Alien

*** out of ****

The science-fiction/horror film that propelled director Ridley Scott to acclaim, "Alien" takes its cues from Kubrick and Lucas to the point of nearly copycatting at times. The film's deliberately slow pacing at the beginning and its atonal, Ligeti-like score mimic "2001" (though it lacks the innate grace), while its action and some of its shots, notably the low angle shots of the ship's immense hull, recall "Star Wars" (but more overdone). Even if the direction comes off a bit amateur, it is still potent, and this intense story of the commercial towing spaceship crew who (quite insipidly) reawakens an alien species is really a story all its own. Even if you want to hate how dumb the crew members are, you cannot deny the badass-ness of the toughest woman on film, Sigourney Weaver as Ripley, her first leading role (and a solid one, at that). Obviously, you know how this film has to end since several sequels exist, but the film does throw in a few surprises along the way to make things more complex (for example, the character of Ash, played by Ian Holm). Also, let us not forget just how terrifying the alien itself is―the visual effects won an Oscar. 1979, 119 mins.