Alien Nation Resident Scholar Profiles TOP SCHOLAR: Bobby Blades SCHOLARS:
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Review Summaries
"This is a sci/fi crime drama starring James Cann as xenophobic Los Angeles Det. Matthew Sykes in a then futuristic 1991. Highly intelligent worker Aliens (Newcomers) have landed on earth and assimilated into society. Matt loses his partner while breaking up a robbery and gets a new alien partner Sam 'George' Francisco (Mandy Patinkin). While investigating deaths in the alien community they unravel an alien drug trafficking operation run by high ranking official William Harcourt (Terrence Stamp)."
Bobby Blades, Resident Scholar
"In 1988 the first alien space ship landed on Earth and disgorged roughly a thousand humanoids who, it turns out, had been genetically engineered for slave labor on other worlds. They look a lot like humans, but have no hair, the males can get pregnant, and they have two hearts. It is now 1991, and the Newcomers have been integrating into human society, but they are discriminated against, abused, and relegated to menial positions. Detective Sergeant Matthew Sykes (Caan) has been uneasy about Newcomers, and his feelings turn to hate after his partner is killed in a shootout with some of them. So he doesn't react well when his new partner turns out to be the first Newcomer police officer, Sam Francisco (Patinkin). They pair learn to work together as they investigate a successful alien businessman named William Harcourt (Stamp) who turns out to be head of an extraterrestrial drug ring that pushes "Jabluka," which triggers radical personality changes in Newcomers. Although this 1988 film has a great premise, it pretty much subsides into just an okay cop-buddy movie. Patinkin has fun being innocent/weird under tons of makeup."
David Loftus, Resident Scholar
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Overall Review
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Movie Actual chase scenes or violence - 20% Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzle - 40% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40%
**Fantasy or Science Fiction?**
- science fiction story
Spying - Investigations
Yes
What is main char. doing?
- unraveling a conspiracy
Inner Struggle
Yes
Plotlet:
- feelings as an alien growing up among humans
If the enemy is a group...
- drug dealers
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- police/lawman
Age:
- 40's-50's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Hair color?
- blonde
- brunette (Brown)
Hair type
- (man) short/medium straight
- (man) short/medium wavy
Body type
- average (man)
- muscular (man)
Events of movie makes character more...
- sensitive
- caring
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Sense of humor?
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- Bulging muscles
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Male Alien
Hair color
- bald
Hair style
- bald (man)
Body type
- muscular (man)
- average build (man)
How much in movie?
- 60%
- 90%-100%
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male Alien
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- business executive
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 20%
- 40%
Hair color
- bald
Hair style
- (man) bald
Body type
- muscular (man)
Sense of humor?
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physical condition
- average physique
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Setting
Earth setting:
- 20th century (1970's to Present)
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Big cities?
Yes
Kind of city
- Dirty, crime-ridden (like NY)
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately detailed references to deaths
- explicit references to deaths
Tone of movie
- upbeat
Comedy or somewhat funny movie?
Yes
Any profanity?
- Some foul language
Kinds of F/X
- exotic aliens
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