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Alien (1979) Rank 4 Reviews

Expert Review Summary
Movie critics combined give Alien (1979) a score of 3.5530 out of 4
based on (255) reviews
Click on the numbers to the right of the graph to see reviews of that rating
Excellent
4
Excellent
(193)
Very Good
3
Very Good
(49)
Good
2
Good
(7)
Fair
1
Fair
(1)
Poor
0
Poor
(5)
Reviews by Score:
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for The Gate.ca (W. Andrew Powell)The Gate.ca (W. Andrew Powell)
It's almost impossible for me to give a fair review of Sir Ridley Scott's groundbreaking Alien, even if it is a new "Director's Cut". I mean, come on, it's a classic no matter what you want to say about it, and science fiction films haven't been ...read the complete Alien movie review at The Gate.ca (W. Andrew Powell)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Daily-Reviews.com (Michael Wichman)Daily-Reviews.com (Michael Wichman)
...read the complete Alien movie review at Daily-Reviews.com (Michael Wichman)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Steve RhodesSteve Rhodes
As the story starts, Ripley (a very young and cute Sigourney Weaver) is one of seven members of a commercial spaceship. The third officer of the crew, she is far from being in charge, but events will conspire to make her into the movie's central ...read the complete Alien movie review at Steve Rhodes
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Marshall GarveyMarshall Garvey
Some people may find the setup for "Alien" to be simple or perhaps boring. Surely enough, those with a lack of an attention span will scorn it because it doesn't throw shredded intestines at the screen the minute it begins, and in all actuality it's the ...read the complete Alien movie review at Marshall Garvey
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Andy KeastAndy Keast
Working from a script by Dan O'Bannon and Ronald Shusett (argued by some as the only decent script Scott directed) that was somewhat derived from such pulp scifi horror from the 1950s and 60s as "It! The Terror from Beyond Space" (1958), Scott delivered ...read the complete Alien movie review at Andy Keast
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for MovieholeMoviehole
The alien creature is still daunting and Scott wisely has avoided tricks such as digital enhancements and lets the creature remain as it was in the original release. The influential artwork by H.R. Geiger is still as haunting now as it was then as the ...read the complete Alien movie review at Moviehole
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Light Views, Reviews & Previews (John Larsen)Light Views, Reviews & Previews (John Larsen)
I was fortunate enough to attend one of the first studio screenings of "Alien" in 1979. It was at the Academy Building in Beverly Hills, and the theater was about half-full. No one knew what to expect. All we knew was that it took place in space. They ...read the complete Alien movie review at Light Views, Reviews & Previews (John Larsen)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Sun Newspapers of Cleveland Sun Newspapers of Cleveland
If it's suspense you seek, you'd do much better to invest in the brief big-screen run of "Alien: The Director's Cut." Sure, it's a hype for an upcoming 25th anniversary DVD, but even the most elaborate home theater is hard-pressed to match the ...read the complete Alien movie review at Sun Newspapers of Cleveland
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Cutting Edge Cutting Edge
De eerste “Alien” is volgend jaar 25 jaar oud en dat moet gevierd worden! Na wat digitaal geluid– en beeldopkuiswerk, is de film van regisseur Ridley Scott (“Gladiator”, Black hawk down”) weer presentabel voor het grote scherm. Of je ’m nu ...read the complete Alien movie review at Cutting Edge
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Dark Horizons (Garth Franklin)Dark Horizons (Garth Franklin)
Pirate movies have been missing at sea for years, though with good reason as the last few that did set sail were considered real duds including one of the biggest sinkers in history - "Cutthroat Island". So a little over ten years later it comes time ...read the complete Alien movie review at Dark Horizons (Garth Franklin)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Reel.com DVD review (Tor Thorsen)Reel.com DVD review (Tor Thorsen)
As a video medium, DVD can often be a frustrating paradox. On one hand, it offers viewers audio and video quality nonpareil. On the other, it fobs off special editions of Blues Brothers 2000-esque dreck onto consumers while studio bickering delays ...read the complete Alien movie review at Reel.com DVD review (Tor Thorsen)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Reel.com DVD review (Tor Thorsen)Reel.com DVD review (Tor Thorsen)
As a video medium, DVD can be a frustrating paradox. On one hand, it offers viewers nonpareil audio and video quality. On the other, it fobs off special editions of Blues Brothers 2000-esque dreck onto consumers while studio bickering delays premium ...read the complete Alien movie review at Reel.com DVD review (Tor Thorsen)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for The Onion A.V. Club (Keith Phipps)The Onion A.V. Club (Keith Phipps)
Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey and Ridley Scott's Alien bookend a decade of space-themed films, and the distance between them is telling. Released a year before the lunar landing, 2001 looked to the stars with an almost religious sense of ...read the complete Alien movie review at The Onion A.V. Club (Keith Phipps)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for The Onion A.V. Club (Keith Phipps)The Onion A.V. Club (Keith Phipps)
The most wonderful and horrible thing about film franchises is that where they begin and where they end up usually have little to do with one another. Take the Alien series, now collected in an exhaustive, smartly assembled, nine-disc box set. (Smartly ...read the complete Alien movie review at The Onion A.V. Club (Keith Phipps)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for And You Thought It Was Safe? reviewAnd You Thought It Was Safe? review
There are three films, more so than any other, that typify modern genre cinema. Ken Begg (over at Jabootu) calls them “template” films, and while that’s a damn good phrase (with more than enough truth to it) it falls short of describing the true ...read the complete Alien movie review at And You Thought It Was Safe? review
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Philadelphia City Paper (Sam Adams)Philadelphia City Paper (Sam Adams)
The "director's cut" tag notwithstanding, this is functionally the same Ridley Scott movie that was released in 1979 -- which is a relief, since the original needs no improving. Without the glossy vacuousness of later Scott pictures, Alien is mainly ...read the complete Alien movie review at Philadelphia City Paper (Sam Adams)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for eFilmCriticeFilmCritic
OK, so tell me with a straight face that you can watch Alien in a dark silent room and it's not scary? Well, you're a damn liar. Look, it's simple: You're in this giant, cold, wet, drippy, metal and steel maze (that literally has no escape) and ...read the complete Alien movie review at eFilmCritic
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Reel Movie Critic (George O. Singleton)Reel Movie Critic (George O. Singleton)
There are literally a handful of movies that have a defining moment, and "Alien" is one of them. Two others that come to mind are "Psycho" and "The Crying Game." The good thing about knowing what "the moment" is and when it will occur is that we ...read the complete Alien movie review at Reel Movie Critic (George O. Singleton)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Peter SobczynskiPeter Sobczynski
A funny thing happened to me as I sat down to once again watch Ridley Scott’s 1979 sci-fi/horror classic "Alien". Having seen the film approximately a zillion times before, I had planned to focus my attention solely on the changes made for this ...read the complete Alien movie review at Peter Sobczynski
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for MovieEye.com (David Litton)MovieEye.com (David Litton)
Close your eyes for just a moment (after reading this, of course), and try to think of any other scene from any other horror movie that manages to shock the hell out of us as much as that in Ridley Scott's "Alien," in which a man's stomach bursts ...read the complete Alien movie review at MovieEye.com (David Litton)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for DVD Authority.com (Kat)DVD Authority.com (Kat)
After responding to a distress call in deep space, the crew of the Nostromo, a space cruising vessel, is going to learn to mind their business, if they can survive that is. The signal came from a ship docked on a remote planet, which appears to be void ...read the complete Alien movie review at DVD Authority.com (Kat)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for One Guy's Opinion (Frank Swietek)One Guy's Opinion (Frank Swietek)
One can nit-pick Alien. A few effects moments come across as a trifle outdated by modern standards. But in the important areas of style and impact, it remains head and shoulders above today's bloated, whiplash-paced blockbusters. It's ...read the complete Alien movie review at One Guy's Opinion (Frank Swietek)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for 25frames.org (Christoph Huber)25frames.org (Christoph Huber)
Auf dem Heimweg zur Erde hält der Raumfrachter Nostromo bei einem noch nicht untersuchten Planeten, weil er ein Funksignal von dort aufgefangen hat. Commander Dallas (Tom Skerrit ) stellt einen Landungstrupp zusammen. Bei der Untersuchung der ...read the complete Alien movie review at 25frames.org (Christoph Huber)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Dragan AntulovDragan Antulov
The entire concept of ALIEN concept that can explain its great success as horror film is just another story of human beings confronted with their inherent limitations. Technology can make human life longer or easier, yet it can't remove human ...read the complete Alien movie review at Dragan Antulov
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Planet Confusion Planet Confusion
Das Geschäft mit dem Grauen im Kino ist diffiziler Natur. Es gibt eine ganze Menge Filme, die spannend sind. Manche sind auch ekelhaft und schwer zu ertragen. Doch wirkliche Angst, dieses unheimliche Gefühl der Bedrohung, überträgt sich nur selten ...read the complete Alien movie review at Planet Confusion
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Cinemaphile.org (David Keyes)Cinemaphile.org (David Keyes)
The fated journey of commercial space vessel the Nostromo in Ridley Scott's "Alien" is the kind of epic space excursion that avid 1970s science fiction pioneers like Steven Spielberg and George Lucas would probably discard in early script stages. On ...read the complete Alien movie review at Cinemaphile.org (David Keyes)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Bloody-DistgustingBloody-Distgusting
"Alien" is simply one of the most brilliant, pivotal horror/sci fi movies of the twentieth century. The theatrical version kicked ass even after being trimmed at the behest of Fox. The newer director's cut is even better, with several addition ...read the complete Alien movie review at Bloody-Distgusting
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Serdar YegulalpSerdar Yegulalp
The plot is direct and unadorned. A group of space pilots who're on the way home "truckers in space" was the way the press kit described them get pulled out of suspended animation because of a distress beacon. The company they work for stipulates that ...read the complete Alien movie review at Serdar Yegulalp
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for SF, Horror and Fantasy Film ReviewSF, Horror and Fantasy Film Review
However Alien is quite a different film to its 1950s predecessors. The usual clean, crewcut astronauts-come-GI's of 1950s films have been substituted for a troupe of bickering, hard-assed blue collar-types who are constantly bitching about their pay. ...read the complete Alien movie review at SF, Horror and Fantasy Film Review
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for The Dual Lens (Marlee MacLeod)The Dual Lens (Marlee MacLeod)
I’m the sole female writer for The Dual Lens, so it makes sense that my assignment for The Alien Symposium was to review the film with an eye toward gender. For a while, I was stumped. I knew what I thought I was supposed to write about; over the ...read the complete Alien movie review at The Dual Lens (Marlee MacLeod)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for The Dual Lens (Ian Whitney)The Dual Lens (Ian Whitney)
I was barely five years old when Alien terrified audiences of 1979. Not the kind of movie you’d expect a pre-schooler to see, but I did. Twice. My dad, avidly interested in the film after seeing a teaser the year before, took me while my Mom was out of ...read the complete Alien movie review at The Dual Lens (Ian Whitney)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Reel.com (Tim Knight)Reel.com (Tim Knight)
Widely imitated but never surpassed, the 1979 sci-fi horror classic Alien returns to the theaters this Halloween in a digitally remastered "director's cut" from Ridley Scott. Working with a team of archivists, Scott has skillfully incorporated ...read the complete Alien movie review at Reel.com (Tim Knight)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Houston ChronicleHouston Chronicle
The biggest lure for seeing Alien: The Director's Cut on the big screen isn't brief new footage or remastered visuals and sound. It's the big screen itself, which properly showcases a genuine fright classic. ...read the complete Alien movie review at Houston Chronicle
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Arrow in the Head ("The Arrow")Arrow in the Head ("The Arrow")
Alien is the movie that made the formula of a “crew trapped in an enclosed area with monster” popular. Countless imitators have followed but none were ever able to achieve the artistry that “Alien” proudly displayed. On the visual front, ...read the complete Alien movie review at Arrow in the Head ("The Arrow")
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for The King's Room (Paul Perkins)The King's Room (Paul Perkins)
When I was about 6 years old a look at a film for only a couple of mins it was called Alien I didn’t know what it was about I was to young to understandings but the monster on the screen scary the living daylights out of me.   Well that was ...read the complete Alien movie review at The King's Room (Paul Perkins)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for eFilmCritic ReviewseFilmCritic Reviews
I, however, am an Alien freak. So when it was re-released in theaters I was thrilled to get a chance to see the film on the big screen for the first time and loved the whole experience. Ever since I saw Aliens on video back in 1987 I knew I had found my ...read the complete Alien movie review at eFilmCritic Reviews
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Hollywood GothiqueHollywood Gothique
A Gothic horror move set in outer space, ALIEN proved that material derided as B-movie fodder could be handled with finesse and glossy production values, without diminishing the thrills or polishing over the hard-edged horror. Dan O`Bannon`s script is ...read the complete Alien movie review at Hollywood Gothique
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Wooden Spoon'sWooden Spoon's
Overall: Most people should already know what the plot of this film is so I didn’t want to get bogged down with it. The film is an absolute masterpiece of horror and definitely one of the better films out there. I was lucky enough to buy the ...read the complete Alien movie review at Wooden Spoon's
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for RG Crow's Bosting ReviewsRG Crow's Bosting Reviews
With the whole saga recently released on DVD, most fans have been rubbing their hands with glee while watching the whole movie with outtakes, alternate score and Scott commentary. While many such offerings tend to be padding, the producers went to town ...read the complete Alien movie review at RG Crow's Bosting Reviews
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Home Theater and Sound (Wes Marshall)Home Theater and Sound (Wes Marshall)
On its way home to Earth, the deep-space mining ship Nostromo picks up an urgent call for help from a recently colonized planet. When they arrive, all they find is a giant desiccated life form and hundreds of leathery, egg-shaped objects. When Kane ...read the complete Alien movie review at Home Theater and Sound (Wes Marshall)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for InsidePulse.com - Alien Quadrilogy DVD ReviewInsidePulse.com - Alien Quadrilogy DVD Review
Some compare this set to both the Ultimate Matrix Collection and Peter Jackson's Extended Edition versions of Lord of the Rings, however unlike those two franchises this box set wasn't planned. Those studio's were working on their sets while the ...read the complete Alien movie review at InsidePulse.com - Alien Quadrilogy DVD Review
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Movie GnomeMovie Gnome
Ridley Scott's breakaway hit, Alien, follows seven crewmen aboard a starship. After being rerouted to check out a distress beacon, they come into contact with a strange life form. Soon, it becomes apparent that this thing can reproduce something much ...read the complete Alien movie review at Movie Gnome
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Rambles (Tom Knapp)Rambles (Tom Knapp)
Aliens and its less-successful sequels were gory horror films filled with as much mayhem and H.R. Giger-inspired special effects as possible. But the first film in the series, the singular Alien, was a different sort of movie. ...read the complete Alien movie review at Rambles (Tom Knapp)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for TheBoxSet.com - Complete Movie/DVD ReviewTheBoxSet.com - Complete Movie/DVD Review
After eighteen years of cranking out films, four installments with four different directors, tons of splattered aliens, even more splattered humans, and a partridge in a pear tree, the entire Alien Quadrilogy comes home to the format of choice: special ...read the complete Alien movie review at TheBoxSet.com - Complete Movie/DVD Review
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for The Gline DVD reviewThe Gline DVD review
Outstanding Controversial Eyeful hat sense of cosmic contempt is what makes Alien tick. The universe is not simply indifferent to life but outright hostile to it. On top of that, instead of banding together in the face of this, many men elect to ...read the complete Alien movie review at The Gline DVD review
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for The World's Greatest Critic! (J.C. Maçek III)The World's Greatest Critic! (J.C. Maçek III)
In 1979 a new kind of Horror movie hit the screens of the USA. The marketing campaign practically dared you to watch the film, warning that "In Space no one can hear you Scream!" Alien helped to make a Television Commercial Director a household name ...read the complete Alien movie review at The World's Greatest Critic! (J.C. Maçek III)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for FilmJerk.com (Edward Havens)FilmJerk.com (Edward Havens)
A wondrous reminder of how imagination can triumph over budget. ...read the complete Alien movie review at FilmJerk.com (Edward Havens)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for EmanuelLevy.com (Emanuel Levy)EmanuelLevy.com (Emanuel Levy)
This scary feature breathed new life into the horror genre, launching a length film franchise and introducing to audiences a major actress, Sigourney Weaver, in a tough role typically allotted to men. ...read the complete Alien movie review at EmanuelLevy.com (Emanuel Levy)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for San Jose Mercury News (Glenn Lovell)San Jose Mercury News (Glenn Lovell)
It's a most satisfying return to one of the few sci-fi films that deserves to be called a masterpiece. ...read the complete Alien movie review at San Jose Mercury News (Glenn Lovell)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Salt Lake Tribune (Sean Means)Salt Lake Tribune (Sean Means)
What makes Alien truly terrifying is Scott's vision of a future where the line between man and machine is disappearing. ...read the complete Alien movie review at Salt Lake Tribune (Sean Means)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for eFilmCritic.com (Scott Weinberg)eFilmCritic.com (Scott Weinberg)
Horrifying in the most joyously primal way. ...read the complete Alien movie review at eFilmCritic.com (Scott Weinberg)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Mr. Cranky Rates the Movies (Mr. Cranky)Mr. Cranky Rates the Movies (Mr. Cranky)
...read the complete Alien movie review at Mr. Cranky Rates the Movies (Mr. Cranky)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Detroit Free Press (--)Detroit Free Press (--)
...read the complete Alien movie review at Detroit Free Press (--)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Empire Magazine (--)Empire Magazine (--)
A cargo spaceship intercepts a signal of unknown origin from a nearby planet. When the crew investigates, they inadvertently bring a highly dangerous alien lifeform on board that picks them off one ...read the complete Alien movie review at Empire Magazine (--)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for FeoAmente.com (Kelly Parks)FeoAmente.com (Kelly Parks)
What does slow, subdued classical music do to you? Do you find it relaxing? Some people feel that way. I don’t. To me, that’s the theme of an indifferent universe. Music like that terrifies me. Here’s why. ...read the complete Alien movie review at FeoAmente.com (Kelly Parks)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Encyclopedia Of Fantastic Film & TVEncyclopedia Of Fantastic Film & TV
At the end of the 1970s, big screen science fiction underwent a dramatic renaissance when George Lucas' Star Wars [1977] and Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind [1977] rescued the genre from the doldrums into which it had fallen ...read the complete Alien movie review at Encyclopedia Of Fantastic Film & TV
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
The story begins on board the commercial vessel known as the Nostromo, where its crew are awakened prematurely while still in deep space from their cryogenic slumber. The reason for their early disturbance has to do with the company's policy to ...read the complete Alien movie review at Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Attack of the 50 Foot DVD!Attack of the 50 Foot DVD!
The movie that started it all! Alien is the dark and claustrophobic tale of a deep space mining crew on their way home from work whose ship, the Nostromo, and its computer control system, Mother, unexpectedly wakes them early from hypersleep. Mother, it ...read the complete Alien movie review at Attack of the 50 Foot DVD!
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Cine Fantastico: AlienCine Fantastico: Alien
Mientras vuelve a la Tierra, la nave carguero Nostromo recibe una señal de ayuda procedente de un planeta. Los tripulantes exploran la superficie del planeta, y uno de ellos es atacado por un ser desconocido que se adhiere a su rostro y le mantiene en ...read the complete Alien movie review at Cine Fantastico: Alien
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Nexus7: Alien, el 8º pasajeroNexus7: Alien, el 8º pasajero
Cuando la nave comercial Nostromo, de regreso a la Tierra, intercepta una señal SOS procedente de un planeta cercano, la tripulación es despertada de su estado de hibernación para investigar el origen de dicha llamada. Tras un mal aterrizaje sobre el ...read the complete Alien movie review at Nexus7: Alien, el 8º pasajero
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for CountingDown.com review (Max Colston)CountingDown.com review (Max Colston)
A group of scientists aboard a spaceship heading back towards earth intercepts an SOS signal coming from a desolate planet. Unfortunately, they're obligated to investigate. After a rough and scary landing, three of the crew members go to investigate the ...read the complete Alien movie review at CountingDown.com review (Max Colston)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for DVD Review: The "Alien:Legacy" Box SetDVD Review: The "Alien:Legacy" Box Set
It may not be a fast movie, but it doesn't need to be. It's all in the details; scene after scene that are positioned to build up the tension, a lot of soft, quiet moments added into the middle of the film to keep us wondering just when something will ...read the complete Alien movie review at DVD Review: The "Alien:Legacy" Box Set
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Damox - DVD ReviewDamox - DVD Review
It has been over 25 years since Ridley Scott gave us the original Alien. Ridley Scott is the guy that made that famous Apple "1984" commercial. Some of you can see where this is going. Everyone knows that three-in-a-set is called a trilogy. Star Wars ...read the complete Alien movie review at Damox - DVD Review
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for DVDAnswers.com - region 2 review of Quadrilogy boxset (Richard Schuchardt)DVDAnswers.com - region 2 review of Quadrilogy boxset (Richard Schuchardt)
In 1979 a masterpiece was born; Ridley Scott introduced the world to his sci fi classic, Alien. Nearly a quarter of a century later, the movie is still held in high esteem, and is regularly featured in the top ten movies ever made. Unsurprisingly the ...read the complete Alien movie review at DVDAnswers.com - region 2 review of Quadrilogy boxset (Richard Schuchardt)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for DVDAnswers.com - region 1 review of Quadrilogy boxset (Chris Gould)DVDAnswers.com - region 1 review of Quadrilogy boxset (Chris Gould)
When it comes to milking a franchise to death, DVD has made things a whole lot easier for the studios. Those of us who scarcely bought VHS tapes (remember those?) are now quite happy to hand over large sums of cash for the privilege of owning the latest ...read the complete Alien movie review at DVDAnswers.com - region 1 review of Quadrilogy boxset (Chris Gould)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for DVD Authority - Alien Quadrilogy DVD reviewDVD Authority - Alien Quadrilogy DVD review
Alien was a landmark motion picture, one which has remained one of the top sci/fi movies, even well over two decades later. The sequel, Aliens broke from the mold and focused on wild action sequences, but still found great success. These two films are ...read the complete Alien movie review at DVD Authority - Alien Quadrilogy DVD review
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for DVD Maniacs Quadrilogy reviewDVD Maniacs Quadrilogy review
In 1979, Ridley Scott’s Alien exploded onto the big screen. Millions of cinema-goers were blown away by its ferocious power and sparkling ingenuity. One of the most groundbreaking pictures the sci-fi genre ever produced, it spawned three sequels and a ...read the complete Alien movie review at DVD Maniacs Quadrilogy review
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for DVD ReviewDVD Review
When “Alien” hit theaters in 1979, science fiction movies had mostly been seen as flying saucer films with goofy looking aliens who abduct good-looking models to their ships to do whatever. At the other end of the spectrum there were space operas ...read the complete Alien movie review at DVD Review
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Aisle View - Director's CutAisle View - Director's Cut
I think it's only fair to say, upfront, that I love Alien. I've seen it at least a dozen times and even though I know what's coming, I still get a little fright every time. I should also warn you that in order to discuss the new footage, I have to ...read the complete Alien movie review at Aisle View - Director's Cut
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for DVD Town - Alien Quadrilogy (John J. Puccio)DVD Town - Alien Quadrilogy (John J. Puccio)
The last time I was scared by a film in a theater it was 1979 and "Alien." Before that it was the 1963 adaptation of "The Haunting," and when I was a kid it was "The House of Wax." What do all of these films have in common besides fright? They're ...read the complete Alien movie review at DVD Town - Alien Quadrilogy (John J. Puccio)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for DVDTown (John J. Puccio)DVDTown (John J. Puccio)
The last time I was scared by a film in a theater it was "Alien." Before that it was the 1963 adaptation of "The Haunting," and when I was a kid it was "The House of Wax." What do all of these films have in common besides fright? They're basically ...read the complete Alien movie review at DVDTown (John J. Puccio)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for DVD Verdict - The Alien QuadrilogyDVD Verdict - The Alien Quadrilogy
We don't know squat about space, but your neighbors will be able hear you scream—with joy—from your home theater if you take the plunge and pick up this set. With reference quality transfers of two cuts of each film in the series, and a dizzying ...read the complete Alien movie review at DVD Verdict - The Alien Quadrilogy
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Joe Bob's Ultimate B Movie Guide (Joe Bob Briggs)Joe Bob's Ultimate B Movie Guide (Joe Bob Briggs)
Ridley Scott's masterpiece of quick-cutting (you never really see the monster) tells the story of the Nostromo, a deep-space cargo ship and its dysfunctional stir-crazy crew. They stop to check on a ship that has crash-landed, only to bring a deadly ...read the complete Alien movie review at Joe Bob's Ultimate B Movie Guide (Joe Bob Briggs)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for MovieWeb (Carl Lazarevic)MovieWeb (Carl Lazarevic)
Throughout history there have been many films made in a variety of different genre's. Some are met with indifference from the audience at hand, while others, such as The Matrix films, are instantly hailed as classics by the people who see them on ...read the complete Alien movie review at MovieWeb (Carl Lazarevic)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for cinEncanto (Pablo del Moral)cinEncanto (Pablo del Moral)
Tom Skerritt .... Dallas Sigourney Weaver .... Ripley Veronica Cartwright .... Lambert Harry Dean Stanton .... Brett John Hurt .... Kane Ian Holm .... Ash Yaphet Kotto .... Parker Imagen © 1979 20th Century Fox Frecuentemente me quejo en ...read the complete Alien movie review at cinEncanto (Pablo del Moral)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for cinEncanto (José Martín Sulaimán)cinEncanto (José Martín Sulaimán)
Aprendí de un buen amigo, Víctor Cota, a apreciar de manera diferente la obra de otra persona. Un buen libro, una buena canción y una buena película siempre tienen algo que enseñarte. ...read the complete Alien movie review at cinEncanto (José Martín Sulaimán)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Friday and Saturday Night (--)Friday and Saturday Night (--)
“Alien” (1979) and “Aliens” (1986) make one of the finest movie “pairs” of all time. Don’t worry about the other two films in the series, “Alien3” and “Alien Resurrection.” Just stick with the two winners. Their success is in no ...read the complete Alien movie review at Friday and Saturday Night (--)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for The Popkorn JunkieThe Popkorn Junkie
The seven-member crew of the commercial towing vehicle Nostromo is en route to Earth with a load of mineral ore in tow when the ships intercepts a signal of mysterious origin. The master computer awakens the crew and informs Captain Dallas (Tom ...read the complete Alien movie review at The Popkorn Junkie
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Slate (Michael Agger)Slate (Michael Agger)
In Pauline Kael's essay "Why Are Movies So Bad? Or, the Numbers," which she published in 1980 after a brief, unhappy stint as a producer in Hollywood, she lamented that moviegoers had become "jaded" and wanted "images that move along in an ...read the complete Alien movie review at Slate (Michael Agger)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Classic HorrorClassic Horror
Here's another film, like The Exorcist, that I have to rate highly because of its historical status more than its value in isolation. In isolation, or, at least seen outside of its particular place in history-say, if it had come out a year or so, ...read the complete Alien movie review at Classic Horror
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for dvdfuture.com (Ken Pierce)dvdfuture.com (Ken Pierce)
The first of the films, Ridley Scott's Alien, is now twenty years old (oy!), and as such receives the platinum treatment from Fox. This is great news, because Alien is a true classic in the horror film genre. Most twenty year old horror films suffer ...read the complete Alien movie review at dvdfuture.com (Ken Pierce)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for DVD Net (Jules Faber)DVD Net (Jules Faber)
This first disc of the killer nine-disc Quadrilogy collection sets up the series very nicely, with the contents containing two versions of Ridley Scott’s masterpiece. Much has been said about the theatrical version and as it has already been released ...read the complete Alien movie review at DVD Net (Jules Faber)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for ZombieKeeper.com ZombieKeeper.com
But that aside, Alien well deserves to be called a horror film, and a damned fine one at that. The film being set in space is incidental, as Alien has the claustrophobic and undeniable feeling of a haunted house/monster-on-the-loose flick. One of Ridley ...read the complete Alien movie review at ZombieKeeper.com
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for kids-in-mindkids-in-mind
It's sometime in the future, and Earth is dominated by corporations. A mining ship returning to Earth responds to an SOS coming from a planet and some members of the crew go to the surface to investigate. But one of them comes back to the ship carrying ...read the complete Alien movie review at kids-in-mind
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for filmrezension.de (Matthias vom Schemm)filmrezension.de (Matthias vom Schemm)
"Alien" ist weniger als Weltraumfilm zu verstehen, als das er mehr eine drastische Darstellung der menschlichen Psyche ist, die in Konfrontation mit ungezügelter, gewissenloser Sexualität steht. Das Raumschiff "Nostromo", welches von einem Computer ...read the complete Alien movie review at filmrezension.de (Matthias vom Schemm)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for MovieJustice (Justin Scheidt)MovieJustice (Justin Scheidt)
Though the violence is mild for today's standards, it's a more of an "it's not what you see, it's how you perceive it" effect, which in my opinion is far more effective. Overall, the amazing special effects, great performances, wonderful score, and the ...read the complete Alien movie review at MovieJustice (Justin Scheidt)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Off-screen Off-screen
Intrappolatasi col gatto Jones, l'altra bestia spaziale della storia, nella capsula di salvataggio Narcissus che ha appena abbandonato l'astronave Nostromo al suo destino di disintegrazione nello spazio, Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) si distende, ...read the complete Alien movie review at Off-screen
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Film Monthly (Jerome de Groot)Film Monthly (Jerome de Groot)
After the countless sequels, platform games, comic/ movie tie-ins vs. Predator (no contest), board games, academic treatises, homage, parody, subgenres and general cultural impact, time to reassess Alien on its own terms as a movie. On the eve of the ...read the complete Alien movie review at Film Monthly (Jerome de Groot)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Xi-online (Bregtje Schudel)Xi-online (Bregtje Schudel)
Vroeger was alles nog simpel: horrorfilms waren eng en science fiction films futuristisch. Het alom bekende verhaal over Ridley Scott die in 1979 als eerste met zijn film Alien science fiction met horror heeft weten te combineren is zo langzamerhand al ...read the complete Alien movie review at Xi-online (Bregtje Schudel)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for DVD Talk (Chuck Arrington)DVD Talk (Chuck Arrington)
This is my absolute favorite entry in the Alien franchise. It's perfect blend of psychological terror, classic horror and Science Fiction is incredible. I have never seen another sci-fi/horror film done as well as Alien. It's good old-fashioned ...read the complete Alien movie review at DVD Talk (Chuck Arrington)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for 3 Black Chicks ("The Diva")3 Black Chicks ("The Diva")
Dallas (Tom Skerritt), Kane (John Hurt) Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), Brett (Harry Dean Stanton, Parker (Yaphet Kotto), Lambert (Veronica Cartwright), and Ash (Ian Holm) are the crew of the cargo ship Nostromos. This cargo ship has been on tour for months ...read the complete Alien movie review at 3 Black Chicks ("The Diva")
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Teen Movie Critic (Vivian Rose)Teen Movie Critic (Vivian Rose)
Alien is a gory, bloody monster mash, and, as far as gory, bloody monster mashes go, I found it completely engrossing. (And, yes, it was ...read the complete Alien movie review at Teen Movie Critic (Vivian Rose)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Moovees.com (Dan Wester)Moovees.com (Dan Wester)
"In space no one can hear you scream," is easily one of the most well-known taglines in movie history. Alien is one of the most acclaimed sci-fi/horror movies of the last 30 years (it ranked #6 on AFI's "100 Years...100 Thrills" list), and ...read the complete Alien movie review at Moovees.com (Dan Wester)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Mutant Reviewers From HellMutant Reviewers From Hell
The entire Alien series really boils down to one critical scene, which takes place about forty minutes into the first movie. You know it -- you were probably traumatized the first time you saw it (and then quickly ran out to find other friends to expose ...read the complete Alien movie review at Mutant Reviewers From Hell
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Chart MagazineChart Magazine
In 1979, Alien was a truly groundbreaking release. Not only was it a perfect amalgamation of sci-fi and horror genres, but it was also the first film to allow director Ridley Scott a significant amount of creative license. While the story didn't ...read the complete Alien movie review at Chart Magazine
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Film Threat, Hollywood's Indie VoiceFilm Threat, Hollywood's Indie Voice
Unlike many of the kids in my second grade class, my parents wouldn't take me to see Alien when it was released in 1979 – and with good reason. It's a scary, scary movie. (I was, after all, the kid who literally didn't sleep for a week after seeing ...read the complete Alien movie review at Film Threat, Hollywood's Indie Voice
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for A Guide to Current DVD (Aaron Beierle)A Guide to Current DVD (Aaron Beierle)
Looking back on the "Alien" series, its fun to once again see how different all of the films are. While the third and fourth films met with negative reaction, even they were distinctly done in the style of their director. Although James Cameron's ...read the complete Alien movie review at A Guide to Current DVD (Aaron Beierle)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Latino ReviewLatino Review
Has it really been almost twenty-five years since the release of Ridley Scott's "Alien", the sci-fi classic which exploded out of nowhere in 1979? It seems like yesterday when I heard relatives discussing the film and how it scared the crap out of ...read the complete Alien movie review at Latino Review
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Cinema Laser (Derek M. Germano)Cinema Laser (Derek M. Germano)
When Fox released their fine ALIEN LEGACY COLLECTION on DVD, I thought that it would be their final word on the subject until the advent of a high definition optical disc format. However, Fox has pulled another rabbit out of their hats by releasing the ...read the complete Alien movie review at Cinema Laser (Derek M. Germano)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for The Flick Filosopher (MaryAnn Johanson)The Flick Filosopher (MaryAnn Johanson)
Greatest? Oh yeah. Ridley Scott's seminal 1979 flick remains perhaps the most effective and most dreadfully entertaining example of the breed. It's so often imitated that the glut of pale, sorry, fragile replicas have almost become a genre unto ...read the complete Alien movie review at The Flick Filosopher (MaryAnn Johanson)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Reel.comReel.com
As he did with his director's cut of Blade Runner (1982) in the early 1990s, Scott has achieved the near-impossible: He's made a great film even better. The newly restored footage both clarifies the narrative and ratchets up the tension. For audiences ...read the complete Alien movie review at Reel.com
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Walter FrithWalter Frith
Seven crew members. Dallas (Tom Skerritt), Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), Lambert (Veronica Cartwright), Brett (Harry Dean Stanton), Kane (John Hurt), Parker (Yaphet Kotto) and the very mysterious Ash (Ian Holm). Each one capable in their jobs aboard the ...read the complete Alien movie review at Walter Frith
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Reel.comReel.com
Visually, Alien 's print hasn't been in better condition since it was first released. As with Star Wars: Special Edition 's restoration process, a new color-corrected negative was created, and over 5,000 frames were retouched to eliminate specks, grime, ...read the complete Alien movie review at Reel.com
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Reel.comReel.com
As a video medium, DVD can often be a frustrating paradox. On one hand, it offers viewers audio and video quality nonpareil. On the other, it fobs off special editions of Blues Brothers 2000-esque dreck onto consumers while studio bickering delays ...read the complete Alien movie review at Reel.com
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Christian Spotlight on the MoviesChristian Spotlight on the Movies
This film stands out from the general Sci-Fi crowd in terms of convincing acting and good (for its era) special effects. Also, it avoids the occult/supernatural themes found in many Sci-Fi stories. Sigourney Weaver's character Ellen Ripley wasn't ...read the complete Alien movie review at Christian Spotlight on the Movies
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for BBC Films (Almar Haflidason)BBC Films (Almar Haflidason)
Clearly we're not the only people who think Ridley Scott's Alien is "one of the greatest sci-fi movies ever made", as 20th Century Fox has really pulled out the stops with this two-disc set (forming part of the Alien Quadrilogy release). It's ...read the complete Alien movie review at BBC Films (Almar Haflidason)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for BBC FilmsBBC Films
There are only two things you need to know about Ridley Scott's slasher-movie-in-space masterpiece: firstly, it's one of the greatest sci-fi movies ever made. And secondly, it's a completely different beast from James Cameron's pumped up ...read the complete Alien movie review at BBC Films
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for CinemaScreen (James Salter)CinemaScreen (James Salter)
Picture the scene: The top execs are sitting around the table at Fox HQ, discussing the release of the four Alien movies on Special Edition DVD. “Let’s add a few extras,” says one. The floodgates open, as more and more documentaries and ...read the complete Alien movie review at CinemaScreen (James Salter)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Sci-Fi Movie Page (James O'Ehley)Sci-Fi Movie Page (James O'Ehley)
Watching a triple bill consisting of Alien, Outland and Predator one begins to realise just how influential this 1979 movie really was. Outland ripped off Alien's vision of the future (all tough and gritty) while Predator ripped off its plot (group of ...read the complete Alien movie review at Sci-Fi Movie Page (James O'Ehley)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for DVD Verdict (Sean McGinnis)DVD Verdict (Sean McGinnis)
This is my new favorite science fiction disc, clearly surpassing Contact, The Fifth Element or anything else you would care to name. Congratulations Fox, for a job well done. Here's to hoping this becomes the first in a series of terrific releases. ...read the complete Alien movie review at DVD Verdict (Sean McGinnis)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Shadows on the Wall (Rich Cline)Shadows on the Wall (Rich Cline)
Nearly 25 years later, Ridley Scott is back with a director's cut of his sci-fi horror masterpiece, which he's only slightly tinkered with, adding 5 minutes of previously cut footage ... and cutting the whole film down by 5 minutes so it maintains its ...read the complete Alien movie review at Shadows on the Wall (Rich Cline)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for filmdeculte.com (Nicolas Plaire)filmdeculte.com (Nicolas Plaire)
Une chose frappe à la vision de la version remasterisée d’Alien; son indéfectible modernité. Là où d’autres œuvres de science-fiction passent, trépassent et paraissent datées, le second film de Ridley Scott jouit d’une patine qui l’a ...read the complete Alien movie review at filmdeculte.com (Nicolas Plaire)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for AboutFilm.com (Carlo Cavagna)AboutFilm.com (Carlo Cavagna)
H aving spawned numerous imitators over the past twenty years, Alien is a seminal movie in the history of horror. It's also notable for being the screen debut of Sigourney Weaver, who leads a first-rate ensemble cast that includes Tom Skerritt, Ian ...read the complete Alien movie review at AboutFilm.com (Carlo Cavagna)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for ViewLondon (Matthew Turner)ViewLondon (Matthew Turner)
A welcome re-release for Scott's classic sci-fi horror, with a couple of directorial tweaks for good measure.Occasionally, someone will re-release a film and you can't help but wonder why they bothered (the original Italian Job, for example). In ...read the complete Alien movie review at ViewLondon (Matthew Turner)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for The Phantom TollboothThe Phantom Tollbooth
The seven-member crew of the commercial towing vehicle Nostromo is en route to Earth with a load of mineral ore in tow when the ship intercepts a signal of mysterious origin. The master computer awakens the crew and informs Captain Dallas (Tom Skerritt) ...read the complete Alien movie review at The Phantom Tollbooth
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Crazy for Cinema (Lisa Skrzyniarz)Crazy for Cinema (Lisa Skrzyniarz)
I find the first 30 minutes of this movie to be excruciatingly long and boring, but once it gets going it cranks up the creepiness level so high you'll be squirming in your seat. I personally prefer it's adrenaline pumped, kick-ass sequel ALIENS, but ...read the complete Alien movie review at Crazy for Cinema (Lisa Skrzyniarz)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Film 247.net Film 247.net
A murderous life form terrorises the crew of a space ship woken prematurely from their hibernation chambers to check out a mysterious distress signal on a distant planetoid. ...read the complete Alien movie review at Film 247.net
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for Deep Focus (Bryant Frazer)Deep Focus (Bryant Frazer)
Alien _uacct = "UA-96971-1"; urchinTracker(); Alien (1979) GRADE: A Along with the early films of David Cronenberg, Alien ushered in the era of biohorror. H.R. Giger's alien design clears the way for director Ridley Scott and screenwriters Dan O'Bannon, ...read the complete Alien movie review at Deep Focus (Bryant Frazer)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for eye WEEKLY (Jason Anderson)eye WEEKLY (Jason Anderson)
Alien was not the first horror movie I ever saw but it was the first I heard about. During its original theatrical run in 1979, the movie's notoriety was so great that even seven-year-olds knew about it. Most of the rumours had to do with a weird ...read the complete Alien movie review at eye WEEKLY (Jason Anderson)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for CinescapeCinescape
The film that put Gothic horror in outer space, ALIEN proved that material often derided as B-movie fodder could be handled with finesse and glossy production values, without diminishing the thrills or polishing over the horror. Dan O'Bannon's script ...read the complete Alien movie review at Cinescape
Alien (1979) scores a combined 4.00 out of 4 stars for El Criticon (Antonio Méndez Casanova)El Criticon (Antonio Méndez Casanova)
...read the complete Alien movie review at El Criticon (Antonio Méndez Casanova)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 3.84 out of 4 stars for MovieMaze (Daniel Licha)MovieMaze (Daniel Licha)
...read the complete Alien movie review at MovieMaze (Daniel Licha)
Alien (1979) scores a combined 3.75 out of 4 stars for Words From HereWords From Here
I saw Alien when it first came out in 1979. I don't remember seeing it... I was six. My dad took me to see it. If I remember correctly, I hid behind my shirt the entire time. There are a lot of frightening elements to the Alien movie, and I'm sure that ...read the complete Alien movie review at Words From Here
Alien (1979) scores a combined 3.75 out of 4 stars for Appreciating Great TrashAppreciating Great Trash
Aliens remains famous for its titular, H.R. Giger – designed nasty and, of course, for the scene involving the absolute worst indigestion imaginable, one of the greatest examples of rapidly escalating