Sunday, 15 October 2023

The Amazing World of Alien, Predator and Friends

Rather than spamming franchises as a whole, I mix specifics with other media.

Alien (1979)

Before proceeding, why not reacquaint yourself with another fascinating story?


Miscellany

The Alien Legacy (1999)
Owing to the limitations of VHS edition, Nostromo crew profiles were created specifically for DVD boxset, and also the first time every film was made available for said format.
Going through Brett's service record...

Sep 15, 2097 to Oct 21, 2101 - DSV Ozymandias

Percy Bysshe Shelley's sonnet Ozymandias was published on 11 January 1818 (under the pen name Glirastes).

Horace Smith's poem on same subject matter was brought on 1 February 1818 with the initials H.S.

Alien: Covenant (2017)

David quotes an excerpt of Shelley's work:

"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"

Dino Crisis 3 (2003)
Guess what they called their version of the Sulaco?

And.

Clive Barker's Nightbreed - issue 21 - The Mad God Baphomet Part One (July 1992)
I am Ozymandias -- savior of saviors, god of gods.
Mouthbursters

Rule book is ripped up.

Alien: Icarus - issue 4
Alien: Covenant
Aliens vs. Predator (2010)


Please compare to:

Alien³ - issue 1 (June 1992)


WTF?

Chestburster leaving Newt's mouth and transferring itself to Ripley doesn't make any sense anatomically, but is unique to comic.

Alien: Isolation (2014)

Random crew member killed off-screen by a Working Joe is an obvious reference to Ash failing to do the same to Ripley.


Game is closer to comic adaptation, as magazine is violently shoved down her throat.

Alien: The Illustrated Story
For the record, he tries to strangle her with his bare hands in Alan Dean Foster's novelisation.

To be extremely mischievous.

Japanese flyer vs Dinosaur King¹ - S1 E48


I'm sure there's nothing in this, but shot of Max hiding from Black T-rex is uncanny.

¹rather than manga, anime series was adapted from 2005 arcade, with gameplay mechanics similar to Mushiking.

Keeping with the above theme.

Aliens: Tribes (April 1992)
Aliens: Newt's Tale - issue 2 (July 1992)
Aliens: Music of the Spears - issue 3 (March 1994)
Mixing it up.

C: The Contra Adventure (1998)
Starship Troopers (1959)

You can see a lot of Robert A. Heinlein's classic novel in Aliens.

Space marines, Powered Armour (as Power Loader) and Dropship.

'Inspiration' was not acknowledged.

Queen Alien

Beastie was designed by James Cameron in collaboration with Stan Winston, based on Cameron's initial painting at the start of project.

Cameron later stated in a letter to H.R. Giger's agent Leslie Barany:

"Mr. Giger's visual stamp was so powerful and pervasive in Alien (a major contributor to its success, I believe) that I felt the risk of being overwhelmed by him and his world, if we had brought him into a production where in a sense, he had more reason to be there than I did."

Subsequently, Winston is credited as Aliens Effects Creator, while Giger was the Original Alien Designer.

Get away from my eggs you BITCH!
While unconfirmed, there's strong evidence to suggest monster was based on a deep sea creature.

Phronima
Back with Giger.

Eggsilo exterior (1978)
Whether as nest or hive, others took note.

Aliens - issue 4 (May 1990)
Aliens: Labyrinth - issue 3 (November 1993)
Alien vs. Predator (1994 arcade)
Predator (1987)

For shiggles, an unrelated Wilbur Smith novel of same name exists.

Anyway, action classic blatantly rapes Without Warning (1980), as both concern trophy hunting aliens killing for sport.


To take the piss even further, Kevin Peter Hall played each antagonist.

One of the key differences in Paul Monette's pretty bizarre novelisation is that the alien is a shapeshifter, capable of taking the form of any creature it makes contact with.

Interestingly, this is opposite to the T-1000 in Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), as liquid metal assassin can only imitate humans.

Predator 2 (1990)

There's only one place to begin.

Greyback gifts Harrigan flintlock pistol.
This was supposed to be explored in Predator 3, but poor box office performance ensured sequel never came to fruition.

How mofo obtained firearm remained a mystery until 1996 Dark Horse comic Predator: 1718.

With his last breath, Raphael Adolini whispers "Take it..."
Greyback prepares a grave and out of respect, leaves his extendable sword there.

Prey (2022)
Live-action counterpart (Bennett Taylor) hands firearm over to Naru before monster cooks his goose.
At the end of Alien vs. Predator (arcade), Predator Warrior gives wrist blade to human cyborg Major Dutch Schaefer.
Cute.

Orphan: First Kill (2022)

Just before escaping the Saarne Institute, Esther literally bribes fellow patient Betsy by saying "Do you want some candy?"

Odd, but whatever.

Predator (June 1989 - March 1990)

Comic series (later subbed Concrete Jungle) serves as a sequel to Predator.

Detective John Schaefer suspects his brother's disappearance is connected to the spate of horrific murders plaguing New York City.

Mike Harrigan vs John Schaefer


Volatile personalities are very similar.

Little boy in park offering 'ghost' some candy probably came from:

Some son of a bitch thinks it's Halloween!
Let's give him some candy!
Subway massacre was lifted directly from issue 1.




Taking shit to extremes.


Yes, camera actually pans to show bloody hand.

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