halloween 78, even if super smart, is still just a scream queen who needs someone to protect her in the end). That's a really good progression in tension. So maybe there are elements of a slasher movie but it's a good damn crafted one then!
Because EVERYONE else in the cast is brillant.
Because it is (to me) the only time in movie history that a monster design was as original and iconic (Godzilla? A dinosaur's shape. Predator? Insteresting head but ultimately a humanoid warrior. The Thing? Great concept but not a clear defined design).
Alien is great:
Because it was amazing in 1979 and the fact that you still can somehow enjoy it in 2019 is a testimony to its power.
Because back in 1979 (and to an extend up until Aliens was released) no one really knew the look of the creature unless they saw the movie or a picture in a magazine and that's a big part of the thrill. When I first saw it I didn't even know the creature was going to grow. It was totaly part of what made the scenario super interesting and frightening.
Because the music is amazing.
Because Sigourney Weaver.
Remember that at the beginning of the movie it's the character of Dallas that is proposed to the audience as the leader. People didn't know Sigourney as an actress and it was a shock when Dallas died and that Ripley became the main character. So the "They all die one by one" story was well done from this point of view. First the shock at the dinner table. Then the characters think the "little" creature is not a huge threat (big mistake!) then they take the thing seriously but their first attempt to kill it failed, then they are not enough to really make anything against the monster plus one of them is a traitor, then Ripley (a woman!) face the thing alone at the end (even Laurie strode in Halloween 78, even if super smart, is still just a scream queen who needs someone to protect her in the end). That's a really good progression in tension. So maybe there are elements of a slasher movie but it's a good damn crafted one then!
Because EVERYONE else in the cast is brillant.
Because it is (to me) the only time in movie history that a monster design was as original and iconic (Godzilla? A dinosaur's shape. Predator? Insteresting head but ultimately a humanoid warrior. The Thing? Great concept but not a clear defined design).