Alien

From the film’s ominous beginning to its iconic, adrenaline-filled end, Alien is a masterpiece. Perfectly paced, this classic leaves people of all ages gripping their seats in excitement. The Alien creature is fear and terror incarnate, and is an amazing creation. Unlike Predator, the film spends time developing its human characters and pays incredible attention to visual detail. Alien is the finest of director Ridley Scott’s films, and that is saying something.
Once again, I have to recognize the incredible work of the creature designers. Scott’s Alien is one of science fiction’s most terrifying icons, a creation that’s second to none. And no, not even the Predator can really compare. The most memorably original traits of the Alien are probably the second mouth and the acid blood. In the words of a Nostromo crew member, it is “a perfect organism. It’s structural perfection is matched only by its hostility. It is a survivor, unclouded by conscience, remorse, or delusions of morality.” This spine-tingling monologue is high praise for a fancy movie prop, but upon seeing the murderous Alien onscreen, one really believes it.
In many respects, Alien is quite similar to Predator. Similar enough to spawn a disastrous crossover cash cow known as Alien vs. Predator, but that’s not the point. The elements that set this film apart from its younger, B-grade cousin lie chiefly in the human characters and the special effects. The cast of this film is significantly better developed than in Predator, and doesn’t set up a predictable, Austrian hero. Instead, the seven characters are given chances to act, utilizing lots of interaction, drama and back-story, as well as some occasional humor to keep it all going. This allows you to  care for the humans of the story, and grow to hate the dreaded Alien all the more.
In the realm of special effects, this film really shines. In over thirty years since its release, it hasn’t aged a day. The giant mining vessel in which the movie primarily takes place is tediously and realistically designed, and closely mirrors the actual look and feel of a present-day space shuttle. There are no absurd beeping noises or control panels with big buttons and flashing lights; this is not the starship Enterprise. Rather, it reminds me more of the design of a ship from Star Wars. The intricate sets along with the Alien creature make for a timelessly breathtaking visual ride.
Bearing all of this in mind, it’s hard to believe that Alien could ever have produced a worthy sequel. There is an innate mastery of filmmaking and dramatic exposition in Alien that can seldom be rivaled, particularly in the same franchise. But I digress. This film is an American masterpiece, and deserves ten out of ten stars.