Not seen Alien/Predator/AVP series - which order to watch?

[gregf40]

Aphex said:

Prometheus gets alot of stick here but is one of my favourite films despite its shortcomings.

It's main short coming being it's utter st.

[mp3manager]

Don't forget, Predator The Musical \0/

http://youtu.be/qlicWUDf5MM

[Speed Badger]

If you check out the extended Alien 3 on blu ray, I think there is around 30 mins of extra stuff in there and it totally transforms the movie. At the time I thought Alien 3 was ok, now I see it as very good, very deep and with a mystique and palette all of it's own. I like the way it steps it down a gear - instead of hundreds more aliens and bigger explosions it strips it back to basics again.

Can you imagine a modern blockbuster franchise doing the same? Can you see Avengers: Age of Ultron for example, being a rather gentle film about one of the main characters facing their own mortality with the nemesis that has haunted their dreams? Or do you think it would be bigger, smashier with more explosions and CGI?

Anyway, Alien 3 is definitely worth a re-visit but only in it's extended form.

[HD Adam]

mp3manager said:

Don't forget, Predator The Musical \0/

http://youtu.be/qlicWUDf5MM

[Du1point8]

Aliens the musical

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Noe95IxpsiQ

[entropy]

The problem is that there's nowhere else to go after Aliens and try and do something original to the series. Its either a haunted house set up or Starship Troopers

[entropy]

The problem is that there's nowhere else to go after Aliens and try and do something original to the series. Its either a haunted house set up or Starship Troopers

[Moonhawk]

Spiritual_Beggar said:

Contrary to what a lot of other people say OP, it definately worth watching Alien through to Alien 3.

I dont get all the hate for Alien 3. I actually find it the deepest out of the three, and it actually ends the Ripley story quite well.

Plus, it's actually a really good performance from Weaver. If possible, watch the 'Assembly' version of Alien 3 instead of the cinema released cut. In fact, its worth watching the directors cut of the first 2 as well.

Have to agree - the directors cut of Alien3 is a much better movie. I always thought the book for Alien3 was far better than the movie - and it bugged me the parts of the story that had been cut out. The directors cut restors these aspects of the story and makes the movie flow much better.

The only change I didn't like was the change from the dog burster to the Ox burster - I thought the dog one worked better and better fit the look and behaviour of the alien

[Moonhawk]

Back to the AVP topic.

I thought the first AvP was ok.........but the sequel, Requiem, was one of the worst movies I have ever seen. Only watched it once - and will never do so again.

[castex]

I love both Alien 3 and Prometheus.
Why not watch all the Aliens chronologically, like we all had to?
Then watch all that Predator stuff and AvP if you must. I find it a distraction at best.

[Halb]

Nyphur said:

As per the title I've never seen any of the Alien, Predator or AVP series.
I feel like I'm missing out on the excitement of the announcement of the Blomkamp sequel as a result... so which order should I watch the series in?

Do I go for release order, chronological order in terms of when the stores are set... or is there a better order like some suggest with Star Wars?

I know almost nothing about any of the movies, so try to avoid TOO many spoilers please!

Thanks for any suggestions..

The thing with those films is that each of them rewrite the story to suit themselves as they get made. So I always view them as stand alone films that are loosely connected.

So as great films;
Alien
Aliens
Predator
these three are classics and combine great story with great action. And stand high above all the others.

Decent attempts
Alien³
Alien Resurrection
Predator 2

No story just brain less action films
AVP
AVP: Requiem
Predators

Bizaaro hash-job.
Prometheus

If you wanna watch them in chronological order.
Predator
Predators
AVP
AVP:Requiem
Predator 2
Prometheus
Alien
Aliens
Alien³
Alien Resurrection

edit
And I've just read this on fb.
http://observationdeck.io9.com/how-to-make-a-cohes...

Edited by Halb on Wednesday 4th March 02:44

[Neil H]

Predator 2 is worth watching IMHO, but then I remember watching it the first time round when I was at school so perhaps have a different perpective. It’s certainly better than the AVP films which could have been so much better.

[Moonhawk]

Neil H said:

Predator 2 is worth watching IMHO, but then I remember watching it the first time round when I was at school so perhaps have a different perpective. It’s certainly better than the AVP films which could have been so much better.

Yeh - I quite like Predator 2. Whilst not a patch on the original, it does have it's own unique feel.

Predators was ok - but felt like a poor rip off of the original.

I was also pissed off to find that one of the scenes in the trailer was heavily edited and didn't feature in the movie at all. It's not that it ended on the cutting room floor either - the whole premise of the scene was made up just to make the movie look like it would involve more action than it actually did (see the shot at 1:24)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGYezUzZcPY

[Halb]

I recall the annoyance over that.

Not overly keen on these high concept films.

[smithyithy]

Halb said:

The thing with those films is that each of them rewrite the story to suit themselves as they get made. So I always view them as stand alone films that are loosely connected.

So as great films;
Alien
Aliens
Predator
these three are classics and combine great story with great action. And stand high above all the others.

Decent attempts
Alien³
Alien Resurrection
Predator 2

No story just brain less action films
AVP
AVP: Requiem
Predators

Bizaaro hash-job.
Prometheus

If you wanna watch them in chronological order.
Predator
Predators
AVP
AVP:Requiem
Predator 2
Prometheus
Alien
Aliens
Alien³
Alien Resurrection

edit
And I've just read this on fb.
http://observationdeck.io9.com/how-to-make-a-cohes...

Edited by Halb on Wednesday 4th March 02:44

This is spot-on in my opinion.

The original Alien is still the holy grail for me, one of my favourite films ever,just incredible cinematography and atmosphere, has aged very well.

Agree with the rest of the lists, but Prometheus, although I wasn't a huge fan, I'd say it's worth watching for the relevance to the main storyline. Moreso than the irrelevant This vs. That sequels anyway.

[a311]

I don't get the Predator 2 hate. The first if you're into that sort of thing (I am!) is a classic and it had Arnie. Danny Glover couldn't fill the big guys boots but thought was pretty decent. Liked the bit in the subway as well as others, the city back drop/urban jungle was a good contrast with the first.

Compared to the subsequent franchise films it's Citizen Kane. I didn't mind Requiem actually.

These sci-fi action films seem to get progressively worse after the sequel so far as I can tell- T1, T2 etc Alien 3 and the rest aren't necessarily bad films IMO just not a patch on first 2. Alien 3 kind of went back to more of a sci-fi horror a la Alien so I guess it depends on if you prefer the more action or horror orientated type o film.

Def for someone who's not seen any there's some very good viewing ahead! Wish I could have some sort of selective memory wipe and re-watch loads of classic films again....for the first time!

[marcosgt]

I quite liked Predator 2, it's very different to the original (which is a classic early Arnie movie).

Alien is quite a thoughtful, old fashioned horror film in some ways, whereas Aliens (my favourite) is all out action.

What I hated about Alien 3 was the appalling overlay special effects. In many scenes I could see rectangles around the Aliens... Rubbish... Even ignoring that, it's not a great film.

Resurrection is OK.

AVP - Yeah, comic spin off makes a lot of sense, lots of flash special effects, no story...

M

[entropy]

a311 said:

I don't get the Predator 2 hate. The first if you're into that sort of thing (I am!) is a classic and it had Arnie. Danny Glover couldn't fill the big guys boots but thought was pretty decent. Liked the bit in the subway as well as others, the city back drop/urban jungle was a good contrast with the first.

Bill Paxton - his performance was awful/lame script.

[willisit]

Nyphur said:

As per the title I've never seen any of the Alien, Predator or AVP series.
I feel like I'm missing out on the excitement of the announcement of the Blomkamp sequel as a result... so which order should I watch the series in?

Do I go for release order, chronological order in terms of when the stores are set... or is there a better order like some suggest with Star Wars?

I know almost nothing about any of the movies, so try to avoid TOO many spoilers please!

Thanks for any suggestions..

With regards to Alien and Predator, there is (almost) no lineage. See them as a franchise in any order you like. I'd start with Alien though as it's just fantastic.

There is a "nod" to Alien in Predator 2 but blink and you'll miss it.

Alien Vs Predator are completely and totally removed from Alien (franchise) and Predator (franchise). They work well in the comics; crap on film. AvP 2 is complete nonsense and breaks the continuity (hah) and even the concepts of the Alien itself. Crap crap crap.

I'd forgotten about Predators. Not awful, surprisingly.

[Jonesy23]

willisit said:

There is a "nod" to Alien in Predator 2 but blink and you'll miss it.

Funnily enough that bit was actually copied from the original Alien Vs Predator comic! I seem to remember it wasn't the only bit either.

And it must be said that the comic was much better than the AvP films.