Forum Topic
xeno_alpha_07
MemberFacehuggerAug-20-2013 10:11 AMRidley originally wanted to have worms inside the cranium of the Alien head but had problems:
[i]At one stage, I wanted to have a kind of subtle movement in the creature's brain, so I thought maybe we could fill a pocket in the cranium with white maggots and let them crawl around in there. Even Giger went 'Eeyuk!' at the one. But I decided to try it, so I had these huge tins of maggots brought in. We couldn't make it work, thought, because the heat from the lights would put the bloody things to sleep and they'd just lie there like spaghetti. We tried using Spanish fish -- which look kind of like wireworms -- but they went to sleep, too. So finally I had to give up...[/i]
[i][/i]
[i]-- Ridley Scott, Cinefex 1 -- © 1980 Don Shay[/i]
I'm glad in a way they never used this concept. What do you think?
11 Replies
BigDave
MemberDeaconAug-20-2013 12:26 PMMaybe this is where Ridley used the Worms in the Temple as a nod to a concept idea he originally had in Alien.
R.I.P Sox 01/01/2006 - 11/10/2017
Not_my_intention
MemberOvomorphAug-21-2013 10:05 AMi guess its like the crab walking idea, its cool and creepy in theory but in reality doesn't turn out very well lol
BSS1973
MemberOvomorphAug-21-2013 6:32 PMA perfect example of a director wanting to do something simply because he thought it would be cool.
Not because it made any sense,
not because it was a clue,
not because it was part of the elaborate, mysterious non-existent biology of the xenomorph.
Just because he wanted to.
If he had done it, can you just imagine the pages and pages, the miles and miles of pointless speculation. Oh, what must it mean? Oh, how very significant! There must be so much inspired meaning and symbolism!
It must mean [i]this![/i]
It must mean [i]that![/i]
It MUST mean that the predators are about to attack!
No, wait, it MUST mean that, not only is Vickers a robot, she's also a man! And Weyland was a robot, and Holloway was a robot and .....
No, sorry, it just means Ridley wanted to put worms in a skull and make it go boom!
BSS1973
MemberOvomorphAug-21-2013 6:32 PMAt first, I thought this referred to the decapitated Engineer head from Prometheus, but now I see it means the original Alien.
Not_my_intention
MemberOvomorphAug-21-2013 8:41 PM@BSS1973
why with the freak out? lol
not really, the only reason people speculate about things for pages and pages was because Prometheus was set up to be so mysterious and full of symbolism, so it makes sense. people don't really speculate for pages and pages about that kind of stuff in alien, at least not a lot and especially not about design choices. other then the over all look and things that are symbolic, like the aliens head shape, people don't really try to find meaning in it. so i dont really know why you said all that on this particular topic... kind of strange.
secondly, why are you complaining about deep speculation about alien, on a site devoted to deep speculation about alien? lol
meshuggah
MemberOvomorphAug-21-2013 10:48 PMlol bss1973, calm down, there is demonstrable philosophical commentary and symbolism in Prometheus, even on the level of text, if you can't extrapolate from the name alone then the film really just wasn't for you, you're either creatively intrigued by the subtext and allusions or you're not. Heck, even Alien has subtext albeit it was more psycho-sexual, and deliberately so.
shambs
MemberOvomorphAug-21-2013 11:17 PMI can post how great it is Ridley Scott as director and how beautiful are his movies (at least his works of science fiction :p). But after that, What I can say?
These are forums, and are made for that, to share our thoughts and ideas on this film, and in a way it's part of the fun.
Ok I know that some theories can be crazy, but everyone has a right to express their thoughts.
BSS1973
MemberOvomorphAug-22-2013 4:08 AMToo bad no one saw the humor in it. Sorry, after 30+ years in Hollywood, one get's very real. If you come to Hollywood as a fan-boy, you won't be one for long, so it's a luxury I no longer have. I hope nobody thought I was being angry, more like silly, while trying to be truthful.
It does make me kind of sad or whatever, to see so many people speculating and getting their hopes up for a remake of AvP by Ridley, with armies of super xenomorphs fighting armies of predators. So much speculation where Shaw is tossed aside, or killed off, as if she is not the center of the story, with a definite arc, that could have an interesting ending, that could be totally contrary to what anyone here has yet to imagine.
If this is intended as a purely fantasy based site, where first-hand knowledge and experience in Hollywood's film industry and ways of doing things are not welcome, that's fine.
One one hand, It seems like people are dying to know things, but when you give them a real answer, they act like you've murdered their dreams.
Doesn't anybody here want to see anything original? Is everyone bent on remakes, and recycled ideas from the other Alien movies? it only takes a few minutes here to realize, nobody wants anything new. People really just want more of what they've already had.
By the way "Prometheus was set up to be so mysterious and full of symbolism, so it makes sense"
Well, it certainly has the [i]appearance[/i] of being mysterious and the [i]appearance[/i] of being symbolic, so yeah, lots of speculation. I'm not convinced that the things being speculated about are legitimate. 2001: A Space Odyssey was profound and dealt with man's origins in a truly original thought-provoking way. Prometheus has us asking "What's the goo?"
"if you can't extrapolate from the name alone then the film really just wasn't for you"
Yeah, there was certainly a lot of extrapolation going on. It wasn't enough that the ship was called Prometheus, some people were sure some individual was also Prometheus. Then someone suggested that some Engineer was really Prometheus and that they expect the theme to be further explored in the next film. The Prometheus theme will be dropped for the second film.
The next film's theme will apparently be "Paradise"with all that might suggest or imply: Paradise, anti-Paradise, physical Paradise, spiritual or inner Paradise, and it's counter-part, hell.
Lone
MemberPraetorianAug-22-2013 7:34 AMI can see where you are coming from BSS1973!
I have to admit to regarding ALIEN as something of a 'sacred cow' & to viewing Ridley Scott as the saviour of the franchise!
However, since Prometheus, I have moved on & am glad that there is the possibility of something completely new. There would be no point to any sequels if that wasn't the case.
May I extend the hand of friendship to you? We have a dedicated, knowledgable, wonderful mix of followers on this site and I understand just how passionate and protective they are.
Who would want it any other way? :-D
"Let The Cosmic Incubation Begin" ~ H.R. Giger
BSS1973
MemberOvomorphAug-22-2013 9:23 AM"May I extend the hand of friendship to you?" Oh, thanks, that's very nice.
"I have to admit to regarding ALIEN as something of a 'sacred cow' & to viewing Ridley Scott as the saviour of the franchise!"
Alien, is..where do I begin? ....a very special and inspired film. One of my top favorite films of all time, along with Bride of Frankenstein (1935) and The Innocents (1961). I've studied film all my life, always with an emphasis on the best movies by the best directors in history, so I think a lot of Ridley.
I think I was still a naive fan-boy regarding Ridley, until I saw Prometheus. Since then, I've had to realize he's only human. Prometheus had such great promise, a brilliant viral campaign that had me believing we were about to have another major classic. Then I saw the movie. I think I'm still in shock over the disappointment. I hope Ridley can make up for it with a sequel, although, statistically, that rarely happens.
brego
MemberOvomorphSep-02-2013 12:25 AMWell I think it could have looked cool. We shouldn't forget that in the old days all effects were practical. This moving cowl would have been very Giger if it was achieved. Experimentation is the way to achieve uniqueness. Just like the inside of the eggs and the face hugger inside the egg, if we had known how Ridley achieved these effects, rubber gloves and cow stomach, we would have said WTF.
Giger wanted the Runner in Alien 3 to be fluted in moving valves, like a flute or wind instrument.. When moving fast, air would flow through the valves and make a strange noise. Thanks to the genius producers a big no. I think it would have been truly original and very Alien. So dont be so harsh on unique ideas!
Add A Reply