God bless PrinceCharlesCinema. I just discovered them at the corner of Leicester Square, London. What is so awesome about this cinema is that they air cult movie favourites. And the ticket prices are very cheap as well – £6 for non-members and £4 for members [ annual membership for just £10 ]. Anywho, before this looks like a sales pitch, let’s get back to the movie. So, I watched Aliens on Saturday, for the first time on a big screen. The original release in 1986 meant I had to miss it. I was just 3 then, and also its 18 rating wouldn’t have helped. And also that Hollywood movies weren’t often screened in my hometown. [Trivia: The first Hollywood movie I saw at the cinema was Jurassic Park, dubbed attrociously in Hindi, in the year 1993] So getting an opportunity to watch Aliens on the big screen was not one to be missed.
Settling down to the cozy seats, as the first few seconds of reels flashed on the screen, I realised, this is a 1986 reel. The flickering black spots and the very analogue sounding background score – all of it was a bit retro, nostalgic as well as a bit disturbing at the same time. I started comparing it with a digitally recreated and cleaned Blu Ray/ DVD version and thought to myself, NO, doing that will just ruin this movie. So I just laid back, and lapped up all the awesomeness that I could. After all, it was Saturday night at the cinema watching Aliens with an audience who loved the movie as much as I do, if not more. Exclaiming, laughing, giggling and getting excited together with the audience is one big reason why cinemas can never be substituted by home cinema arrangements.
Get some really awesome screencaps after the jump.
What else should I be writing about a 1986 movie which is a hot favourite with all sci-fi movie lovers? Aliens took a not-so-horror route from the original Ridley Scott version, and James Cameron’s female empowerment clearly shines. Sigourney Weaver kicks serious ass in this movie as Ellen Ripley, the lone survivor from the previous misadventure. There is so much material in this movie to discuss, explore and just appreciate.
The set design and the design of the menacing creature is still very top-notch in this age. And James Horner’s score is equally haunting. But what strikes most is the thought that this is a 1986 movie. A time where there were no such movies made with female leads. And Ellen Ripley is sort of the benchmark on which future female leads and kick-ass characters such as Sarah Connor and even Kill Bill’s bride would look up to.
The version which was screened wasn’t the director’s cut which has scenes of Ripley losing her own daughter. That explains why she feels so instantly connected to the lone survivor little girl Newt, and why she bonds almost like a mother. It also explains more clearly why Ripley would risk everything to go back and rescue Newt against all odds. And then talking about the odds, boy oh boy, were there some! With every single twist and turn added to the plot, it makes me squirm even today. And yes, even in this age of slash gore and horror, watching Aliens leaves me with knots in my stomach. The ever-mounting tension of the aliens closing in… in the scene below..
Or imagine watching the Bishop shred for the first time…
That would have been one big OMFG moment.
But the most beautiful part of Aliens, is its array of beautifully written characters – some you love, and others you love to hate.
Much like Avatar’s evil corporate dude – Parker Selfridge (Giovanni Ribisi ), Carter Burke’s (Paul Rieser) slimey plan to risk human lives for the sake of making corporate money makes you wonder who’s the real monster. And at every sight of him, you feel like spitting him on the face. Or even better, let the ‘bitch’ spit on him and let Burke’s face melt. Ha! That’d have been awesome. But then, it’s awesome anyway.
Also Lt.Gorman and Pvt. Vasquez’s characters fill the atmosphere with needed liveliness, and yes, I did cry a bit to see them explode [ Spoilers, oh noes! ]. [ Psst..Vasquez is played by Jenette Goldstein, who also plays John Connor's foster mother in Judgement Day, there you go, you are wiser now 
]
The icing on the cake is definitely Bill Paxton as Pvt.Hudson. He’s so innocently coward and nervous all the time. But when faced with danger, he knows that there is nothing else to do than pull the trigger. You got to love him!!
And at the heart of it, sits Newt, the cute little girl. Although, I did find her acting a bit too ..ahem…not very good, but then she is still way better than that Anakin kiddo jingling all the way.
Last but not the least, how can we forget Ellen Ripley’s legendary line.
Get away from her, you Bitch!
Speaking of which, the bitch – she’s one helluva egg-laying slimey lady with lotsa dental attachments.
And in honour of that Big Scene, I’d like to post this meme by Czech designer – Goran Patlejch, from his flickr page. [ via Geek Art, Please do check out his other works as well ].
And just when you thought, it’s over, surprise surprise.
Oh, how exhausting awesomeness can be sometimes!
Watching Aliens on the big screen brought back so many awesome memories. And it also reminded me of the power of good story-telling. Having seen pretty much all movies of James Cameron until now [ except for the Abyss ] , I can say this with no doubt, that Aliens stands as his best work. Well, maybe very close second to Terminator 2 – Judgement Day. Seriously, “Not bad for a ..human”.
As for Prince Charles Cinema, I am definitely going back . August weekends will see screenings of – The Big Lebowski Cheers to the Dude. And oh, am watching Predators tomorrow night. So, I am revisiting the original Predator tonight. So, you can hope what my next post will be. Cheerio!
Previous post: 10 Awesome Movies To Look Forward To In 2010
