Alien Quartet

by David Thomson

This pocket book details many different aspects of the "Alien" films - the different directors, the making of the films, the themes, the actors, the tensions on the set, indeed everything anyone could possibly want to know about them.

Genres: Nonfiction, Film, Horror, Media Tie In

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

David Thomson, renowned as one of the great living authorities on the movies, is the author of The New Biographical Dictionary of Film, now in its fifth edition. His books include a biography of Nicole Kidman and The Whole Equation: A History of Hollywood. Thomson is also the author of the acclaimed "Have You Seen . . . ?": A Personal Introduction to 1,000 Films. Born in London in 1941, he now lives in San Francisco.

Reviews

[Karen Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this little gem of a book which is a must-read for any fans of the Alien movies or students of film who enjoy knowing all the ins and outs of pre-production, decision making on set, post-production, distribution and release, and then enjoys a blow by blow account of scenes in the movies. Proposing that the Alien movies are really like four movements of a symphony, Thomson divides his book accordingly, with Interludes in between.

I read this book cover to cover and dip into it from time to time, usually after watching one of the movies. Having just written a column about Prometheus for a newspaper, it was great to be able to refer into this and remind myself of why Ridley Scott's Alien was such a seminal text for the sci-fi genre and for cinema.

Gold for fans and students alike.

[John Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thomson's critical take on the first four Alien movies is a great intro to Thomson's movie writing. He examines these genre movies as he would any arthouse film or acknowledged classic, taking them as seriously as they were intended, not being fannish or worshipful, either. His writing on the original movie is particularly good, and while I rate Aliens lower than Thomson, he is obviously enthused about the subject. He gives Alien 3 the attention it deserves, and qualifies his criticism with understanding of the chaotic production phase. He also gets Alien 4 in a sentence: It is a part that does not fit with the whole. It's one of the most enjoyable books focusing on a film series I've read.

[Andrei Mocuţa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite the perfect organism, but a fierce beast in itself.

[Eleanore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very solid film critique, which is unsurprising, given the source. What was just surprising to me is probably the level of engagement it maintained with me, given that I've only thus far seen Alien, and am only planning to see Aliens (while ignoring 3 and Resurrection).

[Roy Szweda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another second time around book for me when I refound it in a box packed away. A tenner well worth expending for all Alien movie fans of which I count myself an avid version way back to 79...
In fact I wanted more once it was over... but there are those whose interest wanes after Alien3 and quite rightly too perhaps. I like the final film covered in this book and have watched everything else since. Had he or someone written part 2 going up to the Prometheus / Covenant thread and in between I would read that too even though I felt these movies fell way short and not just because of the absence of Ripley... just something about those creatures.

[Johann_tor · Rating 2 out of 5]

A running commentary of the first four movies of the Alien franchise, this is too basic in its approach. The movies themselves do not necessarily warrant a proper treatise, but I'm sure Thomson could switch out some mundane details for a more substantive reading of the horrific aspects of the productions. Reading this will take about three hours, so you might consider it as a quick run-through of the tetralogy.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the write ups of the first 3 alien films but found the write up for alien resurrection a little confusing what was actually the plot of the film and what was the author’s ideas but that may be because it’s be n so long since I watched resurrection

[Shin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Author's commentary on a first movie actually helped me with the mental pain of stupid characters' decisions/actions. His insights made sense. It was an enjoyable read up till the third movie (although with a bit of weirdness in the second - something was off already). But the third - third was a blast. It wasn't that bad as he's bemoaning here, yes it was way less than the first two were, definitely not worse than the fourth, and not to this point of his whinings. I feel like I stumbled upon last century's incel man. I'm so sorry for even saying that, but I can't unsee it now.

Him constantly talking about her motherhood, yikes.
For someone who claims to be all for the yoopikaeis for her feminism, he is very upset and pissy about the sex she has, the hair she cuts (and, according to him, actress allowing it, even though had power for objections, and therefore him being mad). Dismissing as boring and unimportant killings of all the inmate characters, and only focusing on Ripley and how she let him down, by breaking the picture of what he had in his head, even though it was never even near for him to reach.
I was disgusted how easily he objectifies her and condemns her actions, moreover dragging the actual actress in his displeasure.
Okay, we get it, you want to see her innocent but pregnant, self-sufficient but only your way, being badass but not defiant.

On the fourth film he was insufferable. And disgusting.