F.W. Murnau (1888-1931) has sometimes been called cinema’s first true poet. His slow-paced, haunting German Expressionist films expanded the horizon of early Hollywood productions and his films were closely studied by many of the great directors, including Alfred Hitchcock and John Ford. Friedrich Wilhelm Plumpe was born in Germany (then…

Alien movies have continued to be produced into the present-day, including the mind-numbingly campy Alien vs. Predator (2004), and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007), and two disappointing and overly complex prequels directed by Ridley Scott: Prometheus (2012) and Alien Covenant (2017). Both are excessively reliant upon massive computer animations and odd conspiracy theories related to…

Alien Resurrection (1997) Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet ★☆☆☆☆ The fourth installment of the Alien saga was directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet -a French arthouse director known for Amélie and The City of Lost Children. Alien Resurrection takes place some 200 years after Alien III. As the title suggests, Sigourney Weaver returns as…

Alien III (1992) Director: David Fincher ★★☆☆☆ Alien III is a dark, jaded, cynical take on the successful Alien franchise. When it came time for another sequel, James Cameron (director of Aliens) had no interest in returning to direct a new film, and Ridley Scott (director of the original Alien)…