In terms of film franchises, there are very few that are as near and dear to me as the "Alien" franchise. Much like my beloved "Terminator", the "Alien" franchise received too many ill-advised sequels (and like "Terminator", should really have just ended with the first sequel) and even two eagerly anticipated (?) mash-ups with "Predator" that were...well, it'd just be better for everyone if we all just forgot about those flicks wouldn't it?
To put it bluntly, the "Alien" franchise has had enough shit thrown at them that it's really starting to stink.
As we all know, the original "Alien" is an absolute classic of horror and suspense. "Aliens" took things in a more action-oriented direction, but is still super fucking enjoyable and one of the best sequels, to any film, ever made. The much maligned "Alien 3" is a steaming turd...yet I've somehow developed a shocking amount of admiration for it over the years, considering all the behind the scenes drama and bullshit that surrounded it (and subsequently to this day is something that David Fincher doesn't want to talk about). "Alien Resurrection" is shameless garbage that has no reason to exist, and ended up being the final nail in the coffin of the franchise until the "Alien VS Predator" films years later...and then just a couple years ago Ridley Scott came back to make "Prometheus", which is touted as a quasi-prequel to "Alien", but divided fans and critics alike because NO ONE KNOWS WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING!
With all that in mind, a couple months ago director Neill Blomkamp ("District 9") leaked sketches detailing his take on an "Alien" film, which subsequently excited all of us fanboys, and even managed to convince 20th Century Fox to give him the reins to make a new "Alien" film. Can you believe that? The guy who helmed one of the most surprisingly awesome sci-fi films in recent memory will be helming a new "Alien" film that brings back Sigourney Weaver (and somehow Michael Biehn...uh huh...) and will somehow restore one of cinema's most beloved screen monsters to prominence.
Then I remember that this is Neill Blomkamp, who also crafted the severely underwhelming "Elysium" and "Chappie".
Fuck.
Now I don't want to be a negative nancy more so than usual, but maybe this is something we all shouldn't get too excited about maybe? Remember how excited we were for Ridley Scott making "Prometheus"? How'd that turn out again?
I guess what I'm saying is that I want the "Alien" franchise to stay dead and buried, mainly because I don't want to see it turn out like "Terminator", which has become a joke of a franchise that featured two classic films that got shit all over by subsequent sequels that shat all over the legacy forged by their forbearers.
Then again, the prospect of a new "Alien" film made by the guy responsible for "District 9" is boner-inducing, I won't lie. It's against my better judgment, but maybe it won't be so bad...if it ever does indeed see the light of day that is. Maybe it won't happen at all, the plug will get pulled, and the "Alien" franchise can stay put in the dirt for a little while longer. Maybe.
Oh well, at least if we get a new "Alien" movie from Blomkamp, at least it will look really pretty...I just hope I don't end up throwing my own feces at the movie screen in the process.
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