So, with AvP on its way I thought I tried to answer the age old debate with a poll here at MovieTalk.

So, which is it:

Scott's Alien
vs.
Cameron's Aliens

Tough, but although I think there are movies as exciting as Aliens, I don't think there are any as jump-out-of-your-seat-thrilling as Alien.

Thats a real tough one. I view Alien as more of a horror movie, while Aliens is more of an action film. I picked Aliens, but in all honesty, it's a toss up between the two.

This isn't tough. ALIEN is hands down the best Alien movie. End of debate.

Aliens. I actually found Alien to be a little slow and boring at some points while looking a bit dated... meanwhile i enjoyed the all out action of Aliens far better. Alien is still a classic... Aliens was just flat out more entertaining.

Not sure who said it first (might have been Cameron), but ALIEN is a haunted house, ALIENS is a roller coaster - depends on which you like more. Both are really well-made movies.

Both are great, but I prefer Aliens as it's more action packed and entertaining for me.

Aliens has Hudson!

'Nuff said.

Very close call, but I feel that Aliens is the superior film. Alien was a brilliant, landmark movie, but Aliens took it to a new level with 80s-fashion excess and succeeded on all accounts.

They're both excellent, landmark films, but Alien is my favorite (I also dig Alien 3 quite a bit).

Alien is a better film, imo but both are good.

Aliens has more elements of badass'ness, e.g. Pvt Hudson, drone warriors, the queen & guns. That's why I would pick over Alien.

p.s. JONESY is still there in Aliens

Aliens son!

"Marines we are leaving!"

There is no contest:






The influential originator. The landmark. The classic. The yardstick that all other films of this type have had to measure up to. The blueprint for dozens of rip-offs since, none of which have come close to what Ridley Scott attained here. Plain and simple enough for ya?

Some may call it a simple monster in space movie. It could also be a metaphor for some anti-Freudian demon. Could be a pessimist's reasoned extrapolation of science-fact. Could be a surreal soap-opera episode. It could be a cold war allegory. Alien is all of these things. There is no way to avoid the disillusionment with technology the movie has, and the surprising subtexts to the story.

From the first opening notes to the final frame, Alien is an elegant, quiet, even poetic horror film that takes it's time to convey and build a mood of genuine isolation and dread. The acting is natural, often improvised and sometimes barely audible. The physical creation of Hans Rudy Giger's nightmarish xenomorph is incredible. Jerry Goldsmith's classic score, in a career spanning five decades, is one of his very best. It introduces one of the strongest female characters to ever grace a movie screen. What more could you possibly want?

Alien has inspired many imitators but it will never be duplicated. In a genre where subtlety has become nonexistent, 25 years later it looks like a model of classical restraint. It has stood the test of time and will continue to do so, and is more than secure in it's place in the annals of genre cinema. There is no contest.






































































































































































































































































I swear to God the first person who says they prefer PT Anderson's Event Horizon gets a smack upside the head free of charge.

That was my choice 'PT Anderson's Event Horizon' ; however, I will go with Aliens

Twikoff versus the Predator, of course.

For once in our history on this board, Rivero and I finally agree on something. I love Aliens and think it is a fine film. But Alien reigns supreme.

You're certainly right, Aliens loses points for this. Bill Paxton's ridiculously machismo 80's acting dates the movie more than even Paul Reiser's blowdried haircut. Ridley Scott would have laughed Paxton out of the audition room before even thinking of shooting an inch of film with him. Sorry Hudson fans.

Oh ok, thank you for declaring yourself queen of all debate.

I'll have to say Aliens simply because of Colonial Marines. The characters in it where people you couldn't help but love. Then with the guns.. Oooh man.. that was awsome.

I don't know - I've never watched either one all of the way through in one sitting.

[/dashes out of the thread]

Yeah, but Michael Biehn's bad assness makes up for it

I'll go with Alien.

Both are good, but the kid in Aliens pushes it just under Alien

True, true.

"I like to keep this handy for close encounters."

Alien.

Aliens is a terrific movie. Alien is a better movie.

I picked Aliens, though I think both are fantastic.