Revisiting the Classic ‘Alien’ Series: Why it Should Have Ended at ‘Aliens’

Since the release of Ridley Scott’s sci-fi blockbuster, Prometheus (2012), this recent box office hit only left me walking out from the theatre hall with the an itch to revisit the classic Alien series. Hearing my prayers, the local television network decided to treat viewers including myself to an alien marathon beginning with Alien (1979) and closing the curtains with Alien: Resurrection (1997). After sitting through almost eight hours of the entire series, I cannot help but lean strongly towards those who claim that the series brilliantly ended with Aliens, ultimately disregarding its next two sequels.

Along with the lack of director credibility, Alien³ (1992)took a different approach from space stations or marines to a prison-run refinery planet exclusively for male inmates. While the new industrial-like setting may promote a fairly comfortable home for our longhead fiends to go on a hunting spree, the immediate introduction to the film already provided me with a high degree of doubt. Why? Well, although Sigourney Weaver returns to reprise her role as the well-known Ellen Ripley, the decision to remove Newt, Hicks and Bishop (for the most part) from the storyline just doesn’t seem to do justice to the movie’s predecessors. Since all four characters together formed excellent chemistry on screen and tied the plot nicely together until the climactic ending of Aliens, it would only make logical sense to leave such vital characters to reprise their roles if the series were to continue. That said, this sudden plot twister did more than enough to dampen my initial mood. Despite being advertised as a movie that will guarantee “3 times the suspense, 3 times the danger and 3 times the terror,” it is safe to say that albeit the numerous perspectives and efforts that were involved in creating the film as a whole, this third installment failed to meet the high standards set by Ridley Scott and James Cameron. The xenomorph’s depiction in this film also seemed to lack it’s sadistic nature and fearsome stature that was so marvelously captured in the first two productions.

Alien: Resurrection (1997) continues to persevere the ‘low-end’ expectations of the franchise with yet a new plot twister that brings Ripley back from the dead. Despite being written by renowned director Joss Whedon, who many of us praised for his remarkable production, The Avengers (2012), this 4^th installment of the Alien series did not successfully meet the mark set by the first two productions. The film does emit the occasional scare from time to time, however, which may satisfy a good amount of Alien fans that are just in for the thrill. Regardless, the plot was undeniably messy and the introduction of a human/Alien hybrid in the film’s conclusion almost seemed like an insult to the original xenomorph design. Furthermore, the hybrid’s sheer effortless kill of the omnipotent Queen that dominated in Aliens only does little to impress me. No doubt Ripley continues to maintain her protagonist role, I find myself unable to feel the fear I did when watching Alien or Aliens. Both settings and storylines of the original predecessors achieved ultimate ambiguity through darkness, abrupt sequences and fabulous chemistry amongst the actors that prevented you from predicting what came next. It is safe to say that it was this precise lack of enigmatic feel that prevented the 3^rd and 4^th productions from rising to stardom.

At the end of the way, I choose to believe that the story perfectly ended with Aliens on a hopeful note for Ripley, Bishop, Newt and Hicks. An exciting conclusion that logically followed the evolution from ONE alien to the Queen and her army, any further pursuit to continue the story would seem like a stretch unless it was well construed. That said, Alien³ and Alien: Resurrection should not stand in the way of longtime fans that have long admired the series. If you have yet to watch these two flicks, I would still suggest dedicating some time out of your day and check them out. May it be entertaining or totally unbearable, you’ll have the pleasure to judge for yourself.

 

 

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