Aliens - 1986 movie (was Dog Soldiers)

[James Langham]

My copy of the Colonial Marines Technical Manual arrived in the mail today. It's pretty dang cool. I especially like the little color blurbs between tech entries- they really add a lot of flavor to the otherwise fairly dry techical text. The multiple mentions of various OPFOR groups (Beebops, Bugboys, Slinkers) make me really curious about the conflicts that the USCMs engaged in outside of the Alien engagements committed to film, since very little additional context was given. It's clear that the Beebops are a nickname for Japanese forces, but the others are anyone's guess. Was the author just shooting from the hip or is there some more fleshed-out USCMs mythos* out there that I'm not aware of Either way, he did a really convincing job.

On a T2K-related note, the USMC tanks ( including the M40 Ridgeway [sic]) look very much like the LAV-75 (with a dash of Merkava mixed in).

*I've seen covers from a comic book series based on the USCM but I haven't read or looked within.

You may now see where I got the inspiration for my article techniques...

[Raellus]

You may now see where I got the inspiration for my article techniques...

Ah, yes. In the right hands, it definitely works.

[Raellus]

You know, this book plus Hero System 5e + Science Fiction supplement = some RPG goodness. I'd love to get a game going someday. Ignoring the Xenos, even, just using everything else.

Agreed. I find myself daydreaming scenarios for a platoon of Colonial Marines...

[raketenjagdpanzer]

Agreed. I find myself daydreaming scenarios for a platoon of Colonial Marines...

Remove the Xenomorphs almost entirely, throw everything else into the Hammers Slammers universe sans hovertanks and powerguns...MMM...delicious.

[boogiedowndonovan]

Yeah, you didn't know about that one

Looks fantastic, I can't wait to see it.

yeah I can't wait to see Prometheus either. Charlize Theron!

our friends across the atlantic already have a chance to see it. They released Prometheus early over in Europe because of some soccer tournament.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1446714/releaseinfo

the wikipedia for Prometheus already has a plot synopsis.

[simonmark6]

The European Cup. Interestingly enough, the English team are based in Krakow.

[Rainbow Six]

They released Prometheus early over in Europe because of some soccer tournament.

Only arguably the second biggest football tournament in the World after the World Cup...

[Raellus]

The European Cup. Interestingly enough, the English team are based in Krakow.

And Poland plays today. I have a soft spot for them due to all the time in spend in Poland (in my mind) thanks to T2K.

[simonmark6]

Only arguably the second biggest football tournament in the World after the World Cup...

Actually it's the third largest watched televised sporting event after the World Cup (Football) and The Summer Olympics, if it isn't rained off this year...

[Rainbow Six]

And Poland plays today. I have a soft spot for them due to all the time in spend in Poland (in my mind) thanks to T2K.

I'm just settling down to watch the game.

I was going to ask you for a prediction - I seem to recall you did pretty well calling the World Cup...

FWIW my money (literally) is on Germany.

[Rainbow Six]

Actually it's the third largest watched televised sporting event after the World Cup (Football) and The Summer Olympics, if it isn't rained off this year...

I'm trying to decide whether rain will enhance the beach volleyball or not...

[simonmark6]

I think the costumes are pretty rain proof, plus there's not much of tehm to get wet.

[Webstral]

Saw Prometheus. I'll hold my peace until others can chime in.

[StainlessSteelCynic]

Saw Prometheus. I'll hold my peace until others can chime in.

Saw it, loved it, seeing it again tomorrow.
For anyone who knows the lore surrounding the Alien movies (not including number 4) and have a familiarity with the lore of BladeRunner, there's a lot to be seen in Prometheus.

Ignore the critics, ignore the haters, you have to see it for yourself and make up your own mind.

Keep in mind that Ridley Scott originally filmed it for an R rating and then trimmed it back to get an M rating (M ratings recoup their costs faster). The claim is that when the DVD gets released it will have his original "R rating" version so there will possibly be more to find out in that version.

[Raellus]

My Vague Review (Contains Spoiler)

Saw it yesterday. I was pretty thoroughly entertained but left feeling a little unsatisfied. There were a couple of significant loose ends, I felt, and, IMHO, it was made a little too complicated at times. Alien and Aliens worked so well because they were pretty simple, plot-wise. Overall, though, I found it to be incredibly suspenseful and visually stunning to behold.


SPOILER ALERT:

My wife, who was 28 and pretty fit at the time, had an emergency C-section with our first child and there's no way someone who's just undergone that procedure is going to be running and jumping around just minutes afterwards. Even if she was all drugged up and pumped full of synthetic adrenaline or whatever, your abdominal muscles are shot for a few weeks, at least. Not happening.