Movie #130 - V For Vendetta

Title: V For Vendetta

Director: James McTiegue

Release Year: 2006

Plot Summary: A shadowy freedom fighter known only as "V" uses terrorist tactics to fight against his totalitarian society. Upon rescuing a girl from the secret police, he also finds his best chance at having an ally.

Thoughts: I really feel like I need to see this movie again in order to wring out my true feelings about it. Perhaps I'll update this once I do.

Recommendations: Worth watching. Must-see? Haven't decided yet.

Movie #129 - Aliens

Title: Aliens

Director: James Cameron

Release Year: 1986

Plot Summary: The planet from Alien has been colonized, but contact is lost. This time, Ripley finds herself sent back to the planet along with a team of warriors bent on destroying the alien menace forever, and saving any survivors -- if any remain.

Thoughts: Call me uncultured, but I vastly preferred Aliens over Alien. The overall pacing was a lot better, and I actually halfway gave a damn about some of the characters (the little girl was just spectacular). The cockiness of the Colonial Marines, which spirals down into terror and insanity, provides a nice counterpoint to Ripley, who's after all seen this all before...

I did prefer Ash to Bishop, though.

Recommendations: Definitely you should watch Alien first. If you though that one was at least okay, you will probably quite enjoy Aliens. Unless of course you take your films way too seriously. ;)

Movie #128 - Alien

Title: Alien

Director: Ridley Scott

Release Year: 1979

Plot Summary: A mining ship, investigating a suspected SOS, lands on a distant planet. The crew discovers some strange creatures and investigates.

Thoughts: OH MY GOD STUPIDEST CREW EVER!!

(deep breath)

Eh. I think this movie was a bit too much of a "slow burner" for me - although that might be because I watched the Director's Cut, which these days seems to just mean "longer version." If I watch it again I'm going to try the original theatrical release, and see if that does more for me.

All in all, I liked the characters (especially Ian Holm!!), but DEAR GOD were they all MORONS. It was practically unwatchable for that reason only.

Honestly I preferred Blade Runner.

Rating (0-10): I'm giving up on numerical ratings. I feel like it's too arbitrary when I do it.

Recommendations: I'm well aware that this is pretty much required viewing for any sci-fi aficionado. But frankly, I don't think you'd be missing too much if you just watched the 30-Second Bunnies version.