Okay, now we’re talking. The movie could still be a hot mess but goddamn does the new alien look amazing in action. It’s amazing what one awesome trailer will do to get me completely sucked into the hype tornado again.
All these dudes are gonna be eaten. I can’t wait.
Yeah, yeah, I know this is over a month old at this point but I finally decided to write a little bit about the best look we’ve gotten so far at Ridley Scott’s newest attempt to drain any remaining life out of the Alien franchise.
WARNING: Only watch the trailer if you don’t really give a shit about spoilers. Really. This trailer gives away a lot.
The only thing really hidden in the trailer are the monsters themselves (apart from the facehugger). The ad runs as a giant “THIS IS WHAT YOU GUYS WANTED, RIGHT?!” from Ridley to all the fans of the franchise that were disappointed/gutted by 2012’s Prometheus.
I could go on forever about the story and how I thought Prometheus was terrible and that prequels are just a terrible idea but we shall instead focus on what Ridley has always been phenomenal at: his visuals.
The film looks gorgeous. From the set design, to the choice of lighting and shots. It looks properly scary and vast at the same time. I haven’t cared about spoilers for the film as the real enjoyment for me will come from actually seeing what’s on the screen. I’ve been hearing cool things about how the effects team actualized the monsters in the film so I was pleased that most of all that was hidden in this teaser. The back-buster scene has caused a lot of buzz among the members of the press who saw a preview of the sequence so I’m certainly looking forward to that. Since the story will almost certainly be rubbish, the fun that remains will be in seeing how these monsters (chief among them being the Big Chap) will be realized with modern special effects.
I can’t resist commenting a bit more on the story for the film. It does seem that David is being set-up as the creator of the Alien. This would be tremendously dumb for a dozen different reasons. I feel strongly that if we have to see how the Aliens were created, the creator of this supreme life form should be female, not Michael Fassbender’s android character. This makes narrative sense to me. The aliens themselves are designed with intense gendered imagery in mind and the one who ultimately stops them in the series is a woman. We’ll find out in May if David is truly revealed to have such an important role in the saga.
Another interesting thought that I came across while reading hundreds of comments and articles on Covenant is that now that it appears that Neill Blomkamp’s Alien 5 is pretty much dead in the water, one wonders if these movies are intended to set up an eventual showdown between David and Ripley. That may be a bit too far-fetched. A bit more likely is that, if Covenant is a big hit, this will lead to Fox trying out Alien Vs. Predator again as they try to create a bigger cinematic universe akin to Marvel and DC’s films. Again, I can’t help but think that there is a creative black hole when it comes to ideas for what to do with the Alien franchise. Retcons. Prequels. AVP. Doesn’t anyone have any decent ideas for what to do with Giger’s amazing monster? No? At this point the only person who I think could write a new Alien story with anything truly twisted and new in it is Clive Barker.
I’ll rant some more when the next trailer for the film appears.
It’s like Ridley Scott and Fox really want me to forget that this is the sequel to Prometheus for some reason.
I do like how the alien here reminds me of the ‘ol chap from Alien 3, which is an excellent take on the monster before it became a sludgy mass of poop-drool in Alien: Resurrection.
Could be good but they’ve gotta work hard to impress me after Prometheus.
Ridley Scott and Sigourney Weaver on the set of 'Alien'
Twentieth Century Fox officially announced today that Ridley Scott’s upcoming science fiction film will not be a prequel to the Alien film series but rather a brand new story that has grown out of the initial ideas for an Alien reboot.
The new project will be entitled Prometheus and will star Noomi Rapace who played Lisbeth Salander in the swedish version of The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo. Rapace will play the lead character who is named ‘Elizabeth Shaw’.
This is quite a drastic change in the production as Twentieth Century Fox has been unofficially calling Scott’s new science fiction film the ‘Alien prequel’ all the way through pre-production so far until today.
Prometheus will indeed be a science fiction film but rather than being another installment of the Alien franchise it will be something the ‘last thing that anyone expects’. Here’s a quote from Damon Lindelof who is co-writing the script for the film with Scott:
“In a world flooded with prequels, sequels and reboots, I was incredibly struck by just how original Ridley’s vision was for this movie. It’s daring, visceral and hopefully, the last thing anyone expects.”
Here is a quote from Ridley Scott himself on the project:
“While Alien was indeed the jumping off point for this project, out of the creative process evolved a new, grand mythology and universe in which this original story takes place. The keen fan will recognize strands of Alien‘s DNA, so to speak, but the ideas tackled in this film are unique, large and provocative. I couldn’t be more pleased to have found the singular tale I’d been searching for, and finally return to this genre that’s so close to my heart.”
Overall this sounds very interesting and I am very much looking forward to new announcements surrounding the project. Although I am dissapointed that it will not be a continuation of the Alien series I am still glad to see Ridley Scott working on his first science fiction film since Blade Runner.
Update 1/27/11: Actor Michael Fassbender has joined the project as one of the primary characters. Fassbender will be playing an andriod alongside Noomi Rapace’s character Elizabeth Shaw. Ridley Scott also hinted that he has some sort of connection to the Bishop android in Aliens.
Just a day after this announcement several sources in the production are claiming that Prometheus is indeed part of the Alien series despite the official announcements made by Twentieth Century Fox and Ridley Scott that it was a new project entirely. Here are the reports posted on Sky.com from their ‘inside sources’:
“They’ve built the ‘space jockey’ cockpit at Pinewood as seen in the original Alien film, so it definitely takes place in the same world as Alien.”
“Despite that press release that seemed to indicate there were no aliens in the movie, the familiar HR Giger-style aliens do appear. Big ones apparently.”
“Part of the film will be shot in Morocco. I’ve heard that some sort of archaeological dig where they discover alien DNA takes place there and that DNA gives them the coordinates for an alien world. I’ve also heard Morocco is being used for alien planet landscapes so I’m not sure if it’s an archaeological dig on another planet.”
“The main spaceship in the film will be piloted by an enormous head which I assume will be CGI. Yep, sounds weird but I assume some of the technology will be sort of biomechanical.”
Whether or not H.R. Giger’s aliens are in the film or not it is clear that Ridley Scott is having a lot of fun. It also makes sense to me that Scott wishes to promote the film as a new project rather than just ‘Alien 5‘ as there are already many sequels, prequels, and remakes filling up the film schedule of 2012.
Sadly, the one official word we have gotten from Twentieth Century Fox about Prometheus aside from the casting of Michael Fassbender is that the release date has been pushed back to June 8, 2012.
This article was just to interesting not to post again here. Satoshi Kon and his staff working on The Dreaming Machine made a list of 100 of the movies that came up the most in conversations at the studio.
This list has a few typo’s but in general it includes a really interesting selection of films, many of which if you should check out if you haven’t already seen them. This is a bittersweet post after Satoshi Kon’s recent passing, but I wanted to post this on Teatime as it shows what kinds of movies Satoshi kon enjoyed talking about.
Also, as pointed out on the makiko itoh blog, it is interesting to see that there isn’t a single animated film mentioned on either the primary list or the ‘films that didn’t make the list’ section. It should be noted that the order is not important, but just there for convenience.
The gigantic Blu-ray box set for the Alien film series is being released here in the States on October 26th. Pictured above is the look of ‘The Guardian’ collector’s edition packaging featuring an Alien hugging an egg. Personally, I think they could have done alot better design than what we are getting. The non-collector’s edition box is just a normal looking box set with a nice profile shot of a Warrior Alien on the cover. The collector’s edition set doesn’t include anything special except for the fact that it comes in a diorama-box that will be sure to look super awkward anywhere in your home. Despite this, I’m still a sucker for limited editions so I am still tempted by its egg-hugging goodness.
Here are the specifics of what’s being included on this set (From Twitch). Be careful, this is a truly massive list of extras:
Disc One: Alien
1979 Theatrical Version
2003 Director’s Cut with Ridley Scott Introduction
Audio commentaries:
Director Ridley Scott, writer Dan O’Bannon, executive producer Ronald Shusett, editor Terry Rawlings, and actors Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton and John Hurt
Ridley Scott (on theatrical cut only)
Final theatrical isolated score by Jerry Goldsmith
Composer’s original isolated score by Jerry Goldsmith
Deleted and extended scenes
MU-TH-UR Mode interactive experience with Weyland-Yutani Datastream
Disc Two: Aliens
1986 Theatrical Version
1991 Special Edition with James Cameron introduction
Audio commentary by director James Cameron, producer Gale Anne Hurd, alien effects creator Stan Winston, visual effects supervisors Robert Skotak and Dennis Skotak, miniature effects supervisor Pat McClung, and actors Michael Biehn, Bill Paxton, Lance Henriksen, Jenette Goldstein, Carrie Henn and Christopher Henn
Final theatrical isolated score by James Horner
Composer’s original isolated score by James Horner
Deleted and extended scenes
MU-TH-UR Mode interactive experience with Weyland-Yutani Datastream
Disc Three: Alien3
1992 Theatrical Version
2003 Special Edition (Restored Workprint Version)
Audio commentary by cinematographer Alex Thomson, B.S.C., editor Terry Rawlings, alien effects designers Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff, Jr., visual effects producer Richard Edlund, A.S.C., and actors Paul McGann and Lance Henriksen
Final theatrical isolated score by Elliot Goldenthal
Deleted and extended scenes
MU-TH-UR Mode interactive experience with Weyland-Yutani Datastream
Disc Four: Alien Resurrection
1997 Theatrical Version
2003 Special Edition with Jean-Pierre Jeunet introduction
Audio commentary by director Jean-Pierre Jeunet, editor Herve Schneid, A.C.E., alien effects creators Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff, Jr., visual effects supervisor Pitof, conceptual artist Sylvain Despretz, and actors Ron Perlman, Dominique Pinon and Leland Orser
Final theatrical isolated score by John Frizzell
Deleted and extended scenes
MU-TH-UR Mode Interactive Experience with Weyland-Yutani Datastream
Disc Five: Making the Anthology
The Beast Within: Making Alien
Star Beast: Developing the Story
The Visualists: Direction and Design
Truckers in Space: Casting
Fear of the Unknown: Shepperton Studios, 1978
The Darkest Reaches: Nostromo and Alien Planet
The Eighth Passenger: Creature Design
Future Tense: Editing and Music
Outward Bound: Visual Effects
A Nightmare Fulfilled: Reaction to the Film
Enhancement Pods
Superior Firepower: Making Aliens
57 Years Later: Continuing the Story
Building Better Worlds: From Concept to Construction
Preparing for Battle: Casting and Characterization
This Time It’s War: Pinewood Studios, 1985
The Risk Always Lives: Weapons and Action
Bug Hunt: Creature Design
Beauty and the Bitch: Power Loader vs. Queen Alien
Two Orphans: Sigourney Weaver and Carrie Henn
The Final Countdown: Music, Editing and Sound
The Power of Real Tech: Visual Effects
Aliens Unleashed: Reaction to the Film
Enhancement Pods
Wreckage and Rage: Making Alien3
Development Hell: Concluding the Story
Tales of the Wooden Planet: Vincent Ward’s Vision
Stasis Interrupted: David Fincher’s Vision
Xeno-Erotic: H.R. Giger’s Redesign
The Color of Blood: Pinewood Studios, 1991
Adaptive Organism: Creature Design
The Downward Spiral: Creative Differences
Where the Sun Burns Cold: Fox Studios, L.A. 1992
Optical Fury: Visual Effects
Requiem for a Scream: Music, Editing and Sound
Post-Mortem: Reaction to the Film
Enhancement Pods
One Step Beyond: Making Alien Resurrection
From the Ashes: Reviving the Story
French Twist: Direction and Design
Under the Skin: Casting and Characterization
Death from Below: Fox Studios, Los Angeles, 1996
In the Zone: The Basketball Scene
Unnatural Mutation: Creature Design
Genetic Composition: Music
Virtual Aliens: Computer Generated Imagery
A Matter of Scale: Miniature Photography
Critical Juncture: Reaction to the Film
Enhancement Pods
MU-TH-UR Mode Interactive Experience to Access and Control Enhancement Pods
Disc Six: The Anthology Archives
Alien
Pre-Production
First Draft Screenplay by Dan O’Bannon
Ridleygrams: Original Thumbnails and Notes
Storyboard Archive
The Art of Alien: Conceptual Art Portfolio
Sigourney Weaver Screen Tests with Select Director Commentary
Cast Portrait Gallery
Production
The Chestbuster: Multi-Angle Sequence with Commentary
Video Graphics Gallery
Production Image Galleries
Continuity Polaroids
The Sets of Alien
H.R. Giger’s Workshop Gallery
Post-Production and Aftermath
Additional Deleted Scenes
Image & Poster Galleries
Experience in Terror
Special Collector’s Edition LaserDisc Archive
The Alien Legacy
American Cinematheque: Ridley Scott Q&A
Trailers & TV Spots
Aliens
Pre-Production
Original Treatment by James Cameron
Pre-Visualizations: Multi-Angle Videomatics with Commentary
Storyboard Archive
The Art of Aliens: Image Galleries
Cast Portrait Gallery
Production
Production Image Galleries
Continuity Polaroids
Weapons and Vehicles
Stan Winston’s Workshop
Colonial Marine Helmet Cameras
Video Graphics Gallery
Weyland-Yutani Inquest: Nostromo Dossiers
Post-Production and Aftermath
Deleted Scene: Burke Cocooned
Deleted Scene Montage
Image Galleries
Special Collector’s Edition LaserDisc Archive
Main Title Exploration
Aliens: Ride at the Speed of Fright
Trailers & TV Spots
Alien3
Pre-Production
Storyboard Archive
The Art of Arceon
The Art of Fiorina
Production
Furnace Construction: Time-Lapse Sequence
EEV Bioscan: Multi-Angle Vignette with Commentary
Production Image Galleries
A.D.I.’s Workshop
Post-Production and Aftermath
Visual Effects Gallery
Special Shoot: Promotional Photo Archive
Alien3 Advance Featurette
The Making of Alien3 Promotional Featurette
Trailers & TV Spots
Alien Resurrection
Pre-Production
First Draft Screenplay by Joss Whedon
Test Footage: A.D.I. Creature Shop with Commentary
Test Footage: Costumes, Hair and Makeup
Pre-Visualizations: Multi-Angle Rehearsals
Storyboard Archive
The Marc Caro Portfolio: Character Designs
The Art of Resurrection: Image Galleries
Production
Production Image Galleries
A.D.I.’s Workshop
Post-Production and Aftermath
Visual Effects Gallery
Special Shoot: Promotional Photo Archive
HBO First Look: The Making of Alien Resurrection
Alien Resurrection Promotional Featurette
Trailers & TV Spots
Anthology
Two Versions of Alien Evolution
The Alien Saga
Patches and Logos Gallery
Aliens 3D Attraction Scripts and Gallery
Aliens in the Basement: The Bob Burns Collection
Parodies
Dark Horse Cover Gallery
Patches and Logos Gallery
MU-TH-UR Mode Interactive Experience
Yup. All of this on six Blu-ray discs which will set you back $97.99 if you pre-order it right now off of Amazon.com. Also notice that those horrid Alien vs. Predator films aren’t being included in this set. Wise choice by 20th Century Fox.
20th Century Fox is releasing the four primary Alien films remastered on Blu-Ray later this year. The collection will be called the ‘Alien Anthology’ and it will not feature the two terrible Alien vs. Predator films. The new collection will include many hours of new extras that will go far beyond what was included in thebonus material of the ‘Alien Quadrilogy’ DVD boxset that was released in 2004. Aside from a variety of new featurettes, the most exciting announcement for me has to be the news that the extended edition of Alien 3 is getting its audio issues fixed. Since a ‘director’s cut’ doesn’t exist for Alien 3 (due to director David Fincher not wanting to have anything else to do with the project) the people at Fox decided to release workprint footage that had been cut from the original release of the film to create an ‘extended edition’.
The problem with this is that certain scenes weren’t actually finished in post production so entire segments of dialogue had to have a subtitle track go along with it just to understand what the actors are saying. This new Blu-ray release of Alien 3 apparently fixes this problem due to some of the actors returning to re-record their dialogue. the release date for the box set is rumored to be Christmas of this year and there will of course be a few different versions of the release including a collector’s edition which will have the box set contained in an Alien egg. Very, very cool. Early design pictures of the anthology set are included below. Personally, as cool as the special edition looks, I really hope that it contains the white Alien Queen cover of the Blu-ray box because that cover picture is just simply awesome.
Ridley Scott was interviewed this week by MTV and revealed some interesting pieces of information about the film. He is currently working through the fourth draft of the film and it is set in the year 2085, which places it about 30 years before the first ‘Alien’ film from 1979. Scott also commented that although Sigourney Weaver won’t appear in the film (which makes sense — Ripley wouldn’t have even been born yet) the film will still feature a woman as the main character. Ridley Scott then comments that, as rumors suggested, the film would indeed explain the mystery behind the ‘Space Jockey’ that appeared in the first film. Prior to the Alien eggs being discovered, the away team finds the remains of another creature which had also been killed by a chestbuster…or so it seemed. This new film will reveal the what the Space Jockey truly is. Perhaps most interesting is Scott’s comments on the design of the creatures themselves: ” The alien in a sense, as a shape, is worn out”. I agree with his comments.
The design of the creature worked wonderfully for the original four films and has become an icon of both science fiction and horror films and has had nearly as many action figures as Godzilla. However, we all know and instantly recognize the creature now. We’ve watched the films dozens of times. The only people unfamiliar with it are the few people who have perhaps heard of the films but have never seen them….which, to me, is just unbelievable. Scott then comments that when the film gets closer to being ready for pre-production he will be talking with the original designer H.R. Giger to possibly come up with something completely different that no one has seen before….”I have to design — or redesign — earlier versions of what these elements are that led to the thing you finally see in “Alien,” which is the thing that catapults out of the egg, the face-hugger”. Scott ends the interview by saying that he hopes to have the film released in late 2011 or sometime in 2012. Ridley Scott has a new film arriving this summer, ‘Robin Hood’, which is sadly being totally overshadowed due to his announcement of returning to the Alien franchise.
You can read the full interview for yourself here: http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1637638/story.jhtml
The video posted above is the original trailer for the first ‘Alien’ film from 1979.
Teatime with Godzilla 