Face Huggers Forever!

Today is the actual 25th anniversary of James Cameron's Aliens (1986) which we happen to have been celebrating all week. (Theme Weeks! Do you love or do you love?)

We meant to do a little more about the actual series surrounding this one film but our Netflix queue was beset by weird problems --  "game over, man, game over!" -- The Alien Quadrilogy is arguably the most fascinating big money franchise that Hollywood ever threw money at, functioning such as it does as Auteur Training Wheels; each film was given to a different major director near what the world presumed was the beginning of their huge career: Ridley Scott (2nd narrative feature of 19), James Cameron (3rd of 8), David Fincher (1st of 9) and Jean Pierre-Jeunet (3rd of 6)

Instead we just focused on our favorite of the Quad. Just in case you missed any, here are the four bloggy monsters we hatched for this historic day.

• Hit Me With Your Best Shot
  In which 10 blogs select what they think of as this epic's best shot.
• My Magnificent Aliens Obsession
  In which Kurt shares a surprising childhood memoir.
• Take Three: Michael Biehn
  In which Craig celebrates Cameron's go-to wrecked hero. 
• Podcast: 1986 Highlights, Oscar & Cannes 
  In which Nick and I sing the movie's praises and revisit other favorites from the year.

I'll let the paid subscribers and donors (see sidebar) choose the next theme week. If you've contributed this past month to keep the site with something approaching a shoestring operating budget (i.e. roof over head) expect soon.

Did you enjoy the Ripley action this week?

Comments

[Janice]

Nat, I expected a film as well-loved and iconic as Aliens would draw more participants, closer to Moulin Rouge numbers. (Perhaps your general readership skews younger?)

I know that Sigourney in this and Linda Hamilton in T1 and T2 made an impact on me as a young 20-something back in the day, accustomed to a full decade (the 1980's) of testosterone-driven films, action films and otherwise.

[Janice]

And about your income-raising attempts - I do think mentioning every once in a while like you're doing here is a good thing, People forget. Not too often (but how often IS "too often?" Of course you've got that sidebar.)

An idea: I was thinking about the blog "Hyperbole and a Half" and Allison has lots of t-shirts and products with her great illustrations (although most are funny only to someone who gets the reference, I imagine.) Now that you're doing illustration work again - how about some t-shirts? I would wear one with that one of you being a freaked-out fan at the Nashville Film Fest, for instance.)

And of course (I don't know if this is possible with older artwork) the "Julianne Moore is God" - maybe time to do an updated version?

Just a thought.

[Terence]

I agree with Janice. I would totally buy a TFE tshirt. I actually really enjoy the Aliens coverage as it is movie I haven't seen all of (whenever its on tv I seem to catch the ending). Nice to see the different perspectives

[Blinking Cursor]

@Janice, I think it's not so much the age demographic (though I'd be curious to where that skews) inasmuch as that it's summer and people are kinda of lethargic and/or just out on vacation now.

BTW, I'm sad to see that you're still struggling to raise funds for running your site. Have you considered asking your readers what they'd like to see more of, and what they are willing to pay for? Over at Westeros.org, a site devoted to George R.R. Martin's 'A Song of Ice and Fire' novels (and not Game of Thrones tv show), they were able to hit and exceed their fundraising goal of $1k in a week! Then again, they've got something in the realm of 15k+ members, a team of Mods, and a forum in which other members can discuss the novels and other stuff. Perhaps if you made TFE more interactive in addition to your articles/essays, then you'd get more readers, which in turn could lead to more donations.

[Versace Leather Shoes less]

ething in the realm of 15k+ members, a team of Mods, and a forum in which other members can discuss the novels and other stuff. Perhaps if you made TFE-Versace Leather Shoes less