NOSTROMO - Ship Of The Week #18 4/16/2015
- Thread starter Admiral2
- Start date
It's not explicitly stated as either in the film. Just a signal that needs investigating.
Don't have much to say about the exterior design of the ship (not real distinguishable from the other sci-fi ships of the era) but I absolutely love the lived-in look of the interior sets. Played through Alien: Isolation recently and they really nailed the look and feel of the first film.
I really like this one. It's hard to get a good overall look at it in the movie, but the impression is there's not an attractive line on it. It's so ugly it's cool. Maybe the most un-glamorous movie spaceship ever, basically a long-range tug. I agree that the interiors are terrific, very functional and lived-in (the empty coffee cups and cigarette packs laying around are a nice touch). I admit the whole computer-interface room thing does not age well, but I still like it. I still have no idea what the enormous empty space with the dripping water is supposed to be.
Well, there is an implication. After Ripley gives Mother the signal for analysis, she says what has been processed up to that point "looks like a warning."
Well, there is an implication. After Ripley gives Mother the signal for analysis, she says what has been processed up to that point "looks like a warning."
True. Forgot that line...
I think the Nostromo deserves an award for the most ridiculously convoluted self-destruct sequence in the history of SF movies. I mean, yes, it's needs to be more complicated than just pushing one button (cue "Spaceballs" references) but seriously? You have to pull down two levers to open up the lid, then screw in four bolts to pull up these four little columns, then flick a switch on each of these little columns. And that's just what I remember off the top of my head. 
I think the Nostromo deserves an award for the most ridiculously convoluted self-destruct sequence in the history of SF movies. I mean, yes, it's needs to be more complicated than just pushing one button (cue "Spaceballs" references) but seriously? You have to pull down two levers to open up the lid, then screw in four bolts to pull up these four little columns, then flick a switch on each of these little columns. And that's just what I remember off the top of my head.
Think of it in terms of launching nukes from a sub. You need more than one person to approve the launch and then actually implement it. I'm sure the self-destruct was designed so that more than one officer would be there to operate it.
Of course, the guys who designed it didn't take the xenomorph into account...
I agree that the interiors were really nicely done. The bridge and science areas were especially memorable IMO, and really helped convey the "space truckers" motif.
The rest of the ship was good too, though not nearly as memorable IMO on account of very little of it having any plot-related function. Other than the landing feet being crunched, it was otherwise a generic ship in function. A brick with engines.
Are we also counting the refinery, even though no real action happened on it? It was just that, really. Nothing much to it other than looking like a big space refinery and having very little time spent looking at it on screen. This also helps with the whole claustrophobic atmosphere, as though the Nostromo herself wan't big enough for seven people plus xenomorph and cat.
Mark
The rest of the ship was good too, though not nearly as memorable IMO on account of very little of it having any plot-related function. Other than the landing feet being crunched, it was otherwise a generic ship in function. A brick with engines.
Are we also counting the refinery, even though no real action happened on it? It was just that, really. Nothing much to it other than looking like a big space refinery and having very little time spent looking at it on screen. This also helps with the whole claustrophobic atmosphere, as though the Nostromo herself wan't big enough for seven people plus xenomorph and cat.
Mark
Nope. Only the brick with engines is the ship. That's why most of the pictures here are sans refinery.
I think the Nostromo deserves an award for the most ridiculously convoluted self-destruct sequence in the history of SF movies. I mean, yes, it's needs to be more complicated than just pushing one button (cue "Spaceballs" references) but seriously? You have to pull down two levers to open up the lid, then screw in four bolts to pull up these four little columns, then flick a switch on each of these little columns. And that's just what I remember off the top of my head.
I never really had a problem with that, I just figured that the auto-destruct process involved actually getting in and dismantling or physically disabling part of the reactor cooling system.
And that makes sense. The refinery is cargo.
Ol' Scratch
Lieutenant Junior Grade
I never quite understood the appeal behind the glueing-random-blocks-together spaceships that dominate the genre. They don't feel believable let alone realistic at all to me.
That said, I guess its not an ugly ship, but it's not exactly a beauty either.
That said, I guess its not an ugly ship, but it's not exactly a beauty either.
Nothing but awesome here.
The Nostromo had a wonderful pragmatic heavy machinery look to it's design. It was basically just a very big truck and everything on it was built to a function instead of aesthetics. I really loved the interior which was designed in three levels (with multiple decks)- the first level had a clean austere padded look, like something form the Discovery in 2001. The next level had more exposed equipment and access hatches, the third was mostly engineering hardware. The scene where they follow the acid blood down to almost the hull gives you the best feel for these.
I can understand the long involved reactor over load sequence- you do not want something like that to be casual and hit one wrong button then bang. What really griped me was the fact you had an equally long and involved process to stop the overload. A simple command shouted anywhere inside the ship should have put the process on hold (at least if it was done before the process of no return). All those things Ripley was doing was just an interface- it was not like she was inside the actual reactor pulling rods out manually.
I got the special edition DVD with extras and director commentary. Ridley Scott had not seen the film in years and was watching it while talking about it. One thing he did say that stuck out to me- he thought after all these years since he made the film the interiors stood the test of time fairly well- too often scifi movies look dated rather quickly since they are attempting to predict the future which is a constantly moving target.
I can understand the long involved reactor over load sequence- you do not want something like that to be casual and hit one wrong button then bang. What really griped me was the fact you had an equally long and involved process to stop the overload. A simple command shouted anywhere inside the ship should have put the process on hold (at least if it was done before the process of no return). All those things Ripley was doing was just an interface- it was not like she was inside the actual reactor pulling rods out manually.
I got the special edition DVD with extras and director commentary. Ridley Scott had not seen the film in years and was watching it while talking about it. One thing he did say that stuck out to me- he thought after all these years since he made the film the interiors stood the test of time fairly well- too often scifi movies look dated rather quickly since they are attempting to predict the future which is a constantly moving target.
Starborn Dragon
Captain
I'm not a big fan of heavy machinery look.
But Nostromo was one of my very first science fiction ships.
But Nostromo was one of my very first science fiction ships.