Ridley-Scott Movie Reviews

"The Duellists"--a Ridley Scott film set in Napoleonic times--is the tale of 2 officers in the Hussars who are life-long enemies. D'Hubert (Keith Carradine) has the great misfortune of upsetting Feraud (Harvey Keitel) in a relatively minor fashion. Feraud's hot temper causes him to lash out at D'Hubert, and this leads to a series of duels over a thirty-year period. Soon the original insult is buried in a mountain of ego and tradition that demands the men face and fight one another--again and again--until one dies or accepts an apology from the other.

Harvey Keitel as the murderous Feraud is very believable. His body language smacks of pure hatred and instinct to kill whenever he hears D'Hubert's name mentioned. Keith Carradine as D'Hubert is a little weak and wooden--not nearly as believable as Keitel. Feraud and D'Hubert are complete opposites. Feraud is very much the brutish man-of-action--whereas D'Hubert is made of gentler stuff. Feraud considers D'Hubert to be nothing better than "a general's poodle," and D'Hubert thinks Feraud is insane.

Visually, this film is magnificent, and it's worth watching just for the costumes and sets alone. The dueling scenes were superbly created--with each man facing his enemy--usually at dawn. The light coming through the trees, the swirling mists--this created the perfect atmosphere. The scene at the very end of the film focused on the sky--dark grey clouds--with just a little light. It was the most beautiful scene in the entire film. The film is based on the Joseph Conrad short story, "The Duel"--displacedhuman

Ridley Scott has a fine eye. Many of his films are not my favorites because of their high-concept stories, but visually, few directors can touch Scott's sense of space, time, and composition. This little-seen gem is comparable only to Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece "Barry Lyndon" in its attempt to create the ambient light and sense of place of the late 1700's -early 1800's.

Based on a story by Joseph Conrad, chosen because the rights had lapsed, the film concerns two French hussar officers, one of whom, played with republican fervor by Harvey Keitel, is quick to anger and to duel. His nemesis is the aristocratic officer played by Robert Carradine, who doesn't understand why Keitel hates him so much. The film follows their careers in the Napoleonic wars over the course of fifteen years, from the early triumphs of l'Emporer in Lubeck, to the disaster of Russia, and the return of the Bourbon's. Despite their long-standing animosity, Carradine even saves Keitel from the guillotine, for which he his repayed with disdain and aggression.

This story is episodic, and there are many loose ends, but who cares? This is one of the most astonishing films ever made in its meticulousness, it's bravery (not cow-towing to hi-key filmic conventions), it's invention (a budget of only $900,000 dollars?!) and in the totally successful vision the filmmakers put up on the screen. Films costing 10 times as much or more are not so riviting as this film.

Scott did have to compromise; he wished for Michael York and Oliver Reed, but the financiers wanted American actors. Even though Carradine is occasionally weak, Keitel is intense throughout.

The Duellist is one of my favorite films. The DVD transfer is immaculate and the special features give us interviews with Ridley Scott, and the film's composers notes on his musical choices.

If you haven't seen this little gem, one of Ridley Scott's first films, you are in for a treat. The movie had a narrow, art house release in the late seventies, so the odds are you haven't seen it. The movie is set in the Napoleonic wars, and the military costumes are absolutely magnificent. In a commentary with Kevin Reynolds, Scott states that the uniforms cost 19,000 pounds--that is about $30,000.00 in 1977 dollars!

The story revolves around a series of duels between two French army officers, D'hubert (Carradine) and Feraud (Keitel). Feraud is the heavy of the piece, having started the duels for no reason whatsoever. But D'hubert's own warped sense of honor won't allow him to refuse the challenges.

Neither of the leads was Scott's first choice; the two actors he wanted were refused by the studio funding the project. If he wanted the money, he had to choose from a list of four actors the studio gave him. And he wanted the money. So literally every other actor in the film is better, and fits in the film better, than the two leads. Doesn't matter. This is a stunningly beautiful film. Every scene is so gorgeous it is like a painting. It is all about the scenery and the costumes. Every military history buff should own a copy of this DVD just for the costumes alone.

The DVD itself is gorgeous, with vivid colors, and it is crammed with extras including a director's commentary with Ridley Scott. Get it.

Alien is one of my favorite films of at time. It is a master-piece of tension, physical space, atmosphere, tidy special effects, ensemble acting, and the unrelenting desire to unsettle. Its gorgeous cinemascope frame remains one of the best photographed in the history of film, and its legacy lives on both in the trilogy of sequels it has spawned, the presence of its titular beast (one of the most influential move monsters ever) in our pop culture, and in Sigourney Weavers incarnation of the iconic Ellen Ripley. It remains one of the few films that I can watch over and over again and never get tired of.

All this explains why news of a theatrical re-release became my cinematic event of 2003. I had been looking forward to this for years. Too young to have seen the original film in theaters, I had hoped that eventually the opportunity would present itself.

The chance to see at the marvelous tracking shots through the corridor of the Nostromo, Brett's (Harry Dean Stanton) quest to find the cat Jones in the bowels of the ship, Dallas' (Tom Skerrit) trip into the ventilation system, the verbal and later physical spacing between Ash (Ian Holm) and Ripley, Parker (national treasure Yaphet Kotto) and Brett's comic interplay ... all of that, finally on the big screen.

What's unfortunate about this re-release is the same as most theatrical re-releases of moderate-to-classic films: The director has suffered from a cumulative attack of coulda-woulda-shoulda syndrome, and decides to rethink and rework the film for contemporary audiences. Apocalypse Now Redux. The Exorcist: The version that you've never seen. Those Star War's "special editions." What do all of these films have in common? All of them were diminished with the addition of unnecessary material. In each case, a director who just can't leave well enough alone sullies the classic status of the Original film. (Mad props are due to Brian DePaima, who refused to let Scarface be altered in any way for its limited theatrical reissue before its DVD release ... sense a pattern?)

In interviews, Alien director Ridley Scott has spoken of making little trims here and there to help the pacing of the film) and show more glimpses of the alien). He has said, too, that the addition of the often spoken of "cocoon sequence" now fits very well in the film (the exact opposite of what he had been saying for years).

The original version of Alien starts out slowly, building gradually until the last 25 minutes are as relentlessly paced as any action classic. To try and speed up the first part of the film, then stop dead the last act to include a shocking, previously-deleted scene seems nothing more than a sop to contemporary film-going audiences with no patience for '70s pacing and a fetishized devotion to the cuff of the deleted scene. This is the innovator, not the imitator, and each shift feels like a tiny betrayal.

For This version of Alien to be coiled "The Director it Cut" is a lie. Ridley Scott wasn't forced to cut any material from the original at the studio's behest, nor did he have grave censorship concerns which required toning down any sequences. The film as released to theaters in 1979 was his director's cut, because he and editor Terry Rawlings cut it. This new version, I strongly suspect, exists to promote Fox's up coming Alien DVD box set. The seven-person (and one cat) crew of the Nostromo is again expendable; the priority is delivering more of the alien.

Should you see it? Absolutely as a good 90 percent or more it is still the same film, and its' soundscape will mess you up in a theater with a good system, and the DVD directors cut sounscape definitely falls into the same category, regardless of how large your home TV screen might be. Will it replace the original? Defiantly, no. For new version I give it a *** rating, while rating the original receives a solid **** star rating.

Many have tried and failed to repeat its success, but nothing can beat the masterpiece that is Alien. Unleashed at cinemas in 1979, the film is a flat-out classic sci-fi horror flick, using extreme moments of suspense to build up the scary scenes. Directed by Ridley Scott, the film is a ground-breaking classic that still holds up amazingly well today, and made an international superstar if Sigourney Weaver.

In Alien, the terror begins when the crew of the spaceship Nostromo are instructed to investigate a transmission from a desolate planet, as they are on their way back home to Earth. Upon their arrival, they make a horrifying discovery - a life form that attaches itself to the victims face, using it as a host before breeding inside the body. The life form then removes itself, waiting for the young it has planted inside the human victim to be born and explode through the stomach. A gruesome description indeed, which is why the film is so brilliant. The alien is now on board the spaceship after it exploded through the stomach of one of the spaceship's crew, all because the remaining crew foolishly let him back on board. It's now up to the crew to stop this alien menace, and fight not only for their own survival, but the survival of all mankind.

Sigourney Weaver stars as Ellen Ripley in her film debut role. Weaver is absolutely perfect for the role, and was practically the first girl-power type female heroine who single-handedly carries this international blockbuster right through until the final minutes. John Cane also plays Kurt to excellent effect, especially in his death scene as he frantically wriggles on the table with the alien inside him. Harry Dean Stanton is brilliant as Brett, as is Tom Skerritt as Dallas. Yaphet Kotto is also perfectly cast as Parker, who provides many on-screen laughs. Veronica Kartwright stars as the loveable Lambert, the only other female member of the crew along with Ripley. Ian Holm as Ash is absolutely brilliant in his role as the android secretly sent on board to bring back the alien life-form, while - in his eyes, and "Mother's" - all other crew members are expendable. The acting in this film is really first-rate, which is another big factor in why the film works so well.

Many scenes from Alien are classics, and are all equally scary. The first really scary scene we witness is when Kane investigates the egg in which the life-form is waiting to spring out onto his face. The noise it makes is enough to give anyone nightmares, and the deathly silence that proceeds after the event is truly eerie. The first extremely shocking scene we get is when the alien explodes from Kane's stomach. The noises it makes, and the screams of pain and terror from the crew members is most disturbing, rivalling anything previously set in horror films such as the scenes from The Exorcist. Ripley's confrontation with the robot Ash is truly terrifying. After she discovers exactly why he is on board and what the truth behind their the mission, he tries to kill her, by blocking all the exits in the spaceship. It's only when the remaining crew (those who haven't been killed off by the alien) come to her rescue that Ash reveals his true self, spinning around the room with white liquid exploding from every orifice. Before long, Ripley is the only surviving member of the crew. On her own, she proves herself to be a true action hero as she finally defeats the alien on board.

All in all, Alien is a terrific sci-fi horror movie that plays with your senses incredibly well. Nothing happens for the first 30 minutes, and that is exactly the director's intent. By doing so, a feeling of extreme suspense is instantly formed, leaving you on the edge of your seat until the very end. When you think of the film when not watching it, you'll think of the long corridors and the eerie silence that stalks them, as these are the scenes that you remember most vividly because of the suspense created.

I urge anyone who hasn't seen Alien to pick up a copy and watch it today, because you really are missing out on a landmark film that redefined the way people think of space, and the horror movie genre in general. As they say, "In Space, No One Can Hear You Scream."

What a classic. I just saw the rerelease of this film in the theaters and had forgotten how great it actually is!

You won't find an endless string of senseless action scenes here. Alien is pure suspense, worthy of Hitchcock. The first half hour of the film intriguing yet slow paced, lulling you into a false sense of security. The characters are developed and you start to get a feel for them as real people. When action finally does explode onto the screen, it is well thought out and suspenseful. One of my favorite scenes from the movie is when Brett goes searching for the cat in the gothic bowls of the ship. You know he's gunna get killed. You know the alien'll get him. But the tension gnaws at your gut for what seams like eternity as the scene draws out. This ain't your typical action flick!

The atmosphere of this movie is incredible! Instead of bombarding you with flashy effects and loud noises, most of the movie is eerily dark and quiet, save the creepy humming of the ship in the background. It makes it all the more effective when the alien actually does pounce in a sudden burst of noise and movement. This is suspense at its best. One of the greatest things about this movie is that you hardly ever see the alien. Instead it remains hidden, lurking in the shadows letting your imagination terrify you way more that 1970's special effects ever could.

Unfortunately this fabulous film was followed by a line of mediocre sequels. The fiasco "Aliens", directed by James Cameron was (like all of his other work) mostly a non stop sequence of loud noises and not-so-special effects without much in the line of suspense or character development. Lets not even talk about Alien Resurrection.

But the original Alien is worth seeing. If you are at all a fan of science fiction or suspense films, you'll enjoy every second of it. If you haven't already seen this movie, get it and prepare yourself for one of the most terrifying movie experiences in you life.

Alien is one of my favorite films of at time. It is a master-piece of tension, physical space, atmosphere, tidy special effects, ensemble acting, and the unrelenting desire to unsettle. Its gorgeous cinemascope frame remains one of the best photographed in the history of film, and its legacy lives on both in the trilogy of sequels it has spawned, the presence of its titular beast (one of the most influential move monsters ever) in our pop culture, and in Sigourney Weavers incarnation of the iconic Ellen Ripley. It remains one of the few films that I can watch over and over again and never get tired of.

All this explains why news of a theatrical re-release became my cinematic event of 2003. I had been looking forward to this for years. Too young to have seen the original film in theaters, I had hoped that eventually the opportunity would present itself.

The chance to see at the marvelous tracking shots through the corridor of the Nostromo, Brett's (Harry Dean Stanton) quest to find the cat Jones in the bowels of the ship, Dallas' (Tom Skerrit) trip into the ventilation system, the verbal and later physical spacing between Ash (Ian Holm) and Ripley, Parker (national treasure Yaphet Kotto) and Brett's comic interplay ... all of that, finally on the big screen.

What's unfortunate about this re-release is the same as most theatrical re-releases of moderate-to-classic films: The director has suffered from a cumulative attack of coulda-woulda-shoulda syndrome, and decides to rethink and rework the film for contemporary audiences. Apocalypse Now Redux. The Exorcist: The version that you've never seen. Those Star War's "special editions." What do all of these films have in common? All of them were diminished with the addition of unnecessary material. In each case, a director who just can't leave well enough alone sullies the classic status of the Original film. (Mad props are due to Brian DePaima, who refused to let Scarface be altered in any way for its limited theatrical reissue before its DVD release ... sense a pattern?)

In interviews, Alien director Ridley Scott has spoken of making little trims here and there to help the pacing of the film) and show more glimpses of the alien). He has said, too, that the addition of the often spoken of "cocoon sequence" now fits very well in the film (the exact opposite of what he had been saying for years).

The original version of Alien starts out slowly, building gradually until the last 25 minutes are as relentlessly paced as any action classic. To try and speed up the first part of the film, then stop dead the last act to include a shocking, previously-deleted scene seems nothing more than a sop to contemporary film-going audiences with no patience for '70s pacing and a fetishized devotion to the cuff of the deleted scene. This is the innovator, not the imitator, and each shift feels like a tiny betrayal.

For This version of Alien to be coiled "The Director it Cut" is a lie. Ridley Scott wasn't forced to cut any material from the original at the studio's behest, nor did he have grave censorship concerns which required toning down any sequences. The film as released to theaters in 1979 was his director's cut, because he and editor Terry Rawlings cut it. This new version, I strongly suspect, exists to promote Fox's up coming Alien DVD box set. The seven-person (and one cat) crew of the Nostromo is again expendable; the priority is delivering more of the alien.

Should you see it? Absolutely as a good 90 percent or more it is still the same film, and its' soundscape will mess you up in a theater with a good system, and the DVD directors cut sounscape definitely falls into the same category, regardless of how large your home TV screen might be. Will it replace the original? Defiantly, no. For new version I give it a *** rating, while rating the original receives a solid **** star rating.

Many have tried and failed to repeat its success, but nothing can beat the masterpiece that is Alien. Unleashed at cinemas in 1979, the film is a flat-out classic sci-fi horror flick, using extreme moments of suspense to build up the scary scenes. Directed by Ridley Scott, the film is a ground-breaking classic that still holds up amazingly well today, and made an international superstar if Sigourney Weaver.

In Alien, the terror begins when the crew of the spaceship Nostromo are instructed to investigate a transmission from a desolate planet, as they are on their way back home to Earth. Upon their arrival, they make a horrifying discovery - a life form that attaches itself to the victims face, using it as a host before breeding inside the body. The life form then removes itself, waiting for the young it has planted inside the human victim to be born and explode through the stomach. A gruesome description indeed, which is why the film is so brilliant. The alien is now on board the spaceship after it exploded through the stomach of one of the spaceship's crew, all because the remaining crew foolishly let him back on board. It's now up to the crew to stop this alien menace, and fight not only for their own survival, but the survival of all mankind.

Sigourney Weaver stars as Ellen Ripley in her film debut role. Weaver is absolutely perfect for the role, and was practically the first girl-power type female heroine who single-handedly carries this international blockbuster right through until the final minutes. John Cane also plays Kurt to excellent effect, especially in his death scene as he frantically wriggles on the table with the alien inside him. Harry Dean Stanton is brilliant as Brett, as is Tom Skerritt as Dallas. Yaphet Kotto is also perfectly cast as Parker, who provides many on-screen laughs. Veronica Kartwright stars as the loveable Lambert, the only other female member of the crew along with Ripley. Ian Holm as Ash is absolutely brilliant in his role as the android secretly sent on board to bring back the alien life-form, while - in his eyes, and "Mother's" - all other crew members are expendable. The acting in this film is really first-rate, which is another big factor in why the film works so well.

Many scenes from Alien are classics, and are all equally scary. The first really scary scene we witness is when Kane investigates the egg in which the life-form is waiting to spring out onto his face. The noise it makes is enough to give anyone nightmares, and the deathly silence that proceeds after the event is truly eerie. The first extremely shocking scene we get is when the alien explodes from Kane's stomach. The noises it makes, and the screams of pain and terror from the crew members is most disturbing, rivalling anything previously set in horror films such as the scenes from The Exorcist. Ripley's confrontation with the robot Ash is truly terrifying. After she discovers exactly why he is on board and what the truth behind their the mission, he tries to kill her, by blocking all the exits in the spaceship. It's only when the remaining crew (those who haven't been killed off by the alien) come to her rescue that Ash reveals his true self, spinning around the room with white liquid exploding from every orifice. Before long, Ripley is the only surviving member of the crew. On her own, she proves herself to be a true action hero as she finally defeats the alien on board.

All in all, Alien is a terrific sci-fi horror movie that plays with your senses incredibly well. Nothing happens for the first 30 minutes, and that is exactly the director's intent. By doing so, a feeling of extreme suspense is instantly formed, leaving you on the edge of your seat until the very end. When you think of the film when not watching it, you'll think of the long corridors and the eerie silence that stalks them, as these are the scenes that you remember most vividly because of the suspense created.

I urge anyone who hasn't seen Alien to pick up a copy and watch it today, because you really are missing out on a landmark film that redefined the way people think of space, and the horror movie genre in general. As they say, "In Space, No One Can Hear You Scream."

What a classic. I just saw the rerelease of this film in the theaters and had forgotten how great it actually is!

You won't find an endless string of senseless action scenes here. Alien is pure suspense, worthy of Hitchcock. The first half hour of the film intriguing yet slow paced, lulling you into a false sense of security. The characters are developed and you start to get a feel for them as real people. When action finally does explode onto the screen, it is well thought out and suspenseful. One of my favorite scenes from the movie is when Brett goes searching for the cat in the gothic bowls of the ship. You know he's gunna get killed. You know the alien'll get him. But the tension gnaws at your gut for what seams like eternity as the scene draws out. This ain't your typical action flick!

The atmosphere of this movie is incredible! Instead of bombarding you with flashy effects and loud noises, most of the movie is eerily dark and quiet, save the creepy humming of the ship in the background. It makes it all the more effective when the alien actually does pounce in a sudden burst of noise and movement. This is suspense at its best. One of the greatest things about this movie is that you hardly ever see the alien. Instead it remains hidden, lurking in the shadows letting your imagination terrify you way more that 1970's special effects ever could.

Unfortunately this fabulous film was followed by a line of mediocre sequels. The fiasco "Aliens", directed by James Cameron was (like all of his other work) mostly a non stop sequence of loud noises and not-so-special effects without much in the line of suspense or character development. Lets not even talk about Alien Resurrection.

But the original Alien is worth seeing. If you are at all a fan of science fiction or suspense films, you'll enjoy every second of it. If you haven't already seen this movie, get it and prepare yourself for one of the most terrifying movie experiences in you life.

Alien is one of my favorite films of at time. It is a master-piece of tension, physical space, atmosphere, tidy special effects, ensemble acting, and the unrelenting desire to unsettle. Its gorgeous cinemascope frame remains one of the best photographed in the history of film, and its legacy lives on both in the trilogy of sequels it has spawned, the presence of its titular beast (one of the most influential move monsters ever) in our pop culture, and in Sigourney Weavers incarnation of the iconic Ellen Ripley. It remains one of the few films that I can watch over and over again and never get tired of.

All this explains why news of a theatrical re-release became my cinematic event of 2003. I had been looking forward to this for years. Too young to have seen the original film in theaters, I had hoped that eventually the opportunity would present itself.

The chance to see at the marvelous tracking shots through the corridor of the Nostromo, Brett's (Harry Dean Stanton) quest to find the cat Jones in the bowels of the ship, Dallas' (Tom Skerrit) trip into the ventilation system, the verbal and later physical spacing between Ash (Ian Holm) and Ripley, Parker (national treasure Yaphet Kotto) and Brett's comic interplay ... all of that, finally on the big screen.

What's unfortunate about this re-release is the same as most theatrical re-releases of moderate-to-classic films: The director has suffered from a cumulative attack of coulda-woulda-shoulda syndrome, and decides to rethink and rework the film for contemporary audiences. Apocalypse Now Redux. The Exorcist: The version that you've never seen. Those Star War's "special editions." What do all of these films have in common? All of them were diminished with the addition of unnecessary material. In each case, a director who just can't leave well enough alone sullies the classic status of the Original film. (Mad props are due to Brian DePaima, who refused to let Scarface be altered in any way for its limited theatrical reissue before its DVD release ... sense a pattern?)

In interviews, Alien director Ridley Scott has spoken of making little trims here and there to help the pacing of the film) and show more glimpses of the alien). He has said, too, that the addition of the often spoken of "cocoon sequence" now fits very well in the film (the exact opposite of what he had been saying for years).

The original version of Alien starts out slowly, building gradually until the last 25 minutes are as relentlessly paced as any action classic. To try and speed up the first part of the film, then stop dead the last act to include a shocking, previously-deleted scene seems nothing more than a sop to contemporary film-going audiences with no patience for '70s pacing and a fetishized devotion to the cuff of the deleted scene. This is the innovator, not the imitator, and each shift feels like a tiny betrayal.

For This version of Alien to be coiled "The Director it Cut" is a lie. Ridley Scott wasn't forced to cut any material from the original at the studio's behest, nor did he have grave censorship concerns which required toning down any sequences. The film as released to theaters in 1979 was his director's cut, because he and editor Terry Rawlings cut it. This new version, I strongly suspect, exists to promote Fox's up coming Alien DVD box set. The seven-person (and one cat) crew of the Nostromo is again expendable; the priority is delivering more of the alien.

Should you see it? Absolutely as a good 90 percent or more it is still the same film, and its' soundscape will mess you up in a theater with a good system, and the DVD directors cut sounscape definitely falls into the same category, regardless of how large your home TV screen might be. Will it replace the original? Defiantly, no. For new version I give it a *** rating, while rating the original receives a solid **** star rating.

Many have tried and failed to repeat its success, but nothing can beat the masterpiece that is Alien. Unleashed at cinemas in 1979, the film is a flat-out classic sci-fi horror flick, using extreme moments of suspense to build up the scary scenes. Directed by Ridley Scott, the film is a ground-breaking classic that still holds up amazingly well today, and made an international superstar if Sigourney Weaver.

In Alien, the terror begins when the crew of the spaceship Nostromo are instructed to investigate a transmission from a desolate planet, as they are on their way back home to Earth. Upon their arrival, they make a horrifying discovery - a life form that attaches itself to the victims face, using it as a host before breeding inside the body. The life form then removes itself, waiting for the young it has planted inside the human victim to be born and explode through the stomach. A gruesome description indeed, which is why the film is so brilliant. The alien is now on board the spaceship after it exploded through the stomach of one of the spaceship's crew, all because the remaining crew foolishly let him back on board. It's now up to the crew to stop this alien menace, and fight not only for their own survival, but the survival of all mankind.

Sigourney Weaver stars as Ellen Ripley in her film debut role. Weaver is absolutely perfect for the role, and was practically the first girl-power type female heroine who single-handedly carries this international blockbuster right through until the final minutes. John Cane also plays Kurt to excellent effect, especially in his death scene as he frantically wriggles on the table with the alien inside him. Harry Dean Stanton is brilliant as Brett, as is Tom Skerritt as Dallas. Yaphet Kotto is also perfectly cast as Parker, who provides many on-screen laughs. Veronica Kartwright stars as the loveable Lambert, the only other female member of the crew along with Ripley. Ian Holm as Ash is absolutely brilliant in his role as the android secretly sent on board to bring back the alien life-form, while - in his eyes, and "Mother's" - all other crew members are expendable. The acting in this film is really first-rate, which is another big factor in why the film works so well.

Many scenes from Alien are classics, and are all equally scary. The first really scary scene we witness is when Kane investigates the egg in which the life-form is waiting to spring out onto his face. The noise it makes is enough to give anyone nightmares, and the deathly silence that proceeds after the event is truly eerie. The first extremely shocking scene we get is when the alien explodes from Kane's stomach. The noises it makes, and the screams of pain and terror from the crew members is most disturbing, rivalling anything previously set in horror films such as the scenes from The Exorcist. Ripley's confrontation with the robot Ash is truly terrifying. After she discovers exactly why he is on board and what the truth behind their the mission, he tries to kill her, by blocking all the exits in the spaceship. It's only when the remaining crew (those who haven't been killed off by the alien) come to her rescue that Ash reveals his true self, spinning around the room with white liquid exploding from every orifice. Before long, Ripley is the only surviving member of the crew. On her own, she proves herself to be a true action hero as she finally defeats the alien on board.

All in all, Alien is a terrific sci-fi horror movie that plays with your senses incredibly well. Nothing happens for the first 30 minutes, and that is exactly the director's intent. By doing so, a feeling of extreme suspense is instantly formed, leaving you on the edge of your seat until the very end. When you think of the film when not watching it, you'll think of the long corridors and the eerie silence that stalks them, as these are the scenes that you remember most vividly because of the suspense created.

I urge anyone who hasn't seen Alien to pick up a copy and watch it today, because you really are missing out on a landmark film that redefined the way people think of space, and the horror movie genre in general. As they say, "In Space, No One Can Hear You Scream."

What a classic. I just saw the rerelease of this film in the theaters and had forgotten how great it actually is!

You won't find an endless string of senseless action scenes here. Alien is pure suspense, worthy of Hitchcock. The first half hour of the film intriguing yet slow paced, lulling you into a false sense of security. The characters are developed and you start to get a feel for them as real people. When action finally does explode onto the screen, it is well thought out and suspenseful. One of my favorite scenes from the movie is when Brett goes searching for the cat in the gothic bowls of the ship. You know he's gunna get killed. You know the alien'll get him. But the tension gnaws at your gut for what seams like eternity as the scene draws out. This ain't your typical action flick!

The atmosphere of this movie is incredible! Instead of bombarding you with flashy effects and loud noises, most of the movie is eerily dark and quiet, save the creepy humming of the ship in the background. It makes it all the more effective when the alien actually does pounce in a sudden burst of noise and movement. This is suspense at its best. One of the greatest things about this movie is that you hardly ever see the alien. Instead it remains hidden, lurking in the shadows letting your imagination terrify you way more that 1970's special effects ever could.

Unfortunately this fabulous film was followed by a line of mediocre sequels. The fiasco "Aliens", directed by James Cameron was (like all of his other work) mostly a non stop sequence of loud noises and not-so-special effects without much in the line of suspense or character development. Lets not even talk about Alien Resurrection.

But the original Alien is worth seeing. If you are at all a fan of science fiction or suspense films, you'll enjoy every second of it. If you haven't already seen this movie, get it and prepare yourself for one of the most terrifying movie experiences in you life.

Alien is one of my favorite films of at time. It is a master-piece of tension, physical space, atmosphere, tidy special effects, ensemble acting, and the unrelenting desire to unsettle. Its gorgeous cinemascope frame remains one of the best photographed in the history of film, and its legacy lives on both in the trilogy of sequels it has spawned, the presence of its titular beast (one of the most influential move monsters ever) in our pop culture, and in Sigourney Weavers incarnation of the iconic Ellen Ripley. It remains one of the few films that I can watch over and over again and never get tired of.

All this explains why news of a theatrical re-release became my cinematic event of 2003. I had been looking forward to this for years. Too young to have seen the original film in theaters, I had hoped that eventually the opportunity would present itself.

The chance to see at the marvelous tracking shots through the corridor of the Nostromo, Brett's (Harry Dean Stanton) quest to find the cat Jones in the bowels of the ship, Dallas' (Tom Skerrit) trip into the ventilation system, the verbal and later physical spacing between Ash (Ian Holm) and Ripley, Parker (national treasure Yaphet Kotto) and Brett's comic interplay ... all of that, finally on the big screen.

What's unfortunate about this re-release is the same as most theatrical re-releases of moderate-to-classic films: The director has suffered from a cumulative attack of coulda-woulda-shoulda syndrome, and decides to rethink and rework the film for contemporary audiences. Apocalypse Now Redux. The Exorcist: The version that you've never seen. Those Star War's "special editions." What do all of these films have in common? All of them were diminished with the addition of unnecessary material. In each case, a director who just can't leave well enough alone sullies the classic status of the Original film. (Mad props are due to Brian DePaima, who refused to let Scarface be altered in any way for its limited theatrical reissue before its DVD release ... sense a pattern?)

In interviews, Alien director Ridley Scott has spoken of making little trims here and there to help the pacing of the film) and show more glimpses of the alien). He has said, too, that the addition of the often spoken of "cocoon sequence" now fits very well in the film (the exact opposite of what he had been saying for years).

The original version of Alien starts out slowly, building gradually until the last 25 minutes are as relentlessly paced as any action classic. To try and speed up the first part of the film, then stop dead the last act to include a shocking, previously-deleted scene seems nothing more than a sop to contemporary film-going audiences with no patience for '70s pacing and a fetishized devotion to the cuff of the deleted scene. This is the innovator, not the imitator, and each shift feels like a tiny betrayal.

For This version of Alien to be coiled "The Director it Cut" is a lie. Ridley Scott wasn't forced to cut any material from the original at the studio's behest, nor did he have grave censorship concerns which required toning down any sequences. The film as released to theaters in 1979 was his director's cut, because he and editor Terry Rawlings cut it. This new version, I strongly suspect, exists to promote Fox's up coming Alien DVD box set. The seven-person (and one cat) crew of the Nostromo is again expendable; the priority is delivering more of the alien.

Should you see it? Absolutely as a good 90 percent or more it is still the same film, and its' soundscape will mess you up in a theater with a good system, and the DVD directors cut sounscape definitely falls into the same category, regardless of how large your home TV screen might be. Will it replace the original? Defiantly, no. For new version I give it a *** rating, while rating the original receives a solid **** star rating.

Many have tried and failed to repeat its success, but nothing can beat the masterpiece that is Alien. Unleashed at cinemas in 1979, the film is a flat-out classic sci-fi horror flick, using extreme moments of suspense to build up the scary scenes. Directed by Ridley Scott, the film is a ground-breaking classic that still holds up amazingly well today, and made an international superstar if Sigourney Weaver.

In Alien, the terror begins when the crew of the spaceship Nostromo are instructed to investigate a transmission from a desolate planet, as they are on their way back home to Earth. Upon their arrival, they make a horrifying discovery - a life form that attaches itself to the victims face, using it as a host before breeding inside the body. The life form then removes itself, waiting for the young it has planted inside the human victim to be born and explode through the stomach. A gruesome description indeed, which is why the film is so brilliant. The alien is now on board the spaceship after it exploded through the stomach of one of the spaceship's crew, all because the remaining crew foolishly let him back on board. It's now up to the crew to stop this alien menace, and fight not only for their own survival, but the survival of all mankind.

Sigourney Weaver stars as Ellen Ripley in her film debut role. Weaver is absolutely perfect for the role, and was practically the first girl-power type female heroine who single-handedly carries this international blockbuster right through until the final minutes. John Cane also plays Kurt to excellent effect, especially in his death scene as he frantically wriggles on the table with the alien inside him. Harry Dean Stanton is brilliant as Brett, as is Tom Skerritt as Dallas. Yaphet Kotto is also perfectly cast as Parker, who provides many on-screen laughs. Veronica Kartwright stars as the loveable Lambert, the only other female member of the crew along with Ripley. Ian Holm as Ash is absolutely brilliant in his role as the android secretly sent on board to bring back the alien life-form, while - in his eyes, and "Mother's" - all other crew members are expendable. The acting in this film is really first-rate, which is another big factor in why the film works so well.

Many scenes from Alien are classics, and are all equally scary. The first really scary scene we witness is when Kane investigates the egg in which the life-form is waiting to spring out onto his face. The noise it makes is enough to give anyone nightmares, and the deathly silence that proceeds after the event is truly eerie. The first extremely shocking scene we get is when the alien explodes from Kane's stomach. The noises it makes, and the screams of pain and terror from the crew members is most disturbing, rivalling anything previously set in horror films such as the scenes from The Exorcist. Ripley's confrontation with the robot Ash is truly terrifying. After she discovers exactly why he is on board and what the truth behind their the mission, he tries to kill her, by blocking all the exits in the spaceship. It's only when the remaining crew (those who haven't been killed off by the alien) come to her rescue that Ash reveals his true self, spinning around the room with white liquid exploding from every orifice. Before long, Ripley is the only surviving member of the crew. On her own, she proves herself to be a true action hero as she finally defeats the alien on board.

All in all, Alien is a terrific sci-fi horror movie that plays with your senses incredibly well. Nothing happens for the first 30 minutes, and that is exactly the director's intent. By doing so, a feeling of extreme suspense is instantly formed, leaving you on the edge of your seat until the very end. When you think of the film when not watching it, you'll think of the long corridors and the eerie silence that stalks them, as these are the scenes that you remember most vividly because of the suspense created.

I urge anyone who hasn't seen Alien to pick up a copy and watch it today, because you really are missing out on a landmark film that redefined the way people think of space, and the horror movie genre in general. As they say, "In Space, No One Can Hear You Scream."

What a classic. I just saw the rerelease of this film in the theaters and had forgotten how great it actually is!

You won't find an endless string of senseless action scenes here. Alien is pure suspense, worthy of Hitchcock. The first half hour of the film intriguing yet slow paced, lulling you into a false sense of security. The characters are developed and you start to get a feel for them as real people. When action finally does explode onto the screen, it is well thought out and suspenseful. One of my favorite scenes from the movie is when Brett goes searching for the cat in the gothic bowls of the ship. You know he's gunna get killed. You know the alien'll get him. But the tension gnaws at your gut for what seams like eternity as the scene draws out. This ain't your typical action flick!

The atmosphere of this movie is incredible! Instead of bombarding you with flashy effects and loud noises, most of the movie is eerily dark and quiet, save the creepy humming of the ship in the background. It makes it all the more effective when the alien actually does pounce in a sudden burst of noise and movement. This is suspense at its best. One of the greatest things about this movie is that you hardly ever see the alien. Instead it remains hidden, lurking in the shadows letting your imagination terrify you way more that 1970's special effects ever could.

Unfortunately this fabulous film was followed by a line of mediocre sequels. The fiasco "Aliens", directed by James Cameron was (like all of his other work) mostly a non stop sequence of loud noises and not-so-special effects without much in the line of suspense or character development. Lets not even talk about Alien Resurrection.

But the original Alien is worth seeing. If you are at all a fan of science fiction or suspense films, you'll enjoy every second of it. If you haven't already seen this movie, get it and prepare yourself for one of the most terrifying movie experiences in you life.

This film has so many wonderful elements, from the funny little asides ("sir, you're standing in your pizza") to the lonely, still faces of the American West that the camera captures to examine against the wild exhilaration of Thelma & Louise's journey. There's mystery, too: what really happened to Louise in Texas?? All the performances beginning with Sarandon and Davis are outstanding, producing unforgettable characters. If I'm not mistaken, this was Brad Pitt's first major picture; who can forget his encounter with Thelma's husband in the police station?

There's a strong feminist theme to be sure, but at heart the film is really about freedom, free will, the nature of criminality, and restraints on human behavior (and the consequences of lifting them). This is inherently understood by the police officer played by Harvey Keitel, who is deeply concerned for the well-being of the two fugitives from justice while showing no compunction about roughing up the petty crook played by Pitt.

The icing on the cake: a GREAT soundtrack (available on CD, and definitely worth buying separately!)

"Thelma and Louise" has been described as a road movie, a buddy film, a chick flick, and while it is each of these, it is so much more than the sum of all its parts that it defies an easy description. Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis in the title roles bring a chemistry to the film that sets off sparks. The acting, Ridley Scott's direction, Callie Khoury's screenplay, the stunning cinematography, and above all, the film's score, played by the legendary B.B. King, make this one of the great movies of the 1990's. The movie tells the story of Louise (Sarandon), a thirty-something waitress, whose musician boyfriend is commitment-phobic, and Thelma (Davis), a submissive Barbie-doll type housewife, used to letting everyone else do her thinking for her, totally faithful to her cheating creepazoid of a husband. The ladies decide they need a break from the unsatisfactory men in their lives and hit the road for some R and R at weekend retreat. A chance stop at a roadside bar ends in attempted rape and retaliatory murder, and Thelma and Louise are on the road for real this time, running from the law across some of the most spectacularly beautiful scenery in the American Southwest. On their way, they pick up a lowlife drifter (a terrific performance by Brad Pitt) who almost ruins their chances for escape. When Louise, who has up to now been leading Thelma, is ready to collapse in defeat, it is Thelma who picks her up and takes over. One of the most interesting things to watch in this movie is Thelma's progression from a brain-dead zombie to a strong, resourceful, independent individual. It is Thelma who seals their fate irreversibly (murder may be a justifiable reaction to attempted rape, but there is no excuse for robbing a convenience store at gunpoint), and who rescues them when they are pulled over by a cop in New Mexico. The movie ends in the only way it could end (no way are we going to see these two ladies in handcuffs) and while it's a sad ending, it's also exhilarating to realize that Thelma and Louise lived more in a weekend than many people live in a lifetime.

This is a kick butt movie. Different from the other flicks out there. Both women deliver some fierce performances. Pitt is so hot in this isn't he? My, my, my, I'd have gotten flustered and left that money in the hotel room too... MMM MMM MMM. The ending, I hate, but it has to be that way. Excellent flick.

This film has so many wonderful elements, from the funny little asides ("sir, you're standing in your pizza") to the lonely, still faces of the American West that the camera captures to examine against the wild exhilaration of Thelma & Louise's journey. There's mystery, too: what really happened to Louise in Texas?? All the performances beginning with Sarandon and Davis are outstanding, producing unforgettable characters. If I'm not mistaken, this was Brad Pitt's first major picture; who can forget his encounter with Thelma's husband in the police station?

There's a strong feminist theme to be sure, but at heart the film is really about freedom, free will, the nature of criminality, and restraints on human behavior (and the consequences of lifting them). This is inherently understood by the police officer played by Harvey Keitel, who is deeply concerned for the well-being of the two fugitives from justice while showing no compunction about roughing up the petty crook played by Pitt.

The icing on the cake: a GREAT soundtrack (available on CD, and definitely worth buying separately!)

"Thelma and Louise" has been described as a road movie, a buddy film, a chick flick, and while it is each of these, it is so much more than the sum of all its parts that it defies an easy description. Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis in the title roles bring a chemistry to the film that sets off sparks. The acting, Ridley Scott's direction, Callie Khoury's screenplay, the stunning cinematography, and above all, the film's score, played by the legendary B.B. King, make this one of the great movies of the 1990's. The movie tells the story of Louise (Sarandon), a thirty-something waitress, whose musician boyfriend is commitment-phobic, and Thelma (Davis), a submissive Barbie-doll type housewife, used to letting everyone else do her thinking for her, totally faithful to her cheating creepazoid of a husband. The ladies decide they need a break from the unsatisfactory men in their lives and hit the road for some R and R at weekend retreat. A chance stop at a roadside bar ends in attempted rape and retaliatory murder, and Thelma and Louise are on the road for real this time, running from the law across some of the most spectacularly beautiful scenery in the American Southwest. On their way, they pick up a lowlife drifter (a terrific performance by Brad Pitt) who almost ruins their chances for escape. When Louise, who has up to now been leading Thelma, is ready to collapse in defeat, it is Thelma who picks her up and takes over. One of the most interesting things to watch in this movie is Thelma's progression from a brain-dead zombie to a strong, resourceful, independent individual. It is Thelma who seals their fate irreversibly (murder may be a justifiable reaction to attempted rape, but there is no excuse for robbing a convenience store at gunpoint), and who rescues them when they are pulled over by a cop in New Mexico. The movie ends in the only way it could end (no way are we going to see these two ladies in handcuffs) and while it's a sad ending, it's also exhilarating to realize that Thelma and Louise lived more in a weekend than many people live in a lifetime.

This is a kick butt movie. Different from the other flicks out there. Both women deliver some fierce performances. Pitt is so hot in this isn't he? My, my, my, I'd have gotten flustered and left that money in the hotel room too... MMM MMM MMM. The ending, I hate, but it has to be that way. Excellent flick.

This film has so many wonderful elements, from the funny little asides ("sir, you're standing in your pizza") to the lonely, still faces of the American West that the camera captures to examine against the wild exhilaration of Thelma & Louise's journey. There's mystery, too: what really happened to Louise in Texas?? All the performances beginning with Sarandon and Davis are outstanding, producing unforgettable characters. If I'm not mistaken, this was Brad Pitt's first major picture; who can forget his encounter with Thelma's husband in the police station?

There's a strong feminist theme to be sure, but at heart the film is really about freedom, free will, the nature of criminality, and restraints on human behavior (and the consequences of lifting them). This is inherently understood by the police officer played by Harvey Keitel, who is deeply concerned for the well-being of the two fugitives from justice while showing no compunction about roughing up the petty crook played by Pitt.

The icing on the cake: a GREAT soundtrack (available on CD, and definitely worth buying separately!)

"Thelma and Louise" has been described as a road movie, a buddy film, a chick flick, and while it is each of these, it is so much more than the sum of all its parts that it defies an easy description. Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis in the title roles bring a chemistry to the film that sets off sparks. The acting, Ridley Scott's direction, Callie Khoury's screenplay, the stunning cinematography, and above all, the film's score, played by the legendary B.B. King, make this one of the great movies of the 1990's. The movie tells the story of Louise (Sarandon), a thirty-something waitress, whose musician boyfriend is commitment-phobic, and Thelma (Davis), a submissive Barbie-doll type housewife, used to letting everyone else do her thinking for her, totally faithful to her cheating creepazoid of a husband. The ladies decide they need a break from the unsatisfactory men in their lives and hit the road for some R and R at weekend retreat. A chance stop at a roadside bar ends in attempted rape and retaliatory murder, and Thelma and Louise are on the road for real this time, running from the law across some of the most spectacularly beautiful scenery in the American Southwest. On their way, they pick up a lowlife drifter (a terrific performance by Brad Pitt) who almost ruins their chances for escape. When Louise, who has up to now been leading Thelma, is ready to collapse in defeat, it is Thelma who picks her up and takes over. One of the most interesting things to watch in this movie is Thelma's progression from a brain-dead zombie to a strong, resourceful, independent individual. It is Thelma who seals their fate irreversibly (murder may be a justifiable reaction to attempted rape, but there is no excuse for robbing a convenience store at gunpoint), and who rescues them when they are pulled over by a cop in New Mexico. The movie ends in the only way it could end (no way are we going to see these two ladies in handcuffs) and while it's a sad ending, it's also exhilarating to realize that Thelma and Louise lived more in a weekend than many people live in a lifetime.

This is a kick butt movie. Different from the other flicks out there. Both women deliver some fierce performances. Pitt is so hot in this isn't he? My, my, my, I'd have gotten flustered and left that money in the hotel room too... MMM MMM MMM. The ending, I hate, but it has to be that way. Excellent flick.

I recently viewed Ridley Scott's masterpiece 1492:Conquest of Paradise, and I am very proud to say I share the same Italian nationality that Columbus did, and of course new found respect for the founder of the West.
This movie was so good because it highlights the details of 15th and 16th Century life and how the Europeans made something from nothing. The politics are also highlighted in this movie, but I think it's fairly done. I'm in total agreement that the savages of those lands had to be civilized in order for there to be peace and progress in those lands, but I can understand the fear held by those tribes against the European invaders. People may disagree about if the Europeans should've stayed and conquered those lands, but nations are won and lost by war, and once Columbus set foot in the West Indies, there's no logic in thinking that the routes to the West wouldn't explode with conquerers.
Ridley Scott creates the most beautiful scenes throughout this entire movie, one of my favorite is the ceremony held for Columbus in the cathedral upon returning from his first voyage of discovery.....stunning.
The acting is fantastic. If this movie was in French, Depardieu would've easily won Best Actor. That this movie was not nominated back in 1992 is high crime.
The music of the film adds to the drama of one of the most dramatic events in the history of the world.
Everybody should see 1492 Conquest of Paradise.

1492 is an amazing Ridley Scott film. Time to answer some questions a viewer here might want to ask. Is it slow paced? yes at times it is. Is it boring? no (depends if your interested in history). Is Gerard Depardieu terrible in the movie? No. He does a great job with the role and portrays Columbus as an artist, a man with lots of passion much like himself. Does he screw up some of his lines in the movie? Not really. Just sounds like it at times. But if you have subtitles you would fine he is pronouncing all his lines fairly accurately. 1492 flopped at the box office so is it really that bad and unprofessional? Box office results say nothing about the quality of a movie. 1492 is a stroke of cinematic genius. Is it historically accurate? In most parts but like all history movies it get's self indulgent and rewrites history a little in spots. Is it some of Ridley Scott's best work? Yes. Why isn't it on DVD yet in the USA? Good question.

In the morning we got under weigh, and I ordered the Pinta to steer east and southeast and the Nina south- southeast; proceeding myself to the southeast the other vessels I directed to keep on the courses prescribed till noon, and then to rejoin me. Within three hours we descried an island to the east toward which we directed our course, and arrived all three, before noon, at the northern extremity, where a rocky islet and reef extend toward the North, with another between them and the main island. The Indians on board the ships called this island Saomete. I named it Isabela. It lies westerly from the island of Fernandina, and the coast extends from the islet twelve leagues, west, to a cape which I called Cabo Hermoso, it being a beautiful, round headland with a bold shore free from shoals. Part of the shore is rocky, but the rest of it, like most of the coast here, a sandy beach. Here we anchored till morning.

This island is the most beautiful that I have yet seen, the trees in great number, flourishing and lofty; the land is higher than the other islands, and exhibits an eminence, which though it cannot be called a mountain, yet adds a beauty to its appearance, and gives an indication of streams of water in the interior. From this part toward the northeast is an extensive bay with many large and thick groves. I wished to anchor there, and land, that I might examine those delightful regions, but found the coast shoal, without a possibility of casting anchor except at a distance from the shore.

The wind being favorable, I came to the Cape, which I named Hermoso, where I anchored today. This is so beautiful a place, as well as the neighboring regions, that I know not in which course to proceed first; my eyes are never tired with viewing such delightful verdure, and of a species so new and dissimilar to that of our country, and I have no doubt there are trees and herbs here which would be of great value in Spain, as dyeing materials, medicine, spicery, etc., but I am mortified that I have no acquaintance with them.

Upon our arrival here we experienced the most sweet and delightful odor from the flowers or trees of the island. Tomorrow morning before we depart, I intend to land and see what can be found in the neighborhood. Here is no village, but farther within the island is one, where our Indians inform us we shall find the king, and that he has much gold. I shall penetrate so far as to reach the village and see or speak with the king, who, as they tell us, governs all these islands, and goes dressed, with a great deal of gold about him.

I do not, however, give much credit to these accounts, as I understand the natives but imperfectly, and perceive them to be so poor that a trifling quantity of gold appears to them a great amount. This island appears to me to be a separate one from that of Saomete, and I even think there may be others between them. I am not solicitous to examine particularly everything here, which indeed could not be done in fifty years, because my desire is to make all possible discoveries, and return to your Highnesses, if it please our Lord, in April. But in truth, should I meet with gold or spices in great quantity, I shall remain till I collect as much as possible, and for this purpose I am proceeding solely in quest of them (Christopher Columbus - Friday, 19 October 1492).

This film is amongst the most beautiful and adventurous of all films! I find Christopher Columbus (Cristobal Colón) to be one of the most interesting explorers of all time. "1492 - Conquest of Paradise" brings this amazing man back to life. Gerard Depardieu in his best performance! The soundtrack is simply amazing. Every aspect of this film is completely outstanding. If you want to learn more about Christopher Columbus, love history and adventure, you must own this video! Now can we please re-release this wonderful fantastic film on DVD?!!! Thank You (lezkis - Thursday, 6 November 2003).

I recently viewed Ridley Scott's masterpiece 1492:Conquest of Paradise, and I am very proud to say I share the same Italian nationality that Columbus did, and of course new found respect for the founder of the West.
This movie was so good because it highlights the details of 15th and 16th Century life and how the Europeans made something from nothing. The politics are also highlighted in this movie, but I think it's fairly done. I'm in total agreement that the savages of those lands had to be civilized in order for there to be peace and progress in those lands, but I can understand the fear held by those tribes against the European invaders. People may disagree about if the Europeans should've stayed and conquered those lands, but nations are won and lost by war, and once Columbus set foot in the West Indies, there's no logic in thinking that the routes to the West wouldn't explode with conquerers.
Ridley Scott creates the most beautiful scenes throughout this entire movie, one of my favorite is the ceremony held for Columbus in the cathedral upon returning from his first voyage of discovery.....stunning.
The acting is fantastic. If this movie was in French, Depardieu would've easily won Best Actor. That this movie was not nominated back in 1992 is high crime.
The music of the film adds to the drama of one of the most dramatic events in the history of the world.
Everybody should see 1492 Conquest of Paradise.

1492 is an amazing Ridley Scott film. Time to answer some questions a viewer here might want to ask. Is it slow paced? yes at times it is. Is it boring? no (depends if your interested in history). Is Gerard Depardieu terrible in the movie? No. He does a great job with the role and portrays Columbus as an artist, a man with lots of passion much like himself. Does he screw up some of his lines in the movie? Not really. Just sounds like it at times. But if you have subtitles you would fine he is pronouncing all his lines fairly accurately. 1492 flopped at the box office so is it really that bad and unprofessional? Box office results say nothing about the quality of a movie. 1492 is a stroke of cinematic genius. Is it historically accurate? In most parts but like all history movies it get's self indulgent and rewrites history a little in spots. Is it some of Ridley Scott's best work? Yes. Why isn't it on DVD yet in the USA? Good question.

In the morning we got under weigh, and I ordered the Pinta to steer east and southeast and the Nina south- southeast; proceeding myself to the southeast the other vessels I directed to keep on the courses prescribed till noon, and then to rejoin me. Within three hours we descried an island to the east toward which we directed our course, and arrived all three, before noon, at the northern extremity, where a rocky islet and reef extend toward the North, with another between them and the main island. The Indians on board the ships called this island Saomete. I named it Isabela. It lies westerly from the island of Fernandina, and the coast extends from the islet twelve leagues, west, to a cape which I called Cabo Hermoso, it being a beautiful, round headland with a bold shore free from shoals. Part of the shore is rocky, but the rest of it, like most of the coast here, a sandy beach. Here we anchored till morning.

This island is the most beautiful that I have yet seen, the trees in great number, flourishing and lofty; the land is higher than the other islands, and exhibits an eminence, which though it cannot be called a mountain, yet adds a beauty to its appearance, and gives an indication of streams of water in the interior. From this part toward the northeast is an extensive bay with many large and thick groves. I wished to anchor there, and land, that I might examine those delightful regions, but found the coast shoal, without a possibility of casting anchor except at a distance from the shore.

The wind being favorable, I came to the Cape, which I named Hermoso, where I anchored today. This is so beautiful a place, as well as the neighboring regions, that I know not in which course to proceed first; my eyes are never tired with viewing such delightful verdure, and of a species so new and dissimilar to that of our country, and I have no doubt there are trees and herbs here which would be of great value in Spain, as dyeing materials, medicine, spicery, etc., but I am mortified that I have no acquaintance with them.

Upon our arrival here we experienced the most sweet and delightful odor from the flowers or trees of the island. Tomorrow morning before we depart, I intend to land and see what can be found in the neighborhood. Here is no village, but farther within the island is one, where our Indians inform us we shall find the king, and that he has much gold. I shall penetrate so far as to reach the village and see or speak with the king, who, as they tell us, governs all these islands, and goes dressed, with a great deal of gold about him.

I do not, however, give much credit to these accounts, as I understand the natives but imperfectly, and perceive them to be so poor that a trifling quantity of gold appears to them a great amount. This island appears to me to be a separate one from that of Saomete, and I even think there may be others between them. I am not solicitous to examine particularly everything here, which indeed could not be done in fifty years, because my desire is to make all possible discoveries, and return to your Highnesses, if it please our Lord, in April. But in truth, should I meet with gold or spices in great quantity, I shall remain till I collect as much as possible, and for this purpose I am proceeding solely in quest of them (Christopher Columbus - Friday, 19 October 1492).

This film is amongst the most beautiful and adventurous of all films! I find Christopher Columbus (Cristobal Colón) to be one of the most interesting explorers of all time. "1492 - Conquest of Paradise" brings this amazing man back to life. Gerard Depardieu in his best performance! The soundtrack is simply amazing. Every aspect of this film is completely outstanding. If you want to learn more about Christopher Columbus, love history and adventure, you must own this video! Now can we please re-release this wonderful fantastic film on DVD?!!! Thank You (lezkis - Thursday, 6 November 2003).