It's been 41 years since the crew of the Nostromo explored the inhospitable terrain of LV-426 to investigate a mysterious distress call in the sci-fi/horror classic Alien.
The artwork is concept art painted by the great HR Giger. I added animation effects to commemorate the occasion.
And now, for some music...
Yup. That's Jerry Goldsmith's theme for the film... in disco format?!?
So, yeah. Go crazy! Celebrate the xenomorph in your own way. Just don't be like Ash.
Sadly, actor Sir John Hurt passed away yesterday... Hurt was a part of so many movie and television projects, but the roles I will always remember him for include his performances in Alien, Jim Henson's The Storyteller, Hellboy, and Doctor Who.
Hurt holds the distinction of being the first victim of the Xenomorph in the Alien film series. The way I understand it, Hurt was one of the few cast members who knew what was going to happen during the original movie's most shocking scene - the emergence of the chestburster. While the other actors were visibly traumatized by the creature's bloody reveal (famously kept under wraps by director Ridley Scott, who hoped to catch genuine onscreen reactions), I can't help but imagine the fun Hurt had being in on the "joke". Reportedly, Hurt didn't have the best experience working on this movie, but I'd like to think that he enjoyed that moment.
Regardless, he was willing to spoof himselfin Mel Brooks' Spaceballs!
As the eponymous Storyteller in Jim Henson's unfairly short-lived television series, Hurt did an excellent job embodying the whimsy of the show's first season. If you haven't watched The Storyteller before, I definitely recommend it, if for no other reason than to appreciate Hurt's quirky narration over the retellings of lesser-known (sometimes funny, sometimes disturbing) European fairy tales.
Hurt brought a great deal of understated dignity and gut-wrenching emotion to a movie about a kitten-loving demon who beats the crap out of tentacled monsters. Personally, I love Guillermo del Toro's Hellboy film, but I can't imagine the reaction Hurt must have had to del Toro's pitch for the movie. Perhaps he shared in the misgivings of the studio execs that cringed at the project only to be won over by del Toro's infectious enthusiasm, or - more likely - Hurt saw the potential for Hellboy. Either way, Hurt delivered a great performance and proved - as he had throughout his career - that even as an award-winning, highly respected actor he wasn't afraid to take on a role in the often maligned Science Fiction/Fantasy genres.
Hurt's work on Doctor Who was limited to just one television special, but he brought his usual gravitas and dedication to his craft to the role of the War Doctor. Apparently, Hurt accepted the role as the "forgotten" incarnation of the Doctor immediately, honored to be a part of the shows legacy. Hurt delivered a nuanced performance as an uncharacteristically (but appropriate within the context of the story) cynical and hardened version of the beloved Doctor.
While we are certainly saddened by Hurt's passing, it's comforting to know that we have a great body of his work to look back on that ensures his legacy will long endure.
"Sometimes people only see horrible, terrible things in my paintings... I tell them to look again, and they may see two elements in my paintings — the horrible things and the nice things. I like elegance. I like art nouveau; a stretched line or curve. These things are very much in the foreground of my work."
- H.R. Giger
H.R. Giger, the Swiss surrealist painter, sculptor, and concept designer passed away yesterday.
It is impossible to discuss Giger without talking about the unique style he created called "biomechanical".
Apparently Giger was plagued by frequent night terrors throughout his life. He mentioned once that he only found respite by putting what he experienced on the canvas. Through the course of one particularly vivid nightmare, Giger recalled seeing a bathroom come to life in a terrifying manner, with pipes and toilet bowls developing skin and metamorphosing into gazing creatures with gaping maws that peered hungrily at him. This, Giger insisted, was the inspiration for his signature style.
Giger is best known for his design work on Ridley Scott's film, Alien. He designed not only the titular alien creature, but also the various stages of its life cycle, the derelict extraterrestrial ship and the "space jockey" pilot. Despite numerous problems during production of the film, Giger couldn't resist seeing his work in three dimensions. He endured criticism of executives and censorship from the studio only go on to create something truly memorable among the annals of cinematic history... The Xenomorph!
"Biomechanics fused the impossible into a savage logic: metal and flesh, sex and death, hypnotic beauty and violation; its cool, corpse-silver colors pre-empting Scott's industrial-tech aesthetic. The artist's contribution to the film is definitive-he brought the alien to Alien."
- Ian Nathan, from Alien Vault: The Definitive Story of the Making of the Film
While Giger's style is often emulated today,imitations of his trademark style pale in comparison. His mesmerizing, nightmarish landscapes remain as his legacy for generations to come.
