Aliens on the Big Screen

[samurainoir]

One of my favourites. I think I've seen it dozens and dozens of times, but never in an actual movie theatre, since I was too young during it's initial release.

I was really struck by how well it still holds up, in terms of special effects, characters, story etc.

The theatre was packed as well. Sometimes you just can't beat that shared experience. They took a quick survey of the crowd just before the show and even though most of them had seen Aliens before, only ten percent of the people in the audience had seen it in the theatre during it's initial release.

They were showing off the digital projection, and it looked fantastic.

It's funny how I look forward to watching old favourites on the big screen more than the latest ones these days.

[Brazoo]

They're showing some great movies - a friend keeps wanting to go - but I have mixed feelings about paying to see digital projection. Especially since I already own DVDs of the movies I'd want to see.

I've seen some really bad prints of movies at rep theatres, and it's disappointing when it happens - but I can't help but get more excited about seeing actual prints. Then again, it's kind of hard to pass up seeing Lethal Weapon in a crowd.

[Brazoo]

Oh - and I agree, Aliens is great. Great mix of cheesy fun and seriously well done action scenes, and it totally held up last time I saw it. Cameron's best movie, in my opinion.

[johnmiic]

When it came out I sat in the theatre and stayed for the next showing because I couldn't believe how good it was. You could get away with that back then.

[Cmonster]

I watched a 70mm print of that masterpiece at the 70mm film festival in LA last year. They also showed "The Abyss", "Wrath of Khan" and "2001" in 70mm. I just about died right there in the theater.

SC

[Mikey]

I seen Aleins in an indoor town theatre back in the day .....

A week later the local drive-in played it as a double feature with Alien.

It rained half way through so they gave us all rain-checks

The drive-in went out of business the following week ...

It later became a fleamarket and finally a self storage.

They still own me for 2 tickets

[megoapesnut]

It's amazing how many drive in theaters became flea markets.

Where are they showing Aliens in theaters? I assume big city venues only.

[tay666]

It's amazing how many drive in theaters became flea markets.

Yeah.
The one remaining drive-in near me is also a flea market.
Only open on the weekends in the summer.
Flea market by day
drive-in at night.

[Bruce Banner]

I must have seen the movie about 6 or 7 times during its initial theatrical run when it was first released... first in the big movie theatres, and then later in the tiny flea-pit cinemas after it had been out a few months.

One of the cinematic highlights of the 80s, without doubt.

[Brazoo]

It's amazing how many drive in theaters became flea markets.

Where are they showing Aliens in theaters? I assume big city venues only.

There's a digital projection film festival going on in Toronto showing all kinds of popular older movies, I believe that's where Samurai saw it.

I have no idea if other cities are taking part, or if the festival is touring, or what.

[DavidCoppola]

I saw Aliens when it came out in the summer of 1986 in 70mm. It blew me away.

[jds1911a1]

I also saw it in 86 in the theater. I was to young for alien and later caught it on HBO SCARY so i was pshyched for the sequel

I liked Aliens more and even dished out the $100 to get the all CAV special ed laserdisc back in the early 90's

HUDSON... Game over man gave over

[Mikey]

The power-loader scenes really topped off that movie like icing on a cake.

Today it would be no big deal with CGI, but back in '86 it was amazing because you knew somehow it really existed (even though it was a special effect)

[kennermike]

Yup saw it summer of 1986 I was 15 in 70mm when I was still a James Cameron fan

[babycyclops]

I saw it on the big screen in 1986, after sitting an exam. The relief of getting through a dreaded exam, along with the huge scope and wild ride of the movie, makes it a very memorable day.