Space Truckin' – The Nostromo (2012)

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

State of the Alien Franchise

  • Many see recent entries as nostalgia bait recycling the same corridors and imagery, diluting the original impact.
  • Strong consensus that Alien and Aliens are masterpieces; everything after divides opinion.
  • Alien 3 is viewed as an interesting premise ruined by studio meddling and character deaths; Resurrection often called embarrassing despite some striking visuals.
  • Prometheus and Covenant are criticized for poor writing, inexplicable character behavior, and overexplaining the Engineers, damaging the mystery.
  • Romulus is seen as “pretty good” or “okay”: not a masterpiece, but better written than Scott’s recent films and functional as action-horror.
  • Some prefer the franchise’s current trajectory over what Jurassic Park and Star Wars have become; a few note Predator has improved lately.

Canon, Sequels, and Continuity

  • One camp treats bad sequels as alternate branches: you can enjoy Alien 3 or Blade Runner 2049 without letting them redefine the originals.
  • Others argue that mentally forking canon makes later continuity meaningless (similar complaints about Star Trek and post-Endgame Marvel).
  • A few note that Marvel’s messy continuity now resembles comic books, for better or worse.

Alien: Isolation and Other Spin-offs

  • Alien: Isolation is repeatedly praised as the best modern use of the universe and “best since Aliens,” with exceptional aesthetics, sound, and faithful retrofuturism.
  • The Alien: Earth series and new TV show get mixed reviews: some enjoyed them if treated as semi-standalone; others bounced off due to bad writing, acting, editing, and intrusive fan service.

Nostromo “Used Future” Aesthetic

  • Commenters love the Nostromo as cramped, dirty, and blue-collar—“truck driver” or “bachelor pad” sci‑fi that reflects corporate greed and crew apathy.
  • Lowering ceilings on set to force actors to crouch is seen as a brilliant choice boosting claustrophobia.
  • The look is likened to real ship interiors and the clutter of the ISS.
  • Terms like “used future” and “cassette futurism” resonate; many lament the loss of tactile buttons and physical controls.

Blade Runner Connections

  • People enjoy the idea that the Nostromo departed a Blade Runner–like Earth, sharing a visual universe.
  • Deckard’s fancy apartment sparks debate: maybe he’s an unusually privileged functionary, or (if a replicant) unknowingly living in someone else’s place.
  • Some find integrating 2049 into their mental canon difficult; several prefer the more nuanced PKD novel while still loving the original film’s aesthetic.

Production Process and Scrapped Work

  • The article’s description of repainted models and discarded footage makes some think communication on Alien was poor.
  • Others argue that discovering what doesn’t work and throwing away months of effort is normal in film and design.
  • Film economics are noted: once staff are hired, you often keep them working; going “under budget” isn’t necessarily desired, so extra money gets spent on additional improvements.

Interstellar Mining as a Plot Device

  • Some find “interstellar mining” inherently implausible: why not mine or synthesize materials within our solar system?
  • Defenses include:
    • Exotic materials (e.g., room-temperature superconductors) might justify extreme expense.
    • Different local conditions can yield unique compounds or isotopic mixes without changing fundamental physics.
    • If FTL is cheap—or even with sublight bulk shipping—galactic supply chains could be as normal as today’s global ones.
    • Historically, humanity exhausts local resources and then mines distant regions despite high logistics costs.
  • Critics maintain that any such material would need to be “very magical” to beat in‑system alternatives, but most are willing to accept it as genre convention.

H.R. Giger and Real-world Touchpoints

  • Alien introduced several commenters to Giger; they discuss his museum and bar in Gruyères as intense, dark experiences with life-size sculptures and biomechanical décor.
  • The museum’s website is panned for poor mobile usability, prompting jokes about Swiss web design.

Language and Everyday-life Tangents

  • Multiple digressions:
    • Surprise and minor culture clash over “brushing teeth three times a day,” with perspectives from different countries and some mild sniping about public restroom hygiene.
    • Discussion of repeatedly misspelled “Spielberg,” the “i before e” rule and its many exceptions, and English’s chaotic spelling.
  • Some note they no longer bother fixing minor typos online, accepting error as part of human (and non‑AI) writing.