Welcome to another episode of Thursday Movie Picks, the weekly series hosted by Wandering through the Shelves where you pick three films each week to fit the theme of that week.
Good or evil, the world is full of movies about aliens, which is exactly this week's topic. Today I'm going with three films I liked - more or less -, they all involve at least one alien, but they don't alway are the good guys.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
This shouldn't require me telling you what it is about but just in case you have never seen it, a 10-year-old boy finds an alien, and not only they become friends but they also establish some kind of deep connection. This is the alien movie, one of the best ever made. I don't think I need to say more other than I expect this film to be quite popular this week.
Monsters vs. Aliens (2009)
When aliens menace to destruct the Earth, the President of the United States has to call into action a crew of monsters that were secretly hidden in a government facility. This one isn't nothing special, but it still manages to be enjoyable and there's plenty of evil, maybe too dumb aliens.
The Avengers (2012)
Loki comes to Earth to subjugate the human race and brings with him tons of aliens that once again destroy New York City, and the Avengers must stop him/them. Okay, the aliens here are not so important, but I love the film and can we please talk about Tom Hiddleston's Loki? Simply scary.
Good call on Avengers, for some reason that didn't cross my mind when it should've. I also chose ET.
ReplyDeleteLove ET, nuff said.
ReplyDeleteI think I like Monsters vs. Aliens a bit better than most people. All the references to monster movies of the past really worked for me.
Love The Avengers, too. The aliens at the end aren't so impressive, but Loki qualifies as one and he's amazing. Thor qualifies, too, so there's that.
Monsters vs. Aliens wasn't bad, I liked it, but I was expecting something more from it.
DeleteE.T. is a great pick. I haven't watched it in years but it has a terrific message and a gentle tone. I really need to watch The Avengers again, I was sick the first time and remember hardly any of it. Haven't seen Monsters vs. Aliens but I'll get to it one of these days.
ReplyDeleteI went a little older and a little cheesier this week since those are the alien films I watched as a kid.
I Married a Monster from Outer Space (1958)-After his buddies give him a bachelor party handsome young hunk Bill (Tom Tryon) heads home but stops when he thinks he’s hit something in the road and is suddenly engulfed by a heavy gray fog. Next day prospective bride Marge (Gloria Talbott) frets when Bill is late to the wedding until he shows up and faster than you can say Jack Robinson she’s “MARRIED TO A MONSTER FROM OUTER SPACE!!!!” Pulpy 50’s sci-fi follows their story as it slowly dawns on Marge that there is an alien race who are seeking a way toward reclamation of their species. Leading man Tryon eventually abandoned acting for a very successful writing career (The Dark Secret of Harvest Home, The Other etc.)
I Come in Peace (1990)-A gang of drug traffickers known as the "White Boys” cause havoc when they make off with a cache of heroin from a federal building followed by a strange spate of deaths where the victims bear a puncture mark on their foreheads. Hard-nosed cop Jack Caine (Dolph Lundgren) and FBI agent Arwood Smith (Brian Benben) follow bizarre clues looking for an answer. B movie actioner whose tagline “Good cop. Bad alien. Big trouble.” pretty much says it all.
They Live (1988)-Drifter John Nada (Rowdy Roddy Piper) finds a pair of sunglasses that when worn shows the world as it truly is. How it truly is happens to be a place where the billboards and all media carry subliminal messages such as “No Imagination” and “Stay Asleep” and the people in authority are actually aliens hidden behind a mask of normalcy who are keeping the masses subdued. Directed with a sardonic tone by John Carpenter.
Honorable Mention-Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956)-Playing into both the public’s fascination and fear of space exploration and outer space in the 50’s this low budget sci-fier is both earnest and reactionary. Flying saucers, looking like exact replicas from My Favorite Martian, start blasting the hell out of a military base when their signal is misinterpreted. Once the mistake is revealed and against government orders a lone scientist tries to straighten out the muddle. Finding out the aliens intentions it’s then a race to find a defense before the human race is enslaved! Cheesy but if you like this kind of thing it could be fun.
I haven't seen any of your picks, but I Come in Peace sounds like one of those films that are so bad are actually good.
DeleteClever pick with The Avengers. That was a fun one, but ever since the Marvel movies have gotten too self-serious for me. Not the point where they're not enjoyable, but still.
ReplyDeleteI still love them all.
DeleteI picked Avengers too! Great minds think a like!
ReplyDeleteI guess so ;)
DeleteFor various reasons I ended up seeing E.T. 4 times when it came out and I was sick of by the end of it. Actually one is enough and it's a nice film but it's not one of my favourites. I love the Avengers and Loki is just nasty...love his horns
ReplyDeleteOh I love Loki! He is the reason I watched the Thor movie the first time. And the second. And all the other times.
DeleteI'm so happy that you picked Monsters vs Aliens - really enjoyed that film, I think its because it pays homage to those old monster films but the kids who saw this would have been blissfully unaware.
ReplyDeleteI know, it's very unfortunate that kids miss all the references.
DeleteLove love E.T.
ReplyDeleteThe best thing about Thor is Loki.
Loki is the reason I watched Thor.
Delete