Customer Reviews

Aliens: A Novelization

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Aliens (Film Novelization) / 0-446-30139-6

In as much as a film novelization is a fleshing out of a favorite film (not unlike the "deleted scenes" we get today in DVDs), "Aliens" is a complete success. Ripley's internal thoughts and feelings are explored in detail, and we come to understand better why she was willing to go on this mission to face her nightmares, how she felt about the marines she travels with, and her own evolving feelings of fear, determination, and protectiveness throughout the experience. The marines are presented here with more lavish care and subtlety than they sometimes receive in the movie - Foster insists on showing that there is substance underneath the movie bravado, and makes them seem more human and more competent than they appeared on film. Even the much-maligned Gorman is presented as less of an inevitable screw-up and more as a good-on-paper junior officer who freezes up tragically in a moment of extreme emotional duress, a realistic and appreciated detail. Burke, in contrast, seems to flirt with a fine line of sociopathy, and the novel character is so true to the way the actor played him, that the reader can actually hear the new novel lines delivered in the actor's voice. Nice little touches abound, such as when Burke and Gorman are kicking around possible alternative explanations for the loss of contact with the planet and Gorman expresses his hope that the colonists have just had a bout of mass religious hysteria resulting in a "collective pout".

Not that this novel is without flaws. Some of the dialogue is exceedingly hokey - I, for one, am glad that the movie's inquest scene did not contain Ripley making the pun that "Someone is covering their Ash!". Gah. Similarly, Foster's treatment of the Newt/Ripley dynamic is rather cloying, with way too much internal monologue on Ripley's part about how much to push Newt into trusting her. The movie definitely went the better route of minimalism and left much of the development between the woman and child privately unspoken. Fortunately, these flaws are rather minor and are swallowed up by the serious business of being hunted by aliens, which is superbly done.

Really, if I have a complaint about this novel, it's that there is nothing here that isn't in the movie, by which I mean that there are no "deleted scenes" here, only "extended scenes". I would have happily paid twice as much for this novel if it had included a chapter covering the missing time period between the facehugging of Newt's father and the arrival of the marines some three weeks later, but no dice - just like the movie, the novel hops entirely over that elephant in the room, which is a real shame because I suspect that the tale would be incredibly interesting. Perhaps Foster, as the novelist, wasn't allowed to add extraneous details like how the colony was taken - perhaps film novelists are forced to stick totally to the script they are given. In which case, this book is still a wonderful companion to the "Aliens" movie and I recommend it to all fans... but I still wish that it could have been more somehow.

~ Ana Mardoll

Being a fan of the movies, I knew this book existed. It wasn't until an office conversation came up about the movie did I decide to look for this book. It's essentially a script for the movie, so don't think you're going to get anything extra out of the book. There are some twists and turns obviously, but, nothing to write home about.

If you're a fan of the movie or a giant geek like I am then you'll like this edition. It adds to the experience of the movie, and there are a few talking points through out the book that would spark a nerd conversation with other dorks.

Pick it up. For the price, you can't beat it.

If you want this for the screenplay, it's worth it. Plus there's a few deviations between what was written and what was actually shot. There's also a very nice and informative intro by Paul Sammon. However I was disappointed with the lack of images and photos. There were some Cameron sketches and photos, including a couple rare ones (like the "Burke cocooned" one), but for an "Illustrated Screenplay" there needs to be more, I'm thinking at least 1 image/photo per 2 pages. When I turn several pages and there's just text, again, not very "illustrated." If you own the DVD or Laser Disc with the extra/supplemental material, you won't find much new or of interest here.

Commentary

I usually am one to read relationship/unrealistic novels such as The Outsiders or Catcher in the Rye, but after falling in love with the movie "Aliens" when I was seven I thought reading the book may be fun to. I have to admit, I have read this before, but not since the third grade so picking it up again was not a problem because I had lost all memory of the tale. The thing I like about reading books based on movies is that you get a whole new idea of what each character is feeling when something happens. For instance although Sigourney Weaver is a truly talented actress, when Ripley is trying to get Newt (AKA Rebecca Johnson) to drink the hot chocolate in the movie you don't get the same essence of her emotion towards the child as you do in the novel. I appreciate Alan Dean Foster because he has a tendency to go over what is expected and dive into the depths of a character, making them more distinguishable and easier to get to know. This book is truly one of the only books that makes reading it before or after you see the movie a fun ride. Plus there's a lot of swearing, that's always a plus.

Decent attempt to capture the brillance of James Cameron's masterpiece. ADF toned it down for young readers and in the most climatic scene in the movie (book), he has Ripley uttering to the Alien Queen, "Get away from her, you!" as opposed to "Get away from her you bitch!". What's the big deal with the b word? They use it in Prime Time TV!

Great book! Like the movie is was suspenseful, action packed, and scary. The first book wasn't as good as this one though. The best parts are the end, and the part where Ripley is trapped with the facehuggers, and without weapons!

Aliens is a fantastic movie and is one of my favorites. There is no doubt that it makes a great novel. The story is suspenseful and action-packed, and the marines are some of the best characters I have seen. The only problem would be the toning down of the language in the book.

Okay, I would first like to state that I am not a Sci-Fi freak with Leonard Nimoy-like features; If you are (and I'll bet 9 out of 10 of you who are reading this are), please go to the nearest bar (or mall if you still suffer from acne-eruptions) and try to at least TALK to a member of the opposite sex. NOW, with that said, here's my review: It's Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreat!!!!! (ala Tony the Tiger) Now get to the mall kiddos, PRONTO!!