by Russell Porter

Created on: December 23, 2007

My first time watching this movie, I wasn't that scared...but it was only because the alien resembled my mom when you tried to wake her up from her nap. The drool, sharp teeth, and claws. It all makes sense, though I didn't realize it at the time.

This is the kind of movie that you would pick to watch together on holiday season and other long weekends and worth staying up late till 2:00 in the morning to watch.

Alien and its following sequels have set standards for many types of films that came after and is a classic for you to put on your list of things to watch.

A lot of the new films don't have strong plots. This gives you another reason to look up a few classic titles like this one, that are well made.

In short, the crew on the Nostromo investigate an unknown planet for resources and spend the entire movie being eaten alive.

The crew find an alien space ship and shortly thereafter misfortune follows as one of the crew comes back with a tentacle-like creature rapped around its face. The crew try to save their comrade and began being hunted down when the alien erupts from the chest of their now dead comrade.

What makes the series worth seeing is that the villain, the alien, is believable and strong enough in character and the plot to give the movie watcher a surge in adrenaline as they try to figure out what happens next and squirm in their chair in fear and surprise. As you watch this classic and its sequels you see wonder if the series' is really about the main character, played by Sigourney Weaver as Ripley, or the alien who tends to give new definitions to fear.

The fact that the alien is smarter than the other characters gives the story a strong plot and leaves you clutching your seat. In discussions with friends, we're still trying to debate whether this is an action or a horror film.

Just say no to films that have predictable and weak plots and pick up classics like this one to watch over your weekend. I could tell you more about the plot but why ruin it? This is the kind of movie you can have a great conversation together about when its all done.

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