Movies Blade Runner vs. Alien - Which Ridley Scott film is better?

[Takes Two To Tango]

Since Blade Runner beat Gladiator, lets see how it does against Alien.

Alien could very well be the best Ridley Scott film, but we'll see how the votes go.



Blade Runner - Plot Summary:

Los Angeles, California, 2019. With towering skyscrapers looming over the dystopian mega-city, grizzled bounty hunter Rick Deckard is called out of retirement when rogue Nexus-6 replicants steal a spaceship and enter Earth. The order is crystal-clear: Deckard must seek out the illegal replicants and destroy them before they locate their creator.

However, as Deckard tries to fix the mistakes of those who want to play God, unprecedented, conflicting emotions cloud his judgement. Can uncertainty and empathy overshadow a Blade Runner's sense of duty?

Alien - Plot Summary:

In the distant future, during its return to Earth, the commercial spaceship "Nostromo" intercepts a distress call from a distant moon. The seven-member crew is awakened from hypersleep and the spaceship subsequently descends on the moon.

While exploring, a three-member team of the crew discovers a derelict spaceship and a huge chamber inside that contains thousands of alien eggs. When a curious team member goes near one of the eggs, the parasite inside attacks him, rendering him unconscious. He is brought back aboard and the spaceship takes off.

After a little while, the parasite dies and the crewman wakes up seemingly unruffled. Everything soon returns to normal, but not for long.

 

[mixmastermo]

Blade Runner has a much more interesting story and themes but it's also kinda boring.

Alien is much more entertaining but it's very straightforward.

So I guess I am saying Blade Runner- but that's mostly because of the stronger story based on Philip K Dick's work.

 

[ssBaldy]

Blade Runner has a much more interesting story and themes but it's also kinda boring.

Alien is much more entertaining but it's very straightforward.

So I guess I am saying Blade Runner- but that's mostly because of the stronger story based on Philip K Dick's work.

Well said. Both very good but different. Voting here is more a matter of preference, not which movie is better.

 

[Takes Two To Tango]

Well said. Both very good but different. Voting here is more a matter of preference, not which movie is better.

That's true, it's probably too close to call.

 

[The Good The Bad The HBK]

Alien is a masterpiece up until the ending where the alien gets stuck in the ship lol

 

[I Am Legion]

Both are all time Sci Fi greats. But in terms of entertainment, Alien is the better film. Blade Runner is visually stunning Sci Fi Noir, but suffers from pacing issues. At times it chooses visuals over substance. Alien is an almost perfect film. Slow burn, suspense, horror, a great cast. Incredible ride.

Alien-9.5
Blade Runner-8

 

[Halge]

Lófaszt! Nehogy már! Te vagy a Blade, Blade Runner!

I really like both, but I'm much more inclined to rewatch Blade Runner than Alien. Blade Runner is a movie you can turn on whenever you want to listen to jazz and take in the views. Which is my baseline state after coming home from work with my brain fried and my feet aching.

Obviously this is entirely subjective.

 

[mixmastermo]

This discussion is over...

 

[Sakuraba'sEar]

I wish ridley scott was as good as he used to be

 

[LEWIS540]

Jaws, Alien, The Thing, Predator and Jurassic Park are all essentially the same film. (And all are excellent).

Nothing else is really like Blade Runner, especially back then.

Tiny edge to BR, imo.

 

[KnightTemplar]

This discussion is over...

/Thread.

 

[moreorless87]

Jaws, Alien, The Thing, Predator and Jurassic Park are all essentially the same film. (And all are excellent).

Nothing else is really like Blade Runner, especially back then.

Tiny edge to BR, imo.

Blade Runner is basically more an existential drama wrapped up in the clothes of a thriller.

Comparisons I would say more something like Coppola's The Conversation.

 

[moreorless87]

Both are all time Sci Fi greats. But in terms of entertainment, Alien is the better film. Blade Runner is visually stunning Sci Fi Noir, but suffers from pacing issues. At times it chooses visuals over substance. Alien is an almost perfect film. Slow burn, suspense, horror, a great cast. Incredible ride.

Alien-9.5
Blade Runner-8

Again I think it comes down to what your after from the films, Blade Runner is not an action thriller.

In terms of substance as well I feel like a lot of comment on that tends to come from the bias of a lot of reviewers/commentators towards writing(being writers themselves) but I feel like Scott's film is a great example of much of a films substance being their in the visuals/performances/soundtrack.

 

[WossamottaU]

Blade Runner is a movie you can turn on whenever you want to listen to jazz and take in the views.

I feel this completely. It's my go-to for ambiance. You almost feel like you're existing within it while you watch.


I would say Alien has higher 'entertainment' value, but I must have seen Blade Runner 100 times so I have to go with that. Both are stellar films.

 

[mixmastermo]

By the way Blade Runner 2049 is better than both.

Just more evidence that Denis Villeneuve should be the only person allowed to direct sci fi these days.

 

[spina bifida]

I voted for alien. I like aliens.

 

[Zer]

I like Blade Runner a lot, but I give the nod to Alien here because BR undoubtedly has low points in terms of pacing. I think Alien is a better overall film although I prefer the aesthetics of BR (Alien is still really strong in this regard)

 

[SalvadorAllende]

Alien and it is not even close.

 

[Takes Two To Tango]

This discussion is over...

I raise you.

 

[mixmastermo]

I raise you.

There are no philosophical questions asked or answered there sir. Not exactly what I'd consider a raise.