First up is Alien directed by Ridley Scott and starring Signourney Weaver, John Hurt.

If the film that spawned three sequels (so far) is not a modern day classic, then I don’t know what is. Ridley Scott’s dark and terrifying film, alone with H R Geiger’s horrific alien design has become a bench mark for every alien in space film since then. You can see it’s influence in many, many films in the last eighteen years or so to see that, especially recently (Virus and Supernova anyone?).

The film itself has a straightforward plot, ship picks up distress call from planet, ship goes to investigate, everyone (bar one) dies. But Ridley proved that with a brilliant alien design, some good solid actors and almost black sets, you could create a masterpiece that would scare the pants of a billion people, and with the famous John Hurt chest scene, give people nightmares about indigestion for years. How could you not love a film that shows you Signourney Weaver wearing men’s pants?

Likewise with it’s sequel, Aliens directed by James Cameron and again starring Signourney Weaver, this time with Michael Behn, Bill Paxton, and the guy from that crap sitcom that used to be on after Seinfeld. a classic for different reasons. If the original alien was a dark, low budget, horror-fest, that had people on the edge of their seats, or more than likely hiding behind them in horror, then Alien 2 was the exact opposite. It was a big budget, shoot em up, with gung-ho soldiers, heroic women (well one) and innocent kids (again, just the one).

Set fifty seven years after the original alien encounter Ripley is found floating in space, she is thawed up and sets about getting on with her life. That is until, a colony on the planet where the alien was first discovered, goes ominously quiet, and it is time to spend in the marines, with Signourney along of course. From then on the film hits a breathtaking pace and doesn’t let up until the final scene, and what a finale. Surely one of the most memorable endings in Science Fiction film history.

Our third choice may shock a few people, Star Trek: First Contact directed by Jonathan Frankes and starring Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner, Jonathan Frankes. But Star trek eight was the one that really kicked arse, while Generations had been a bit of a hock pock affair, with the new cast not really sitting well with the old gang. First Contact was the first time the new kids on the block got there own chance, and boy what a film.

Directed by someone who really knows the show (obviously) number one brought in the big guns of the borg and pitted the enterprise against the toughest cookies in the universe and the destruction of the Earth (no less). With an opening shot that took your breath away, and the best action ever seen in Star Trek (so far) First Contact is indeed one to buy, if you only buy one Star Trek movie, let it be this one. Make it so.

Lastly (for this time) is a classic from the seventies Carrie directed by Brian De Palma and starring Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie. Forget Scream (1,2,3) forget I know what your baby sitter did last summer or whatever, if you want to see a horror movie that is genuinely funny, touching, dark, twisted and tortured, then Brian De Palma’s warped adaptation of Stephen King’s withering tale, which is still his best, is the one for you.

The plot has poor old Carrie, putting up with a psycho Mum, bitchy high school peers, duplicitous boyfriends, tender pubescent feelings and the little matter of a blooming telekinetic ability, which has the habit of detonating light bulbs and hapless gym teachers with equal ease. Carrie’s road to self destruction is signposted from the beginning and when she arrives at her genocidal destination, the shit does really hit the fan, and as for the reverse shot finale, I will say no more.

That is all for now but be sure that we will be back with some more classics on DVD, or if you have any, just tell us know here on the Steel Caves