Another Pass at Alien Resurrection

Case and Sam are joined by DJ Nik to revivify some Xenomorphs!

 

Overview

 

In the latest episode of the Another Pass podcast, hosts Case Aiken and Sam Alicea, along with guest DJ Nik, delve into the complexities of "Alien Resurrection," the fourth installment of the renowned Alien franchise. They discuss the film's controversial elements, including its scientific plausibility, character dynamics, and Joss Whedon’s unique screenplay style. The conversation highlights the film's shift towards a more campy tone and examines the visual aesthetics brought by director Jean-Pierre Jeunet, particularly the impressive underwater sequences. The hosts critique the character motivations and propose improvements, with Sam suggesting clearer intentions for the scientists and more depth for the space pirates, while Nick proposes focusing primarily on the scientists and Ripley in a more claustrophobic setting. Case adds ideas for restructuring the narrative arc to enhance suspense. The episode concludes with a tease for their next discussion covering "Highlander 2: The Quickening."

 

Notes

Introduction to Alien Resurrection Discussion (00:00 - 10:27)

• Case Aiken and Sam Alicea host Another Pass podcast with guest DJ Nik
• They're discussing Alien Resurrection, the fourth film in the Alien franchise
• Nik introduces himself as a host of multiple podcasts including Whiskey and Cigarettes
• Case positions this film as less respected than Alien 3, which he previously defended
• Nick describes his love for the franchise, noting the Xenomorph as 'the greatest creature ever created'
• He appreciates how each film in the franchise has different directors with different visual styles
• Sam admits she only watched the Alien films because of the podcast, as she's 'afraid of everything'

Plot Elements and Science Issues (10:27 - 20:35)

• The group discusses the questionable science of cloning Ripley to harvest the alien inside her
• The movie is set 200 years after Alien 3, with Ripley having died in the previous film
• Sam suggests the genetic material might have been recovered like in Jurassic Park
• Case notes the first three films maintained scientific plausibility while this one stretches credibility
• The movie explores Ripley as a superhuman hybrid, shifting the franchise toward sci-fi adventure
• Nick points out that Sigourney Weaver was brought back as the flagship character
• Case questions the scientists' motives for bringing the aliens to Earth

Characters and Crew Dynamic (20:35 - 30:37)

• The movie features a crew of space pirates rather than soldiers or workers as in previous films
• Sam notes the villain motivations aren't properly established, raising questions about their plans
• The group questions why the aliens are kept together in cells where they can conspire to escape
• Nick suggests this is due to 'human hubris' and scientists wanting to study their interactions
• The movie has a distinct 'Joss Whedon' style, as he wrote the screenplay
• Case appreciates the lived-in world aesthetic consistent with previous Alien films
• Sam praises the film's beautiful visuals and camera work despite her criticisms

Alien Sequences and Visual Elements (30:38 - 39:45)

• The underwater sequence with aliens swimming is praised as visually impressive
• Sam notes the unrealistic breath-holding duration in the underwater scene
• The group appreciates creative kills and set pieces in the film
• They discuss how director Jean-Pierre Jeunet brought a different visual style
• The film is described as more campy than previous entries, closer to a slasher film in space
• The cast is discussed, with Michael Wincott as the captain and Ron Perlman as an abrasive character
• Winona Ryder is described as distractingly famous for her role as the android Call

The Xenomorphs and Newborn Design (39:45 - 49:46)

• The aliens show intelligence when escaping their cells by sacrificing one of their own
• The group discusses the alien queen's live birth ability instead of egg-laying
• Case questions how this is an 'evolutionary upgrade' when it seems painful and inefficient
• The newborn hybrid alien design is praised as appropriately freaky and different
• The theme of motherhood continues from previous films in the franchise
• Nick points out how the newborn looks more human than regular xenomorphs
• Sam simply finds the newborn 'gross' and disturbing

Improving the Film - Sam's Pitch (49:46 - 01:01:06)

• Sam suggests clarifying the scientists' motives early in the film
• She proposes establishing that the main goal is creating super-soldiers like Ripley
• Sam recommends making the pirates more likeable so viewers care when they die
• She suggests giving hints about Winona Ryder's character being an android earlier
• Sam recommends establishing a military base on Earth as the destination for the specimens
• For the underwater scene, she suggests allowing characters to surface for air occasionally
• She would keep the film's ending but focus on fixing the first act and character development

Nick's Alternative Approach (01:01:06 - 01:10:07)

• Nick proposes eliminating the space pirates entirely
• He suggests focusing on scientists, Ripley, and Call (Winona Ryder's character)
• He recommends a more claustrophobic setting with military presence to explore ethics
• Nick suggests adding communication between the space station and Earth
• He proposes showing how Ripley's DNA was extracted to address audience questions
• Nick mentions that Joss Whedon's original script featured Newt instead of Ripley
• He wonders how the film might have been different if directed by Danny Boyle, who was approached first

Case's Restructuring Proposal (01:10:08 - 01:18:51)

• Case suggests making the space pirates the focus of the first act, with Winona Ryder as the viewpoint character
• He proposes revealing Ripley later as a surprise, during the basketball scene
• He recommends establishing that scientists have been successfully cloning aliens already
• Case suggests the aliens should have been in captivity longer to justify their escape methods
• He likes keeping the back half of the movie mostly intact
• The hosts share that Sigourney Weaver actually made the backward basketball shot in one take
• They conclude by mentioning their next episode will cover Highlander 2: The Quickening