by Daniel Faulkner
Happy UFO Day everyone!
Brain invading, body snatching, blood curdling and occasionally heart-warming? A list of the ‘absolute’ top five must see alien movies. It was a tall order to narrow it down to five, but I did it anyways. These are the essentials. Well, kinda… I mean, there are loads.
Happy UFO Day everyone!
Brain invading, body snatching, blood curdling and occasionally heart-warming? A list of the ‘absolute’ top five must see alien movies. It was a tall order to narrow it down to five, but I did it anyways. These are the essentials. Well, kinda… I mean, there are loads.
Alien
Well, duh.
Ridley Scott’s slow paced and beastly stalker is an absolute must. This film is the benchmark for sci-fi horror. Originally released in 1979, Sigourney Weaver cuts her teeth as main protagonist, Ellen Ripley. The films takes you from blurry eyes to wide awake as you watch the crew emerging from stasis (space sleep). They have arrived at planet LV-426. “In space no-one can hear you scream.”
Alien delivers one of the most notorious scenes in horror, you know the one I mean, the chest exploding scene. This is the one we had all heard about before we stole the videotape off our parents. Acidic blood seeps through the metallic walkways of the dank and dark ship and androids have the potential to turn very, very nasty. James Cameron’s follow up was good, but a re-watch of the two will confirm that the original is the best. If you are looking for a film to watch about an Alien, look no further.
Well, duh.
Ridley Scott’s slow paced and beastly stalker is an absolute must. This film is the benchmark for sci-fi horror. Originally released in 1979, Sigourney Weaver cuts her teeth as main protagonist, Ellen Ripley. The films takes you from blurry eyes to wide awake as you watch the crew emerging from stasis (space sleep). They have arrived at planet LV-426. “In space no-one can hear you scream.”
Alien delivers one of the most notorious scenes in horror, you know the one I mean, the chest exploding scene. This is the one we had all heard about before we stole the videotape off our parents. Acidic blood seeps through the metallic walkways of the dank and dark ship and androids have the potential to turn very, very nasty. James Cameron’s follow up was good, but a re-watch of the two will confirm that the original is the best. If you are looking for a film to watch about an Alien, look no further.
K PAX
Where there are aliens there are normally a few head cases to follow.
Is this an alien movie? It’s the not knowing that makes it so great. Kevin Spacey stars as prot/ Robert Porter a long lost traveller from the planet K-PAX who winds up inside a mental institution. He faces off against Dr Mark Powell (Jeff Bridges) who thinks, maybe, the alien thing is made-up. Is this all just a ruse to hide a dark tragedy? Likely story.
prot gets pally with the local residents (mental patients) who have no problem buying into his alien antics when he promises to whisk one lucky contestant away with him, back to home planet K-PAX. Pay close enough attention and you might catch Aaron Paul of Breaking Bad fame in a less meth-amphetamine related role. It’s a film that splits opinion with its SPOILER ALERT: somewhat ambiguous ending, but if you don’t mind stories that leaves you wondering whether or not you want to believe then you will definitely enjoy this.
Where there are aliens there are normally a few head cases to follow.
Is this an alien movie? It’s the not knowing that makes it so great. Kevin Spacey stars as prot/ Robert Porter a long lost traveller from the planet K-PAX who winds up inside a mental institution. He faces off against Dr Mark Powell (Jeff Bridges) who thinks, maybe, the alien thing is made-up. Is this all just a ruse to hide a dark tragedy? Likely story.
prot gets pally with the local residents (mental patients) who have no problem buying into his alien antics when he promises to whisk one lucky contestant away with him, back to home planet K-PAX. Pay close enough attention and you might catch Aaron Paul of Breaking Bad fame in a less meth-amphetamine related role. It’s a film that splits opinion with its SPOILER ALERT: somewhat ambiguous ending, but if you don’t mind stories that leaves you wondering whether or not you want to believe then you will definitely enjoy this.
Mars Attacks!
Not exactly renowned as being a Tim Burton classic, this is a camped up, diabolical shambles of amazing. Think radar guns, think melting faces. Think B-movie spectacular with Jack Nicholson as the president. So much death, so much hilarious horror.
All your favourites are here to witness the inevitable demise of mankind: Glenn Close, Annette Bening, Pierce Brosnan and Danny DeVito. There are even appearances from Sarah Jessica Parker and Michael J. Fox to throw out into the firing line.
It all ends as ludicrously as it begins when a grandson/ grandma combo find the invading aliens Achilles heel is an ‘Indian Love Call’? God knows.
It was a bit of a bomb, if you rate films in terms of money taken against production costs but its been a staple part of my DVD collection for at least 10 years.
Not exactly renowned as being a Tim Burton classic, this is a camped up, diabolical shambles of amazing. Think radar guns, think melting faces. Think B-movie spectacular with Jack Nicholson as the president. So much death, so much hilarious horror.
All your favourites are here to witness the inevitable demise of mankind: Glenn Close, Annette Bening, Pierce Brosnan and Danny DeVito. There are even appearances from Sarah Jessica Parker and Michael J. Fox to throw out into the firing line.
It all ends as ludicrously as it begins when a grandson/ grandma combo find the invading aliens Achilles heel is an ‘Indian Love Call’? God knows.
It was a bit of a bomb, if you rate films in terms of money taken against production costs but its been a staple part of my DVD collection for at least 10 years.
E.T: The Extra Terrestrial
I don’t think such a list could exist without this movie. It was tough work choosing between this and the other one (Close Encounters of the Third Kind) but after much dilly dallyin’ it had to be ET. It has the famous lines, flying bikes, an actual alien that you can be friends with and Drew Barrymore.
The film strikes a well-executed balance with a mash of so many genres; it’s scary, exciting, hilarious and unforgettable. It’s the film that made Steven Spielberg a household name. The adventure factor in this movie is unbeatable. Though, Super 8 really did try.
And finally...
I don’t think such a list could exist without this movie. It was tough work choosing between this and the other one (Close Encounters of the Third Kind) but after much dilly dallyin’ it had to be ET. It has the famous lines, flying bikes, an actual alien that you can be friends with and Drew Barrymore.
The film strikes a well-executed balance with a mash of so many genres; it’s scary, exciting, hilarious and unforgettable. It’s the film that made Steven Spielberg a household name. The adventure factor in this movie is unbeatable. Though, Super 8 really did try.
And finally...
Independence Day
Jeff Goldblum, Will Smith and Bill Pullman. This is an all-star cast that I really care about. Independence Day was one of the great films of the 90’s. It smashed the box office in 96’ and is still the 42nd highest grossing movie of all time.
Shadows overtake the streets, hysteria ensues and the destruction of the white house confirms one thing. We need a hero. I know we all loved Fresh Prince of Bel Air but it was until we saw Mr Smith punching an Alien directly in the face and sharing cigars with Mr Goldblum that he was really put on our radar. Independence Day has some iconic images a great storyline and an unlikely hero who saves the world. Let us not forget the redemption of a man recapturing credibility in the eyes of proud children. Yes, there are a few clichés! No, it might not be the most insightful movie to have ever graced our screens! BUT, it is one of the most memorable.
There it is, 5 must-see alien flicks. I understand that I am probably alone when it comes to the content of this list, but I might not be… is there, anyone else, anyone else out there?
Jeff Goldblum, Will Smith and Bill Pullman. This is an all-star cast that I really care about. Independence Day was one of the great films of the 90’s. It smashed the box office in 96’ and is still the 42nd highest grossing movie of all time.
Shadows overtake the streets, hysteria ensues and the destruction of the white house confirms one thing. We need a hero. I know we all loved Fresh Prince of Bel Air but it was until we saw Mr Smith punching an Alien directly in the face and sharing cigars with Mr Goldblum that he was really put on our radar. Independence Day has some iconic images a great storyline and an unlikely hero who saves the world. Let us not forget the redemption of a man recapturing credibility in the eyes of proud children. Yes, there are a few clichés! No, it might not be the most insightful movie to have ever graced our screens! BUT, it is one of the most memorable.
There it is, 5 must-see alien flicks. I understand that I am probably alone when it comes to the content of this list, but I might not be… is there, anyone else, anyone else out there?
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