The look of the Nostromo in this film is mainly like a huge refinery, or oil platform in space, with dirt, steam and pipework everywhere.. The only exception is the crew areas, which has some softening comforts. So this is space as an industrial project. The alien horror is iconic, and the film captures well the claustrophobia and fear of the untrained crew as they battle a hunter which out classes them in all but technology. A Classic.

A masterpiece of cinema that never fades with dozens of repeat viewings. I watch this film when it was first released in theatrically and then at least every few years since as it is a master class in horror film making, do the math and you will realise that I've watched around ten times (at very very least), still takes me on a terrifying ride each time I watch it, the very best characters grab and revel in their chance to perform to fault superbly, knowing that they had been given the chance to make career establishing performances. The music, the sets (oh my goodness the art direction was incredible) the script, the direction, all were executed perfectly. That's it, it is simply the perfect horror film.

Every time I watch Alien I can avoid the same emotions rushing through my brain: the almost impossible to bear fear; just a spark, a glimps of that monster is enough to give me teh creeps; the sense of adventure that not so many sci-fi movies convey; my deep admirations for the Nostromo, its crew a their inevitable demise...It's as good as the first time and, trust me, this isn't the first time. I've watched this picture too many a time; watching it once a year has become some kind of ritual that must be kept at all costs. If you haven't watched it yet, don't hesitate. Alien is a must for every cinema fan out there!

The hiring manager for the Nostromo Project should be shot. What I see is a crew with no apparent training whatsoever in important interplanetary mission aboard 19th century spacecraft. The spacecraft uses medieval technology such as incandescent light bulbs, a robot filled with milk, and harpoon guns. Ok, it was 1979, but they should have invented a different kind of lighting, a different kind of robot, and a different kind of gun. A Spaceship is supposed to be advanced, not to mimic Steam-Powered machinery draped in flexible steel conduit. On the positive side, I kind of dig the vintage buttons, controls and gages. In addition, the headsets are cool. I would wear one of those at work. What kind of Law applies in outer space? I assume that US Law applies aboard US Spacecraft. The crew made sure that every single safety standard was violated. I don't know the details of the contracts but I suspect there was a breach at some point and the crew member families should not be compensated or at best, partially compensated. For example, 'Professor' Dallas go on to inspect a suspected acid leak without wearing safety glasses. The test procedure consist of using a probe (pen) touch the acid with the probe, and then, give back the probe to his purported owner. It seems to me that everybody acted on their instincts and under some perspective they behaved like primitive creatures. Wearing a headbands doesn't make you tougher, and smoking does not make you cool. Humans should be an example of civilized behavior and I think the Alien got a very bad first impression about us. Lastly, the movie title is wrong or is missing something. The Alien should take the name of the planet she was born in.