MovieChat Forums > Alien (1979) Discussion > Unfortunately hasn't stood the test of t...

Unfortunately hasn't stood the test of time

posted 4 years ago by LiquidOcelot (2300)
44 replies | jump to latest

It was groundbreaking on release, but it's too slow paced and uneventful for repeat viewings. Too many drawn out scenes that are only suspenseful on an initial viewing.

I was thinking whether this is due to the late 70's/early 80's era of film-making but there are plenty of movies that came out around the same time that are still as watchable today such as 'The Thing', 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' or Ridley's own 'Blade Runner'. As good as this movie was when it came out, it's a drag to watch today.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

[deleted]

[–] overseas7 (3567) 2 years ago

Still one of the best SF movies.

[–] Stratego (29359) 2 years ago

It holds up just fine. Lots of suspense instead of hysterical CGI scenes. One of the best sci fi movies.

Now Bladerunner, that's boring crap.

[–] Daf (106) 5 months ago

BLADE RUNNER?! That was considered too slow and boring for 1982, let alone nowadays!

[–] Seperatrix (1093) 5 months ago

For me this is one of the all-time classics that DOES hold up.

Easily.

[–] jacotodd47 (1061) 5 months ago

I saw it in a theater with my Father in the 70s. It scared me to death. Of course I was a little boy at the time. Anyway, for that time period, "Alien" was totally out of the box. Something brand new in film making. The John Hurt scene was stunning. This is how it looked in the 70s.

SO how does it look now? I can't really say as one isn't really aware of the current trend in Sci-fi horror movies.

One can only say, for it's time, it was something else.

[–] aavfreak (2902) 5 months ago

You say that "it's too slow paced and uneventful for repeat viewings," but that doesn't really mean that it hasn't stood the test of time. That was as true back in 1979 as it is today.

The question we need to be asking is about the first time viewer. For someone watching it the first time, does it still have the same effect and cinematic value as it did for those who first watched it back then?

For this criteria, I believe that it has, in fact, stood the test of time. Both of my sons (10 years apart) enjoyed it on the first viewing.

If the criteria is whether or not it has the same effect for repeated viewings, then no obviously it doesn't. When you already know what's coming the suspense building is more tedious than suspenseful. But that has nothing to do with the passage of time.

[–] Joogle83 (4148) 5 months ago

i mean with more information we got from the sequels has made Xenomorph less scary but still a solid SF Horror film

[–] BGLAVI2 (8) 17 days ago

My ass. One of the best sci-fi films of all time on a LOW BUDGET. Go spend $50 on 'IF' with Ryan Reynolds and cohorts. Scientifically proven before hand to give you exactly what you expect.