Debate Battle! Alien remake?!

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Horrorphile - September 2008

Debate Battle! RIDLEY SCOTT'S ALIEN: To remake or not to remake?

September 14th 2008 23:36

... That is the question. Actually I’m playing Devil’s advocate with this debate battle because as you probably know Ridley Scott’s Alien (1979) is probably my favourite horror movie of all time. My all-time favourite top position actually alternates between Alien and John Carpenter’s seminal stalk’n’slasher Halloween (1978), ‘tis curious that my two faves were probably shooting almost at the same time.

The brilliant opening sequence depicting the ship waking up and the crew emerging from hypersleep

But for now Alien is number one. As far as atmosphere, mood, tone, production design, cinematography, music, acting, and special effects; Alien is top of its game. However all of this doesn’t mean anything when Hollywood executives are sitting around discussing what new old movie can they plunder to re-envision, re-design, re-package and sell to the Y-Generation who are arguably the most ravenous, demanding and impatient bunch of kids that ever was. They want it here, they want it now, they want it fast, and they don’t care where it came from.

The first look at H.R. Giger's marooned alien craft

If you really want to analyse Alien it's essentially a B-movie concept glammed to the condensation-dripping rafters. Critics will stipulate that it rips off It! The Terror From Beyond Space (1958). From another angle it can be viewed as a kind of haunted house story set in space. The premise was penned by Dan O’Bannon, and was originally called Star Beast. After O’Bannon got the movie green-lit the story was tweaked by executive producer Ronald Shushett. O’Bannon, an actor-cum-designer who co-starred in John Carpenter’s legendary “existential” cosmic surf Dark Star (1974), delivered a tight, dynamic, no bullshit screenplay to Walter Hill, who was acting as one of the producers. Director Ridley Scott, fresh from the arthouse success of his period drama The Duellists, was signed on, and the movie began shooting on expensive and elaborate sets in Shepperton Studios, UK. The rest, as they say, is history.

Alien Veronica Cartwright, John Hurt, Tom Skerritt

The ergonomic space-suits, another brilliant Giger design

Unlike John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982) – a remake, but a rare breed of one – which suffered terribly at the box office when it was released in the shadow of Spielberg’s feel-good E.T. the same year, Alien was a huge financial success. It continued to gain respect and admiration over the years as a video title. It was on VHS that I first saw it, as I was only 11 when it was released at the cinemas and it was restricted to 16 and over. For me Alien holds the dark charm of being the movie that turned me onto being a horrorphile. The sense of authenticity and realism that director Scott brought to such a fantastic (in the purest sense of the word) concept and production was utterly convincing and etched firmly in my aesthetic mind.

Crew discover Giger's stunning space jockey relic

Most of my very favourite modern horror movies have already been or are currently being remade. Halloween got remade last year by Rob Zombie, George Romero’s Day of the Dead (1985) got remade last year. A re-envisioning of The Thing is currently in pre-production. Dario Argento’s Suspiria is being remade with Natalie Portman in the lead! Of my top five that leaves Phantasm (1978) and Alien, surely both are ripe for the plucking …?!

Giger's notorious and nasty alien facehugger

I'm not serious, of course. If it ain’t broke, why fix it?! If a movie was brilliantly made (even if they’re low-budget like Phantasm and Halloween), how is remaking it going to add to the movie’s status as respected and cherished cinematic high art or its ever-deepening cult appeal? Concept-bereft producers in Hollywood find it easier plundering the past than brainstorming for the future.

The grin of Giger's ferocious alien

But for argument’s sake let’s imagine, hypothetically, that Alien is going to be remade. What are the pros and cons of such an endeavour?

FOR:
~ An entirely new and fresh production design, including a new-look alien beast, based only loosely on H.R. Giger’s original concept.
~ A cast of young, hot, up’n’comers, as well as a couple of respected and established actors looking to branch out into new territory.
~ State-of-the-art computer-generated special effects to enable spectacular sequences that couldn’t have been done before without CGI.
~ Screenplay adjustments that incorporate the queen mother (shown in the sequel Aliens), Lambert being impaled by the tail of the alien, and Ripley discovering Dallas cocooned in the ship’s hull (scene deleted from the original cut).
~ Tweak the ending by revealing, after the alien is destroyed and Ripley is unwinding and preparing for hyper-sleep, that an egg from the queen mother has been planted by the alien in the escape shuttle, which lends a new direction for new sequels.

Signourney Weaver as Warrant Officer Lt. Ellen Ripley

AGAINST:
~ H.R. Giger’s unique and astounding design work is what, ultimately, makes Alien so memorable ... and untouchable.
~ The special effects, especially those of Carlo Rambaldi who brought Giger’s alien creature to life, were entirely mechanical, animatronic and prosthetic and thus have an unmistakable palpable realism.
~ Ridley Scott’s extraordinary balance between art film and B-movie could never be justified by the current Hollywood commercial climate.
~ The average age of the cast captures a sense of weathered maturity which any new production’s younger cast would not possess (and it would be a young cast, there’s no doubt about it).
~ Jerry Goldsmith’s sublime and eerie orchestral score could never be bettered.

Bolaji Badejo, an African over seven-feet tall, wore this suit in the movie

Polish poster art

Japanese poster art

A word of warning ... Rare alternate US poster art

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Posted By: Bryn - Category: set-pieces

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Comments

39 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by jon

September 15th 2008 00:03

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I think it would be a bad idea.

First of all I don't think the original has aged much at all. It still comes across as fresh and those parts which do look dated (such as the 70's looking control panels) actually add to the atmosphere. There is no reason to remake it apart from making money.

Secondly the chances that they would ruin it have to be very high. They would most likely bring out a "Hollywood light" version in order to sell it to the younger audience.

Comment by Bryn

September 15th 2008 01:16

Horrorphile

Jon, bang on. Ridley himself in the movie's audio commentary states that it's his most accomplished film. And it has aged very little indeed considering its age and the ambitious nature of the special effects and sense of realism. Mother, the computer room, is perhaps the most incongruous piece of production design, but even that has a cosmic-tech charm

And indeed, Hollywood would no doubt tone down the overall "adult" element of the movie, especially the sense of alien mystique which permeates the first half of the movie.

Comment by Cibbuano

September 15th 2008 02:30

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bah!

no remake. Don't even come near it. They could guard the original with alien eggs, raring to face-hug any studio producers thirsty for an "Alien" remake.

There's nothing to be gained from a remake, especially since it'd have to be so big-budget that they'd change the story to make it more 'accessible' to audiences. Maybe even make it PG-13. Whee!

Comment by Lady Henrietta Muddling

September 15th 2008 02:51

Potter in a Harry

I'd like to see a remake of Alien. Where the whole film is just close-ups of Sigourney Weaver and me getting it on, and during the closing credits they show the alien child in a foreboding manner to indicate a sequel is on its way.

Comment by Bryn

September 15th 2008 03:01

Horrorphile

Cibby, of course. I'm not really expecting any real "FORS" from true cinephiles ...

David, er Lady, I shudder to think what you've been doing while oogling that pic I put up of a young Ms. Weaver

Comment by Morgan Bell

September 15th 2008 05:21

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the only purpose of remaking it would be for a director who has a signature style to inject their individual vision into it . . . if its just to bombard us with ugly CGI and an untalented "hot" teenage cast then i think it would be a shame

Alien is a movie that really hasnt dated at all, except for perhaps Sigourneys perm and everybody constantly smoking?

if it HAD to be done maybe a serious dignified director like Danny Boyle or Gus Vant Sant could add to the films aesthetics whilst still treating the legacy of the original respectfully?

Comment by Bryn

September 15th 2008 05:26

Horrorphile

Morgan, in all honesty, I can't see any director being able to add anything that could be viewed as different, yet equally (or better) than Ridley (and Giger's) vision.

Did Sigourney really have a perm?? I reckon smoking will die hard ...

My only real gripe, that I still carry, is I don't think Ridley should have opted to show the alien bumping about the exhaust pipes at the very end, that's the only time the man-in-suit looked like a man in a suit ...

Comment by Morgan Bell

September 15th 2008 05:41

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well i guess if David Lynch did it the crew could consist of his stock standard midget and albino combo, the space ship could be black and white tiles with lots of red velvet curtains everywhere . . . and by the end we would be wondering if the alien was just a dream? haha

the only thing you are really going to be able to do differently is film it brightly instead of all in the shadows, or to have a particular colour scheme or motif (i can hear you thinking from here "what would be the point")

also the message from Alien (as with many seminal films from around that era) is very anti-establishment and bleak about the future . . . perhaps they could re-write it like they did with Stepford Wives to be less negative about "the system" and throw responsibility back on to the individual? the bad guy in Alien is a faceless corporation who are developing weapons but we are never told why . . .

Comment by KylieW

September 15th 2008 06:11

Celebrity Obsession

I think I've given my views on this before. But I say, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.

So I'm voting for no.

I can't think of any director that I think could re-envision what Ridley Scott did to make it better. So leave it alone dammit!!

Comment by Bryn

September 15th 2008 06:14

Horrorphile

perhaps ... i'd love to have spent more time in the original marooned craft on the planet ... fascinating stuff! what kind of alien race were they? what happened to them? was the space jockey at the helm of the driving console or a huge gun? the so-called sos turns out to be a warning, but of course, it was too late ... what was their story? had they crash-landed and the planet actually belonged to the nasty aliens?? perhaps david cronenberg could ad even more viscerality (is that a word?) to the whole thing ... lol

Comment by Bryn

September 15th 2008 06:16

Horrorphile

kylie, yes ... however there is hope, be it small ... the exorcist hasn't been remade, and that came out six years earlier and was also a big commercial success and spawned a few sequels ...

Comment by RubySoho

September 15th 2008 08:19

Music Zone
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Um...No.

Comment by Lady Henrietta Muddling

September 15th 2008 10:15

Potter in a Harry

Love Morgan's comment:

with lots of red velvet curtains everywhere

David (in sicko Denis Hopper voice) wants to ...

Comment by Damo

September 15th 2008 11:59

For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics

Hmmm

The true horror is to consider that it may be remade.

The Thing may have improved with the remake but the 70's version of King Kong....
The remake of The Spiral Staircase....
Any remake of The Hunchback...

I also hate cover versions of my favorite songs.

Comment by Jason King

September 15th 2008 20:57

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100000000000% against the idea. Not only is Alien and the entire franchise so HR Geiger reliant and beautiful in its macabre alien art but Sigourney is Ripley and without her we might as well call it AVP3 minus P. C Grade crap!

no remake. Don't even come near it. They could guard the original with alien eggs, raring to face-hug any studio producers thirsty for an "Alien" remake.

LOL Cib

Comment by Cibbuano

September 15th 2008 21:49

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hmm, I don't remember Sigourney looking that tasty in the movie...

... this isn't much of a debate, is it? We're all against the idea.

Comment by D. Armenta

September 15th 2008 22:20

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Normally I'll take the losing side in a debate just for the challenge, but---ugh.

It would be like Disney putting out an animated version of "Casablanca".

Alien is a movie that really hasnt dated at all, except for perhaps Sigourneys perm and everybody constantly smoking

I'll go along with the perm part (if it was a perm; didn't take notice) Morgan, but hahahaha!!! I can see you've never worked at an extremely remote location for an extended period of time with the same people--no matter what century you're in, after six months of remote duty everyone smokes--or worse.

Comment by Bethany

September 16th 2008 00:04

Martian Movies

Why not just re-release it in theaters? I think they should do that with all of the really major movies every decade or so. Jaws, the original Star Wars trilogy, ooh, the Matrix! Movies that really can use the big screen to it's fullest. Stuff people missed the first time through (the original Indy trilogy anyone?). That way when hollywood wants to flog it's dead horses, all they have to do is resurrect them instead of desecrate them...

Comment by Bryn

September 16th 2008 00:51

Horrorphile

Great AGAINSTS everyone ...
Cibby, let's look at it more as a petition then ...

Bethany, I totally agree! I've love to see Alien re-released in a brand new print! And the same goes for all the other cult classics that have been remade. Just re-release the original in a nice new print!

Comment by Bryn

September 16th 2008 00:53

Horrorphile

... there are exceptions of course.
The Thing (1982)
Cat People (1982)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)

Comment by JohnDoe

September 16th 2008 02:25

Film & TV on DVD

Hi Bryn,

Well the obvious answer of course in "No Fucking Remake!...EVER.

But just for the sake of arguement if they were to remake the original ALIEN then lets say Guilermo Del Toro, David Cronenberg, Terry Gilliam or Neil Marshal Direct. Perhaps David Goyer or Andrew Nicol as writers. Now who would play Ripley, that is the question, Jennifer Carpenter?

Comment by Bryn

September 16th 2008 03:33

Horrorphile

... yes well, who could play Ripley. Every actress under the sun would probably want to.

Comment by Morgan Bell

September 16th 2008 04:10

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hi David,
well red velvet curtains on a space ship would look pretty trippy, i can visualise a scene where they slowly peel the curtain back for a peek to reveal the darkness of the universe out the window and they realise they are not yet home . . .

hi D,
oh im not against smoking here on Earth but in the oxygen heavy air of a spaceship i wouldnt recommend it!

hi Bryn,
im not totally against it if it was done well and done with a relatively low budget and no CGI . . . those might seem like unenforcable conditions, but i can see it in my mind!
i could see a Coen Bros remake where the Alien was literally represented by the bag of money it would be worth to the weapons manufacturers and there is more of a moral battle going on for the Ripley character rather than her being completely uncorruptable . . .
i think Charlize Theron could be a good Ripley - when they dirty her up a bit shes a great character actor - or maybe Rosario Dawson?

Comment by Bryn

September 16th 2008 05:22

Horrorphile

Yeah, it'll be Rosario for sure ...
It can't be low-budget, cos the original certainly wasn't considering when it was made ...

Comment by Morgan Bell

September 16th 2008 05:59

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after seeing the forth installment of the Alien movie series and the terrible Alien vs Predator atrocities i wouldnt be giving the rights to a remake to anyone who was trying to make a big-budget shoot 'em up action chase flick (just my personal opinion)

if it were up to me i would only give it to someone who would turn it into a think-piece and character study . . . the horror/suspense version has been done and i dont think replicating it exactly would be successful . . . but the concept of the situation could be expanded as more of an examination of human behaviour, and space as a backdrop could be a wonderful canvas for someone who wants to explore the aesthetics of the location

i dont expect to change your mind, or the minds of any of the resounding "NO"s above, just thought i would throw a few ideas out there

Comment by Bryn

September 16th 2008 06:40

Horrorphile

Morgan, all good, and I agree with you on the shoot 'em up, that was James Cameron's sequel Aliens. The first is a kind of character study, but not in any real depth. I love it for being a mood and atmosphere piece ne plus ultra.
I'm obviously not keen for it to be remade in any form or fashion, but considering all my other fave horrors have gone that way, I was curious to see if I played Devil's advocate what kind of debate (if any) it might stir, particularly with the younger generation whom have only ever seen Alien on DVD (or maybe VHS) ... and perhaps weren't really that amazed by it, because they've got more out of Transformers. I'm being cynical here I know ... and probably alienating half my readership! Eeek, the horror, the horror!

Comment by Damo

September 16th 2008 07:17

For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics

Bryn

Why not just remake Babarella?
The first was deserving of scorn.
A remake could not make it worse.
And Alien would be left intact.

Comment by RubySoho

September 16th 2008 08:12

Music Zone
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if it were up to me i would only give it to someone who would turn it into a think-piece and character study

Typical belligerent twenty-something response. Have you being reading Nietzsche again?

Sorry. Private joke.

Comment by RubySoho

September 16th 2008 08:30

Music Zone
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Oh i just want to add that as a fledgling writer-director myself I find it disappointing that so many movies are remade when there are so many talented writers out there just dying for a big break. Think of all the unproduced screenplays gathering dust on the desks of all the Hollywood producers. For shame, as Grandpa Simpson would say, for shame.

Comment by Bryn

September 16th 2008 08:45

Horrorphile

Damo, don't chortle just yet, Barbarella is being remade, by Robert Rodriguez.

Ruby, yeah, I've about to start work on a second draft on my "supernatural erotic nightmare" ... and I need some funding from kung-ho investors!

Comment by Damo

September 16th 2008 09:05

For the Sake of Argument
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Bryn

Hahahaha.
Robert Rodriguez?
Will it good or will it be another Shark Boy?

Comment by Morgan Bell

September 16th 2008 09:28

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oh Ruby,

Typical belligerent twenty-something response.

are you playing bad cop to my good cop again? that is just so well scripted of you . . . quick send me my part so i know what to say back!

hi Bryn,
ive only seen Alien on VHS and DVD, its one of my parents favourite films but i also hold it in high regard . . . i dont know if it is particularly a generational trait but i love re-invention, homage and appropriation in the arts
i recognise that if it is done for commercial reasons film remakes can sometimes lack the spirit of the originals but ive seen some really good adaptions and modernisations done for arts sake

Comment by Mountain Fog

September 16th 2008 13:57

Infognito

I saw it when it came out, I took a new friend of mine not long arrived from South Africa, his family immigrated here to get away from the oppressive SA government and their racist policies (they were classed as "coloured" and made to carry a special passport by those scum bastard Voertrekkers).

So, I thought, why not go see a groovy looking Sci Fi, that should cheer him up! A mistake really, I think they call it post traumatic shock syndrome, he screamed louder than anyone I have heard, on or off the screen, and he swore I screamed too!

LIES!! ALL LIES!!!!

Well, maybe a small scream.

Anyhoo, it bores and angers me how those arseholes in control of production in Hollywood keep doing remakes because they want to double up on a previous success and they don't want to commission a completely new work, paying out more money for an unknwn risk.

So, it is a NO from me, besides, Giger is a God!

No one should touch his genius work and anyone who tried to do a remake would be a pale imitation, besmirching his legendary work.

cheers

fog

Comment by Bethany

September 16th 2008 14:50

Martian Movies

I'm probably part of the younger generation you're talking about, Bryn (an American of that generation, probably the worst of the breed) but not all of us are part of the cult of 'gotta have it now'. I'm perfectly content with the original Alien, (as well as it's sequels). If someone could recreate the feel of Alien with another movie- a spiritual remake, if you will- that'd be awesome.

If someone could take the original concept and feel and take it to the next level- superb.

But they'll do a slick remake and make lots of money off of it and the best you can hope for is that kids who are unenlightened through no fault of their own will go look for the version that doesn't suck.

Perversely, I'm looking forward to the Barbarella remake. I don't know if Rodriguez can pull it off, but I think he has a good shot at it. I've heard Rose McGowan was cast as the eponimous Barbarella... so it still could go either way. I guess we'll just have to see on that one.

EDITED: for clarification because I'm still a little drunk

Comment by Bryn

September 17th 2008 01:53

Horrorphile

Damo, let's hope not!

Morgan, yes, well, you liked Zombie's Halloween didn't you .....

Fog, with you on the Giger front.

Bethany, me too, I think Rodriguez could possibly inject some serious spunk that the original somewhow lacks, despite all its camp charm ... Rose could be great, but shame she's had so much plastic surgery.

Comment by Morgan Bell

September 17th 2008 05:16

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hi Bryn,
haha i did, i did!

Comment by Bryn

September 17th 2008 06:04

Horrorphile

Morgan, tut-tut-tut ... You need serious horrortizing.

Comment by Cass

October 7th 2008 12:23

Short Film Making
Filmsi

NNOOOOOO!!!!!!

It's a classic and still is. The fact that it will still play well in the present means it doesn't need tweaking or updating. If they wanted to make money, they may as well rerelease it as a xxth anniversay or something. (Or repackage the dvd or some other promo and it'll sell.)

Comment by Bryn

October 8th 2008 00:40

Horrorphile

Cass, you hit the nail on the head. Thank you.

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