Latest news with #Aliens
Wales Online
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Sir Ridley Scott says 'I think I've done enough' and is finished with Alien
Sir Ridley Scott says 'I think I've done enough' and is finished with Alien After directing the eponymous 1979 sci-fi/horror flick, the 87-year-old filmmaker walked away from the 'Alien' series until returning for the 2012 prequel 'Prometheus' and its follow-up Director and Producer Sir Ridley Scott (Image: Andrew Matthews - Pool/Getty Images ) Sir Ridley Scott is finished with the 'Alien' franchise. After directing the eponymous 1979 sci-fi/horror flick, the 87-year-old filmmaker walked away from the 'Alien' series until returning for the 2012 prequel 'Prometheus' and its follow-up 'Alien: Covenant' in 2017, though Scott now thinks he's "done enough" with the 'Alien' franchise. Speaking with Screen Rant, he said: " A number of years after ['Alien'], I said, 'I'm going to resurrect this',[and wrote] 'Prometheus' from scratch–a blank sheet of paper. Damon Lindelof and I sat then hammered out 'Prometheus'. "It was very present and very welcome. The audience really wanted more. I said, 'It needs to fly.' No one was coming for it, [and] I went once again [and made] 'Alien Covenant', and it worked too. "Where it's going now, I think I've done enough, and I just hope it goes further." After Scott's exit from the 'Alien' franchise following the original movie, the series was passed to a handful of different directors, with James Cameron helming the 1986 sequel 'Aliens', David Fincher working on 'Alien 3' in 1992, and Jean-Pierre Jeunet directing 'Alien: Resurrection' in 1997. Article continues below Following 'Alien: Resurrection', the series crossed over with the 'Predator' franchise for the flicks 'Alien vs Predator' in 2004, and 'AVPR: Aliens vs Predator – Requiem' in 2007. However, Scott admitted he wasn't a fan of what came after Cameron's 'Aliens'. He explained: "It is spreading like wildfire, and not really. I think I felt it was deadened after 4. I think mine was pretty damn good, and I think Jim's was good, and I have to say the rest were not very good. "And I thought, 'F***, that's the end of a franchise which should be as important as bloody 'Star Trek' or 'Star Wars', which I think is phenomenal. "At least, I think the first one by George [Lucas] is seminal – it was as seminal as '2001' ['A Space Odyssey']. To me, it was that important in terms of film language and where you go next." Reflecting on 'Alien', Scott revealed he was the fifth director who was asked to helm the movie, with the studio first offering the job to 'M*A*S*H's Robert Altman. Article continues below He said: "I'm fascinated [by] very good comics and the best in the world was probably Jean Giraud Moebius. Moebius was a French comics man who was just genius. "I was staring at these, and suddenly I was offered 'Alien' out of the blue. And because designer is in my blood and DNA, I just knew what to do with it. "And I was the fifth f****** choice. Why you offered Robert Altman 'Alien', God only knows. Altman said, 'Are you kidding? I'm not going to do this', and I went, 'Are you kidding? I have to do this', because it borders and verges on heavy metal."
Perth Now
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
'I think I've done enough': Sir Ridley Scott is finished with Alien
Sir Ridley Scott is finished with the 'Alien' franchise. After directing the eponymous 1979 sci-fi/horror flick, the 87-year-old filmmaker walked away from the 'Alien' series until returning for the 2012 prequel 'Prometheus' and its follow-up 'Alien: Covenant' in 2017, though Scott now thinks he's "done enough" with the 'Alien' franchise. Speaking with Screen Rant, he said: " A number of years after ['Alien'], I said, 'I'm going to resurrect this',[and wrote] 'Prometheus' from scratch–a blank sheet of paper. Damon Lindelof and I sat then hammered out 'Prometheus'. "It was very present and very welcome. The audience really wanted more. I said, 'It needs to fly.' No one was coming for it, [and] I went once again [and made] 'Alien Covenant', and it worked too. "Where it's going now, I think I've done enough, and I just hope it goes further." After Scott's exit from the 'Alien' franchise following the original movie, the series was passed to a handful of different directors, with James Cameron helming the 1986 sequel 'Aliens', David Fincher working on 'Alien 3' in 1992, and Jean-Pierre Jeunet directing 'Alien: Resurrection' in 1997. Following 'Alien: Resurrection', the series crossed over with the 'Predator' franchise for the flicks 'Alien vs Predator' in 2004, and 'AVPR: Aliens vs Predator – Requiem' in 2007. However, Scott admitted he wasn't a fan of what came after Cameron's 'Aliens'. He explained: "It is spreading like wildfire, and not really. I think I felt it was deadened after 4. I think mine was pretty damn good, and I think Jim's was good, and I have to say the rest were not very good. "And I thought, 'F***, that's the end of a franchise which should be as important as bloody 'Star Trek' or 'Star Wars', which I think is phenomenal. "At least, I think the first one by George [Lucas] is seminal – it was as seminal as '2001' ['A Space Odyssey']. To me, it was that important in terms of film language and where you go next." Reflecting on 'Alien', Scott revealed he was the fifth director who was asked to helm the movie, with the studio first offering the job to 'M*A*S*H's Robert Altman. He said: "I'm fascinated [by] very good comics and the best in the world was probably Jean Giraud Moebius. Moebius was a French comics man who was just genius. "I was staring at these, and suddenly I was offered 'Alien' out of the blue. And because designer is in my blood and DNA, I just knew what to do with it. "And I was the fifth f****** choice. Why you offered Robert Altman 'Alien', God only knows. Altman said, 'Are you kidding? I'm not going to do this', and I went, 'Are you kidding? I have to do this', because it borders and verges on heavy metal."
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Paramount Plus adds 'one of the most thrilling and bone-chilling films' fans have ever seen
Many suggest that it is one of the best horror sequels ever made Paramount Plus has just added a sequel to its horror collection that's being hailed as a 'masterclass' and even 'better than the first' film. A Quiet Place Part II has recently been incorporated into the streaming platform's catalogue. This means that all the titles in the sci-fi horror series released so far are now conveniently available on one service. This includes the original film, its sequel, and the prequel spin-off titled Day One. While the 2021 release was previously accessible on other platforms such as Sky Cinema and even Channel 4 for a limited period, it is now exclusively hosted on Paramount. Fans can stream it by subscribing to the dedicated app of the streaming service or through an add-on subscription via Amazon Prime Video. The film is the second chapter of the series featuring John Krasinski and Emily Blunt. Krasinski also reprised his role behind the camera, directing the sequel after having directed the original. Known for his portrayal of Jim Halpert in the US Office, he also wrote the script himself, having previously shared writing credits with Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, reports Surrey Live. While the film employs flashbacks, the narrative continues from where the first left off in a post-apocalyptic world. Regan (Blunt) and her family discover that their alien predators can be defeated using high-frequency audio. Armed with this newfound knowledge, they embark on a quest to find other survivors. Joining the cast are big names like Cillian Murphy and Djimon Hounsou. The film managed to secure a similarly impressive rating on the website Rotten Tomatoes as its predecessor, scoring 91%. The film garnered acclaim from both critics and audiences, with one reviewer hailing it as "one of the best sequels ever created." Another critic praised John Krasinski's direction, saying: "John Krasinski crafts a masterclass in suspense with Hitchcockian anxiety that would make the master proud." Echoing the sentiment, a fan took to social media to proclaim: "A masterclass in suspense. A Quiet Place II is hands down one of the most thrilling and bone-chilling films that I have ever seen. From start to finish, this movie had me on the edge of my seat, unable to look away even for a second. I would easily give it a terrifying 10 out of 10!". Another enthusiast compared the sequel favourably to a classic, commenting: "In my opinion this is one of the best movie sequels ever made. The second instalment of this series I think is comparable to the movie Aliens by James Cameron. It introduces a lot more action and thrills while remaining faithful to the original and expanding the world. The cast, the story, the directing, the cinematography, the visual effects and the sound design are all incredible. This is also one of the most intense and terrifying movies I've ever seen." The consensus among many was that the sequel surpassed its predecessor. A viewer remarked: "A great sequel to a previous masterpiece of horror. I really never thought that they could top the first one but a Quiet Place 2 is fantastic film!". Echoing the sentiments, a fan concurred: "One of the greatest sequels to an incredible horror/thriller collection. The entire time you're on the edge of your seat with your heart beating as fast as those on screen. There's no way you can watch this movie without being completely invested." A Quiet Place Part II is streaming on Paramount+.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
5 new Hulu movies with over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes to stream in June 2025
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. If you've yet to start compiling your summer watchlist, look no further than Hulu's latest movie library refresh, which is set to arrive in the coming weeks. As always, it's the movies with over 90% on Rotten Tomatoes that we keep an eye out for, and once again, Hulu is delivering – we'd expect nothing less from one of the best streaming services. The sci-fi classic Aliens (1986) will be coming to the platform along with six other installments from the Alien franchise which, along with Doug Liman's Edge of Tomorrow (2014), makes it a great month for sci-fi and action fans. But it's not just sci-fi that's making waves on Hulu this month There are highly-rated dramas, including a Woody Allen comedy-drama and a Richard Linklater romance, both from the early 2010s, plus a 2023 western. RT score: 94%Runtime: 137 minutesDirector: James CameronArriving on: June 1 Aliens debunks the myth that the original is better than the sequel; it was one of the highest grossing movies of 1986, it earned Sigourney Weaver an Oscar nomination, and is still highly favored over the prequel Alien (1979) by critics and sci-fi buffs alike. In the years following the alien attack on a spaceship, sole survivor Lt. Ripley (Weaver) has been floating through space for the past 57 years when she's rescued by the Weyland-Yutani Corporation. After losing communications with the human colony where the original alien eggs were found, Ripley returns to the site to find it completely destroyed along with a terrified young girl named Newt (Carrie Henn). RT score: 98%Runtime: 109 minutesDirector: Richard LinklaterArriving on: June 1 In 1995 Richard Linklater directed Before Sunrise, the first movie in his romantic drama trilogy and where the love story between Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) all began. The third installment sees the return of Linklater's characters almost 10 years after the release of Before Sunset (2004), the second chapter in their love story. Now a couple, the final movie follows Jesse and Celine on a Greek vacation with their children. Reflecting on the ups and downs on their relationship history the two reminisce in their love story, remembering the very first time they met 20 years prior on a train to Vienna. RT score: 90%Age rating: Runtime: 98 minutesDirector: Woody AllenArriving on: June 1 Give me anything with Cate Blanchett, and I shall be sat. As well as Blanchett, this Woody Allen comedy-drama stars more familiar faces from Alec Baldwin, to Sally Hawkins, and Bobby Cannavale - earning Blanchett the Best Actress Oscar. New York socialite Jasmine (Blanchett) is going through a rough patch and her marriage to her rich businessman husband Hal (Baldwin) is failing miserably. With no where else to go she moves to San Francisco to live with her sister Ginger (Hawkins), a working-class woman and the total opposite to Jasmine. Though she has limited life and job skills, she is forced to take up a regular job with which is reluctant, and start a new life away from the high society culture she's used to. RT score: 91%Age rating: PG-13Runtime: 113 minutesDirector: Doug Liman Arriving on: June 1 Before directing Edge of Tomorrow, Doug Liman had previous experience working on action movies, most notably The Bourne Identity (2002) and Mr & Mrs. Smith (2005), all of which laid the groundwork for his approach to taking on a high-value production with Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt at the forefront. In this sci-fi action epic, Europe has succumbed to an invasion of an invincible alien race. Public relations officer with no combat experience William Cage (Cruise) is tasked with a suicide mission, and is killed instantly. He learns that he's caught in a time loop, and after reliving the same fights and death over again his skills and strength grow stronger bringing him and comrade Rita (Blunt) closer to victory. RT score: 91%Age rating: RRuntime: 99 minutesDirector: Luke GilfordArriving on: June 5 The newest release in my list comes from 2023, and is a western drama flick by Luke Gilford in his feature directorial debut. After premiering at South by Southwest in 2023 Film and TV festival, it had a theatrical release in summer 2024. This is western like you've never seen it done before. Dylan (Charlie Plummer) is a 21-year-old construction worker with a soft nature, taking jobs wherever he can to support his family. He comes across a new job at a New Mexico ranch ran by queer rodeo performers, and is immediately welcomed into their family. When Dylan meets Sky (Eve Lindley), he uncovers an emotional connection with her and, much like the others, starts putting the pieces of his own identity together. FX confirms Shōgun season 2 is still far-off returning to Disney+ and Hulu, but two of the best characters will be back 5 of the biggest streaming announcements from Warner Bros. Discovery Upfront 2025, from HBO Max shows to the new Superman trailer Alien: Earth – everything we know so far about FX's Alien TV show coming to Hulu and Disney+
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Could deciphering dolphin language help us communicate with ET?
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. There are creatures here on Earth that may give us clues on getting "chat-time" with extraterrestrial intelligence — dolphins, which are famously social and smart. Recently, the Coller Dolittle Challenge awarded the winner of its first $100,000 annual prize to accelerate progress toward interspecies two-way communication. A prize of equal value will be awarded every year until a team deciphers the secret to interspecies communication. This year's winning team of researchers has discovered that dolphin whistles could function like words — with mutually understood, context-specific meaning. The winning team was led by Laela Sayigh from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. The researchers are studying the resident bottlenose dolphin community offshore of Sarasota, Florida. They were on the lookout for "non-signature" whistles, which comprise approximately 50% of the whistles produced by Sarasota dolphins. Non-signature whistles differ from the more widely studied "signature" whistles, which are referential, name-like vocalizations. Sayigh's team used non-invasive suction-cup hydrophones, which they placed on the dolphins during unique catch-and-release health assessments, as well as digital acoustic tags. "Bottlenose dolphins have long fascinated animal communication researchers," Sayigh said in a statement. "Our work shows that these whistles could potentially function like words, shared by multiple dolphins." Sayigh and her team can now use deep learning in an attempt to "crack the code" and analyze those whistles. But what does all this have to do with E.T.? "My interests are very firmly here on Earth, in learning about how dolphins communicate with each other," Sayigh told "I do know that there are others in the animal communication world that are interested in this, however." One of those researchers is Arik Kershenbaum, an associate professor and director of studies at Girton College, part of the University of Cambridge in England. He's the author of "The Zoologist's Guide to the Galaxy: What Animals on Earth Reveal About Aliens — and Ourselves" (Viking, 2020). Kershenbaum explained that the book is about life on Earth, because "that's all we have to look at." He also contributed a white paper for a workshop at the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Institute in California, titled "What Animal Studies Can Tell Us about Detecting Intelligent Messages from Outside Earth." In that paper for the SETI Institute, Kershenbaum and colleagues concluded that animal communication research is the closest we are likely to get to studying extraterrestrial signals, until such signals are actually received. "Many of the challenges facing SETI research are similar to those already addressed in the investigation of animal behavior, and the evolutionary origins of human language," they wrote. "Indeed, the evolution of language on Earth may in fact have been driven and constrained by similar principles to those operating on life on other planets." The researchers have proposed the establishment of a large cross-species database of communicative signals, made available to all SETI and animal behavior researchers. In addition, they also proposed that tools, algorithms and software used to analyze these signals should be made publicly available for application to these data sets, "so that comparative studies can take full advantage of the expertise from the biological, mathematical, linguistic and astronomical communities." The topic of dolphin language interpretation, as well as the vocalizations of humpback whales and the field of non-human communications more broadly, is increasingly drawing the interest of SETI researchers and astrobiologists, explained Bill Diamond, president of the SETI Institute. Humpback whales have very complex vocalizations, Diamond told "where it seems clear that they are transmitting information and not simply making sounds associated with mating, feeding or dealing with threats. They plan ahead and communicate complex instructions to one another." Leading that look is SETI researcher Laurance Doyle, who's working on a project in partnership with the Alaska Whale Foundation to study the vocalizations of humpback whales. Related stories: — Talking to ET? Why math may be the best language — The search for alien life (reference) — Will we ever be able to communicate with aliens? For Diamond, the relevant research question is whether or not there are some fundamental mathematical rules associated with the transmission of information that would be universal — like the laws of physics and chemistry — within our known universe. "If there's an underlying rule structure to the transmission of information, and we can decipher it," Diamond said, "we would firstly be able to recognize a detected SETI signal as containing information, and therefore intelligence. And, possibly, we might even ultimately be able to translate it!" According to Diamond, "there's definitely a connection between SETI/astrobiology and the study of non-human communication and non-human intelligence."
