Some are amazing like Alien, Aliens, and the first Predator. Some are pretty good modern takes like Aliens: Prometheus and Aliens: Covenant. The synth David played by Michael Fassbender is one of the most interesting and well acted characters on recent cinema. I’m definitely looking forward to some sort of sequel to Covenant.

One of the movies is downright awful (AvP: Requiem, doesn’t thematically fit either Aliens nor Predator). Alien 3 had some poor decisions that really constrained the narrative and has pacing issues. Alien Resurrection is quite corny (Sigorney Weavers acting in it, in particular all the sniffing and licking lol) and doesn’t really fit the Alien theme, it’s more like Firefly with Aliens in it. Predator 2 is funny in an B-movie action way (the Predator is shown getting stuck by lightning and roaring for the express purposes of looking cool). Surprisingly Predator 2 remains lore accurate despite being a bit of an action movie trope-fest.

The other franchise formats are interesting as well. The original AvP classic 2000 video game was remarkable playing as the Alien since you could climb walls and ceilings. The more recent Alien: Isolation is great at story telling and atmosphere but I hit some unfortunate game breaking bugs where I couldn’t progress :(. Aliens: Fireteam Elite is a nice little co-op shooter but they hobbled the design by only having 3 players in a game that should really have about 6 players to make effective use of all of the classes (like Killing Floor 2).

I have no idea where I’m going with this, but yeah I’ve been on a bit of an Aliens kick.

    • Gork@lemm.eeOP
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      9 months ago

      That one’s on my list too, just haven’t had a chance to watch it yet!

      Edit: watched it tonight. It was amazing. Though the scariest parts were when the fur traders were constantly speaking French at the main character.

  • Che Banana@lemmy.ml
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    9 months ago

    Predators was a pretty good popcorn flick, pretty in line with the original: bad ass mercs vs big bad zenos

    https://m.imdb.com/title/tt1424381/

    As bad as Aliens3 is, its one of my favorites of the franchise…IMO it would be great on its own without the tie ins to the other movies which were clunky and ham fisted in the way they were scripted.

    • UKFilmNerd@feddit.uk
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      9 months ago

      And if you have access, watch the Assembly Cut, it’s definitely the better version.

  • jordanlund@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    “Alien Resurrection is quite corny (Sigorney Weavers acting in it, in particular all the sniffing and licking lol) and doesn’t really fit the Alien theme, it’s more like Firefly with Aliens in it.”

    Joss Wheedon wrote Alien Ressurection.

    • livus@kbin.social
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      9 months ago

      And I always see it as more, a Jean Jeunet film.

      Fits right in with City of Lost Children or Delicatessan.

  • OrkneyKomodo@lemmy.sdf.org
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    9 months ago

    “Alien Isolation” is worth a try. It’s very faithful to the original film. Should be available on PC, Xbox & PS. It can be a bit of a ‘locker hiding simulator’, but the suspense is good. If I was being critical I’d say it drags on a bit.

    • IvanOverdrive@lemm.ee
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      9 months ago

      Alien was always my favorite in the franchise, so Isolation was the love letter to the original I’ve been waiting years for. It didn’t drag on at all for me. I loved every second in that retro '70s aesthetic.

  • livus@kbin.social
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    9 months ago

    One of the movies is downright awful (AvP: Requiem,

    Omg yes, such a piece of trash. Really annoying because AVP 1 is actually a lot of fun and they could have done a sequel where the final girl has to team up with Predators again.

  • TylerDurdenJunior@lemmy.ml
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    9 months ago

    I have just gone through the Alien movies, directors cut, which makes a big difference in several of the movies. I am a total Alien slut. I love all the movies. Even those that had budget issues (3) and the hated Promotheus and Covenant are my favorites.

    Something about the Ridley Scott extended Alien backstory really just resonates with me.

    I would also recommend the game Alien: Dark Descent, where you craft your own teams of space marines and investigate weyland-yutani shenanigans. It’s really hard at some points and to short if you ask me, but it was great fun.

  • Deceptichum@kbin.social
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    9 months ago

    Have you played the newer x-com style Aliens game? I watched the full video story on YT and it looks solid.